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

Pily, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I started operating as a business in 2017. By “as” I mean: I incorporated, invested a substantial amount of capital, and signed a long-term lease. I’d say it was both a good decision and a premature one. I was fully secure in my skills, but I often wonder if it would have been ideal to have a business partner or a mentor that guided me through the entrepreneurship path. By not having this, I had to learn by making mistakes.

Still, I wouldn’t change anything. I gained exposure and made great partnerships. I also love being an entrepreneur. It can be hard at times, but I don’t like it the easy way. No one can take away your accomplishments and you learn to appreciate things you didn’t appreciate before. I believe those are big pros. All and all I’d say if you have capital and guidance you should start now. It’s a way to invest in yourself.

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 got into the industry by choosing to be in the industry. I always knew I wanted to work in the creative field, period. It took me a long time to figure out what area I wanted to be in. I was skilled in several areas. I started in fashion design and pivoted to illustration and then art. This happened purely over job opportunities. Of course, I loved what I did, but some elements were missing. It wasn’t until I studied Art Direction that I really understood where I wanted to be.

Delivering a strategic vision for clients was my call. This title encompassed all my aptitudes. As a Creative Director, I am proud of having provided services to fashion & accessory labels and have had my work published in magazines like L’Officiel Paris, L’Officiel Italy, and Regia Mag. In the last couple of years, I gained experience in digital marketing by working with top agency marketing leads. With this new knowledge, I expanded my services to social media platforms, offering digital strategies.

That is something I am very proud of right now, mostly because I really didn’t think I was going to be successful at it. I thought the analytics would eat me up. Turns out, I’m actually good. I love seeing the growth and how audiences react to different campaigns. I am presently passionate about it. I also have an upcoming project for Art Basel 2022, which I’ll discuss further when the time arrives.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice

I think it’s another source of revenue. I like the fact that it gives digital artists the opportunity to capitalize on their art. It’s a complex topic where I can’t give expert commentary. Nevertheless, as far as my opinion, I think a big hype was created around it, to see how much audiences would adopt it. “Fake it till’ you make it” type of strategy that many artists and brands use to make products popular and capitalize on them (nothing wrong with this).

For a moment the hype worked, but I know it is currently declining. It might be ahead of its time because there might not be enough cybersecurity to regulate it or not enough public awareness. For art purposes, I think it’s great if you understand how to use it. I also believe it will be better positioned when the right time comes.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Lead by example. You can’t expect someone to be on time if you’re not on time. You can’t expect someone to give a 100% if you don’t give 100%. I’ve experienced firsthand when a leader doesn’t behave like one. I have also experienced when they do. Seeing these two scenarios helped me understand the impact this can have on a team. “Do as I say, not as I do” will destroy morale.

Conversely, if you display a good work ethic, the team will likely follow it. Moreover, they will admire you and seek your approval. Not because they “have” to but because they “want” to. Empathy is also extremely important. Genuinely caring for the team’s needs is paramount. These two philosophies are what have helped me foster admiration and maintain high morale.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pilymontiel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pily/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pily-montiel/