We are often led to believe that age and experience are what count when it comes to making big decisions and leading teams. Akshay Shankar, CEO of Curley Street Media, an award-winning film production company, flipped this thinking on its head when he shared with us one of his biggest #learnings from 2024—how his youngest colleagues made him reexamine #creativeleadership.
“As a film production company, 2024 was perhaps the year of the most profound change. The rise of AI in video production and the growing demand for short-form content like reels have reshaped our industry in ways we couldn’t have imagined. As storytellers, our initial reaction was one of concern—about the future of storytelling, the quality we strive for, and how we would stay inspired in this evolving landscape. But we chose to lean into the change, to remain open, and to learn as we went.
To my surprise, it was the youngest members of our team who adapted to the new technology and formats the fastest. As a leader, I always expected to be guiding the team with creative direction, but this time, I found myself learning so much from simply observing their approach. What truly inspired me wasn’t just the technical know-how, but the sense of joy, the willingness to make mistakes, and the resilience to keep learning.
In December, we won an award for our short-form brand video content—a format we only started exploring a few months ago. The credit for this success goes entirely to the young, passionate members of our team.”
So what did Akshay do differently?
- Recognise the inherent strengths in his young crew—even if they didn’t have as much experience
- Entrust them with project ownership—inspiring them to give their best.
- Give them a longer creative rope—with the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them.
- Be ready to step back—and give someone else an opportunity.
- Embrace a learning mindset—by recognising that a good idea can come from anywhere.
By throwing away the rules and preconceived notions of storytelling, Curley Street Media opened themselves up to new ways of communicating with audiences. For their senior stakeholders, it was a chance to delegate and learn from the younger members of their team. The added responsibility and accountability, in turn, galvanised the team—resulting in a win-win for everyone.
What spaces have you created for your younger colleagues to flourish?
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