Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Roman Montagueo II. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Roman, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Risk management is my middle name. But I never set out to start or let alone run a nonprofit. What I did set out to do was create art and illustrate dynamic stories. As a creative, designer, and dreamer, I’ve always been drawn to storytelling and play as powerful tools for connection and education, especially for young people who often don’t see themselves reflected in either.

That’s what led me to launch Creative Mindset Productions (CMP) back in 2019. CMP was my baby. It was the company I built to create culturally relevant, STEAM-based games that inspire curiosity, confidence, and learning games rooted in identity, exploration, and joy. I poured everything into it. I was designing the mechanics, crafting the narratives, building entire ecosystems in a box that would later become experiences like Aquaball League, Aquaball Clash, Scuba Attack, Beach Ballin, and Ballin Out..

But then came 2020. A global pandemic flipped everything upside down. Schools closed. Students were isolated. Education as we knew it was in crisis. And in that moment, it became clear that CMP couldn’t just exist—it needed to reach. It needed to move beyond product and become part of something bigger. That’s when I took a risk that changed everything.

I co-founded STEAM Your Dreams (SYD) in September 2020—a nonprofit organization designed to bring the games I created through CMP directly to the communities that needed them most. SYD became the mission-driven engine: a place where learning felt like play, and play led to real growth. It wasn’t just about getting our games into schools—it was about shifting the narrative of what STEAM education could look like for Black and Brown youth.

SYD wasn’t my original dream. My heart will always belong to CMP, the creativity, the artistry, the game design. But SYD became “the calling” – a necessary part of the journey. I chose to step up and lead because I believed in the why. I believed in the scholars we served. I believed that the work mattered more than my comfort zone. So this became passion. With true passion there comes relentless determination to succeed for others than myself.

And that meant sacrifice. There were (and still are) late nights balancing both sides—managing game development, curriculum planning, community events, staffing, grant applications, partnerships, and mentorship. There were times I questioned if I could keep it all going. But what kept me grounded was knowing the mission is real, and the impact is visible. I prayed for an increase in capacity and a dedicated team that believed in my escentric personas and daunting mission.

Together, CMP and SYD have grown into a symbiotic ecosystem. CMP develops the tools, the games, the IP, the stories. SYD delivers the mission—bringing those tools into classrooms, recreation centers, festivals, and afterschool programs nationwide.

This is what makes (CMP)Creative Mindset Productions a Social Purpose Corporation (SPC) committed to leveraging immersive media and game-based learning to drive social impact. In integrated partnership with STEAM Your Dreams, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved youth through STEAM education, CMP develops innovative edutainment experiences that inspire, educate, and create pathways to real-world opportunities in technology, the arts, and esports.

This dual-path wasn’t easy. But it was right.

And taking that risk, leading both a creative enterprise and a nonprofit mission—has helped reach thousands of kids who now see themselves as scientists, engineers, game developers, storytellers, and strategists. It’s not just about the games. It’s about unlocking possibility.

That’s the bet I made. And I’d take that risk again.

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.

For those who may be learning about me for the first time, my name is Roman Sudan Montagueo II, I’m a creative director, game designer, storyteller, and entrepreneur with a deep commitment to purpose-driven innovation. I wear a few hats, but at the core of it all, I design and engineer immersive experiences…I’m a builder of stories, systems, and spaces that center helping ALL children with a special focus on Black and Brown youth in education, play, and identity.

I’m proudly born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, where creativity and survival often walk hand in hand. Growing up, I was the kid who saw the world through blueprints and comic books—always curious, always imagining what could be built from scratch with just an idea and a spark. That mindset never left me.

I’m the founder of Creative Mindset Productions (CMP), a for-profit creative studio I launched in 2019 to design immersive, culturally relevant STEAM-based games that challenge how we think about learning. I’m also the co-founder of STEAM Your Dreams (SYD), a nonprofit that came to life in September 2020 to deliver those games and educational tools directly to schools, afterschool programs, and communities that deserve better.

The way I describe my journey is this: I’m Batman by day, Bruce Wayne by night. By day, I’m hands-on—designing games, running live tournaments, working directly with youth and educators. At night, I’m mapping strategy, building ecosystems, developing the IP, and moving the vision forward. Both sides of me are always working—one for the mission, one for the movement.

I didn’t come into this work through a traditional education route. I came into it through life—through the experience of knowing what it feels like to not see yourself in the curriculum, to be disengaged by systems not built for you. That’s why I started CMP—to build a product that could meet students where they are and help them imagine where they could go.

Through CMP, I created interactive STEAM learning games like Aquaball League, Ballin Out, Beach Ballin, Aquaball Clash 2, and Scuba Attack 2, fusing STEAM based concepts, and play into something both fun and transformative. These aren’t just games—they’re pathways. Pathways to curiosity, confidence, and future careers.

Through SYD, I helped establish the nonprofit infrastructure to get these tools in front of the communities that need them most. While CMP is my first love, I took a risk and stepped up to lead and co-found SYD—not because it was easy, but because I believed in the why. Because I believed in the kids. And because I knew the impact we could make together.

Education often leaves behind the students who learn differently, dream differently, or grow up outside the margins. What I do—what we do—is disrupt that. I design games that spark engagement, center culture, and turn complex concepts into hands-on, high-energy learning experiences.

For students, this means falling in love with STEAM through gameplay. For educators, it means having access to a curriculum that’s engaging, tested, and ready to deploy. For partners and funders, it means measurable impact and scalable results.

What sets me apart is that everything I create is intentional. From the way a game level unfolds to the characters that populate a world—I build with purpose and identity in mind. Every element is designed to connect with young people on their terms, through their culture and lived experience.

And I’m not just running a program, I’m cultivating a creative economy that bridges for-profit innovation with nonprofit impact. CMP creates the products. SYD delivers the mission. Together, they form an ecosystem that’s changing how youth experience STEAM learning.

I’m proud of betting on myself, on leaving the safe routes behind and trusting my vision. I’m proud of the risks I took to not only build CMP, but to also stand up SYD, knowing that leadership isn’t just about passion, it’s about perseverance.

I’m proud that today, we’ve touched thousands of students, hosted major tournaments, partnered with schools and cities, and made kids genuinely excited to learn. I’m proud that a kid from the South Side can look at me and say, “I want to do that.”

This work isn’t just about games. It’s about generational shift. It’s about creating environments where students aren’t just prepared for the future, they’re shaping it. I want you to know that CMP and SYD are more than organizations, they’re platforms for transformation.

Whether you’re a school leader, funder, educator, or community champion—if you believe in the power of creativity, culture, and equity in education, we’re already on the same page.

I’m Roman Sudan Montagueo II. I design with purpose and intention. I lead with heart. And I’m just getting started.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative—an artist, a designer, a builder—is watching something that started in my mind come to life in a way that impacts others. It’s powerful to take an idea that lived in my imagination, sketched in a notebook, mapped on a wall, or just floating in my thoughts—and see it evolve into a game, a platform, or an experience that truly resonates with people.

For me, the real reward is connection, when a young person plays one of our games and lights up because they see themselves in it, when an educator tells me a student stayed engaged for the first time all semester, or when a parent sees their child discover a new passion for STEAM through something I helped create. That’s what drives me.

There’s something incredibly fulfilling about using my creativity to solve real problems—like access to quality education, cultural representation in learning, and engagement gaps in underserved communities. I get to create tools that not only teach, but also affirm identity and unlock imagination.

I also take pride in the freedom and responsibility that comes with this path. Creative work isn’t always easy—it’s risky, unpredictable, and often underappreciated—but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It gives me the ability to move with purpose, to challenge norms, and to leave behind something that can outlive me.

What brings me the most joy is knowing that what I create, through Creative Mindset Productions and STEAM Your Dreams—is opening doors for the next generation. That’s bigger than me. That’s legacy.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Yeah there’s definitely something I think non-creatives might struggle to fully grasp about this journey. Being a creative isn’t just what I do, it’s who I am. It’s not a 9 to 5. It doesn’t turn off. I dance to the rhythm of the universe. With great positive intentions, I share and coach knowledge and gems of wisdom. My mind is constantly turning—whether I’m walking through a neighborhood, listening to music, playing a game, or just sitting in silence. I’m always observing, absorbing, creating. That level of awareness and output can be beautiful, but it can also be heavy.

What people don’t always see is the amount of emotional labor and vulnerability that goes into this work. When you create something from your soul and put it into the world, you’re opening yourself up to judgment, rejection, and misunderstanding. And still—you keep showing up. Because the mission is bigger than your comfort.

Another thing folks might not understand is the risk that comes with building something from nothing. I don’t have a blueprint. There’s no step-by-step guide for what I’ve built with Creative Mindset Productions and STEAM Your Dreams. I had to trust my gut, follow vision over validation, and believe in something before anyone else did. That kind of belief doesn’t come easy, and it definitely doesn’t come without sacrifice.

But here’s the insight I want to offer: Creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline. For many of us, especially those from communities like mine on the South Side of Chicago, creativity is how we survive, how we heal, and how we reimagine what’s possible. It’s not just about making art. It’s about making change.

So if you’re not a creative, just know—this path takes courage, consistency, and an unshakable sense of purpose. Respect it. Support it. And if you ever feel that spark to create, honor it. You never know where it might lead.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.steamyourdreams.org
• Instagram: @gosteamesports, and @gosteamxrsports
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-sudan-montagueo-ii-a241484/
• Youtube: @steamxrsports