When creativity meets empathy, magic happens. But how do you build a business that balances both—while keeping your creative spark alive?

On this episode of Become Sensible, I sat down with Heather Chandler, seven-time Emmy-winning filmmaker and founder of The IMG Studio. After a decade in broadcast journalism, Heather left the 3 a.m. newscasts behind to build a creative company that champions human stories—especially for nonprofits and causes that matter. Together, we unpack what it takes to lead with empathy, manage creative teams, and tell stories that move people to action.

"People do business with people they like." Heather shares how deadlines, storytelling discipline, and authenticity fuel both artistry and business success—and why creative excellence is really about evoking emotion, not chasing perfection.

Connect

• Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on LinkedIn. Learn more about Balannx.
• Heather Chandler on LinkedIn
• The IMG Studio Website

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:30 - The "enough is enough" moment that sparked change
• 5:00 - What storytelling taught her about discipline and deadlines
• 8:00 - Why authenticity wins in business storytelling
• 11:00 - The Emmy projects that redefined her creative path
• 13:00 - Balancing creativity with budgets and client expectations
• 16:00 - The Uganda documentary that deepened her empathy
• 18:00 - Why humans are wired for stories, not stats
• 21:00 - Finding the thread of humanity in every story
• 24:00 - Vulnerability vs. perfection in storytelling
• 26:00 - Leading creative teams with clarity and collaboration
• 28:00 - The value women bring to male-dominated creative industries
• 31:00 - Confidence and leadership after years in business
• 32:00 - Advice for anyone afraid to pivot
• 41:00 - The next decade of The IMG Studio
• 43:00 - The quote that fuels Heather's resilience
• 45:00 - Creative excellence in the age of AI
• 46:00 - Closing reflections on beauty, connection, and contribution

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