Meet Shantanu Sharma

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shantanu Sharma. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shantanu, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I’m grateful to be able to be living in a city like New York. It can be very fast-paced and overwhelming but I thrive off the overstimulation, at least in this current phase of life. It’s quite rare to be ‘bored’ here and there’s something for everyone if you seek it, especially for people in creative fields. A lot of my friends here are designers, artists, and filmmakers; I often find inspiration through them, going to galleries once a month, biking around the city while listening to music, or trying to find a nice spot to sit and be still.

I often find myself the most inspired when I take a break from work/trying to be creative, I usually come back raring to go and excited to create again.

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 designer, illustrator, and art director. I currently work in advertising, designing ads, campaigns, and identities for global brands such as Nike, KFC, Corona, and EA Sports. Alongside my day job, I take up smaller freelance projects– from brand identities to illustration.

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?

Kindness– being nice to people goes a long way and is very underrated.

Conviction– I’ve been fortunate to have been surrounded by people who believed in me and gave me opportunities I don’t think I would’ve gotten so early in my life/career. Part of that is probably luck and placing myself in the ‘right’ situation, and part of it came down to the conviction and confidence I showed– even if I didn’t have it internally. It’s hard to put down anyone sure of something.

Confidence– Confidence is the successful repetition of any endeavor; putting myself in situations outside of my comfort zone often really helped me learn and grow faster. something I’m trying to continue doing.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

Everything! It’s hard to quantify. But if I had to pick one, I would say sending me to New York for my higher education. I don’t think I can repay them for that and the opportunities and life that came along with it. Knowing that it was a big investment made me want to work harder and ensure I was making the most of it.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your

Productivity
Working hard in 2024: Keeping Work Ethic Alive

While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that

Leadership Development
Mastering Communication: Stories & Lessons

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.”