HerbertHernandez–GIGILCo-Founderisa
HerbertHernandezisamanofmanytalents,seamlesslyblendinghis passionformusicwithanimpressivecareerinadvertisingAsaguitaristfor therenownedbands6cyclemindandMoonstar88,HerbertHernandezhas playedakeyroleinshapingtheFilipinomusicscene.Outsideofhismusical pursuits,hehasalsomadeanameforhimselfasaco-founderofthe award-winningadvertisingagencyGIGIL.
Throughhisdualcareer,HerbertHernandezdemonstrateshowcreativity andleadershipcanthriveinmultiplefields,makinghimaninfluentialfigure
inbothmusicandadvertising.Thefollowingtextisanin-depthinterview whereHernandezshareshisexperiences,philosophies,andaspirations.
TheRoleofMentorshipinYourCareer
Howhasmentorshipinfluencedyourprofessionaljourney?
Mentorshiphasplayedasignificantroleinshapingmycareer.I’vebeen involvedinmentoringrolesfromayoungage.Inhighschool,Iwasthe presidentoftheStudentCouncil,andincollege,Icontinuedtomanageand leadteams,gainingessentialleadershipexperience.Theseearly experiencestaughtmeresponsibilityandhowtoguideothers,whichhave beeninvaluablethroughoutmycareerOntheflipside,beingamentee alsoshapedme.Iwasfortunatetohaveseniormentorsduringmycollege yearswhosharedtheirexpertiseandindustryexperienceswithme.Their insightsallowedmetoadopttechniquesandshortcutsthathelpedme workmoreefficientlyandavoidunnecessarypitfalls.Thisguidanceand supportbecameasolidfoundation,especiallywhenItransitionedintothe recordingindustry,helpingmenavigatetheearlystagesofmycareerwith moreconfidenceandpreparedness
CreativityandInspiration
Howdoyoumaintaincreativityandstayinspiredinsuchadynamic industry?
Stayingcreativerequiresbeingopentonewexperiencesandconstantly seekinginspiration.IoftenremindmyselfthatI’malifelonglearner. Creativitythrivesoninspiration,soIexposemyselftobeautifuland creativethings.Theadage‘garbagein,garbageout’applieshere.The qualityofwhatyoucreateisinfluencedbythequalityofwhatyou consumePlayinginabandalsoplaysabigroleinmycreativeprocess Performinggigsindifferentlocationsexposesmetovariousmindsetsand subcultures,whichenrichesmycreativewellspring.Additionally,engaging inactivitieslikereading,visitingmuseums,andlisteningtonewmusic allowsmetogatherfreshperspectives,whichoftenfuelmywork.Inan
industryasfast-pacedandever-changingasthis,keepinganopenmindand constantlylookingfornewsourcesofinspirationiscrucialtostayingahead.
MisconceptionsinCreativeDirecting
Whatisacommonmisconceptionaboutbeingacreativedirectoryou’d liketoaddress?
Aprevalentmisconceptionisthatonemustbeinherentlycreativeto succeedasacreativedirectorCreativityisnotaninnatetraitexclusivetoa selectfew;everyonebeginslifecreatively.Overtime,societalnormsoften boxusintothinkingtherearerightandwrongideas.Creativedirectorsare notthemostcreativeindividuals;rather,theyaretheoneswhodareto chooseideasfromthe‘wrong’bin.Theyareunafraidtomakemistakesand takerisks.Infact,oneofthekeyqualitiesofacreativedirectoristheability tofostercreativityinothersandguideteamstowardpushingboundaries. Beingcreativeisaboutbeingwillingtoexplorenewpossibilities,evenif theyseemunconventional,andhavingtheconfidencetobringthoseideas tolife.
TakingRisksinCareer
Canyoushareamomentwhereacareerriskpaidoffforyou?
IbeganmycareerinthemusicindustryasaninstrumentalistInitially,I triedsongwritingforourbandMoonstar88’sfirstalbum,butthose attemptswerecringe-worthy.However,Ididn’tgiveup.Itooksongwriting moreseriouslyforoursecondalbum,whichledtomebecomingthechief writerforourband.Thisriskofembracingsongwritinghasbeenrewarding andanintegralpartofmyjourneyinthemusicindustry.Writingsongs becameawayformetoexpressideasthatIcouldn’tarticulateasa musicianalone,anditeventuallyopenednewdoorsforme,bothwithin andbeyondtheband.Ittaughtmethatsteppingoutofyourcomfortzone canleadtogrowthandopportunitiesthatyoumightnothaveanticipated.
BalancingPassionsandProfessionalLife
Howdoyoumanagepersonalpassionsalongsideprofessionaldemands?
Balancingmypassionswithprofessionalcommitmentsisanongoingeffort. Iadheretoamindsetofdoingmybestwithoutexcuses.Forme,managing timeisnotjustaconceptbutaformofdivineintervention,whichIreferto asGod’smanagement.I’mgratefulforthesupportofmyagency’saccount managementandadministrationteam,whichhelpsinorganizemy scheduleeffectively.Thisteam-basedsupportiskey,asitallowsmeto pursuebothmypersonalinterests,suchasplayinginabandwhilemeeting thedemandsofmyprofessionalresponsibilities.Theflexibilityand understandingofmyteammakeitpossibletoexcelinbothareaswithout feelingoverwhelmed
CollaboratingandFosteringCreativity
Whatdoyouenjoymostaboutcollaboration,andhowdoyoumaintain creativitywithinyourteam?
Collaborationallowsonetoachievegoalsbeyondone’sindividual capabilities.I’mnotasinger,butthroughcollaborationwithmybandmates, wecancreatemusic.Tonurturecreativitywithinmyteam,it’scrucialthat everyoneisalignedwiththeproject’sobjectives.Iadviseagainstearlystageeditingduringthecreativeprocess,encouragingfreethought,fun, andthesharingofallideasThisapproachfostersanenvironmentwhere creativitycanflourish.Moreover,Ibelievethatacollaborativespiritiskey toinnovation,andwhenpeoplefeeltheirideasarevalued,theycontribute moremeaningfullytotheoverallsuccessofaproject
ImpactfulAdviceandLeadership
Hastherebeenadvicethatprofoundlyimpactedyourbusinessor leadershipapproach?
Absolutely.AnimpactfulpieceofadvicecamefromDirectorPaulBasinilio, whosaidtherearethreetypesofpeopleintheworld:thosewhomake thingshappen,thosewhowatchthingshappen,andthosewhodon’tknow whathappened.Thisinsightmotivatedmetobeacreator,notjusta
spectator.Istrivetobeproactiveandembracetheroleofacontentcreator. ThisadvicealsoshapedthewayIapproachleadership,asInowencourage myteamtobethekindofpeoplewhomakethingshappen,driving projectsforwardwithinitiativeandcreativity.
AspirationsandFutureEndeavors
Whatareyouraspirationsforthenextfiveyears,bothprofessionallyand personally?
Professionally,mygoalisforeveryoneatGIGIL,ouragency,tosucceed.I dreamofmakingGIGILknowngloballytoattractmorehonorsandworkfor thePhilippinesPersonally,Ihopetoagegracefully,maintainingbalance andfulfillmentinlife.Ialsoaspiretocontinuepursuingmymusical passionswhilebalancingmyprofessionalendeavors,alwaysstrivingfor personalgrowth.
AuthenticityandCreativeBoundaries
Howdoyouensureyourprojectsremainauthenticwhilepushingcreative boundaries?
Authenticityismaintainedbybeingdeeplyfamiliarwithabrand’sDNAits voiceandpurpose.Thebetteryouunderstandtheseelements,theeasierit istoinnovatewithoutlosingauthenticityThisknowledgeallowsforunique expressionstailoredtothebrand.
Inconclusion,HerbertHernandezembodiestheessenceofamodern-day creativepowerhouseThroughhisworkinadvertisingandmusic,he continuestoinspireandinnovate.Hernandez’sjourneyisatestamentto thepowerofmentorship,continuouslearning,andthecouragetotake creativerisksAshecontinuestoexpandhisinfluence,hisstoryoffers valuableinsightsandinspirationtothoseaspiringtomakeamarkin creativefields.
OriginalSource:https://thebossmagazine.com/herbert-hernandez-gigil-cofounder/
