About the Episode
A study published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology found that employees who engaged in creative hobbies and activities outside of work tended to be more creative and innovative on the job. In this episode, Jaime talks with Kristi Eaves-McLennan about the importance of finding creative outlets that refill our gas tanks and inspire our work. Take aways include:
- Ways to find new creative outlets that feed your soul and inspire your work
- How to carve out time for creativity amid a busy and fast-paced life
- Resources for managing your time
- Tips for making creativity a priority
Finding Joy in Creativity
For Christy McLennan, creativity isn’t just a hobby—it’s a lifeline. After more than 20 years in higher ed marketing, Christy has learned that nurturing her creative side is essential for maintaining focus and staying innovative in her role as a CMO. Whether she’s photographing landscapes at sunrise, crafting short stories, or blogging about books, Christy makes it a priority to set aside time each day for activities that feed her soul.
One of Christy’s favorite creative outlets is landscape photography, which she began pursuing in earnest in 2019. “When I’m behind the camera,” she says, “I’m fully in the moment. It’s impossible to stress about work when you’re standing on a cliff, trying to capture the perfect shot of a sunrise.”
Writing is another passion she’s carried with her since childhood, when she would craft stories and personal essays for fun. By creating space for these activities in her daily life, Christy is able to reset her mind, take creative risks, and return to work with renewed energy and perspective.
Finding Joy in Creativity
For Kristi McLennan, creativity isn’t just a hobby—it’s a lifeline. After more than 20 years in higher ed marketing, Kristi has learned that nurturing her creative side is essential for maintaining focus and staying innovative in her role as a CMO. Whether she’s photographing landscapes at sunrise, crafting short stories, or blogging about books, Kristi makes it a priority to set aside time each day for activities that feed her soul.
One of Kristi’s favorite creative outlets is landscape photography, which she began pursuing in earnest in 2019. “When I’m behind the camera,” she says, “I’m fully in the moment. It’s impossible to stress about work when you’re standing on a cliff, trying to capture the perfect shot of a sunrise.”
Writing is another passion she’s carried with her since childhood, when she would craft stories and personal essays for fun. By creating space for these activities in her daily life, Kristi is able to reset her mind, take creative risks, and return to work with renewed energy and perspective.
How Creative Pursuits Make You a Better Marketer
Why should marketing leaders prioritize creativity in their personal lives? According to Kristi, creative outlets not only foster personal fulfillment but also enhance professional performance.
First, engaging in activities like photography or writing helps leaders appreciate the time, effort, and talent that goes into the creative work they oversee. This can translate into better support for creative staff, such as advocating for new equipment or allocating adequate time for projects.
Second, creativity sparks innovation. “Marketing is all about cutting through the clutter and finding new ways to connect with your audience,” Kristi explains. “Spending time on your own creative projects helps you think differently and approach challenges with a fresh perspective.”
Finally, creative hobbies can improve your interpersonal skills. Through activities like blogging or improv comedy, leaders can connect with their teams on a deeper level, build trust, and show their human side.
Making Time for Creativity
How does a busy higher ed executive carve out an hour a day for creativity? For Kristi, it’s all about consistency and flexibility.
- Embrace the mornings: As a self-described early riser, Kristi uses the quiet hours before work to photograph sunrises or write short stories. “I’m more inspired in the morning, before the demands of the day drain my energy,” she says.
- Focus on daily habits: Instead of worrying about hitting the full hour every day, Kristi prioritizes making creativity a daily habit—even if it’s just 15-20 minutes. “It’s more important to build consistency than to stress about perfection,” she advises.
- Combine activities: Kristi often incorporates creativity into other routines, like snapping photos during a walk or brainstorming blog ideas while journaling.
- Start small: If you’re unsure what creative outlet to pursue, think back to activities you enjoyed as a child. Kristi recommends experimenting with different hobbies to discover what resonates most.
Encouraging Creativity in the Workplace
Kristi also believes in fostering creativity within her team. At Meredith College, she’s worked with her staff to incorporate creative activities into team meetings and retreats. From Play-Doh modeling competitions to group art projects led by faculty members, these activities not only inspire creativity but also strengthen team bonds.
“We’ve learned so much about each other through these activities,” Kristi shares. “For example, during a Play-Doh challenge, our web developer created the most technically accurate pizza I’ve ever seen. It wasn’t artistic in the traditional sense, but it was so precise—and it gave us all a new appreciation for his attention to detail.”
Kristi’s advice for other leaders? Look for opportunities to engage your team’s creative side and tap into your campus community. Faculty, staff, and students often have hidden talents that can enrich your team’s experiences and inspire new ways of thinking.
Fuel Your Creative Fire
Kristi’s story is a reminder that creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for higher ed marketers. Whether you’re a CMO or an entry-level staffer, finding time for creative pursuits can help you recharge, grow, and bring fresh ideas to your work.
Ready to start your creative journey? Take a page from Kristi’s playbook:
- Start small: Dedicate 15-20 minutes a day to a creative activity you enjoy.
- Experiment: Try new hobbies, like photography, writing, or improv comedy, until you find something that sparks joy.
- Leverage your community: Collaborate with colleagues or tap into campus resources to explore creative opportunities together.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Mindpower:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is sponsored by our friends at Mindpower- a full-service marketing and branding firm celebrating nearly thirty years of needle-moving, thought-provoking, research-fueled creative and strategy. Mindpower is women-founded and owned, WBENC certified, nationally recognized, and serves the social sector – higher education, healthcare, non-profits, and more. The Mindpower team is made up of strategists, storytellers, and experience creators. From market research to brand campaigns to recruitment to fundraising, the agency exists to empower clients, amplify brands, and help institutions find a strategic way forward. Learn more about Mindpower here!
About the Enrollify podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like otherEnrollify shows too!
Our podcast network is growing by the month and we’ve got a plethora of marketing, admissions, and higher ed technology shows that are jam packed with stories, ideas, and frameworks all designed to empower you to be a better higher ed professional. Our shows feature a selection of the industry’s best as your hosts. Learn from Mickey Baines, Zach Busekrus, Jeremy Tiers, Corynn Myers, Jaime Gleason and many more.
Learn more about The Enrollify Podcast Network at podcasts.enrollify.org. Our shows help higher ed marketers and admissions professionals find their next big idea — come and find yours!
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