Pia Maillot-Leichter, founder of The Kollektive Studio and author of Welcome to the Creative Club, joins the Brilliantly Resilient Podcast to explore how creativity is one of the most powerful tools for resilience and self-discovery. Pia reminds us that creativity isn't reserved for artists — it's a life skill. Whether you're building a business, solving a problem, or reimagining your next chapter, creativity allows us to reset our thinking, rise from challenges, and reveal the brilliance that's already within us.

Through her stories and insights, Pia shows how creativity thrives through connection — with others, with ideas, and with life itself. She challenges us to let go of perfection, embrace play, and give ourselves permission to create — not because it's perfect, but because it's possible. In that permission lies true resilience, as we grow, evolve, and experience resilience through those changes.

By rediscovering our creative spirits, we reset, allowing new ideas, processes and paths to emerge. As we open our creativity to collaboration, we rise, allowing for imperfections along the way. And brilliance shines through as we dare to design the next scene of life on our own terms. As Pia says, "You're the creative director of your own story — and it's time to call, 'Action!'"

Learn more about Pia and her work here, and tune into this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast for more of Pia's wisdom. Be sure to listen in for these additional bits of Brilliance:

1. "Creativity is a practice — we have to keep showing up and reminding ourselves to play. It's just as important as ticking something off a to-do list."

2. "When we're able to imagine, dream, and create space for play, we can shape a very different reality — for ourselves and for others."

3. "In a time of destruction, creativity and creatives are needed more than ever. We all have that innate creativity — it's time to reclaim it."

4. "You have to give yourself permission to suck — that's how we grow and develop. Resilience is built in the messy middle."

5. "Logic and magic work together. Creativity isn't separate from structure — it's the partnership between both that lets ideas thrive."

6. "Creativity is how we find novel and delightful ways of solving everyday challenges. It's how we've always survived — it's part of being human."

7. "There's no such thing as a lone creative genius. Everything is co-created — with people, ideas, and even life itself."

8. "The best way to become resilient is to do it — to keep creating, sharing, and learning through the process."

9. "Be the creative director of your life. You get to choose the next scene and how you want it to look."

Thank you, PIa, for sharing the joy of creativity! 

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran