Meet Juan Mercier

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Juan Mercier. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Juan below.

Juan , thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

My optimism comes from the power of dreams — see it, believe it, achieve it. We’re only on this earth for a short time, so I believe in making the most of it, doing what makes me happy, and finding passion in everything I do. I move through life with curiosity, and I’ll admit, I’ve always been a little “delusional” in the best way — it feels like a superpower that lets me channel the energy I need to turn anything I want into reality.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

At my core, I’m a storyteller. I work across film, television, and marketing, creating projects that are visually striking but also deeply personal. I’m especially passionate about telling stories that reflect the urban queer experience and shine a light on voices we don’t hear enough from.
What I love most about what I do is that no two days are ever the same. One day I might be developing a TV pilot, the next I’m writing my debut novel, or pulling together visuals for a creative campaign. Right now, I’m especially excited about Dominguez Heights, a one-hour crime drama set in an exclusive gated community, and Lovers & Friends, a psychological thriller about friendship, grief, and the secrets we keep.

I’ve also been building Haus of Mercier, my creative home for all my original ideas, collaborations, and visual storytelling. For me, it’s not just about making content — it’s about making something people can feel, remember, and talk about long after they’ve experienced it.

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?

Adaptability has been huge — especially in creative fields where things change quickly. My time in the Snap Academies really pushed me to think on my feet, pivot ideas, and find creative solutions under tight deadlines. For anyone starting out, I’d say: embrace change, and see challenges as opportunities to stretch yourself.

Storytelling is at the heart of everything I do. Whether I’m writing a TV pilot, developing a campaign, or crafting a brand narrative, the ability to connect with people through a story is what makes the work resonate. My advice? Study stories — in film, in advertising, in everyday conversations — and practice telling your own in a way that feels true to you.

Relationship-building has opened more doors for me than I can count. From mentors at Snap to collaborators on my own projects, the connections I’ve built have shaped my career. If you’re early in your journey, focus on genuine connection rather than transactional networking. People remember how you made them feel, not just what you asked for.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I believe you should lead with your strengths while still staying open to improving weaker areas. Your strengths are what set you apart they’re your competitive edge. Going all in on them builds confidence, momentum, and credibility. But if you completely ignore your weaker areas, you can hit ceilings you didn’t expect.
For me, storytelling and creative strategy have always been my strengths. Those are what helped me shine in the Snap Academies, where I was selected to collaborate on real-world campaigns with tight turnarounds. But early in my career, I realized that while I was strong creatively, I needed to grow my technical and data skills to better communicate with cross-functional teams. I invested time into learning analytics tools, understanding performance metrics, and strengthening my presentation skills not to replace my strengths, but to make them even more impactful.

The sweet spot is using your strengths as your foundation while strategically developing the skills that make your work stronger, more versatile, and more collaborative.

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