Meet Carlos Gomez

We recently connected with Carlos Gomez and have shared our conversation below.

Carlos, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

This question actually made me laugh because I realized a few things. Growing up in a very blue-collar environment, I always wanted to be an artist. In college, while many of my fellow students were focused on getting into the gaming industry, I wanted to make cartoons. Throughout my career, I often found myself surrounded by people with computer science backgrounds while I held a degree in animation. In many of the meetings I was in, I was the only one with my particular background and perspective.

With that being said, I am such a fan of people. I know for a fact that everyone reading this interview has a great story—one that can make the whole room laugh or even cry. I’ve worked with some incredible individuals, and I loved getting to know them and hear their stories. And, of course, I would share my own. Sure, I get animated, but that’s just part of being of Caribbean descent—it’s what we do.

Building those bonds with my co-workers paid off, especially when we worked long hours, faced intense crunch time, and even pulled some all-nighters.

One thing is for sure: if you ask anyone I’ve ever worked with, they’ll tell you the same thing—”That friendly Caribbean kid from Chicago is here to work hard and have a good time.”

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a YouTuber! I am also a professional creative with a focus on filmmaking. I’ve worked with companies on everything from video production and graphic design to branding and website creation. You could say that I’m a creative Swiss Army knife.

I believe it’s better to show than tell. When I first started doing my own sales, I created personal projects and posted the results on YouTube. Then, I would send the link to business owners as an example of what I could do for them. I began to notice that my audience was growing so I leaned into it. I changed my focus from using YouTube as a sales tool to using it more as my distribution channel. Now I don’t create content for clients, I create it for my audience. That small shift in thinking made a huge difference in building my audience.

I also have a passion for teaching. Many people in my family are educators, so it comes naturally to me. On my channel I create tutorials that focus on creative software and hardware, production processes, and I also have conversations about the creative industry. I think it’s vital for creatives to communicate and collaborate much more.

I would like to leverage my learnings and accomplishments for one of my big mid-term goals. I want to help establish a media creation club at the high school I graduated from. I want to walk into a meeting and see way more faces that look like mine. I want to hear stories from people that come from a similar background as mine. I know there are talented kids in the inner city who just need an opportunity. I want to help find those artists and let them know that the sky is the limit.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I’ve been through so much in my life that I have no fear. In an office environment, there is no challenge that can’t be overcome. I’ve been in situations where project managers were losing their minds, wondering why I was so calm. I’d remind them that I was in the Army, where I learned how to throw hand grenades—nothing in the office is more stressful than that! You have to keep your cool.

Leverage all of your skills to make your projects stand out. If you can think outside the box, you’ll find unique solutions to any problem. I’ve integrated my animation skills into most of the projects I’ve worked on. Whether it’s animating buttons on a user interface or designing a cartoon character, those skills have come in handy to make a boring app a bit more lively.

Finally, the best advice I can give to those just starting their journey is this: don’t just focus on perfecting your passion. Be the best you can at your craft, but also surround yourself with like-minded people who will support and uplift you. In the advertising and entertainment industries, I’ve seen how people form cliques that help them navigate corporate America.

There’s an old African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

The short answer: I’m open to collaborating with anyone who wants to carve out their own market.

The long answer: I’m lucky to have amazing friends, and together we’re creating projects across multiple mediums—films, animations, comics, music, and even a classic movie review show. Technology is making the film and animation industries more accessible than ever, opening up incredible possibilities for independent creators.

But the real difference lies in who is telling the story. Sure, Generative AI can whip up a story and produce a stunning film in seconds, but AI will never be a Caribbean kid making a film about graffiti crews from Chicago and Los Angeles battling it out in South Central LA.

I’m always eager to collaborate with anyone who wants to forge their own path in the industry. My team is full of talented creators making unique projects. Don’t get me wrong—I love Disney movies—but we have our own stories to tell, too.

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