What’s one thing you wish you knew when you first started your career?
I wish I had known that it’s okay to change directions. Early on, I was very focused on “the plan” and achieving a specific vision, but I’ve learned that creativity—and life—is a lot more fluid. It’s okay to let go of an old path when it no longer serves you. Trusting your intuition and being open to new opportunities is often where the magic happens. And funny enough, that’s how I reconnected with my “divine creativity” after a long and painful creative drought.
What was the biggest pivot you had to make when working on a project?
The biggest pivot I had to make was during a media arts project at Aalborg University. My team and I had spent weeks developing an idea we were really excited about, but it became clear that it wasn’t going anywhere. Our mentor gave us the valuable advice, “sometimes you gotta kill your darlings,” and that forced us to let go of the concept we were so attached to. It was frustrating to start over, but that frustration led us to channel those emotions into our next idea. The result? We ended up developing an augmented reality art installation that went on to be featured at the NIME Festival in Copenhagen and later at Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria in 2018. That became my proudest achievement up until then, and it taught me the power of embracing change, even when it’s hard.
Do you have any brainstorming rituals?
Absolutely. I like to create a “sacred space” before brainstorming. It usually starts with some deep breathing or a short meditation to clear my mind. Then, I dive into freewriting. I write without judgment, letting ideas spill out even if they seem random or unrelated. Sometimes, I use prompts or mantras to guide my thinking, but the key is to embrace flow and not overthink things. Movement often comes into play too—sometimes I’ll do a quick dance or breathwork in between brainstorms to keep the energy moving.
How do you unwind from work mode?
I have a few different ways to unwind, depending on what my body or mind needs at that moment. Yoga is a huge part of it—moving through a flow helps me ground myself and reconnect to my breath. I also find solace in creative activities that don’t have any pressure attached, like freewriting/journaling or writing poetry. Sometimes, I’ll also do a quick guided meditation, which helps me reset my energy, especially after an intense day of meetings or coaching.
The Communicator Awards is celebrating connection in all forms of communication. What do you feel are the top three ways to make a lasting impact in your work?
- Subverting Expectations: People remember moments that surprise them or challenge the status quo. Whether through storytelling, creative work, or public speaking, I try to approach things from a fresh angle that makes people stop and reconsider what they thought they knew.
- Cutting Through the Noise: We exist in a time saturated with content, it’s easy to get lost in the clutter and overload. I think one of keys is cutting through the noise by staying true to your message and letting your authenticity be the guide, this can look very different from brand to brand of course but across the board, people connect to what feels authentic and to what they feel speaks to them.
- Appealing to Core Needs (Human Condition): Tapping into universal truths—the longing to belong, to be seen, to heal—creates a deeper emotional connection. On the surface we are all widely different, but deep down at the level of our core needs and human condition, we are much more alike than we often think. When you can speak to someone’s core needs, you’re not just communicating; you’re creating an experience they carry with them.