What Does It Mean to Own a Creative Company?

I’ve built creative companies and spaces my whole life. Here’s the secret sauce.

It’s being the one who says yes to the crazy idea—and then finds a way to make it real. It’s vision, yes—but also budgets, schedules, deals, and late-night sessions. It’s building something that didn’t exist until a team of brilliant minds brought it to life.

I’ve been lucky enough to do this more than once.

A Life in Creative Leadership

From co-founding McHale/Barone—an award-winning radio and music agency that helped shape the sound of global brands—to running a beloved guitar shop in Melbourne, my first business, to leading teams that could light up a soundstage or a Super Bowl spot… it’s always been about people.

And Now Studio Jijiji

With Studio Jijiji, we’re building something entirely new.

Our inaugural project, Song in Space, is taking shape across continents. Our team spans the U.S., France, Italy, and South Africa—each artist bringing their magic. We’re using the latest technologies not to replace human creativity, but to empower it like never before.

In 2025, for artists, it’s about community—creative ecosystems that support one another, take risks together, and tell stories the world hasn’t heard yet.

At Studio Jijiji, we’re breaking new ground—story-first, globally-built, and human at the core.

Following the Spark

I’ve been lucky, but at the core of that luck is a belief in the divine spark. You might call it instinct. You might call it taste.

When I was at Streamline Media, I watched artists take a sketch and turn it into incredible digital art. One artist told me the secret: never lose the original energy of the lines. Keep the hand in the work.

That’s what I’ve always followed—the passion at the beginning of things.

From the Outback to NYC

When I built Irving Place Studios in New York, I got a lot of pushback. Industry pros didn’t get what we were doing. Even when I visited last year, the current owners had questions—they were trying to understand the space.

The secret?

I sketched that studio in my twenties while traveling the Australian outback. Years later, when Joe and I decided to build it, I pulled that sketch out of my journal and handed it to the architect.

That pure intent led to a successful, vibrant creative space.

That’s the magic. That’s what I build for.