We were lucky to catch up with Gustavo Padrino recently and have shared our conversation below.

Gustavo, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

As I was working at the theater, I was asked if I could support with a “sensory-friendly performance”, a new program that serves kids and adults who are neurodivergent that had basically started about a year ago, and they needed someone to support putting it together. I knew nothing about it but it sounded pretty amazing. Witnessing what happened the day of the show I helped put together not only changed everything for me, but also helped me connect my purpose in life.

I had the opportunity to see almost 500 people in attendance that had so many different types of disabilities, but everyone was happy because they were in a place that made them feel welcomed and that had adjusted the theater and environment so that people with different abilities did not have any barriers that prevented them to go to the theater.

I spoke with so many parents, and it broke my heart listening to some of their stories of what their kids wiht disabilities go through… the judgement, getting kicked out of places, misunderstanding, inaccessibility, and just people not being kind to them letting them be isolated at home and not even knowing the magic of live theater. That was until the day I helped put the sensory show together. It made me feel I made a huge difference in their life just that one day, To help them discover that which I love, the live arts.

Gustavo, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I attended a school that had a music conservatory attached to the school as they believed in integrating culture as part of the curriculum. Since I was 4 years old all the way to graduating, I experience music and learned many instruments. I received a full scholarship to the Frost school of Music at the University of Miami for a degree in music performance. I also received a minor in music business.

After graduating, I went back to school for a Master in Live Entertainment Management. I’ve always loved the arts, but I realize that even though the arts are my passion, being a performer was not my purpose. Thanks to a book I read from Simon Sinek called “start with why”, I learned that my purpose was to bring people together. The arts was the “how” but not the “why”. I had the opportunity to attend conferences as a student, and that led me to have an internship with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the place I get to call home and achieve my life purpose.

I did an internship with the programming department, and got hired full time with the finance team, and sort of moved internally through multiple departments including event services and community relations, leading me to know General Manager at the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center, proudly managed by the Broward Center.

What set me apart in my opinion is that I always wanted to excel at what I do, and always tried to find ways to learn more outside of my area of knowledge to understand new things, I wanted to be multifunctional and do always new things rather than doing only one thing for the rest of my life.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I am an immigrant, and I had to go through all the challenges, and sometimes those challenges can make you feel that you are done, but you can’t never let challenges bring you down and face them head-up. I had received my student visa, then my OPT for work and H1B work visa was bring processed, but then it was denied. That meant I had to leave the country in 60-days.

Imagine getting a full scholarship, getting your masters degree, working hard in a non-profit, paying taxes and serving your community and one day being told that’s it for you. I’m not gonna lie that it broke me for a few days. However, thanks to my family I had to quickly make the case for asylum because I could not go back to my country as there are government orders to incarcerate my family. For a few months I went from doing office work to basically trying to help my dad with limited work in construction and cleaning. I had bills to pay, and bills do not care about your situation. I pushed through it and prayed until my asylum was approved and I was able to go back to the theater.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I highly recommend every single book by Simon Sinek. You will see “work” through a different perspective. I personally don’t work, I serve, I do things that support people, care for my staff and bring people together to find fulfillment.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @theguspad