The B!G 5 Live is back!! Each week we ask one of our Superstar mentors 5 questions and they have 15 seconds to answer each one. It is generally hectic, often technically problematic and always full of fabulous nuggets of creative genius. Since its return in October, we have had Donal O’Mahony, Head of the Experience team at Verizon Connect; Deirdre Corcoran, Creative Director and CEO at Chapter; Stephen McGilloway, Owner of BigSmall and Sharon Tighe, Director of Marketing at Maverick Communications on the hot seat. 

A common theme that came through in each interview was that deadlines can help with creativity. Donal was pretty emphatic that while some creatives might be inspired in the shower, he performs to his potential when under pressure with a deadline. Deirdre felt the same way and emphasised how much she enjoys a bit of pressure as it helps to focus her. She said that she needs a deadline to focus her and stop her drifting too far off track. Stephen works his magic when he is with his team in the studio and Sharon is a night bird who comes creatively to life in the evenings. 

Creativity is described by our Mentors as being open to exploring new things and seeing things in a new way. It’s a way of thinking, an approach, a mindset. It’s a way of life or a way of thinking about life, it’s a way of looking at things and collaborating. Donal summed it up by saying it’s how we think and that everybody; every child, every pensioner, every single person is creative.

The Mentors were full of words of wisdom for students who are about to embark on the programme in 2022. Sharon gave a fabulous insight by commenting that sometimes challenges and obstacles can make you think harder and differently about something so don’t be afraid of any challenges that are thrown up, take them head on and embrace them. Stephen believes in practicing and honing in on skills. Deirdre suggests trusting your instinct. The B!G Idea is about walking in other people’s shoes and seeing life from a different perspective so empathy is key. Research is important and will guide you as a student but trusting the gut and having empathy is what makes work special and unique. 

Stephen remarkably hit on one of The B!G Idea’s favourite values when asked about what his biggest creative failure has been. Stephen’s reply that he doesn’t believe in creative failures but that it becomes part of a learning process is echoing one of the fundamental principles of The B!G Idea. We talk a lot in the programme about fLearning which is learning from failure. How could anyone fail at something, it’s a matter of making a mistake and learning from it and coming out with an awesome result. 

So what’s clear here is that even in the space of five minutes our Mentors have so much knowledge and valuable and practical experience to share with our students. This is only a snapshot and you could be a part of it. 

2000 students need your guidance, join the Mentor journey in 2022.

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