The B!G 5 has continued throughout the year in all its bonkers, lively, fun — yet seriously insightful — fashion. Over the past months, we’ve spoken to an incredible line-up of creative leaders, including:
Together, they shared honest, practical insights into what it really takes to build a successful creative career.
Encouragingly, the answer isn’t mysterious. According to our mentors, success in creative careers comes down to:
In fact, John explained that he often works with companies that are too quick to settle on their first idea. He encourages teams to push further.
“Don’t stop at the first idea. There will be more — and they often get better and better.”
Similarly, Ronan strongly believes in the power of passion. He even keeps a sign behind his computer as a daily reminder of how important it is to care deeply about your work.
Meanwhile, Elena reminded us of something essential:
“There are no bad ideas. There are no bad suggestions. Diversity is key for creativity.”
That mindset is powerful. When people feel safe to contribute, creativity flourishes.
Interestingly, creativity doesn’t follow one schedule.
In reality, for Eugene, early mornings are not his strongest creative moment. However, Elena proudly identifies as a morning person and often completes her best work before 9 am. Nicki, on the other hand, finds her most creative flow while travelling on an aeroplane — which sounds like the perfect reason to plan your next trip.
The message is clear: creativity looks different for everyone.
When asked about their greatest creative success, the responses were refreshingly varied. Nicki shared that seeing her shoes stocked in Brown Thomas just two months after launch was a defining moment. For a designer, that’s huge validation.
Elena, meanwhile, highlighted the joy of championing others and celebrating their achievements. John reflected on hiring junior designers early in his leadership journey — and being rewarded with fresh thinking and bold ideas.
Of course, no creative path is without setbacks. Hilary admitted that overthinking can sometimes stall progress. Ronan mentioned the pressure of deadlines. Eugene offered a thoughtful reminder: perfection is rare, especially when working within real-world constraints.
And perhaps that’s the key takeaway — constraints don’t kill creativity. Instead, they shape it.
In the nutshell, the advice for students was consistent and empowering:
Above all, creativity is not about perfection. It’s about progress. As we often say in The B!G Idea, it’s about fLearning — learning through failure.
Before we wrap up, here’s one important note. Everyone should save the date for The B!G Idea Showcase on 20th May from 11 am to 1 pm.
Actually, this is where you’ll see creative thinking in action — bold ideas, student innovation, and the next generation of problem-solvers stepping into their confidence.
Trust us, you won’t want to miss it.
