Bennet Schwartz is a creative director who lives and works in the Australian city of Sydney. The entrepreneur had built a respected and successful career in the U.S. before deciding to embark on a new adventure in Australia. Bennet Schwartz Sydney creative director has been perfecting his craft as a creative director since graduating from his studies as a graphic design specialist.
Travel has always played a role in the life of Bennet Schwartz, who explored the U.S. through his freelance work. Born and raised in the artistic city of Austin, Texas, Schwartz was willing to move around the U.S. to work and see new places. Throughout his life, Bennet Schwartz Sydney creative has used Austin, Texas as the base for his work in other areas. Getting the most out of each project he is taking part in has meant traveling and learning more about different cultures. The movement across the U.S. of Schwartz has led to him adding new ideas to his work.
Outside the work of Bennet Schwartz, his passions are cycling and motorsports. A dedicated motorcycle enthusiast, Schwartz has explained his move to Australia was for both sports and career reasons. The chance to enjoy riding his bicycle around the sunny climes of Sydney is a way of trying to further his impact on the sport. In the past, Schwartz has traveled to Europe to take part in the Red Hook Criterium.
What was your best/favorite subject in school?
I think I was a good student who always leaned towards the arts. I enjoyed art and felt a close affinity with my art teachers from high school through college. At school, I enjoyed history as a subject and enjoyed learning about the two world wars. I think my love of the history of the early-20th century gave me an insight into the leadership needed to move forward with my career in a successful way.
What was your first job?
When I was in high school in Austin, Texas, I worked at a pizza restaurant. I was only a teenager and working part-time, but I decided I was going to be the best worker there to help me become the best worker in the restaurant. Even though I was young, I knew I wanted to achieve as much as possible in every job I took.
My first job as a creative director was for a local company in Austin. I had graduated from college and was working as a graphic designer when a client asked mentioned they were looking for a creative director. I made my pitch without really knowing everything about the role and somehow got the job. That first creative director job changed my life for the better.
Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?
I was a graphic designer after college and get my first creative director role working on a marketing campaign for a local company in Austin. The role is a tough one that I enjoy and want to carry on working on here in Australia.
How have those jobs prepared you for what you do now?
That’s a tough question because I’d say every job I had helped prepare me for the role. I can look back at a job I worked as a student selling Christmas trees as helping prepare me to sell my skills to my clients. Working as a freelance graphic designer straight out of college did more to prepare me for the role of creative director than any other.
Describe the best day of work you’ve ever had.
That’s another tough question. I try to look forward and not back without regrets. The journey I’m on to become the best creative director I can be is not completed, so I hope my best day of work is still to come.
How do you keep yourself motivated?
I don’t think motivation is a problem because I love what I do and feel privileged to do so. Staying motivated has never been a problem for me because the role is so varied. There have been some projects that have been challenging, but even in the challenges, I face I look for chances to improve myself.
What kind of business ideas excite you most?
The business ideas that excite me the most are those that are creative and push me to think outside the box. I like to be pushed outside of my comfort zone by the business ideas that come my way. Creativity has to be a two-way street with the clients I work with generally looking to expand their thinking into new areas.
Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?
I like to think I have always been on the cusp of the wave when it comes to marketing in new areas. I was an early advocate of social media as an effective marketing tool, with Instagram a platform I love using regularly.
What personal achievement are you most proud of?
It would be easy to look at my career and pick out a particular achievement, but I believe my ride at the Red Hook Criterium was amazing. We race without brakes and just to survive the race is an amazing feeling.
What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started?
That you can always bounce back. When I started as a graphic design graduate I went through some tough times financially. The darkest times are usually followed by the brightest dawn.