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

Stanley , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.

Few years ago myself and our agency were asked to participate in a Co-Create program hosted by Adobe. That aimed to pair creatives with small business owners in United States. We were partnered with a Black Woman Owned business. Through our collaboration with her I have learned just how terribly underserved Black Entrepreneurs are. There are virtually very little financial support and startup resources available for people of color.

The collaboration that started with Adobe, since then grew into personal friendships but also a personal shift in how I and our agency handle work. We have since, started doing a lot more work with black owned businesses. I have personally started doing a lot more workshops, talks and mentorships that target black owned businesses.

Stanley , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am Stanley — award winning, brutally honest optimist, whose love for design and social impact has led me to become an expert in design thinking for the past 18+ years.

As an experienced design strategist, I have honed my methods and share a process that unlocks the complete potential of individuals, businesses, and humanity as a whole. With a history of serial entrepreneurship from a young age, I have established myself as a prominent figure in the global design community. My unflinching honesty and unrelenting drive to create a better-designed future make me a highly sought-after asset for organizations striving to make a positive impact on the world.

I have collaborated with a diverse range of companies such as Bloomberg, Microsoft, Lincoln, Harris Poll, McGill University, Bulgari, TedMed, and many others. When not managing my creative agency, I can be found speaking, presenting, and conducting workshops at esteemed institutions such as NYU, Launchpad Toronto, TheFutur, HXOUSE, and more. In my free time, I also engage in social impact initiatives and community betterment efforts.

I currently have over 1,400 students who are benefiting from my design sprint methodology. I have designed products that are used by millions and my work has generated billions of dollars in transactions.

My lifelong mission is to educate people on the importance of design as a crucial investment in shaping a better future for all. I believe that a well-designed framework can drive a massive transformation in how we lead our lives, build our products, shape our culture, and improve laws and policies that affect every individual.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2016 I faced a major meltdown. A mental breakdown actually. I have lost my creativity, my spark. I started getting addicted to substances and headed down the dark path. So the choice was to either let my current situation and environment swallow me or fight back and change my circumstances. So in 2017 I quit. Everything! I left my job, my neighborhood in which I grew up in NYC, I left my home and packed 1 suitcase and left the country.
I landed in Montreal and have spent the next few years rebuilding myself. From the mental ashes I was reborn as a new person. I opened my own agency. I got married. I now operate one of the top creative agencies in the states. An agency that was born with 2 personal missions: Mental health and Equitable future.
These days we work on the projects that closely align with our mission. Turns out a lot of people experience similar breakdowns and it is our core value to help people change their relationship with their mental health as well as professional life.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes, as mentioned, I am extremely passionate about mental health and equitable future. My life goals are to a. help people improve their relationship with mental health. Help people understand themselves and each other better, and B. Create equitable future where all people of all backgrounds get equal opportunities, be it business or personal.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brutallyhuman.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stanleymaar/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanleyvaganovmaar/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/stanley_human

Image Credits
Image credits: Noire Mouliom Photography