Paint & Pipette: The Art & Science of Innovation S2Ep06: Purpose, Passion, and Risk-Taking with Jonathan Azu
Jonathan Azu is an inspirational individual who has always followed his passion and taken risks, and it has paid off in many ways, even driving positive change in greater society. Today, the Founder and CEO of Culture Collective joins us to reflect on how his life has come full circle in a number of ways throughout his career. He describes how his first success in organizing a George Clinton concert while in his sophomore year at college, led him into a successful career in artist management. Apart from sharing many of his successes, you’ll also hear about his
habit of scheduling meetings regularly with folks who he looks up to, and the importance of doing things with purpose. Jonathan talks about how being one of three executives of color in a room at a prestigious event, none of whom owned their own businesses, led him to start his own management company, and how the events of the last two years have allowed him the opportunity to be in the epicenter of the conversation around diversity in the industry. To hear about Jonathan’s belief in the concept of the high-performance zone which exists right between danger and comfort, and his advice on risk-taking, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- The accomplishment that Jonathan is most proud of: Producing his first concert in his sophomore year at university.
- How Jonathan realized what his life’s calling was.
- Jonathan’s goal of doing a Dave Matthews concert and how he achieved this early on.
- What led Jonathan to work in radio.
- How Jonathan’s life came full circle when he started working for Red Light Management (Dave Matthews’ management company).
- Jonathan’s drive to figure things out and how he asks for advice about every two weeks.
- What led Jonathon to establish Culture Collective.
- The need for more diversity in the industry and how Jonathon is making a difference.
- Some of his wins from the past year in business and in driving initiatives to make a change.
- How the George Floyd murder allowed Culture Collective the opportunity to be in the epicenter of the conversation around diversity in the industry.
- Jeremy talks about the Masters of Creativity program at Stanford.
- Jonathan explains the importance of doing things with purpose.
- How Jonathan tries to foster understanding when it comes to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
- A resource that Jonathon recommends to anyone on a similar journey to his own.
- The concept of the high-performance zone between danger and comfort, and Jonathon’s advice on taking risks.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: