As a creative or artist, your work is more than just an expression of talent and passion. It’s a business opportunity waiting to be tapped into. While platforms like Instagram or Behance may offer a place to showcase your portfolio, LinkedIn is another platform that can help you turn your art into a viable commercial asset.
Impact of Your Art on MNCs, Organisations, and Corporations
The world is becoming more connected, and companies are increasingly looking for creative solutions to drive their brand, culture, and innovation.
Whether you're a visual artist, a musician, a writer, or a designer, your craft can have a profound impact on MNCs, non-profits, and even smaller organisations. While to most artists, LinkedIn may not be a natural platform. But what LinkedIn does in a very targeted way is the space to connect your art to business needs to give another dimension to your career.
Think about how your art can enhance an organisation’s brand, improve internal culture, or bring new energy to corporate environments.
Your creative vision can help shape branding campaigns, influence product designs, or even curate an immersive experience for a company’s corporate event.
The creative world is expanding beyond the traditional boundaries of galleries and performances. Businesses are recognising the value of creativity in their commercial strategy. If they don't, they are either not your audience or it is an opportunity to educate and share how and why.
Define Your Creative and Artistic Commercial Value
One of the first steps in using LinkedIn to grow a commercial professional network is to define what your art can offer to organisations. Understanding how your unique skills and creative output can contribute to businesses is key to positioning yourself effectively.
Ask yourself:
- What type of artist am I? Are you a visual artist creating digital designs for brands? A musician whose compositions could set the tone for corporate events or their advertising creatives? A creative and creator that has a story that resonates with a brand’s voice?
- How can my art add value to businesses? Perhaps your work can help a company with brand storytelling, product development, or employee engagement.
- What commercial problems can I solve through creativity? Companies often face challenges in building emotional connections with customers, increasing employee satisfaction, or differentiating themselves in crowded markets. How can your art become a solution?
These are just some ideas. But how it starts is by building relationships with these potential clients.
Once you define how your art adds value to organisations, you’ll be clearer on the types of businesses you want to target and the specific roles your creativity can play in their commercial processes.
And to many artists, I understand you are very protective of your work, but what I'm saying here is it really is up to YOU. Understand your boundaries and have a mindset on how this can create creative commercial success to perhaps a 'segment' of your creative strategy or expressions.
Building Your Network with Purpose on LinkedIn
LinkedIn allows you to build a network of like-minded professionals, businesses, and organisations that could benefit from your art. It’s not just about showcasing your work; it’s about positioning yourself as a professional artist who understands the commercial landscape. Here are some ways on how you could do it:
- Optimise your profile: Clearly state what you do, the value you provide, and how you can help businesses. Use your headline to describe your art in a way that’s relevant to business needs. For example, “Visual Artist Helping Brands Create Impactful, Engaging Designs” or “Musician Composing Custom Soundtracks for Corporate Events and Advertising Campaigns.”
- Content: Share case studies, testimonials, and success stories of how your art has impacted organisations. You are very likely already on Instagram, TikTok, similarly, explore how LinkedIn’s native video and article features can help your storytelling. EG: post behind-the-scenes insights into your creative process and the commercial results it’s delivered.
- Engage with industry leaders: Be brave and think bigger. Don’t just focus on your portfolio; actively engage with businesses, HR professionals, and marketing leaders who might benefit from your work. Comment on their posts, share insights, and make connections that align with your goals.
- Join groups: There are many LinkedIn groups and content (like this one called Wild & Wise) related to creative industries, branding, and marketing where you can share your expertise and build connections. This is also an excellent way to learn more about what businesses need and how to align your art with those needs.
Commercial Viability of Creativity
The ultimate goal is to shift the narrative around creativity, making it a commercially viable solution for organisations.
Having worked with many artists and creatives, we often see ourselves as “artists” first, but embracing the commercial side of your work can help you build a more sustainable and impactful career. You can find clarity on how your unique art can be integrated into the fabric of a company’s success.
By understanding your art’s value proposition, expanding your professional network, and aligning your creative process with the business world’s needs, LinkedIn is one platform that offers a powerful space for creatives to not just showcase their talent, but also grow their commercial presence in the industry.
Elevate Your Art to the Business World. Artists, musicians, and creators often feel disconnected from the corporate world, and if you are an artist looking to bridge that gap, looking for opportunities for growth, collaboration, and business development. By defining how your art contributes to organisations and leveraging LinkedIn’s networking tools, amongst other ways, you can turn your creativity into a commercial asset that propels both your brand and the organisations you collaborate with.
Your art has power and it can meet the professional world!
If this resonates and you are looking to take your art into a commercial space, please feel free to DM or reach out to me. I'd love to have a conversation over coffee!
Be Wild & Wise Today
Are you ready to unlock your strengths and achieve personal or professional growth? Whether you need help with personal branding, team alignment, or strengths-based coaching, Wild & Wise is here to guide you. Book your free consultation and take the first step towards your transformation.
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Shared Goals Are Not Enough: Why Teams Break Without Shared Behaviours
During my years working in MNCs, leaders often say, “We’re aligned on goals.”
But when I work with these teams, what I often see is this: misalignment on behaviour.
Teams may agree on the destination but no one’s aligned on how they’ll get there. That’s when performance stalls, tensions build, and collaboration quietly breaks down.
Shared goals don’t mean much if they’re not backed by shared behaviours.
What Behaviour Has to Do With Performance
According to Gallup’s 2024 meta-analysis of 183,000+ teams, those in the top quartile of engagement were:
- 23% more profitable
- 18% more productive in sales
- 66% more successful at employee well-being and retention
And what drives engagement?
Not just strategy, not perks, not offsites. It’s day-to-day interactions, how team members communicate, challenge, support, and follow through. The things that live in your behaviour, not your business plan.
Gallup also found that 70% of team engagement is driven by the manager. That means leadership behaviour isn’t just influential, it’s actually pivotal.
Cultural Nuances in Asia: Why Shared Behaviours Matter Even More
In Asia-Pacific, shared behaviours can be harder to surface because of cultural dynamics like hierarchy, deference to authority, or avoiding conflict.
Studies across Singapore, India, and China show that in high power-distance environments, team members are often less likely to challenge ideas or speak up when there’s tension. But in today’s complex environments, psychological safety and collaborative culture are make-or-break factors for innovation and speed.
Without shared behaviours, even the smartest people play small, and creativity suffers.
What Can You Do?
The smartest leaders I work with aren’t the loudest in the room. They’re the ones still learning. The ones willing to pause and ask:
- How are we showing up for each other?
- Where is behaviour holding us back?
- What do we need to name in order to move forward?
This is where CliftonStrengths® and coaching can play a game-changing role, not just as tools, but as facilitation spaces. Real conversations. Practical alignment. Working agreements that stick.
Because until your team agrees on how to behave together, goals are just words on a slide.
The New Age of Creativity
In today's evolving creative landscape, there's a delicate balance between honouring the dedication required to master artistic crafts and embracing the new possibilities that technology offers. True artists and creators know that exceptional work comes from years of practice, discipline, and commitment.
The Enduring Value of Artistic Mastery
While Helen Cammock, a Turner Prize winner in 2019, notes that "just because you can't draw something in a representative, representational way, it doesn't mean that you're not creative," this doesn't diminish the importance of developing genuine artistic skill. Cammock's work across "film, photography, print, performance, writing and text" represents years of dedicated practice and refinement.
Professional artists understand that mastering their craft requires countless hours of focused work. The digital revolution hasn't changed this fundamental reality. But it has provided established artists with powerful new tools to enhance their already formidable skills. For serious creators, technology doesn't replace craft; it extends and amplifies it.
The Rise of Artistic Consumption
The recent sensation of Pop Mart and similar artistic collectables demonstrates how today's consumers are increasingly drawn to artsy, cute items with emotional appeal. People aren't just buying products; they're collecting art pieces that speak to them on a sentimental level. This trend guarantees a growing appreciation for art collections, further blurring the line between consumer products and artistic expression.
This shift toward art appreciation is evident in prestigious auction houses as well. At Christie's Bangkok, a renowned global auction house, Prapavadee Sophonpanich has witnessed this transformation firsthand during her seven-year tenure. She has successfully guided collectors who initially focused exclusively on luxury items to develop a genuine enthusiasm for art.
"We have observed a significant growth in art appreciation among collectors," Prapavadee notes. "While the proportion between luxury goods and artwork sales varies annually, Christie's has seen a substantial increase in revenue from art sales. Currently, luxury items represent approximately 50%-70% of our revenue, with art sales contributing a remarkable 30%-50%—a considerable improvement from previous years. This positive trend is particularly encouraging for the art market."
Creativity Across the Lifespan
The idea that creativity declines with age is a harmful myth. Many of history's most revered artists produced their greatest works after decades of refining their skills. Claude Monet's late-career paintings came after a lifetime of studying light and colour. Folk artist Grandma Moses may have started painting in her 70s, but her work reflected decades of observing and understanding rural life. Georgia O'Keeffe's later works demonstrated the culmination of a lifetime of artistic exploration.
Professional artists understand that their craft deepens with time and experience. Each year brings new insights that inform their work, creating a richness that can only come from sustained practice.
Commitment to Continual Growth
Cammock began studying art formally at 35 after a decade as a social worker, but this represents a shift in focus rather than a beginning from zero. Many established artists explore new techniques or mediums throughout their careers, building upon their existing foundation of skills.
Successful artists recognise that growth never stops. Anne Ryan, an Irish artist with years of experience in painting, ceramics and sculpture, has taken up tap dancing not as a beginner's hobby but as a way to bring fresh energy to her already-developed artistic practice.
Here are ways to help you become more creative:
- Finding Your Creative Space
Establishing a personal space for creativity is essential. Cammock refers to this as finding your "container." For her, walking serves this purpose: "It is a way of being in a particular space, emotionally, psychologically and intellectually."
This container might be as simple as "a desk that you have in a busy house, or it could be a window, or it could be lying in the bath." The key is "affording yourself time and space where you are somehow in your own head."
- Get Moving to Get Creating
Physical movement often catalyses creativity. Babak Ganjei, an east London artist, prefers walking to generate ideas for his text-based paintings. "All the thinking happens while moving," he explains. "I actually find it really hard to sit still."
Similarly, Anne Ryan describes being "very physical" in her studio: "It's like music goes through my body." When inspiration is lacking, Barbadian-Scottish artist Alberta Whittle recommends dancing: "Sometimes, I really need to move my body and shake things up, so having a solo dance party can really help."
- Embracing the Creative Process
Successful artists share certain habits that nurture creativity:
- Work at your peak hours: Identify when you're most productive. Some artists are morning people, while others find their creative flow in the evenings.
- Create consistently: As experienced artists suggest, "Try to sketch each day. Within the visual arts, that is a very good discipline."
- Disconnect to connect: Put away digital distractions. Carrying a sketchbook/ iPad can help capture inspiration throughout the day.
- Embrace doing nothing: Sometimes creativity emerges from stillness. As seasoned creators note, "Sometimes, to make you have to do nothing... and then suddenly something is happening."
Today's most innovative artists aren't abandoning traditional skills, they're integrating new technologies into practices built on solid foundations. Digital tools offer established artists new ways to express their vision, streamline certain aspects of production, and reach wider audiences. For the dedicated artist who has invested years in developing their craft, technology becomes not a shortcut but a powerful extension of their artistic voice.
Reference: The experts: artists on 20 easy, mind-expanding ways to be much more creative
Why Leaders Need a People-First Strategy
Leaders face a unique challenge. That is, balancing performance expectations with human energy, innovation, and team engagement. Especially in hybrid or high-output environments, creativity can’t be forced, but it can be fostered.
Why the People-First Approach Matters More Than Ever
Whether you're running a global creative team, building an agency, or leading innovation in-house, your greatest asset is not your product, it’s your people.
A 2023 Gallup report showed that only 21% of employees feel connected to their company’s mission, and even fewer feel engaged. That’s a huge problem in industries where passion, originality, and trust are essential to performance.
So why does this happen? Because many leaders default to measuring output, chasing deadlines, and micromanaging delivery, while missing what truly drives creative performance: clarity, autonomy, and purpose.
Three Ways to Build a People-First Strategy That Drives Real Results
Here’s how creative business leaders can shift the way they lead without compromising on performance:
1. Redefine What Performance Looks Like
Not all performance is visible or easily measured. In creative work, performance often looks like collaboration, emotional investment, or even taking risks that might fail.
Instead of only focusing on deliverables and timelines, ask:
- Are people aligned on what matters most?
- Are they working from their strengths, or burning out trying to meet unrealistic expectations?
- Are your leaders clear on how to support, not just manage their teams?
Using strengths-based conversations (like CliftonStrengths®) to help individuals and teams understand what energises them and how they naturally contribute is a great foundation for teams to learn more about themselves and each other.
2. Start with Clarity, Not Control
People don’t need micromanagement, they need clarity, trust, and space.
If your team lacks clarity, they’ll overwork to compensate. If they don’t feel trusted, they’ll under-deliver. Performance suffers either way.
The best creative leaders lead with context and vision, they provide a strong direction, then get out of the way.
Ask yourself:
- Am I giving enough context for people to make smart decisions?
- Does my team know how their work connects to the bigger picture?
- Do my people feel safe to test, question, and create?
3. Coach, Don’t Just Manage
The shift from managing people to coaching them is what separates good leaders from great ones.
Performance thrives when people feel seen, challenged, and supported, not just checked on. This is especially true for high-potential creatives and future leaders who need space to grow, not just be told what to do.
Coaching-style leadership means:
- Asking better questions instead of giving all the answers
- Recognising effort and potential, not just results
- Helping your people set meaningful goals they actually care about
Final Thought: Your People Drive the Numbers
It’s easy to default to KPIs, deadlines, and targets. But if you really want performance—real, sustainable, high-impact performance—start by investing in your people.
Because the teams who feel valued, connected, and led with intention are the ones who will bring their best thinking, creativity, and energy to the work.
Lead the people well, and the numbers will follow.