Jessica Leigh Clark-Boijin

April's global theme is 'ember', and our special guest speaker will be media producer, entrepreneur, performer, and multidisciplinary creative director Jessica Leigh Clark-Bojin who turns niche ideas into global cultural moments.

As a founding executive, Jessica blends creative leadership, sharp business strategy, and hands-on media production skills to build standout projects that have been proven successes with world-class clients and partners including Disney, Netflix, and the Food Network. Most recently she produced and hosted the broadcast TV miniseries Fun City, and created the global online brand Pies Are Awesome. Jessica's videos have been viewed over 100 million times online, and her work has been featured in hundreds of shows and publications around the world including the TODAY show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, Forbes, People, and Ripley’s Believe it or Not! "I like making things, and making things happen." — JLC-B

Each month we ask our presenters some probing questions to give us a deeper glimpse into their life and relationship with creativity:

How do you define creativity and apply it in your life and career?
Starting off with the big questions! I know that “creativity” means something very different to different people, but to me it boils down to a different way of seeing/knowing, and recognizing the hidden patterns and connections in things. My most creative moments have happened when I saw a way that two seemingly very different things could potentially connect - like pies and pop culture, or fun and strategy, or pinecones and stairwells. Our brains are essentially pattern-seeking machines and the more unique things/concepts/experiences/skills we fill it with, the better we are able to find those patterns and connections that can lead to innovation and creative growth.

Where do you find your best creative inspiration or energy?
I don’t do well with routine. My brain needs a challenge, novelty, complexity to operate at peak capacity, so I am always on the hunt for something new to learn. My favourite way of topping up the creative battery tank (batteries have tanks, right?) is to switch gears from whatever field I’m working in and spend some time in a new realm. If I’m sculpting and get blocked, I’ll spend some time learning about flavour profiles. If I’m finding recipe development is getting dull, I’ll pick up my guitar and learn a new song. If I’m burnt out on TV producing, I’ll go on a mushroom hunt in the forest. (I don’t eat the mushrooms of course. Mushrooms are gross.)

What’s one piece of creative advice or a tip you wish you’d known as a young person?
I suppose I did “know” this as a young person, but I certainly did not internalize it: Success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Cliche, but true. It took me a long time to fully understand what is actually involved in pulling off big creative ideas, and to develop the corresponding vetting techniques that helped me understand which of the zillion ideas on the table actually has the potential to go the distance.

Who (living or dead) would you most enjoy hearing speak at CreativeMornings?
Douglas Adams or Kurt Vonnegut. I would love to hear their thoughts on the current state of society and political discourse. Though I’d probably find the “folksy Boomer racism” a bit of an intellectual hurdle at first.

What myths about creativity would you like to set straight?
Gosh, okay. Some controversial stuff coming up here:

• Collaboration and compromise are not always good for creativity—they can lead to group-think mediocrity. I love working with other people on many aspects of what I do. But sometimes what’s needed is a single spark from a single brain to set off the magic.

• Not everyone and every creative pursuit is destined for success if you “just keep trying.” I find many self help books and gurus disingenuous in this regard. They ignore the role privilege plays in so many success stories. Are there steps that you can take that will give you a better shot? For sure. But not everyone is starting with the same set of arrows in their quiver. That’s why it’s good to “pay it forward” and help out other deserving creatives when you can!

• “Luck” is a critical component in many creative success stories. You increase your chances of being in the right place at the right time if you work hard, cultivate skills, are well connected, and have access to resources, absolutely. But somewhere along the lines most creative success stories include a serendipitous moment, a chance encounter, a meaningful coincidence that sets the ball in motion. So stay humble. There truly is no such thing as the wholly “self-made man/woman”.

• “Extrinsic motivation” is not a dirty word (dirty phrase?) For dopamine chasers like me, a bit of extrinsic motivation - like the pressure of a deadline or impending public showing - is super helpful in crushing the procrastination bug. Neurotypical people don’t always realize that some people need that extra push to take care of business - even to complete tasks that are actually enjoyable to the neurospicy creatives!.

What keeps you awake at night?
I have OCD (the real kind, not the influencer kind), so… everything? But I find my zen in remembering that the world has been a dumpster fire before (look up the year 536) and humans are really great at adpating to new normals. And one day the earth will fall into the sun. I do what I can to add to the good and lessen the bad and enjoy the moments. Moments are all we get.

What was the best advice you were ever given?
About ten or 15 years ago, someone said to me “You’re always so concerned about whether people like you or hate you. The reality is, most people don’t think about you at all.” Man, that stuck with me. It wasn’t framed as advice, but nothing said to me since has had as profound an impact on my outlook. On your best day, on your worst day, the momentary blip of attention you get from the crowd is not going to last in their minds, so don’t carry the pride or the shame. Focus on the relationships that really matter in your life - the people you actually know and love, not the parasocial silliness we’ve grown accustomed to.

What fact about you would surprise people?
Hm, lessee… I sold vacuum cleaners door to door in university. I used to teach actors how to sword fight and was an epee fencer a billion years ago. I only own one pair of pants, and they were bought as an April Fools joke. I own 15 guitars, and yes, I need all of them (different tones!)*

What music are you listening to these days?
Everything. But especially Iron Maiden because I’m currently working on The Trooper.

What are you reading these days?
LEGO instruction booklets.

If you could open a door and go anywhere, where would that be?
Is the door reusable? Can I get back after? If yes, then I’d go back in time. My fave thing to do is to meet interesting and creative new people, so I feel like that would afford me some pretty groovy opportunities… But wait, are we assuming a Fixed Timeline universe, or like a Many Worlds Theory thing here? I’d hate to find out I’m my own grandmother or something… I’m probably overthinking the whole question..

If you could do anything now, what would you do?
I would love to host and produce a TV show that helps people have more creative and joyful life experiences. Or be a shape-shifting mermaid cyborg with laser eyes. That’d be pretty cool too..