Hello listeners, and welcome to another episode of Creative Leadership With Heart. I'm your host, Rico Nasol, and today we have a very special guest with us - Sam Pagan. Sam is an animation and creative coach who has worked at some of the biggest names in the industry, including Nickelodeon Animation and Gladius Studios. But his journey to becoming a creative professional was far from a straight line. Growing up, Sam was heavily involved in sports and music, and even began his college education studying engineering. But a chance encounter with digital visual arts software like After Effects sparked a new passion. He began volunteering his time creating intros and highlight reels for events. Multiple career shifts later, Sam eventually found his calling in animation after being captivated by 3D software in 2015. With single-minded determination, he dedicated himself to mastering various digital tools while attending animation school. After graduating, Sam cut his teeth working in commercial and animated series production. Then in 2021, a friendly bet led him to apply for a position at Nickelodeon - and after an extensive interview process, he got the job! Today, Sam is here to share the insights and lessons he's learned over the course of his fascinating creative career, from taking leaps of faith to betting on yourself. Stay tuned for an enlightening conversation! Sam Pagan Animation and Creative Coach Lighting and Composition Artist Formerly at Nickelodeon Animation and Gladius Studios https://www.linkedin.com/in/sampagan10/ sampaganacademy.com (this website is under construction but it should be ready when you post it) https://www.instagram.com/sampagan10/ https://www.youtube.com/@sampagan10