Pia Mailhot-Leichter – Creativity is Part of Being Human

Pia Mailhot-Leichter is a creative partner, best selling author, certified coach, and founder. Her path has been anything but ordinary: a recovering nomad, she’s reported as a journalist in Sri Lanka, graduated summa cum laude from NYU, and worked as an award-winning creative director for some of the biggest brands in the world. Now, as the founder of Kollektiv Studio, she’s uniquely positioned to help people create their wild ventures. Pia Mailhot-Leichter Vroom Vroom Veer Summary Finding Joy in Creative Work Jeffery and Pia discussed Pia's work as a fractional creative director and creative coach in Copenhagen, where she collaborates with "unconventional dreamers" to bring their visions to life. Pia emphasized the importance of finding joy and purpose in one's work, citing the finite nature of life and the opportunity to create each day anew. They agreed on the value of maintaining optimism and finding joy in life's journey, with Jeffery referencing Jack Cornfield's perspective on the duty to be joyful. Pia's International Career Journey Pia shared her background, including growing up in New York City and her extensive travel experiences across various countries. She discussed her education, including studying English at Hunter College and pursuing a master's in international relations at NYU. Pia described her career path, which included working as a journalist in Sri Lanka and later doing communications work for the UNDP and an NGO called Plan International. Overcoming Adversity for Academic Success Pia shared her personal journey, including being kicked out of her house at 17 and struggling financially while attending college. Despite these challenges, she worked hard to achieve academic success, earning multiple cum laude degrees. After completing her master's, Pia took a contract role at the United Nations Development Program in New York City, though the salary was not sufficient to cover her living expenses. Cross-Cultural Work Experiences Discussed Jeffery and Pia discussed their experiences working in Bahrain and Qatar. Pia shared her disappointment at having to sell ad space for an economic documentary in Bahrain instead of pursuing her original goal of making a positive impact through transitional justice work. She realized later that the experience taught her valuable skills in sales and confidence in pitching to high-level executives. Jeffery, who served in the military, noted that frequent relocations and job changes helped him develop problem-solving skills, an attribute that was appreciated by his bosses. Embracing Change and Personal Growth Pia and Jeffery discussed the challenges and opportunities that come with change and new experiences. Pia shared her experience of choosing to stay in Copenhagen after a divorce, rather than moving to Paris, after her therapist encouraged her to consider developing a deeper relationship with herself in that place. They explored how moving can sometimes be a way to avoid dealing with personal issues, comparing it to the temporary nature of military assignments. The conversation concluded with Pia emphasizing the importance of making conscious choices about moving, rather than acting on impulse, as a way to gain empowerment and freedom. Life Changes and Lifestyle Reimagining Jeffery shared his experience of moving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas after 13 years, driven by a desire for change and the appeal of lower living costs. Pia discussed her own considerations for reimagining her life, particularly given her family commitments, and explored the possibility of designing a lifestyle that balances current and future desires. They both reflected on the importance of making conscious choices and the uncertainty of knowing where they might eventually settle, with Jeffery mentioning the potential of using his Vegas home as a base while exploring other locations temporarily. Japan Experiences and Climate Adaptations