Meet Ricardo Ceballos

We recently connected with Ricardo Ceballos and have shared our conversation below.

Ricardo, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?

In 1998, I had the profound experience of serving a year in the military in my home country, an experience that shaped me in ways I never could have anticipated. It challenged me, humbled me, and, most importantly, opened my eyes to the vast spectrum of human experiences. Sharing daily life with people from all walks of life, individuals whose backgrounds, struggles, and aspirations were so different from my own. It gave me a deeper appreciation for resilience, camaraderie, and the power of perspective. Looking back, it was more than just a year of service; it was a transformative chapter in my life and one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I was born and raised in Colombia, and in 2000, I came to the U.S. with one dream: to work for Pearl Jam. That was it, my one and only goal.

Fast forward a few years, and just three months after graduating college, I found myself working a private Pearl Jam show at the House of Blues, the place where I had been interning as a stagehand. Not only did I get to meet the band, and help set their instruments but I also had a quick, surreal one-on-one with Eddie Vedder. And then, as if the universe wanted to outdo itself, I got to watch my favorite band rehearse for 45 minutes completely alone in the venue. Just me, Pearl Jam, and the kind of magic you can’t put into words.

Even now, I have to pinch myself when I tell this story. I’ll never forget driving home that night, my mind racing with one thought: “Well… what now?”

For over 15 years, I’ve had the incredible privilege of producing advertising campaigns and video content for some of the world’s biggest brands and TV networks. But beyond the titles and awards, what truly drives me is love, love for storytelling, for collaboration, and for creating moments that connect with people on a deeper level.

My journey has taken me to some pretty surreal places like standing on set with Andy Garcia and Bryce Dallas Howard, sharing heartfelt conversations with Lin-Manuel Miranda about the power of family, and choreographing over 300 dancers down Main Street, U.S.A. at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. I’ve captured Neymar’s brilliance with a soccer ball, and, in one whirlwind adventure, literally circled the globe in just 13 days filming the rebirth of a cruise ship in Cádiz, Spain, and a rock band’s acoustic session in Honolulu.

I’ve been lucky to collaborate with brands like Walt Disney Studios, Starbucks, Uber Eats, Coca-Cola, Burger King, DoorDash, Budweiser, Disney Parks, Best Buy, and Universal Music Group, to name a few. Through it all, I’ve learned that great work comes from great teamwork. I thrive in a relaxed, creative environment, where passion and collaboration fuel the magic. And at the heart of it all, music remains a constant source of inspiration, shaping the way I see and tell stories.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

There are three principles that have always guided me:

1. Stay humble. No matter how much success or recognition comes your way, humility keeps you grounded. It reminds you that there’s always something to learn, always someone to learn from, and that true growth comes from staying open to new perspectives.

2. Protect your reputation, it’s the one thing that will always follow you. Skills evolve, jobs change, and circumstances shift, but your integrity and the way you treat people will define you long after the work is done. Trust is hard to build and easy to lose, so guarding it is essential.

3. Embrace what you don’t know. There’s strength in admitting that you don’t have all the answers. Curiosity and a willingness to learn are what drive progress. The moment we think we know it all is the moment we stop growing. And at the end of the day, we never truly stop learning until our very last breath.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life by Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh is one of those books that completely shifted my perspective. It takes the wisdom of classical Chinese philosophy and makes it feel incredibly relevant to modern life.

Since the first time I read it, it’s had a permanent spot on my nightstand. Every time I see it, I’m reminded of some of its most powerful lessons like how the world is unpredictable, ever-changing, and often unfair, how small actions shape who we are, how emotions aren’t fixed but cultivated, how rituals can help us grow, and, most importantly, that there isn’t just one “right” path in life. It’s a book I keep coming back to, not just for its insights, but for the way it nudges me to be more intentional in my daily life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ricardoceballos.com
• Instagram: _ricardo.ceballos
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-ceballos-7556079/
• Other: https://www.ricardoceballos.live

Image Credits

I have the rights to all these photos