Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rosa Lee Timm. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Rosa Lee, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Q: How did you learn to do what you do?
I learned through a mix of lived experience, community connection, and a lot of trial and error. Growing up in a deaf family, I was immersed in American Sign Language and storytelling from day one. Later, stepping into leadership and artistic roles pushed me to translate that foundation into professional skills—whether in the arts, entrepreneurship, or executive leadership. I didn’t follow a straight path; I built my career by leaning into curiosity, asking questions, and saying yes to opportunities that stretched me.
Q: Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?
I would have sought out mentors earlier. For a long time, I tried to figure everything out on my own, but mentorship accelerates growth in ways that self-teaching cannot. Also, giving myself permission to fail without shame would have saved me time—I now see mistakes as an opportunity for growth, not setbacks.
Q: What skills do you think were most essential?
Adaptability and communication. Whether I’m directing artistic sign language for a Broadway musical or working with stakeholders in a boardroom, being able to shift between worlds is key. Creativity, strategic thinking, and collaboration have also been essential—skills that don’t belong to one field but connect them all.
Q: What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Access. As a deaf woman of color, there were limited models of leadership that looked like me, and often fewer resources to draw on. Sometimes the barrier was systemic—lack of interpreters, lack of inclusion—and other times it was internal, like the pressure I felt to prove myself. Over time, I’ve learned to turn those obstacles into fuel, using them to carve new pathways for myself and for others coming after me.
Rosa Lee, 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?
Q: For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell our readers about yourself…
I’m Rosa Lee, an executive leader, artist, and creative whose career has been rooted in both business and performance. I come from four generations of deaf families, with American Sign Language as my first language and storytelling as my earliest training ground. That background shaped me as a performer, educator, and later as a leader in the social venture space.
Many people first discovered me through my ASL music videos on YouTube or my one-woman show, which I’ve toured for 20 years across the U.S. and internationally. My creative work often centers on rhythm, poetry, and musicality in ASL. In recent years, I’ve also worked as a Director of Artistic Sign Language (DASL) for stage and screen—collaborating with Broadway productions, television, and film to ensure authentic signed performance reaches audiences everywhere.
On the business side, I served as Division President of CSD Social Venture Fund, where we partnered with entrepreneurs to build and grow Deaf-owned and Deaf-centered companies. That work gave me a front-row seat to the challenges and possibilities of creating equity in business, and it continues to influence how I approach leadership today.
What sets my path apart is the way I move fluidly between creative and executive spaces. I might be in a boardroom one day working with stakeholders, and on stage the next performing a song. To me, these worlds aren’t separate—they inform each other.
I’m most proud of creating work that shows people—especially deaf youth and BIPOC communities—that they belong in every space, whether that’s on Broadway, in a gallery, or in a boardroom. If there’s one thing I want readers to know, it’s that my work is guided by intentionality and inclusivity. I believe artistry and leadership are not just about what you create, but about who gets to take part in it.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Q: In your view, what can society do to best support artists, creatives, and a thriving creative ecosystem?
First, we have to recognize that art isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. A thriving creative ecosystem needs to be treated with the same seriousness as any other sector of society. That means investing in artists not just when they’re “successful,” but when they’re experimenting, failing, and developing their voices.
Access is also critical. For Deaf and disabled artists, that means providing interpreters, captioning, and accessible venues—not as an afterthought, but as part of the foundation. When access is built in from the start, it opens doors for a wider range of voices, and that enriches the ecosystem for everyone.
Equally important is creating pathways for sustainability. Too often, artists are expected to work for “exposure.” Society needs to shift toward fair compensation, mentorship pipelines, and long-term investment in creative careers. Supporting arts education, grants, and community-based spaces are part of this.
Finally, we need to see creativity as interconnected with other areas—business, education, mental health, and social change. When artists are included at the table where decisions are being made, they bring imagination, storytelling, and empathy that can transform how communities grow.
If we want a thriving ecosystem, we need to honor art as work, invest in it as infrastructure, and treat artists as leaders in shaping our future.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Q: For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative?
For me, the greatest reward is connection. As an artist, I get to take something deeply personal—an idea, a rhythm, a story—and put it into the world in a way that invites others in. When someone tells me they saw themselves reflected in my work, or that it gave them a new perspective, that’s the moment I know the art is doing its job.
I’m also deeply moved by how creativity builds community. Whether it’s a YouTube music video that reaches a young deaf kid across the country, or a live performance that brings people together in the same space, art has a way of dissolving barriers and creating belonging.
On a personal level, being creative keeps me grounded. It reminds me that no matter what role I’m in—executive, mother, performer—there’s always room to play, to experiment, and to imagine something new. That sense of possibility is endlessly rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Website: HTTPS://withloverosalee.com
- Instagram: @catchrosa
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/withloverosalee
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catchrosa
- Youtube: https://YouTube.com/@withloverosalee
Image Credits
None