Conversations with Nisha Kakadia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nisha Kakadia.

Hi Nisha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I come from a family of storytellers. My dad has a photo album from every year of his life. My mom is an artist and a natural community builder. She can make anything interesting and convince anyone to join her. Growing up watching them I absorbed two things without realizing it: the drive to document and to connect.

I found my way into marketing through a required credit at Birmingham-Southern College while I was on the pre-med track. My professor of Marketing Foundations, Dr. Mary Harrison, saw something in me before I saw it in myself. She encouraged it, pushed it, and made space for it to grow.

I then pivoted to graduate with a BS in Business Administration and went on to earn my MBA in Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Then I found Sociallyin, a full-service social media agency based in Atlanta. I honestly just said yes to everything. And that’s been my approach ever since. I learned along the way.

Almost ten years later I’m the Creative Director. I lead creative across strategy, production, and creative for brands like Samsung, Carnival Cruise Line, Hitachi Digital, and Trelleborg Tires. For me it is still all about telling a story that really makes you feel something. Finding that story and honoring it.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Growing in a creative leadership role means figuring a lot of things out in real time. There have definitely been moments when I wasn’t taken seriously. When I learned a hard lesson through failure.

I’m young. I’m a woman of color. And though it is still a work in progress, I’ve learned not to soften my experienced perspective into suggestions. I’ve become more secure in my sense of self and expertise, enough to not to swap out the things that make me feel like myself for things that feel more palatable.

The easy part is that I get to do something I love. And I get to do it with talented, kind, creative people.

Much of my job has nothing to do with creating content. It’s managing people, navigating client relationships, learning how to build a vision with data and strategy leading the why. And I consider myself always a student.

I learned to lead by leading. I learned to direct by directing. And I’m so grateful for the people who have trusted me to do so along the way.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m as comfortable in a pitch call or strategy conversation as I am on a set, and I think that’s made me a better Creative Director. I still highly value professionalism in an industry that’s fun-forward.

I lead a social-first production team. It’s a unique world that prioritizes speed and capturing attention. And I think the challenge of finding real stories and real impact keeps me most interested in the work.

I approach everything through feeling first. Strategy next. I think the best creative decisions come from instinct: from reading a room, sensing what a story needs, knowing when to follow the plan and when not to.

What I’m most proud of is the stories and the people behind them. I’m also incredibly proud of my team and the award-winning work we’ve built together. A Korean BBQ owner who became the face of a Samsung campaign which won us a Silver Telly Award. Veterans whose memories live on through 3rd Deck Brewing. Children at Brain Balance whose developmental breakthroughs I got to document. The brands I work with are huge, globally recognized brands. The people I meet through my work & their stories are what I remember.

Something that matters a lot to me personally is being approachable to other young women coming up in this industry. I didn’t always have someone who looked like me in the rooms I was trying to get into. I want to be that for someone else. I try to show up in a way that says “You yourself make it possible.”

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
This one is tough. I’m blessed to have many that come to my mind. I’d choose getting ready with my grandmother at her fabulous vanity. She was a diva and a social butterfly who was very proud and supportive of my creative endeavors. I like to think I remind people of her not only because I resemble her, but also because of her confidence and joy for life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sociallyin.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/nisha.thecreative
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nishakakadia
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@nisha.thecreative