For me, the biggest growth curves in my professional (and frankly, personal) development have been directly linked to my exposure to really smart, talented, self-directed people who have been willing to share their processes and perspectives with me. With this interview series, my hope is to amplify that exposure and document some of the nuggets of wisdom that I’m fortunate to have access to.

On the other side of a decade of working in the innovation economy, I’ve been exposed to hundreds of forward-thinking, creative people who inspire who have shaped and evolved the way I think about business, culture and design. I’ve seen so many pathways and trajectories to success, but I’ve always gravitated to founders, creative and operators whose success didn’t feel inevitable. 

This summer, I set out to talk to some leaders in business and design who’s work and career trajectories inspire me with the hope of understanding what makes them tick, what they love about most about their work and where in their journeys things really changed for them..

— Marlon Thompson is the founder of Opening Round.