We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Zhu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.

David, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you ever had an amazing boss, mentor or leader leading you? Can you us a story or anecdote that helps illustrate why this person was such a great leader and the impact they had on you or their team?

One of the most influential mentors and leaders in my life was someone I met during my early years living abroad. In 2017, as a newly graduated international student starting my professional journey in the U.S., I quickly realized that the challenges I faced extended far beyond technical skills—they included cultural barriers, communication hurdles, and a deep uncertainty about navigating a completely new social environment. Even after receiving my first job offer, I found myself overwhelmed with anxiety and self-doubt.

Thankfully, I was lucky enough to report directly to the company’s CTO, Alberto. His presence made a profound difference—not only did I grow technically during that time, but what stayed with me even more was the way he approached work, communication, and problem-solving.

Our department was responsible for bridging design concepts with real-world construction execution. This meant frequent coordination between designers and contractors, translating between the “languages” of architects and engineers. Every project presented unique challenges that required tailor-made solutions, and Alberto consistently demonstrated technical acuity and adaptability in finding efficient paths forward. Through working with him, I learned how to communicate effectively across disciplines—especially between creatives and technically-minded teams.

What impressed me most was his emotional composure. I never once saw him lose his temper or become visibly frustrated, even when projects faced serious roadblocks. While that might sound like a basic expectation in a professional setting, it’s remarkably difficult when you’re in the thick of complex workflows, with multiple departments depending on you to untangle tough problems. His example had a lasting impact on me. Years later, as I started building and running my own company, I often found myself channeling the way Alberto handled tension and setbacks—with patience, clarity, and purpose.

Even after I left the company, we remained in close contact. One conversation I’ll never forget happened when I was contemplating a career shift—from architecture, where I had built a foundation, to the entertainment industry. The idea of starting over was daunting: it meant investing time, money, and emotional energy into something uncertain. When I shared my concerns with Alberto, he simply said, “Don’t be afraid of failure. Embrace it. Especially while you’re young, you should see failure as a gift, not a dead end.” He added that based on our experience working together, he had no doubt I’d find my way through any setback.

Those words stayed with me. They helped me take that leap of faith, and continue to give me strength when things get tough. I’ve even passed this mindset on to students and friends who were going through difficult transitions of their own.

In every way—professionally, personally, and philosophically—Alberto shaped my understanding of what leadership can and should be. His influence made my life abroad feel fuller, more grounded, and far more navigable.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I originally began my career as an architectural designer, working on various projects across both China and the United States. Around 2020, after gaining deeper insights into the architecture industry and reflecting on my long-term aspirations, I made the decision to return to school and transition into the entertainment industry. In 2022, I officially entered the field as an FX Technical Artist in film production—a move that felt like a natural evolution of my creative journey.

But what I’d really love to share here is the story of our very first entrepreneurial venture—something that grew out of both curiosity and a desire to respond to the changing world around us.

After entering the entertainment industry, three of my schoolmates and I—who were also early-career professionals in games and film—began to reflect on the post-COVID economic uncertainty and our desire to explore new possibilities outside of our daily work. We launched an online training platform called Harsh Blue, aimed at international students and focused on providing specialized skill training for those pursuing careers in the entertainment industry.

Harsh Blue, the idea came from a very real and visible gap: while the industry demands highly specialized skills, most academic institutions around the world remain disconnected from these evolving requirements. As a result, many students graduate with degrees but without the practical training or mentorship needed to become job-ready CG artists. That’s where we come in. Our platform focuses on career-aligned coaching that allows students to build both their technical portfolios and industry awareness simultaneously.

There are three things we’re especially proud of from this journey:

We’ve made a real difference in our students’ lives. Many of them have gone on to pursue advanced studies or successfully landed jobs in the industry. Seeing their progress has validated the effectiveness of our curriculum and the value of the mentorship we provide.

We’ve gained first-hand experience in running and growing a business. From establishing our brand and developing the course content to scaling the platform, the experience has been transformative. It’s helped us evolve from being “just” artists into artist-entrepreneurs—creatives with both technical vision and business awareness. That shift has opened up a world of new possibilities for us.

We’ve cultivated a strong and meaningful network. Beyond business goals, we’ve made it a priority to connect with other top-tier professionals in the industry and to maintain long-term relationships with our alumni. We believe these networks are invaluable—not only for seasoned professionals, but also for young artists who are just starting their journeys.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When it comes to building our social media presence, our approach was actually quite intuitive—we simply started by sharing what we knew best. Drawing from our own industry experience, we focused on creating content with real depth and professional value. Much of what we post is designed to support artists who already have a foundational understanding of CG, offering them insights into workflows, tools, and creative problem-solving. At the same time, we also produce content for audiences who are newer to the entertainment industry—topics like career transitions, study abroad application tips, and broader decision-making advice for aspiring CG artists.

We’ve also found that diversifying media formats is essential. While video is a hugely popular format in the social media landscape, we’ve noticed a growing trend toward concise, well-designed image-and-text posts. These are especially effective for educational and experience-based content—they’re easier to read, quicker to digest, and more shareable.

One insight we’ve gained that’s less commonly discussed—but extremely valuable—is the importance of staying true to your own content strategy. In the early stages, it’s easy to get distracted by how other brands run their accounts. But we learned that social media traction often has a built-in delay of two to three months, and it takes consistent effort to see meaningful returns. Once we stopped chasing external trends and focused on maintaining consistent, high-quality content aligned with our own values, our engagement and visibility began to grow steadily.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, one of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist is the ability to preserve a sense of romance and appreciation for life—even as the realities of adulthood, responsibilities, and pressure continue to build. As we grow older, it becomes easier to get overwhelmed by routine and setbacks. But being a creative helps you stay emotionally receptive—it teaches you how to find beauty in small details, how to stay curious, and how to hold onto a sense of wonder, even when things feel heavy.

In many ways, this mindset becomes a form of emotional resilience. It allows you to stay grounded and connected to what really matters. And within the creative community, we remind each other of that. Artists support each other not only in developing skills, but in staying open-hearted and present. That kind of mutual encouragement is deeply valuable—not just for staying motivated in the long term, but also for maintaining mental wellness in a high-pressure world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artstation.com/harshblue
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HarshBlue68