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

Hi Molly , thanks for joining us today. Too often the media represents innovation as something magical that only high-flying tech billionaires and upstarts engage in – but the truth is almost every business owner has to regularly innovate in small and big ways in order for their businesses to survive and thrive. Can you share a story that highlights something innovative you’ve done over the course of your career?

Quite honestly think the most innovative thing I’ve done in my career is having a willingness to reinvent myself and at times resist being pinned down by labels.

I’ve had to pivot in a major way after going through some life crises like being laid off (more than once!) from a company and wondering which end is up. These days people have to face layoffs that seemingly come out of. nowhere and it’s never easy.. Layoffs can also happen when something else is going on, like a medical crises (yes, I had that experience too) or a major strike (or two) that impacts the entire work community, and times like that can really test you.- to put it mildly.

When I went through those crises (and more, like the day the theater building where my colleagues and I were producing our own shows burned to the ground in an arson fire) it forced me to really reassess who I was and what I wanted. I know the pandemic tested us all in that way too.

Every time I had to face a crisis I’d say it changed me in a significant way, and weirdly enough those times opened up some new avenue of creativity for me. Those difficult times can force you to look inside and ask yourself who you are and what is meaningful for you.. Strangely enough those times can really light a creative fire inside you if you’re open to it.

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.

I’ve been doing my own style of artwork my entire life, but since the pandemic I’ve made it more of a focus. I started painting on canvas for the first time ever and I found it to be a revelation. I began studying with artist Thom Dower and he challenged to me to really start exploring with the paint and the brush and let the process take over rather than trying to control it. It was a revelation as it made me realize how much of your unconscious thinking is revealed in the creative process,, when you allow it.

Meanwhile, I needed to develop more avenues of income after being laid off from my job at a big tech company. A close friend asked if I could do a watercolor of their cat family and make it into merchandise via my website. So I did and suddenly I was getting multiple orders for personalized pet art. Who knew? So suddenly another career avenue emerged as I did art commissions of people cats, dogs, possums and more. Making art and being with animals are two of my favorite pursuits so this work is definitely something I’m enthused about.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Last year I needed to develop more avenues of income after being laid off from my job at a big tech company. A close friend asked if I could do a watercolor of his cat family and make it into merchandise via my website. So I did and suddenly I was getting multiple orders for personalized pet art. Who knew? So suddenly another career avenue emerged as I did art commissions of people’s cats, dogs, possums and more. I’d started an art e-commerce website during the pandemic and connecting that to my original artwork as a way to make merchandise based on the artwork was a key to getting more sales.

Making art and being with animals are two of my favorite pursuits so this work is definitely something I’m enthused about.

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

One thing I’ve learned is that your career path is always intertwined with your life and the things that happen to you personally will impact your career and vice versa. In my early career I worked hard to develop a career as an advertising writer in the entertainment industry and for a long time it went well,

Finally though, I’d say my personal life came bumping up against my corporate work life. I was working at a major film studio full time but I wanted to have a baby. I had a series of difficult medical issues and finally had a near death experience losing a pregnancy. I went back to work and then a year later it actually happened again. It was kind of unbelievable. And just then, the studio had a mass layoff and I was out of a job. I went into the hospital again and after I’d recovered I got a call and my old job was offered back to me. I took a deep breath and turned it down. Yes, I missed out on a long term steady paycheck but two years later I gave birth to my daughter and she has been everything to me. As tough as it all was, I just felt deep down that the career I had just wasn’t working for me anymore and I needed to become a mother and follow another path. So now, my daughter is grown and I’m back creating art again, (as is she!) and I’ve added podcast host to my resume too.

My feeling is that in life you have to make choices, and even if you aren’t willing to make those choices consciously, they eventually will be forced upon you. I also feel though that anytime you have to give something up, a new avenue can open up for you and take you to something that is bigger and better. and more true to who you really are. You may have to fasten your seatbelt but hey, life is an adventure so enjoy the ride!

Contact Info:

• Website: HTTPS://Www.mollybrandenburg.com
• Instagram: HTTPS://www.instagram.com/mollybrandenburg1
• Linkedin: Https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/mollybrandenburg

Image Credits

Molly Brandenburg. Emma Benson