We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Abdallah Seoud a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hello Canvas readers, I’m Abdallah Seoud, a Brazilian native from Rio de Janeiro, now living in San Diego, California. I’m the proud Creative Director of Io Project Media, a filmmaking studio based in Bird Rock where creativity, community, and storytelling are our core values.

I’ve always been fascinated by the visual arts. My first steps into this world involved drawing comic book heroes, cars, and landscapes. Then, around the age of 10 or 12, I got my first camera, photographing everything I could in high school. After that, I dove into Photoshop, graphic design, and recorded everything from soccer to skateboarding.

After school, I earned my Bachelor’s in Industrial Design, with a minor in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from PUC-Rio and CSULB. I was super lucky to study with amazing people and learn from some of my biggest inspirations.

My journey’s been driven by a love for storytelling, travel, and exploring self-development. Through my work, my goal is to connect with different audiences, bringing unique stories to life. I believe my diverse background and curiosity let me bring new perspectives to the North American market. I see lots of formulas in advertising. It’s cool to know them, but I like to shake things up and bring fresh approaches to old models with our videos at Io Project Media.

For my courses and mentorship programs, even though I’ve been living in the US for about 6 years now, my content is for people who speak my language, Brazilian Portuguese. I think with all my travel and living abroad experiences, I can inspire, share knowledge, and help others with their journey using my story and my work. I see so many talented people giving up on their dreams and not believing in themselves. So, the world misses out on the amazing things they can do. A big part of my purpose is inspiring people through my journey.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I believe resilience is one of the most crucial soft skills we can possess today. Coming from a place where opportunities were limited, much of my journey involved chasing what I wanted and not giving up until I achieved it. I often found myself in situations where I felt out of place, facing a variety of challenges, both psychological and financial.

Maintaining my passion and purpose was at times difficult, but deep down, I always knew my ‘why’ and kept pushing forward. Being born in a developing country brings its own set of obstacles, from cultural differences to language barriers. It feels like every day, you’re required to prove your worth and abilities to others, striving for success and to earn respect, regardless of your profession.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Never stop investing in yourself, never stop learning new things, and never stop building your portfolio. I firmly believe these practices have brought me to where I am today. Around 90% of my clientele comes from referrals or from the portfolio we’re constantly updating. Sometimes, the results aren’t immediately visible, but if you keep improving yourself and your craft, it’s inevitable that people will take notice.

Additionally, I really enjoy studying marketing and being around people who share the same passion and drive. There’s this saying I always keep in mind: “If you’re the smartest person at the table, you’re at the wrong table.” While I love to teach, I find that I enjoy learning even more.

Today, I am immensely proud of the work we are doing at Io Project Media and grateful for the clients who have trusted our vision for their content. We’ve collaborated with notable brands like Olipop, 21Seeds, Babe Kombucha, and Bluetti, as well as with Pasokin, and major restaurant chains such as Phill’s BBQ. We’ve embarked on exciting projects with Belmont Park and Beach House, in addition to filming marketing pieces and documentaries for leading tech companies from Silicon Valley and New York, including Brex and Hotmart. The list goes on.

Additionally, it brings us even greater joy to have been approached by many brands from Brazil looking to record their commercials and advertisements with us for their production. It’s truly rewarding to be considered a “safe harbor” for Brazilian companies as well.

I believe we’ve reached these milestones through a blend of passion and dedicated hard work. I pour my heart into my craft, and it’s clearly paying off.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ioprojectmedia.com || www.seoud.me
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/seoud.me / www.instagram.com/ioprojectmedia
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seoud/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPIPB5zQ-y44xfEKMYHKxDQ
• Other: Contact Info: [email protected]

Image Credits
N/A