We were lucky to catch up with Joyce Kabuya recently and have shared our conversation below.
Joyce, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
My mom named me Joyce because she said that I, her first child, brought her joy, and that I would bring joy to the world. I’ve always been a naturally happy person. Even as a child, I would wave and talk to everyone we passed in public. My mom would gently hush me, laughing in embarrassment when strangers smiled and waved back. She always celebrated me. Good grades meant new Barbies and trips to Chuck E. Cheese’s, and she constantly filled our home with encouragement. She told my little sister and me that we could be anything we wanted to be in America as long as we trusted God, worked hard, and followed our passions. She still reminds us of that to this day. My faith in God continues to be a huge source of optimism for me. When you’ve seen Him work, it’s impossible to doubt. Watching the fruits of my labor unfold just strengthens my belief that my dreams will come true. Also I’m a Leo, if that sheds any light 🙂
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a 2D animator, graphic designer, and painter, as well as the CEO and founder of Prettygirlsluvanime-a custom anime denim painting brand. My work has even caught the attention of artists like Sahbabii, which has been an honor. Currently, I’m shadowing as an Art Director and Content Creator at BBDO Atlanta, where I support the creative team on major accounts like Bayer U.S. and The Home Depot. BBDO has given me an incredible space to explore and grow creatively within the playground of advertising. I’m so grateful to Robin Fitzgerald and the entire team for sharing their guidance and knowledge, it’s been priceless (and soooo fun!) Every day, I’m becoming a stronger, more confident creative, and I’m so excited for what’s next.
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?
The most impactful qualities that have shaped my career so far are faith, confidence, and audacity. To anyone on their professional creative journey, my advice is this: have faith in God, and in yourself. No one fully understands your vision except God, and that’s because He’s the one who gave it to you. It’s not meant to make sense to everyone else. Be confident in your faith and ability to bring that vision to life. Believe in your community, and in the power of optimism. Finally, have the audacity to go after what you want. Take up space. Ask for what you need. Reach out to the person at the top. I mean…why not? They might need your help too. Say what you want out loud. Ask for the opportunity. DM that high-level person. Pitch that wild idea. Why not you? They might be looking for someone just like you, and you’ll never know unless you shoot your shot. Faith. Confidence. Audacity. That’s the tea!
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?
Lol. Timing is crazyyy, I’ve been asking myself the same thing lately. I think that the world is going to evolve wether we like it or not, and that creatives need to move with it. You don’t have to be a pro at A.I, but you should be familiar with it. It’s a part of life now, and it will evolve. Creatives need to be aware of trending changes and invest. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go all in on your strengths too. You should be able to keep your originality and grow your craft, and possibly allow the new skills to intertwine with your art. We can’t be afraid to try new things. At BBDO Atlanta, I’m learning to adapt to the creative challenges I face- wether it’s a new skill, a new software, or pleasing my creative directors, and clients. It’s fun and doesn’t feel like a dreaded sacrifice. More like a fun creativity quest where I get to level up as much as I can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joycekabuya.com/
- Instagram: Jmk.x_
- Linkedin: Joyce Kabuya
Image Credits
Jiggspics
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