Candesco Productions

Giovanna Aguilar Op-Ed on DEI for ROI-NJ.com

June 30, 2022 by Giovanna Aguilar Leave a Comment

Giovanna Aguilar Op-Ed on Diversity Equity and Inclusion for ROI-NJ.com

ROI-NJ

I am addicted to a good story.

So, imagine my excitement when I received a media pass for AMC’s exhibit of “The Walking Dead” at Astoria’s Museum of the Moving Image. Enchanted by a poster of George Romero, I remembered that the godfather of the American zombie trope, a multibillion-dollar story universe in the present, was Hispanic.

Surrounded by original costumes, props and images from the TV series, I was bewildered. I thought of the stark similarities between the hit show and a documentary on NASA’s space shuttle program that I am producing. Though decades apart, both reveal that diversity, equity & inclusion representation are growing consistently at a glacial speed across divergent industries.

As a Latina filmmaker, I know Latinos’ poor representation in above-the-line entertainment industry positions. Those esteemed positions — directors, executive producers, screenwriters, casting directors and the principal cast — propel a story forward with the collective contribution of the creative talent.

Read more at ROI-NJ.

 

Filed Under: Producer

Listen to Latest Episode of On Verite Podcast: Before There Was Hollywood, There Was Fort Lee

May 30, 2022 by Giovanna Aguilar Leave a Comment

On Verite: Before There Was Hollywood, There Was Fort Lee – The Birthplace of the Movie Industry

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LATEST PODCAST EPISODE

Hi, everyone. So here I am after more than a year, I have finally sat down to restart my podcast On Verite, which I launched a couple of years ago. I’ve been working on an e-commerce site that I invite you to check out ShopLOHASWorld.com, dedicated to clean natural and organic products. Our first line is Enjoy and Live, made in Ecuador with cold-pressed cacay oil and other high-quality ingredients from the Amazon rainforest. The one thing positive thing about COVID is that it inspired many us to pursue things that we are passionate about as a business related to well-being. And since I was born in Ecuador and still have family there, I’ve been hoping to share these kinds of products with people here in the States. I’d love to hear from you if you started a business too. And, of course, I’ve been working on a couple of film related projects that I hope to share in the near future.

Let me start with a question: Did you know that the movie industry began along the New Jersey side of the Hudson River in the early 1900s? This town is where The Exile, the first all-Black cast “talkie”, by Pioneer African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux at Metropolitan Studios was shot, where Humor Risk, the first film the Marx Brothers was shot. And where the “mother of cinema the first female film director and movie executive Alice Guy-Blaché had opened her studio?

Well, these questions bring me to my interview with Nelson Page, President of the Barrymore Film Center, opening in Fort Lee, NJ, October this year.

I recorded this interview at the Barrymore, which was designed by renowned theater architect, the late Hugh Hardy, whose work includes the renovations of Radio City Musical Hall’s and Rainbow Room in Manhattan and so many other theaters. The Barrymore greets you with a stunning white interior and red carpet stair entrance as soon as you walk in; it boasts a 270+seat theater that accommodates a live orchestra. It takes you in with its designed with a mission to create magical film experiences that are dedicated to supporting the voices of independent cinema.

On Verite Barrymore Staircase
Barrymore Museum
Barrymore Projector Room

Filed Under: Producer Tagged With: BARRYMORE FILM CENTER, giovanna aguilar, On Verite, podcast

Giovanna Aguilar: Latinas Are Changing the World

May 14, 2022 by Giovanna Aguilar Leave a Comment

Giovanna Aguilar: Latinas are changing the world Interview

by Carlos Arana for La Guia Cultural

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Get 25% OFF in the month of May on Enjoy & Live's Skincare at Shop LOHAS World. Discount Code: LOHASMOM

The Cultural Guide has always been willing to support Latin talent works in the creative fields. On this occasion, it is a great privilege to present an Ecuadorian-American filmmaker and businesswoman who is elevating the voices of Latin women: Giovanna Aguilar.

In an intimate conversation, Giovanna recounts the journeys of her career as a filmmaker, producer and businesswoman. Her career film projects such as the documentary When We Were Apollo and finance. Her professional achievements speak for themselves and also her great skill in any area that she chooses to perform, since she has also ventured into communications and marketing.

LGC: How did you become interested in cinema?

Giovanna: Since I was a child I was fascinated by cinema. Every year movies like: Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz were shown on television and I loved the experience of escaping into those stories full of characters and other worlds. And since I spent reading many novels, the movies offered me another dimension. At first, like until I was 20-something, I wanted to be an actress but later I discovered my passion for production as a producer.

LGC: You have extensive experience in other areas of work. How do you link them with the audiovisual world?

Giovanna: Yes, I work in marketing communications and as a writer on occasion covering various topics for clients usually C-Suite executives. And what I have observed is that everything, like the audiovisual, is a story. Each person, regardless of their title, is a human being who wants to connect with their audience, and in the best way that works for them. But the camera lens is what helps capture the authenticity of the person. Now I have launched with my partners, Hugo Almeida and Steven Aguilar (my brother) an e-commerce platform that offers natural products from South America, made in Ecuador; especially of social impact that offers many opportunities to learn more about the issues that affect the Amazon, the environment, and the beautiful culture from which products such as Enjoy & Live come from.

LGC: Your participation in big projects like When We Were Apollo and Dream Town says a lot about your preparation as a professional in the film world. What other projects have you participated in?

Giovanna: Right now, I'm producing another documentary that will air on PBS, (Public Broadcasting Service), it's called When We Were Shuttle. And it's about the impact NASA's Shuttle program had on Brevard County, Florida. It is very nice and special to have the participation of people in the community sharing their experiences. And I'm also developing a couple of scripts to direct. I love working with actors.

LGC: Reading your biography, I see your love for sharing stories that celebrate the human spirit through universal themes. What kind of project would you like to work on that you haven’t yet?

Giovanna: I would love to represent Latin stories that are not usually produced for the US market. For example, those experiences from the point of view of people who grew up in the suburbs of New York City during the 70s and 80s. There are very human themes of immigrant families who have also raised their families with effort, work and vision. And I would love to do a biography, for example of someone like Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in space, who was on the Shuttle Discovery in the 90s. And I never want to work on a project that glamorizes drugs or narcos.

LGC: Apart from the seventh art, what other art are you passionate about?

Giovanna: I love visual art, especially oil. It is another world that teaches me to be patient and accept imperfection. Mixing colors is like finding characters, but unfortunately I haven't had the space to paint due to the paint and turpentine odors are strong.

LGC: What do you think of the great progress that the figure of Latin women in the US has had in the professional field, entertainment and politics?

Giovanna: I am very proud of my Latin sisters. We are intelligent, enterprising and walk toward our goals with tenacity. The most beautiful thing is to see how women show pride in their Latin roots while being honoring their values ​​and love for their families. In the professional field, there are women CEOs like Nina Vaca who has taken her IT company, Pinnacle Group, to globally. In the entertainment industry, women like Salma Hayek are defying stereotypes and are a tremendous force of inspiration for new generations of talent. And in the field of politics, there is Catherine Cortez Maslo, the first Latina elected to the Senate in Nevada, and Nydia Velazquez, the first Puerto Rican to serve in Congress. But there is much, much more to advance in all these fields but I know that Latinas will accomplish successful feats beyond our communities. We can achieve growth and create opportunities not only for our Latino communities but for all communities at all levels– the employee, the artist, the individual. Anyone who deserves to have their voice represented. 

LGC: In addition to being a director, producer and screenwriter, you are also an entrepreneur. Has having a business been a challenge for you? Giovanna: Entrepreneurship for me is celebrating part of my culture, of my family. My father, Marco, launched a cable company in Ambato, Ecuador and his father, my grandfather Eudoro Aguilar, had several coffee businesses from Zaruma, Ecuador. So, I grew up observing and appreciating his work and vision, as an idea he took forward, and his company and dad with the support and help of my mom.

LGC: Shop LOHAS World, an online marketplace dedicated to products aligned with a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. How did this idea come about and why?

Giovanna: I’ve always been interested in the environment and it was part of my academic studies in the 90s. I majored in political science and minored in energy and environmental studies. In Latin America, people are very aware of nature and respect it. And it is inspiring to see how they natural, organic food as just a staple of what they eat, and often from their own local farms or vegetable gardens. And now, it is fashionable in the United States but in Latin America it is simply, as in many parts of the world, a lifestyle. It is very important to be aware of what we consume, what is in our products and how our purchasing decisions and habits can help or protect our environment and provide economic opportunities for communities where our products come from.

Shop LOHAS World, is a way to celebrate our cultures with respect for the environment, from Venezuela to Argentina and other countries. And it’s amazing to share some of those experiences here to the United States for people to enjoy and become aware of. And for me it is very special that the first line of our ecommerce site Shop LOHAS World is Enjoy & Live, natural skin products with ingredients from the Amazon and the Andes.

A friend told me about Juanjo Cueva, the creator of the Enjoy & Live line, and that he went to study in South Korea and later developed the brand with the help of an American ex-pat living in Cuenca, Ecuador, who was a chemist at Shiseido cosmetic company. I loved the products as a customer and later we formed a company with my partners, Hugo Almeida and my brother, Steven Aguilar. We are three Ecuadorian-Americans who have not forgotten our roots and are living in two cultures that provide us with a mix of business opportunity and human responsibility.

LGC: How has the impact of LOHAS been?

Giovanna: Well, we launched LOHAS in February and we already have sales and our customers love the products. But of course, as a new brand we have a lot to do and believe in growing opportunities for our market. We plan to bring other brands dedicated to this space not only from Ecuador, but also from other countries with the same LOHAS approach (Lifestyle Of Health and Sustainability)

LGC: Has your cinematographic side been involved in LOHAS?

Giovanna: My dream is to travel to Ecuador and visit communities with social impact in the Andes and the Amazon to capture their stories and be able to share them to support them and also provide them with an entrepreneurial opportunity in the future, and through storytelling. A documentary would be amazing. This year I’m part of the team at the Ecuadorian Film Festival in New York City with a theme dedicated to the environment, which I believe is also a strong, relevant and necessary theme.

LGC: What message do you leave for those Latinos in the US who wish to undertake a project? We Latinos in the US demonstrate, every day, our ability to carry out our dreams. And I advise you to continue with each step moving forward and knowing that our community can provide support through professional and entrepreneurial organizations, as well as chambers of commerce. It is very important that they are proactive and seek the support of the community and people who can pave the way for them or be a mentor. Also, networking is essential. And don't forget to help and support other Latino entrepreneurs because influence can grow from our community.

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Filed Under: Business, Press, Producer, social responsibility

New Venture into Clean Conscious Market with Shop LOHAS World

March 4, 2022 by Giovanna Aguilar Leave a Comment

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WHAT IS CLEAN CONSCIOUS LIVING?

You’ve probably seen the term peppered across advertisements promoting a brand’s commitment to eco-friendly, sustainable practices and the efficacy of the natural ingredients in its products.

 

Conscious living is really about embracing a lifestyle that considers the well-being of our planet in our daily routines of physical and mental well-being.

ARE YOU FOLLOWING YOUR PASSION? 

In the early ‘90s, after dropping my interior design pursuit, I pivoted to a collateral major in energy and environmental studies to complement my political science Bachelor of Arts degree at Hunter College in NYC. At the time, I wanted to be a lawyer. Yes, I know, another lawyer when so many would tell me we didn’t need another lawyer.

 

So, what did I do? I did what any twenty-something GenXer would do. I submitted my “college” resume, filled with internships that included a stint at CUNY’s Community Relations Department, a semester at a notorious congressman’s office and another couple of semesters at a law firm, to an employment agency.

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Where did I land? Wall Street, of course! My research-heavy political science major opened up my world to Latin American equities research.

In the early ‘90s, after dropping my interior design pursuit, I pivoted to a collateral major in energy and environmental studies to complement my political science Bachelor of Arts degree at Hunter College in NYC. At the time, I wanted to be a lawyer. Yes, I know, another lawyer when so many would tell me we didn’t need another lawyer.

 

So, what did I do? I did what any twenty-something GenXer would do. I submitted my “college” resume, filled with internships that included a stint at CUNY’s Community Relations Department, a semester at a notorious congressman’s office and another couple of semesters at a law firm, to an employment agency.

 

Where did I land? Wall Street, of course! My research-heavy political science major opened up my world to Latin American equities research.

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Clean Conscious Living Shop LOHAS World

MID-LIFE CRISIS DURING COVID RE-IGNITED MY DREAM

Now, twenty-plus years later, and in my early ’50s, I have returned to my academic roots in the environment and sustainability. This time, it’s as an entrepreneur weaving my storytelling skills into the clean conscious living space.

 

A little of life experience has taught me that ultimately your passion will re-emerge and manifest as an opportunity in some form if you don’t pursue it.

 

The last couple of years has been a source of self-reflection for all of us. Getting COVID was also a surreal experience. While sick, I also combatted depression and some uncharacteristic emotional challenges. Evidently, it was part of the virus, as some of my friends shared similar experiences.

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Shop LOHAS World LOHAS International Group LLC
Enjoy & Live at Shop LOHAS World

WHAT KIND OF STORIES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

For me, it’s been about re-evaluating what I work on as a filmmaker and communications professional, and now as an entrepreneur. This year, I am full circle back to my passion for sustainability and self-care with that in mind. I recently launched ShopLOHASWorld.com, an e-commerce platform focused on natural products worldwide. The first line - Enjoy & Live - is from Ecuador, my beautiful country of birth where I still have family members.

Working with Juanjo Cueva, the creator of Enjoy & Live, has made me so profoundly happy knowing that he’s taken his love and pride in Ecuador while amplifying the beauty of the natural resources found in the Andes and the Amazon Rainforest to a global market for the skincare line.

What makes it even more special for me is that he sources the natural raw materials directly from indigenous communities. That means there is social impact directly helping the women who cultivate the natural ingredients for Enjoy & Live.

And as excited I am to be part of the conscious living market officially, I also recognize that I have shared responsibility in the call to action to help our environment. Social impact businesses offer economic opportunities to underserved communities throughout the world. I know this is just the beginning of a journey that will inspire me with the beautiful entrepreneurs who will teach me about their culture and products. 

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JuanjoCueva enjoy & live

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?

With that in mind, I invite you to follow Shop LOHAS World and share your thoughts or hacks on what you do to live consciously to nurture healthier relationships with each other and for your own self-care as we embrace eco-friendly lifestyles.

 

BTW, LOHAS is an acronym for Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability.

 

I look forward to hearing from you, and thankn you for your support!

Shop LOHAS World Clean Conscious Living

Women's History Month Promo for SHOP LOHAS WORLD!

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Filed Under: Business

S2: E:4 On Verite with Award-Winning Filmmaker Todd Tue on His Doc When It Breaks

May 16, 2020 by Giovanna Aguilar Leave a Comment

Will Konrad Wert Avoid Becoming Another Victim of Teacher Burnout?

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When It Breaks is available for sales and rental via Reelhouse.org. Follow on Twitter @WhenItBreaks.

Award-winning filmmaker Todd Tue talks about his documentary, the inspiring journey of Konrad, who steps away from his classroom in Texas to pursue music under his stage name, Possessed by Paul James.

Konrad tours the country with his family to engage teachers, parents, and audiences in a conversation about the current state of special education in public schools. As opportunities arise, Konrad must decide how his service is most effective- as an advocating artist or as a teacher in the classroom.

 

 

PODCAST NOTES:

Running Time: 38:-07

Time Codes:

Intro: 00:55 - 00:1:25

1:30 –Todd Tue finding his inspiration in teacher- musician with Konrad Wert’s for the documentary ‘When It Breaks’

6:10 – Getting Konrad’s wife, Jenny, to sign off on the film

6:55 – Filmmaker POV on Konrad the musician touring the country and talking to his audiences about the challenges in the public school system, and more specifically special needs education

8:45 – Following Konrad from a dad POV

9:45 – Following Konrad as an audience member and hearing from him what is going on in public school education

11:00 –Konrad at crossroads, making more money as a musician

12:40 –Konrad the musician

13:40 –Konrad leaving the classroom and his teacher side on tour

15:30 – Takeaways and challenges in the film about public school education.

17:45 – Filmmaker’s opinion on why teachers should be paid more

23:00 –The producing and creative process

25:00 –Cameras, equipment and skeleton crew

28:30 –Audio when shooting verité

29:15 – Editing on Premiere and editors

32:00 – Producing lessons learned

33:30 – Funding and sponsors of  ‘When It Breaks’

35:45 – What is on the horizon for filmmaker Todd Tue?

Filed Under: documentary, Podcast, Producer

Podcast On Verite en Español con Líder Estratega Alberto Avila

March 31, 2020 by Giovanna Aguilar Leave a Comment

My latest podcast ON VERITE is live and in Español. I had a conversation with executive Alberto Avila of Innovating Politics about social responsibility and the lessons learned when burned by one-side partnerships reveal false leaders. We'll be recording an English version this week, to be released next Tuesday.

Les comarto una conversación que tuve con Alberto Avila, de Innovating Politics. Es un ejecutivo y líder estratega, orientado al cumplimiento y a la administración de riesgos en los negocios, con más de 23 años de experiencia en el campo del combate al lavado de dinero.

Alberto ofrece apoyo práctico a miembros de Consejos de Administración y de empresas transnacionales y brinda su habilidad en el manejo de equipos multiculturales y es Creador de los sistemas de capacitación avanzadas en cruceros. También trabaja en la Prevención de proliferación de armas de destrucción masiva.

Créditos: Compositor musical Kurt Borst

Filed Under: Business, business administration, Podcast, politcs, profiles, social responsibility Tagged With: alberto avila, business, conference, corporate responsibiity, giovanna aguilar, leadership, mexico, miami, nj, nuclear proliferation, nyc, On Verite, podcast, social responsiblity, thought-leadership

How Talent in the Creative Space Can Cope with Unemployment Now

March 26, 2020 by Giovanna Aguilar Leave a Comment

 

Bloomberg “U.S. Jobless Claims Jump to 3.28 Million, Quadruple Prior Record” by Reade Pickert

The coronavirus pandemic has led to the highest unemployment insurance claims in the United States since 1967, totaling 3.28 million persons as of March 21, 2020. The three states with the largest number of one-week surges, and they are: Pennsylvania at 363.5 K, Ohio at 180.7 K and New Jersey at 147.0 K.

With the number of unemployed growing during the crisis, I am invested in sharing insight from hiring professionals, business owners and thought leaders on how we can keep positive, productive and prepare for what lies ahead.

Here is my first article with a recruiter covering the NYC-Tri state area.

Partner with Recruiters Like Rachel Ramos Who Have Their Pulse on the Creative Space Job Market 

Rachel Ramos, VP of Creative Services at thinkTPG, has over 20 years’ experience partnering with companies in the New York tri-state area and matching them with the best talent for positions in the creative space – advertising, marketing and public relations – on a freelance, freelance to hire and direct-hire basis.

In 2007, Rachel helped me secure a contract as a web content specialist for AIG Corporate eBusiness. And when the Great Recession hit 18 months later, she was once again there for me, and so many others, this time helping me with emotional support and with temporary employment opportunities during the economic crisis.

For many of us, the financial downturn of that period was gutting. Now, we are facing an unprecedented health and economic global crisis because of COVID-19.

So, I’ve asked Rachel to share her guidance, especially for contract talent in creative and marketing positions, during this unprecedented time when her proactive approach and a positive attitude can serve to encourage all with her best practices to see the light.

She is genuinely invested in the well-being of talent, taking the time to get to know you the person, not just your skill set and professional experience.

Rachel’s Recommendations:

Rachel notes the business world is going to change and we have to be able to change with it. However, it is going to get tougher before it gets better. And the first step she recommends is for both employers-clients and job applicants to partner with recruiters.  She explains that employers, who are still able to hire, partner with good recruiters who have the pulse on the market and have been in touch with applicants that have recently been laid off.

Flexibility is key to working through this period, she says:

For employers, trust that we vet the top talent out there and are here to partner with you to help your business to keep moving forward. Many of our candidates are accustomed to working from home and have full setups, and they even can probably help your team to set up.

Know that we are still working for you, by interviewing candidates, checking references and taking the time to know the people we represent. We have helped many of them in the past.

For applicants, this is probably not the best time to ask for that $10k increase. As of a matter of fact, some companies have asked their staff to take a pay cut. During this time applicants may need to readjust their hourly rates and annual salary expectations.

Keep Your Skills Fresh by:

  • Taking that online course you’ve been meaning to take; take advantage of tutorials, etc.
  • Being flexible and open to hearing about all opportunities and compensation -companies and employers will remember
  • Networking when possible
  • Offering your services to help out when you can

Applicants Should Be Proactive by: 

  • Updating your resumes and portfolios
  • Taking this time to figure out what you want to do
  • Being realistic and flexible

People that are not employed at this time need to take this time to be productive. Rachel started ‘Applicant of the Day’ on her LinkedIn account, where she features a recently laid-off person’s skill set with the hope that a hiring manager will see it and be interested in that person or may reach out to discuss a different skill set. Also, the hope is that her network will share the post so it can reach as many people as possible. Maybe that out-of-state client needs an AMA editor.

If you are a professional in the Creative Space, you can email her your resume and a few sentences regarding your background. She will choose one person a day.

If you are in a position to hire someone in any capacity, or if you just want to know who is out there, you can email her directly.

Some of the positions Rachel Ramos recruits for across all industries (agency and client side) include:  

Art Side: Art Directors, Creative Directors, Designers, Production Artists, Illustrators, Package Designers, Photo retouchers, Pre-press Specialists, Presentation Specialists, Product Designers, Studio Managers, Studio Artist, Print Production Specialists, etc.

Account Side: Traffic Managers and Coordinators, Project Coordinators and Managers, Account Execs, Account Sups, Account directors, etc.

Interactive: Web Designers, Production Artist, User Interface Designer, User Experience Specialists, Interactive PMs, Digital Art Directors, etc.

Copy Side: Editors, Proofreaders, Content Writers, Copywriters, etc.

Marketing and P.R.: Brand & Product Managers, Email Marketing Managers, Event & Trade Show Manager and Coordinators, MarCom Managers and Coordinators, Marketing Directors, Public Relations & Communications, SEO/SEM Specialists, Social Media Professionals, Bloggers & Web Analytics.

 

Filed Under: financial planning, unemployment, Writer Tagged With: ad agency, consuting, contractors, corora virus, creative space, freelance, freelance writers, graphic designers, media creators, multimedia, nj, nyc, pandemic, project managers, recruiters, unemployement, wrtiers

Professional Boxing Coach Derik Santos Shares The Importance of Women In Sports

January 20, 2020 by Giovanna Aguilar Leave a Comment

On November 16, 2019, EPIC Women In Sports was on location at Berwick High School, Berwick, PA, to interview Maureen Shea, Derik Santos and some of the participants of the “Night of Gold,” a fight night produced by Leo Talenco of Rocky Boxing in which there were seven female amateur bouts.

Derik Santo, a professional boxing coach who works with two-time world champion Maureen Shea, shares why it’s important to support women in sports.

This interview is part of the upcoming docuseries produced by Candesco Productions and directed by Giovanna Aguilar. Credits: Director of Photography Darpan Joshi. Music by Kurt “Goldenboy” Borst.

 

 

Filed Under: Director, Producer, sports Tagged With: #boxing #sports #womeninsports #mma #tennis #coaching #soccer #femalesports #basektball #racecardrivng #dancesport

“Main Street,” an Italian-American Story by Playwright John Fedele Begins Funding Phase to Bring Play to NYC

June 18, 2019 by Giovanna Aguilar Leave a Comment

One of my latest projects is grant consulting for the Italian-American Repertory Theater Company, a nonprofit celebrating Italian-American voices through theater productions in the New York City-Tri-State area. This one, in particular, is an opportunity to bring to fruition a passion project for a notable actor, producer and playwright from West of the Hudson River.

In 1995, the Italian-American Repertory Theater Company (IARC) was founded by playwright, producer and actor John Fedele and producing director Lisa Defuso to provide Italian-American theater professionals, in New York City and New Jersey, the opportunity to work on productions promoting accurate and positive stories of their community in honor of their culture and heritage.

That year he made his playwriting debut with “Brotherly Love,” a comedy-drama in which he played “the funny, hotheaded Vincent,” as his portrayal of the character was described by The New York Times. Directed by Robert Mariah, the play had a long run to critical acclaim at the Off-Broadway Samuel Becket Theater, including by The New York Law Journal’s “A ‘Brother’ You’ll Love” noting it was “wholesome enough for family-values advocates while his dialogue is liberally peppered with zesty X-rated one-liners.”

The following year Defuso left the company after the 1996 production of “Painted Ladies.” Since then Fedele has been the sole producer of IARC and continues to be driven by his passion to elevate the Italian-American experience, similarly to Jewish-American or Irish-American repertories. He notes that while IARC’s target audience is Italian American, “the company produces projects with universal themes that are relatable to all ethnicities.”

As a performer, Fedele has been acting since the age of 13. He loves acting because “it enables him to learn about other people by exploring their experiences directly in his skin.” He made his New York City debut as the sinister drug addict, Bickum, in “Does A Tiger Wear a Necktie” at 28th Street Playhouse” by Don Peterson. Since then he has played various roles in plays. This year, Fedele takes on the immigrant experience from the point of view of an Italian-American in his newly penned play “Main Street,” which was inspired by his own experiences growing up in his hometown, Cliffside Park, NJ.

He is also excited to step into the role of Anthony, a deli worker and aspiring actor whose dreams haven’t gone the way he had hoped but continues to push forward. His play challenges the audience to face relevant, poignant and existential questions: “What is the American Dream? Does it still exist? What happens when you seem to achieve it? Does it ultimately bring happiness?”

John Fedele envisions his nonprofit IARC to produce “Main Street” for NYC or NJ theater audiences by end of the year. Currently, the company is developing its lineup of productions for the next couple of years and will be launching a crowdfunding campaign as well as applying for grant funds in support of Italian-American theater and arts programs.

IARC’s NYC productions include: “Brotherly Love (1995),” “American Reconciliation, “in 1995 ( “Painted Ladies (1996)” and “New York Stories in Black and White” were produced in New York City. Productions in New Jersey include: “A View From the Bridge ( 2012),” “Talk Radio,(2013)” “Centennial Casting” and “Doubt (2015).”

Filed Under: arts, grant consulting, profiles Tagged With: giovanna aguilar, IARC, immigrant story, italian american, italian american immigrant story, john fedele

Emma Arakelyan On Building Her Brand of Caring

May 9, 2019 by Giovanna Aguilar Leave a Comment

Entrepreneur, Executive Coach, Author, Management Consulting Executive and Thought-Leader Emma Arakelyan On Building Her Brand of Caring

– Part 1 By Giovanna Aguilar

As a writer, I’m always excited to find quotes encapsulating themes succinctly and poignantly. That is why Richard Branson’s number one pickon branding, “You have to stay true to your heritage; that’s what your brand is about,” by Alice Temperley, illustrates the significance of a brand developed on the concept of caring and family values set to drive social impact throughout the world.

This article is the first of two articles from my podcast, which will be released later this month, about Emma Arakelyan, a former partner at EY (Ernest & Young) and managing director at Accenture. She has been an adjunct professor at NYU for over a decade and a featured speaker at Columbia Business School. Her recent contributions include designing a global executive program on FinTech in Japan in 2018 for New York University and a course for business digitization at Columbia Business School.

I am eager to share Emma Arakelyan’s voice and mission for a couple of reasons. One, as a former corporate employee, I can attest to the profound need for promoting and extending caring about the well-being of our co-workers throughout the workplace, from the human resource department to the managing director’s office. Second, the opportunity to work with Emma Arakelyan on her book, The Business Caring Formula: Building Your New Leadership Lifestyle, and then on her brand’s multimedia content strategy, has been an empowering undertaking for me, too.

Giovanna: What inspired you to write your book on building caring leaders?

Emma: I am fortunate to have had an opportunity to work in more than 40 countries in-person and 150 countries remotely.  All of that takes me into my portfolio of skills related to technology and business consulting, industry, innovation, students, and education that actually placed me in different spaces throughout various stages in my life. So, I started to consider, ‘what do I do now with all of this knowledge and experience that I have accumulated working in the corporate sector globally for over 20 years?’

That makes me very excited not only for what I can contribute but also for what I can gain from those experiences, because every conversation is a connection with someone who teaches me something, too. This is a point that I’d like to highlight for my audience – that learning never stops. In effect, the journey that I’m now taking includes all of my experience and multiple careers. When I began as an economist back in my country Armenia, I learned that for me to create significant impact, I would have to also look to other fields driving my passion, like technology. It was the new career that I began when I moved to the U.S. in the early nineties, which was followed by my role as an adjunct professor. 

So, my multiple careers and combination of all that experience continue to give me the courage to take brave steps to impact the world, boldly.

Giovanna: Can you share how it has been for you to face your own fears on this new journey in your life when you are amplifying your own voice with your branded content – your podcast, book, ‘How-to’ videos, etc.,  for the world to hear?

Emma: You were actually challenging me to start thinking in multiple directions when we started the book because the concept of expanding my brand’s voice with multimedia was new to me. We began by leveraging my company name Open Mind Productions. The name, “Open Mind,” actually helps me to keep expanding my thinking.

To answer your question, ‘facing your fears ‘is about being open to transformation. And, I love the transformation that came along with this journey, which started with the writing the book and then expanded into multimedia and other areas. I cannot believe how quickly we transformed my book journey into also doing podcasts, videos, blogs and getting keynote speaking opportunities.       

It helped me to look at myself in a new light and to look at the challenge as an opportunity to build upon my strengths. And, appropriately, one of my favorite mottos that I write about in my book is, ‘Build on Your Strengths.’

Giovanna: What is the difference from representing a company and then going on to build your own brand with your and set of values?

Emma: I’m going to start by saying that I was fortunate to have parents who since my childhood gave me the advice to build respect around me and care about others well-being. My mom was a nurse and my father an accountant and engineer. He was always preaching to ‘be honest’ and that no matter what situation you are in, you shouldn’t be fearful of telling the truth. So, those values were really ingrained into my approach, and I was always looking for those values in the characters of every book that I picked up to read while growing up.

When you are in the corporate environment, you are actually representing the company, the organization and your team. So, shifting that direction to solely representing myself has been part of my transformation. It requires being ready to represent yourself. The result is that building my brand has been about going through that process of transformation and recognizing that it has also made more relatable to my audience and those whom I coach.

Also, what I’d like for my audience to know is that your transformation will occur naturally by challenging yourself to take a bold step forward to pursue your passion.

Giovanna: In your book The Business Caring Formula, you stress the importance of ‘caring’ and sets up the foundation for your brand. Can you share what that word means to you?

When I was thinking about the book, the important element was always the word ‘care’ and due to the extent that in my career I had several nicknames as a leader or as an advisor. The one that really stuck to my name for the longest time was ‘Emma Cares,’ and I was really happy with it then and now it has inspired the values I write about in my book.

Moreover, what I’d like to add is that caring is not about being nice to people. It is about addressing what is the right thing to do to take care of all the involved parties, starting with yourself, then family, friends, community, country and finally society.

One of my known sayings is in my book, ‘You don’t have to be right. You have to do the right thing’ and it translated into this very mature caring process.

Giovanna: What does Emma Arakelyan want to accomplish with your brand of caring?

Emma:  My mission is to target and prepare a new generation of entrepreneurs who care  about the future. I’m focused on helping develop genuine leaders who are invested in making decisions that will have positive outcomes for themselves, the organizations they are working for, and more importantly, society as a whole. My brand of caring is dedicated to driving impact throughout countries, regions and the world.

It is with that vision and responsibility that I wrote my book and led me to amplify my message into the other media my company Open Mind Productions is creating, including my podcast where I invite world-renowned thought leaders to share their stories with the underlying theme of caring.

As someone who began a career in finance and transitioned into technology, I have witnessed how innovation and progress can flourish when the concept of caring is incorporated into our leadership approach.

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Part 2 Emma Arakelyan’s Business Caring Formula Is About Being an Engine of Change for Positive Impact


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