We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ricky Rosario a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ricky, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Growing up as the son of Dominican immigrants, I witnessed firsthand the sacrifices one had to make to live and survive in this country.
My mother was the ultimate example of a resilient and hardworking individual. She was the first entrepreneur and business owner I ever knew. It didn’t dawn on me until a few years ago, that for 30-plus years of my life, my mother was going above and beyond for our family. She was a beauty salon owner, part-time Avon rep, homemade ice cream seller, and a landlord. All while raising me on her own.
She was giving back to her community in the best way she could. Supporting other small businesses and even letting friends and family in the neighborhood utilize the salon space for gatherings.
It inspired me as I got older to understand my purpose and to be resilient in it. Being unfazed and resilient will continue to help me provide for the respective communities in my life.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Being a filmmaker and an entrepreneur was not a life-long dream growing up. But my love for movies and TV was always there, just the filmmaking dream wasn’t a reality in my mind. That is until I started my professional career at NBCUniversal. That’s when I truly grasped the possibilities of taking a chance. Growing up in Union City, NJ I never really met or knew anyone that worked professionally in the media industry. It didn’t seem plausible for my background until I was given the opportunity.
My dedication to filmmaking stems from wanting to create and inspire. I want to participate in storytelling that dives into my culture and upbringing. I want to tell stories that not only entertain but educate. My experiences in the worlds of entrepreneurship and investing are also big passions of mine that I want to incorporate into my ability as a filmmaker.
I’m very excited about some upcoming projects of mine that dive deeper into these themes. “B Is For Bachata” is a short film about the history of the Dominican music genre Bachata, and how a Dominican-American family relates to it. “Abuela’s Luck” is a feature film, adapted from the critically acclaimed short film, that shines a light on the shortcomings of financial literacy in our Latino and urban communities. “Havana on the Hudson” is a TV drama that puts us in the duality of living as a Cuban Immigrant in 1970s northern New Jersey.
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?
You’re always learning, be proactive and be intentional. These three things have been extremely impactful for me.
Also understanding that we’re not the first or the last person ever to take on the risks we deem unattainable. There have been generations of people before us who faced these challenges and succeeded, and there are those coming after us who will face these same challenges.
How will your journey add to the history of our lifetime?
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
One book that has played an important role in my development is “Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative” by Austin Kleon.
The basis of this book is that everyone we praise as a success, was essentially inspired by someone else. They were inspired by someone before them or inspired by a peer. Individuals from all walks of life and professions.
It’s a book that truly helped me understand that nothing is original, and that we should always be embracing the influences all around us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://byrickyrosario.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoyoorick/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricky-rosario-67749824/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoyoorick
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmB6piP44rgGp8jo_9zkWzA
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6040729/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
