Episode Description

Tim Beattie is the CEO and co-founder of Stellafai with over 25 years of experience as a global agile and lean coach. Tim has worked with renowned organizations like IBM, PwC, and Deloitte, transitioning from project delivery to empowering teams to achieve long-term success. As an advocate for intent-based leadership and collaborative goal setting, Tim shares his innovative approach to turning teams into high-performing "goal-crushing machines."

What You'll Learn

• The importance of connecting team members to the bigger picture and purpose behind their work.
• How to align teams around shared objectives using frameworks like OKRs (Objectives and Key Results).
• The difference between OKRs and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and how both drive success.
• Practical methods for setting measurable, impactful goals.
• The power of retrospectives in fostering continuous learning and improvement.
• How creative exercises like "Design the Box" and "Newspaper Headlines" inspire innovative thinking.
• Building psychological safety and transparency to enable team success.
• The role of experimentation in achieving optimal outcomes.

Overview
Carl Cleanthes and Tim Beattie dive into the nuances of building high-performing teams through intent-based leadership. Tim emphasizes the value of connecting individual contributions to overarching goals, fostering cross-departmental collaboration, and creating an environment where innovation thrives. They explore the role of measurable outcomes, goal-setting frameworks, and creative exercises in energizing teams and driving meaningful progress. Tim shares insights from his career, including lessons learned from failures and the importance of psychological safety in achieving sustainable success. The conversation is packed with actionable strategies for anyone looking to empower their teams and achieve extraordinary results.

Ivan Kander is a versatile creative force based in Washington, D.C., with over a decade of experience in filmmaking, motion design, and video production. Since 2007, Ivan has crafted beautiful moving images—both live-action and animated—infused with skill and heart. His work spans projects with notable organizations like the Smithsonian, where he recently collaborated on a retrospective narrated by LL Cool J. Ivan’s passion for storytelling and commitment to creating meaningful art make him a standout in the creative industry.

What You’ll Learn

• The importance of passion projects in fueling creativity and career growth.
• Why artists need to create work for themselves to showcase their abilities and attract the right clients.
• Balancing creative fulfillment with financial realities in a freelance career.
• How passion projects can lead to unexpected opportunities and ROI in client work.
• The value of enduring the “suck stage” to grow as an artist and creator.
• Insights into the dangers of skipping foundational learning through tools like AI.
• The role of relationships, community, and creative perseverance in building a sustainable career.

Overview
In this engaging episode of Pixel Retentive Podcast, Carl Cleanthes and Ross Ciuppa dive into a thoughtful discussion with Ivan Kander about the importance of passion projects. Ivan shares his journey as a filmmaker and motion designer, recounting his recent short film—a family drama—and how personal creative endeavors have shaped his career. The conversation highlights the need for artists to invest in their work, especially when no one else will, to showcase their capabilities and attract like-minded collaborators.

Episode Description:

In this episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, Carl Cleanthes sits down with Laura Nespoli, Group Strategy Director at Article Group and founder of Meshin Movement. With nearly 20 years of experience, Laura blends brand strategy, storytelling, and purpose-driven marketing to create impactful narratives for global brands and nonprofits. She shares insights from her work, including a transformative regional rebrand project in Rochester, New York, and her passion for using storytelling to foster personal growth and social change.

What You'll Learn:

• The transformative power of storytelling in driving cultural and social change.
• How to develop a core narrative as a strategic asset for brands and organizations.
• The importance of authenticity in marketing and creative work.
• Insights into creating purpose-driven initiatives that align with personal and professional goals.
• How personal development and introspection can lead to professional breakthroughs.

Episode Overview:

Laura shares her journey from crafting marketing strategies for global technology companies to founding Meshin Movement, where she explores storytelling's role in creating meaningful connections. She dives into her approach to core narratives, a structured storytelling framework used to unify brand messaging across teams and projects. Laura recounts her work on Rochester's regional rebrand, highlighting her belief in empowering communities through shared purpose. The conversation also explores her personal evolution, including confronting childhood traumas and finding resilience through storytelling. Carl and Laura connect on the challenges and rewards of balancing creative passion with professional success, offering listeners a wealth of inspiration and actionable insights.