Today, on Notable Leaders’ Radio, I speak with Lauren Cassidy, Founder/Executive Creative Director – LC Studio Productions. She unpacks how showing up as your best self, seizing opportunities, and evolving through every challenge leads to success and fulfillment. In today’s episode, we discuss: Embrace a “greatness over perfection” mindset to fuel creativity and avoid stagnation. Lauren learned that seeking perfection sets ceilings and fosters disappointment, while aiming for personal greatness keeps you evolving; by shifting your mindset this way, you allow yourself room for growth, more creative output, and less self-judgment, which benefits anyone seeking fulfillment and innovation in any field. Align your work and life as closely as possible with what you love. Lauren insists on infusing her passion for music and creativity into her work, and when that’s not possible, she finds ways outside of work to feel fulfilled; everyone benefits by seeking or creating alignment between their passions and daily activities, which boosts motivation and overall life satisfaction. Stay open to unexpected career forks and don’t fear following your curiosity. Lauren’s pivotal choice between a theater tour and an HBO job taught her to pursue new opportunities even without guarantees; you too can learn from serendipitous crossroads, as flexibility and openness often lead to bigger breaks and more satisfying work than rigid planning. Use pressure as a moment to pause and collaborate rather than panic. When faced with a high-stakes challenge with Joan Rivers, Lauren demonstrated the value of staying calm and working with her team. So, when you find yourself in a similar situation, remember that stressful moments are best met with composure, seeking help, and trusting your problem-solving skills. RESOURCES: Guest Bio Lauren Cassidy, the founder of LC Studio Productions, has spent her career staging productions that come to life both on-screen and in person, where strategy, storytelling, and execution meet. Picture a show where C-suite executives are the lead actors, the brand is the script, and the audience is everyone from consumers to business partners. Her role? Casting the right team, directing the production, making sure the lines land, and yes, reminding people that Post-its are not, in fact, a filing system. Lauren brings all the pieces together so that when the curtain rises, the story doesn’t just play. It sticks. During her 17 years at AMC Networks, Lauren built and led an internal creative studio that doubled as a powerhouse production crew for five core brands and streaming platforms. She produced everything from record-breaking campaigns and B2B activations to all-hands meetings that looked suspiciously like late-night variety shows. (Think executives who never thought they’d sing suddenly nailing a parody number with surprising confidence.) Along the way, she earned a reputation as the connective tissue, linking strategy to execution, creativity to business goals, and vision to reality. Awards, industry recognition, and happy executives were part of the outcome, but the real thrill was watching teams she mentored flourish in the spotlight. When she’s not orchestrating corporate blockbusters, Lauren borrows inspiration from theater, music, and pop culture while also fronting a rock band. For her, work has always been about building the right ensemble, setting the stage for success, and giving people a reason to lean in. Whether it’s a breakthrough campaign, film festival, upfront, social impact PSA, or an executive keynote, Lauren believes the show must not just go on; it should leave an impression worth remembering. Website/Social Links: @laurenbcassidy https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-cassidy/ www.lcstudio.io Belinda’s Bio: Belinda Pruyne is a renowned Leadership Advisor, Executive Coach, Consultant, and Keynote Speaker recognized for her ability to transform executives, professionals, and small business owners into highly respected, influential leaders. As the Founder of BelindaPruyne.com, she partners with top-tier organizations, including IBM, Booz Allen Hamilton, BBDO, Hilton, Leidos, Yale School of Medicine, Landis, Discovery Channel, and the Portland Trail Blazers. Recently, she led the redesign of two global internal advertising agencies for Cella, a leader in creative staffing and consulting. She is also a founding C-suite and executive management coach for Chief, the fastest-growing executive women’s network. A thought leader in leadership development, Belinda is the creator and host of the Notable Leaders Radio podcast, where she has conducted 95+ interviews with top executives and business leaders, revealing the untold stories behind their success. Previously, as Executive Vice President, Global Director of Creative Management at Grey Advertising, she oversaw a global team of 500 professionals, gaining deep expertise in client services and executive leadership. With 25+ years of experience, Belinda is a trusted advisor to startups, turnarounds, acquisitions, and Fortune 500 companies, delivering strategic, high-impact solutions in today’s fast-evolving business landscape. Website: Belindapruyne.com Email Address: hello@belindapruyne.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindapruyne Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NotableLeadersNetwork.BelindaPruyne/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/belindapruyne?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belindapruyne/
