273 Vince Wanga - The Art of Direction

Vince Wanga is a dynamic international design thought leader, creative keynote speaker, award-winning creative executive, author of The Art of Direction, serial entrepreneur, and experienced brand consultant with an exceptional range of expertise built over a distinguished two-decade career.

As the former Vice President and Head of Creative for one of the fastest-growing technology startups in North America, he led corporate brand strategy and creative direction during a period of extraordinary growth, from pre-Series A to a “unicorn” valuation of over $1 billion.

In this episode, Jason and Vince discuss:

• Why failures were the greatest teacher in Vince’s creative and leadership journey
• The meaning behind his book, The Art of Direction, and why leadership is an art
• How creative leaders play a pivotal role at the forefront of business change
• The realistic role of AI in the workplace and how leaders should approach it
• What he learned scaling a company from Series A to a $1B valuation in four years

Key Takeaways: 

• Vince attributes much of his growth and resilience to the failures he encountered early in his career, viewing them as foundational learning experiences rather than setbacks.
• Leadership isn’t something you apply like a formula; it’s a nuanced, evolving practice that demands empathy, creativity, and the ability to adapt to changing people and circumstances.
• The most successful companies aren’t reactive—they stay true to their core values and make bold, intentional choices even when the market zigs in a different direction.
• Rather than fearing artificial intelligence, leaders should view it as a partner—a tool that can automate mundane tasks and amplify strategy when used wisely.
• Creative professionals often feel disruption before others do, serving as early indicators of broader changes in business and culture—what Vince calls the "canaries in the coal mine."

“I truly believe leadership has to be empathetic. You need to understand your industry, your team, and your customer—and that requires the ability to adapt, not just with the times, but with circumstances, the economy, and all the variables thrown your way. That’s where the science of leadership breaks down, and it becomes an art form—because art, inherently, is an adaptable strategy.” - Vince Wanga

Connect with Vince Wanga:

Website: https://www.vincentwanga.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-wanga/ 

Vince’s Book: https://www.vincentwanga.com/shop.css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}