Changemaker Series: Nate Stewart

Welcome to Changemaker stories from LOCAL - an ongoing series of personal interviews with leaders driving change across every industry and discipline. Because change shouldn’t mean going it alone.

This week, we had the pleasure of speaking with Nate Stewart, a creative leader who has worked with organizations like Delta, Jack Daniel’s, The Wall Street Journal, and now The Washington Post. Nate shared his thoughts on the power of creativity, embracing the adventure that change presents, and his love of the outdoors. 

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I went to school at Texas A&M University, which isn’t the typical launch pad for creative marketing and advertising careers. But during an advertising course, a real agency came in to make the learning more fun and practical.

That’s when I realized the raw materials in advertising are ideas. When I discovered I could put my business degree to work in a creative industry, I was sold. From that moment, I set my sights on an internship with that agency.

I later worked at a small but mighty agency in Boston called Modernista!. They had amazing clients at the time like Napster, MTV, Hummer, The Gap, Cadillac. The agency was made up of a wonderful bunch of misfits, people who had no ego. They just loved creativity and believed in the power of it. 

Change is rooted in understanding people.

If we can identify people’s problems and pain points, it opens opportunities to help them. Then we can design solutions, experiences, or communications that truly make a difference.

For some people, change is exciting. For most, it’s hard. Pretending it’s easy is a fool’s errand. 

Good change leaders communicate effectively and model the change they want to see. They acknowledge the challenges but emphasize the opportunities on the other side. It’s about empathizing with people and their real feelings, even when it’s uncomfortable.

At the start of a project, it’s crucial to get clear on the problem you’re solving. Sometimes the problem isn’t necessarily what you think it is.

I approach everything through the lens of a creative brief. Before diving into action, my team and I take a step back to understand the core issue. Once we grasp that, we can communicate person-to-person, and really connect with people.

You know change is on track when people make it their own. When they acknowledge the need for change, bring their own ideas, and start finding solutions, those are strong indicators of progress.

A common barrier to change is the mindset of ‘this is how we’ve always done it.’ Ego is another challenge. While it’s important to hold onto values and maintain confidence, humility is key.

If the team is good, then we're going to be good. When you have the right people and chemistry, and you give them the support they need, it makes managing change much easier. 

The obstacles are all part of the adventure. You can get through it. There's generally a solution to the problem, even if it's not what you originally envisioned.

Remember, we’re not the first ones to face these challenges. There are people who've been through the same things that you're going through now. Asking for help and finding a mentor can make a huge difference.

A Changemaker I admire is my boss and friend, Suzi. She’s a smart, kind, experienced player-coach. People want to do the hard work for her because they see her doing the work, and they stand up for change because they believe she has their best interest at heart. 

I get a lot of inspiration and restoration from the outdoors. Whether it’s hiking, spending time on the water, or evening walks with the family dog, being outside helps me reset.

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