We were lucky to catch up with Ryan Malcolm-Campbell recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan , thanks for joining us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

THE FIRST DATE GAME recently had its one-year anniversary since its launch in May of 2022. What started out as an idea to improve dating intentionality in my own life, has evolved into a dating/conversational tool used by people around the world.

I’ve always been a very direct person that truly despises small-talk which in turn would result in me asking essentially all the questions in THE FIRST DATE GAME to potential partners. I would notice some responses would be that the questions are “too deep” for such an early interaction or “too personal” to disclose at the current stage – all that showed me was that those particular individuals were not what I was looking for. I believe when getting to know someone new, there is no limit or timeline on when you should ask certain questions that are important to you. None of us have time to waste, and the whole point of dating is to sift through the people that are not for you in order to make space for someone that is.

The idea for THE FIRST DATE GAME was first tested on the app Clubhouse during COVID lockdowns. I noticed there were so many rooms that were just promoting toxic conversation and no real substance – I believed that was my opportunity to create the healthy space on the app that I myself was looking for, as well as many other users.

I created a weekly room on the app called LOVE&WORK and challenged myself to consistently run it every Wednesday for as long as I could. I came up with a few new questions each week and it quickly grew into a popular safe space for people to discuss their perspectives and share openly about all things relationships and career.

After 17 consecutive weeks of running the LOVE&WORK room, I was no longer able to host the room due to my working schedule and COVID restrictions being lifted. I also was planning my move from my hometown Toronto to Los Angeles and that became my new focus. While going through my boxes in Los Angeles, I came across the notebook of questions from LOVE&WORK and a new inspiration was born – I wanted everyone in the world to benefit from what I created at a small scale because I believed it really was helping people find themselves as well as others. Shortly after finding my notebook, I shifted all my focus into creating what is now THE FIRST DATE GAME.

Ryan , 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?

After my university injury and accepting that the pursuit of basketball as a career was no longer in the cards, I wanted to make sure I found something that fulfilled me and allowed me to make an impact on others. From athlete, to business professional, to incorporating my business as a full-time business creative – there was never a moment I didn’t trust my ability to find a way to make it work.

I am the Founder & Creative Producer of my corporation KING OF ARTS INC. [KOA] – providing photography, filmmaking and branding for celebrities, athletes, corporate and professionals.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Since art and creativity are such subjective expressions of story-telling, I genuinely love that I have grown a very unique tribe of people that love how I tell stories. I create freely all with the intention for people to feel something – whether it’s work I’m doing for a client, passion projects I do for myself, or recently the joy people receive playing THE FIRST DATE GAME with someone. My goal is always to evoke emotion when interacting with anything that I choose to put out into the world.

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.

The creative entrepreneurial path has no guarantees of success. That line alone may scare the majority of people. If you’re able to overcome that reality as well as combine it with an unwavering confidence and belief in yourself, then “success” really becomes whatever you make it. When you are creating for expression of self and passion, it can allow you to surpass levels you even imagined for yourself. If you are only chasing a paycheck or trading time for money, you probably won’t receive much fulfilment in this type of environment.

Contact Info:

• Website: mrkoa.com
• Instagram: @mr.koa
• Twitter: @whoismrkoa
• Youtube: @mrkoa
• Other: TikTok @mr.koa