Nahuel Hilal’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Nahuel Hilal. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Nahuel, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Home is my happy place. After 21 years I’m still head-over-heels for Sabina, and our son Rocco keeps life playful—hanging out with him never gets old. Add two goofy dogs and one mischievous cat, and there’s laughter in the house every single day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I founded IRIS with my wife, Sabina, back in 2013 in Buenos Aires. I came up the hard way, hustling through small ventures on three continents until I realized I could build something that lets art and business sit at the same table without either losing its soul.

Sabina is a designer and brand strategist. She gave IRIS its look, its feel, and that spark you notice the second you walk through the door. Her eye for space and storytelling turned a simple tattoo studio into an experience people remember.

We started from scratch, guided by a simple promise: create a place artists and clients would proudly call home. IRIS is still family-owned and driven by the immigrant spirit that shaped our lives.

Today we have 28 artists working across two countries. We have helped eight of them secure visas and green cards so they can chase their craft on a bigger stage. Curiosity and ambition brought us to Miami, and now the same fire is taking us to Nashville, where our newest studio opens in the summer of 2025.

Our son Rocco has begun pitching in around the shop, learning the ropes while he crushes it at school and pursues his own dream of becoming a musician. IRIS is no longer just a studio; it is a family project built on connection, collaboration, and real care—for our team, for our clients, and for every story that walks through the door.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
Who taught me the most about work? Honestly, myself. I’ve never really fit into the standard HR mold… I doubt I’d even pass a normal job interview. I’ve always seen myself as pretty much unemployable, so I had to go out and build my own profession from the ground up. Everything I know about work, discipline, and leading people comes from throwing myself into it, screwing up, learning the hard way, and refusing to settle for being just “good enough.”

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. During COVID, the uncertainty was brutal. We were living in Argentina while our business was in Miami, and we couldn’t travel for over a year to work on it. I felt completely stuck and seriously thought about walking away more than once. I’m glad I didn’t. Holding on through that chaos showed me what IRIS really means to me and how much fight I still have in me when things get hard.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Keeping your end of an agreement, no matter what. The only real heartbreaks I’ve had in business and life were when people couldn’t stick to their side of the deal. I’d rather take the hit myself than break my word. It’s not always easy, and sometimes it costs me, but I’d rather sleep at night knowing I did what I said I’d do.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
ow do I know when I’m out of my depth? Easy! if I’m alive, I’m out of my depth. I scored a girl way out of my league, built a successful business with zero credentials, emigrated without looking back, and keep expanding without a clear map. I only know how to jump in way over my head and brute-force my way through it. It’s messy, but it’s what keeps me growing.

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