We were lucky to catch up with Marcus Gibson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Marcus, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
The entertainment industry has an expansive reach that touches many countries, ethnicities and races. This industry has a very diverse field of contributors that are in the spotlight as well as behind the scenes. That being said, it is rare to find people of color in managerial roles, or even executive positions within the industry.
There are positives and negatives that go along with this standard. If you happen to be part of a company that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion, then your coworkers and bosses will look to you for a great thought or idea. If you happen to work for a company that “doesn’t see color,” getting others to buy into your thoughts and ideas becomes a job in and of itself. In both cases, there is pressure put on the person of color to execute their role at a higher level than their counterparts, creating a mental grit based on the internal struggle that one’s idea is not good enough, so they have to do better.
The successes I’ve had over the years are due to the fact that I recognized this unconscious bias early on. When you know what you are up against and plan for multiple outcomes, your chances of success increase exponentially. However, you need to be prepared to find successes outside of the ones you were after. Meaning you may not have sold the group on your idea but you helped them see a different way to look at something, changing the way they make decisions moving forward.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hawkmoon is an entertainment company that creates immersive experiences, live entertainment, and Brand activations. We are a full-service design and production company providing solutions in live entertainment production. We bring your story to life.
As the General Manager and Executive Producer of Hawkmoon, I get to live my dream of creating the moments that memories are made of. From entertaining crowds with live performances, to producing immersive experiences for conventions and private events, we get to touch so many lives in a positive way. That is what fills my cup and where I find my true joy professionally.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Figure it out! 2. Communication
3. Willingness to learn
These qualities and skills are all a work in progress. In our industry, there is no other choice. When you are faced with a problem you have to be able to figure it out. Whether you need to read a manual, watch a video or phone a friend you have to find a solution. This is not something that comes easy for many people and takes time and dedication to master, but once you solve 10 problems like this, then the next 10 get easier and so on.
Communication is probably the most important skill set you can learn professionally. Knowing how to communicate with someone, when to communicate with someone and where to communicate with someone in a professional manner can make or break your career, especially when you are person of color making a path in an industry where you are an extreme minority. PS I said the word communicate 5 times in this paragraph to highlight its importance.
Lastly, if you want to hit your full potential you need to be willing to constantly learn. Whether it’s a new technological advance, or a new leadership principle, or a new process that requires us to expand our base of knowledge, being willing to learn will help you grow professionally and personally. I advise you to lean into this and don’t ignore it, or you will be left behind wondering why everyone around is advancing.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
It is inevitable that at some point in your life or your career you will feel overwhelmed. When I go through this, the first thing I do is recognize that it is ok. No one is perfect and we all need to create space in our lives for setbacks, and be kind to ourselves when it happens. Next, I’ll take a step back to recenter myself. Deep breathing or meditation are my preferred methods. If that doesn’t work then it’s time to put down what I’m working on and do something I enjoy. Sometimes you can’t solve a problem in the moment. Give it time and space and a solution will reveal itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hawkmoon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hawkmooncreative/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hawkmooncreative/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-gibson/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xRrW50jhjYRObulletyAw
