We were lucky to catch up with Margaret To recently and have shared our conversation below.
Margaret, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Building confidence and self-esteem was always a challenge for me. From a timid kid in school who was too scared to raise my hand, to a young professional who feared public speaking and leadership roles, I often preferred to do the behind-the-scenes work and stay out of the spotlight.
But my passion for film and design gradually pushed me out of my comfort zone. As my work gained recognition at film and design festivals, opportunities arose to share my journey with a wider audience. I have always enjoyed helping others, so turning my fear into energy for communication became a way to challenge my self-limiting beliefs—that I wasn’t good enough, or my story wasn’t worth sharing. I have gradually gained the confidence to share my experience and take on leadership roles in spaces where I feel passionate about—design, filmmaking, social impact, and climate activism.
When I’m feeling insecure, I reflect on times when I’ve helped others, reminding me of the value of sharing, speaking up, and community. By sharing our thoughts and ideas, we may inspire others or open up discussions that lead to something meaningful!
There are always ups and downs—but I have learned to give myself grace and embrace those lows as part of the process.
A quote by my friend and collaborator, Talia Dotson, is a good reminder when I feel low, “A seed has to struggle to burst out of its casing to become a plant. As human beings, we have to struggle to move forward, to grow, to learn. And even if we don’t move forward and grow, that’s hard too. So, life, by its very nature, is challenging, and it’s that challenge that makes it worthwhile. It’s the process of having to press forward so hard that makes that strawberry that sweet.”
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a Hong Kong designer and filmmaker now based in unceded Kizh, Chumash, and Tataviam territory (Greater Los Angeles). My passion lies at the intersection of art, interactive media, and climate activism.
Along with my partner Eldon Arena, we co-founded Studio SAKA (https://www.studiosaka.co), a creative studio dedicated to social impact and climate solutions. We specialize in video, animation, and social media content, helping clients in education, nonprofit, startup, and government sectors communicate their initiatives through effective design and storytelling. Our clients include UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Greenpeace, TED-Ed, and Center for Food Safety.
What I’m most excited about is our latest project, “From Soil to Soul”, a documentary series exploring the journey to restore food sovereignty. Imagine a world where every community has the power to grow its own food, where children know the story of the food they eat and where their food comes from, and where our relationship with the land is rooted in justice, respect, and belonging. That is the vision behind From Soil to Soul, a docuseries created by a diverse team of filmmakers, farmers, and environmental advocates determined to change the food system for good. We explore critical issues from food justice and farmer rights, to food waste and corporate agriculture—while empowering viewers to take action through targeted impact campaigns.
The groundwork for the project started when I co-created the Urban Farmers’ Almanac (a sustainable living guide in LA – https://www.studiosaka.co/project/almanac) in 2021 with Climate Designers. Through the Almanac project, we met many amazing community leaders in the food justice space and wanted to highlight their voices beyond the guide. Our core team came together and we started filming in January 2024, and brought From Soil To Soul to life.
The pilot episode, ‘Food Justice in LA’, highlighted the powerful stories of food fighters in Los Angeles.
We will be launching more virtual and in-person screenings in 2025. Watch our trailer and follow us for future events:
• Trailer: https://youtu.be/7TU_zvG8KB0?si
• Website: https://www.fromsoiltosoul.film
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromsoiltosoul.film
• Email at fromsoiltosoul.film[at]gmail.com if interested in hosting a screening or connecting us to funders, partnerships, or projects in the food systems space
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?
The top skills that were impactful on my entrepreneurial and filmmaking journey are 1) permission to think big, 2) build genuine relationships, and 3) be brave to try new things.
1) Think bigger – a mentor once told me that I’m the only one holding myself back and that I need to let go of the brakes. I tend to stick to what I feel capable of, but thinking beyond my circle and capabilities has allowed me to take bigger risks and grow as an individual, and grow our company.
2) Build genuine relationships – whether in-person or virtual, being an active listener and connecting with people on a deeper level has been invaluable. It’s also important to nurture these relationships—whether that’s inviting a new friend for coffee or sending a gratitude email to a client.
3) Try new things and do more of what I love – early in my career, I didn’t have as much clarity on what I want. But trying new things helps me discover what I enjoy (and what I don’t), which helps me focus on my passion. And acknowledging that our passions can change over time so always keeping an open mind.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
For our From Soil To Soul documentary series, we are looking for collaborators to help with social media management, grant writing, digital strategy, communications, copywriting, research, and graphic design. Contact us at fromsoiltosoul.film[at]gmail.com.
At Studio SAKA we are also always on the lookout for scriptwriters, copywriters, animators, sound designers, graphic designers, editors, and production assistants. If interested in collaborating with Studio SAKA, feel free join our freelance database (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBgSXOjNcm3Bub7NJB6YA8IVzJp5OyJ10E0Ax06i3H7fBlwg/viewform), or connect with us at hello[at]studiosaka.co.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.studiosaka.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiosaka.co
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretto
- Other: From Soil To Soul Docuseries: https://www.fromsoiltosoul.film
Image Credits
Peter Figueira, Shinwei Yen, Samy Isaza, Eldon Arena, Monique Venier, Arlo Ingcoco
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
