Graciela Del Toro—now VP of Creative Operations & Resourcing at Bond and formerly Creative Ops Lead at Netflix (plus a stint at Apple)—joins Creative Leadership with Heart to unpack her non-linear path from music major to entertainment marketing to creative operations leader.

We dig into:

• The “Napster moment” that blew up her original plan—and the pivot into film & trailers

• Agency vs. entertainment marketing: what’s actually different (and what isn’t)

• Small shop vs. big machine: how your growth changes with team size

• Pre-COVID → Post-COVID → Post-strike realities (“survive till ’25”)

• What great Creative Ops really does: efficiency and creative health

• Transparent leadership, mentoring, and the advice she’d give her younger self (“get out of your own way”)

🎙 Host: Rico
👤 Guest: Graciela Del Toro, VP Creative Ops & Resourcing @ Bond (ex-Netflix, Apple)

What does it take to pivot across industries — from alcohol marketing to Disney, and then to Netflix — while leading global creative teams?

In this episode of Creative Leadership with Heart, Rico sits down with Gavin Quirk, Head of Innovation Operations at Netflix (and formerly of Disney & Diageo), to explore a career path filled with bold pivots, setbacks, and growth.

💬 Gavin shares:

• His journey from aspiring footballer ⚽️ to brand manager at Diageo (Guinness, Jose Cuervo)

• What it was like marketing Hannah Montana at Disney after Guinness 🍺

• The massive culture shift moving from Disney to Netflix

• Lessons in authentic leadership across three very different industries

• How to lead distributed global teams with empathy and flexibility

• Why career paths are rarely linear — and why that’s a good thing

This conversation is packed with insights for anyone navigating career transitions, leadership challenges, or just wondering if they’re “on the right path.”

📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories on creativity, culture, and leadership.

#Netflix #CreativeLeadership #CareerPivots #Leadership #Disney #Diageo

Welcome back to Creative Leadership with Heart!In this episode, we sit down with Ali Lindsay, marketing leader and founder of the Cocoon Collective, to dive deep into her career journey—from her start in media agencies to leading marketing teams for innovative K–12 schools, and ultimately creating her own consulting practice.Ali shares:Her early days at NYU and how she pivoted from performing arts aspirations to marketing.Lessons learned in agency life that shaped her foundation in analytics, consumer insights, and brand strategy.How she navigated ed tech during the pandemic and scaled consulting opportunities.Insights on product-market fit, working with schools, and telling compelling stories without overselling.Her tips for anyone considering launching a consulting business or taking a career risk.If you’ve ever wondered how to turn uncertainty into opportunity or build a consulting business that aligns with your mission, this episode is packed with actionable insights.📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with creative leaders shaping the future of work, education, and innovation!Connect w/ Ali here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-hancock/

Today’s guest is Al Carns, Senior Art Director at Lionsgate, whose 25-year creative journey started as an unpaid intern and came full circle with one of the most culturally relevant films of the decade, The Blackening.Al shares:His origin story and early artistic influencesThe power of representation in mediaWhy creative work must speak to the soul, not just sellHis mission to give back through his agency, Primer CreativeHow Lionsgate supports DEI and cultural storytellingIf you're a creative, a leader, or someone who believes art can transform lives — this one is for you.🔔 Subscribe for more inspiring stories from artists, creators, and business owners.

In this episode of Creative Leadership with Heart, we sit down with Michelle Brogan, Head of Go-To-Market at Allianz and former Regional Head of Marketing at Symantec. Michelle shares her inspiring career journey—from falling into digital marketing in the early '90s to leading global marketing teams today.She opens up about:The evolution of digital marketing and customer insightsWhy storytelling and personalization still matterKey leadership lessons from scaling her careerHer powerful transition from “doing it all” to leading high-performing teamsThis is a must-watch for marketing professionals, future leaders, and anyone navigating growth in today’s fast-paced world.🔔 Subscribe for more leadership and growth insights!🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.GUEST: Michelle BroganMarketing ExecutiveCurrently Head of go to market at AllianzFormerly Regional Head of Marketing at Symantec.Mother, mentor, coach.https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-brogan/

When Farnas Esnaashari was repeatedly denied promotions in the animation industry, she didn’t wait for permission — she created her own lane.

In this inspiring episode, hosts Leonard Samuels and Rico Nasal sit down with Farnas, the powerhouse behind Pitch Dox and a showrunner with deep roots at Nickelodeon.

She opens up about being underestimated, sleeping in classrooms to meet deadlines, taking massive pay cuts to follow her dream, and ultimately turning industry roadblocks into rocket fuel for her own success.

If you've ever felt stuck in your creative career, this episode is your wake-up call.

🔹 What it takes to break into animation

🔹 How she made the jump from post coordinator to show creator

🔹 Why rejection can be your greatest motivator

Book Recommendations:https://tinyurl.com/ricosbooksGear Recommendations:https://tinyurl.com/ricosgearFitness Gear:https://tinyurl.com/ricosfitnesshttps://www.riconasol.com/https://www.instagram.com/riconasol/https://www.linkedin.com/in/riconasol/https://app.joinforum.com/partner-support-groups/Rico-Nasol-pid797https://www.joinleland.com/coach/rico-n=====Leadership and motivation is the key to staying inspired in the world today. These inspiring quotes and motivation videos are designed to help you continue to be successful in life and in business. Using these wise words will keep you performing at your best and living life to the fullest. We are here to win at life and to enjoy every moment.When the stressors of life begin to take over, we need to stay positive. Maintaining a positive and affirming approach to life will help us maintain a high level of performance, a balanced life and strong mental health. Please use these videos to keep you and your business running strong. Build great teams and lead them to success.Rico Nasol and affiliates and related parties do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, investment, legal or business advice. You should consult your own advisors before engaging in any transaction.This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support! Legal Disclosure: I’m not a financial advisor. The information contained in this video is for entertainment purposes only. Before investing, please consult a licensed professional. Any stock purchases I show on video should not be considered “investment recommendations”. I shall not be held liable for any losses you may incur for investing and trading in the stock market in attempt to mirror what I do. Unless investments are FDIC insured, they may decline in value and/or disappear entirely. Please be careful!

Today on Creative Leadership with Heart, I'm joined by my good friend Andry Haryanto — VP of Finance and Strategy at Vida Health and former Netflix strategist. Andry shares his fascinating journey from chemical engineering to private equity, to Silicon Valley tech giant Netflix, and now to transformative healthcare.
We dive deep into leadership challenges across companies of all sizes, the importance of adapting your leadership style, and how to think about scale differently as your career and company grow.
Whether you're an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, this conversation is packed with insights on navigating ambiguity, connecting top-down vision with ground-level reality, and leading with purpose.

🎥 Meet Sally Montana – A Globally Renowned Photographer and DirectorJoin us as we dive into the inspiring journey of Sally Montana, a photographer and director whose career has spanned across continents and creative industries. From capturing stunning images of everyday people to immersing herself in the intense world of rodeo photography, Sally shares how her experiences in Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, and New York shaped her creative approach.🌍 Why Cape Town?📸 Why Rodeos?💥 What Drives a Photographer to Capture Real Stories Over Perfect Shots?Tune in for insights on the power of serendipity, opportunity, and the importance of mentorship in the creative world. Sally opens up about her journey, challenges, and how traveling the world has enhanced her ability to tell deep, meaningful stories through her lens.Don't miss Sally’s advice for aspiring photographers, as well as her thoughts on how creativity continues to evolve throughout her career.🎯 Ready to explore what makes an authentic, impactful photographer? Tune in now!