Introducing Vat Tann, an esteemed creative producer, founder, and visionary business leader with a remarkable track record of steering corporate strategy towards achieving exceptional customer experiences harmonized with critical business imperatives.
Vat’s journey embodies a commitment to excellence, evident through his adept management of high-performance teams. With an unwavering focus on cultivating and motivating top-tier talent, he fosters an environment where employees thrive and contribute their best.
His professional ethos extends beyond routine success, delving into the realm of crafting compelling communications that resonate profoundly with audiences.
This prowess is particularly notable within a regulated and ever-evolving sector, where Vat’s ingenuity shines, crafting narratives that captivate and connect on both emotional and strategic levels.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got started in your field?
I had a very roundabout early start in my career. Like many other “good Asian boys” I thought I wanted to be a doctor because growing up that’s the kind of programming you’re instilled with. Get good grades to get into a good college so you can get a good job to attract the perfect mate have the perfect family and live the perfect life. It all seemed so easy when it was simply a prescription, but the closer I got to med school, the less I wanted that path. So when I told my parents I didn’t want to be a doctor anymore, it was like I was “coming out” in a way.
After an arduous period of self-reflection and asking myself what I really wanted to do, I kept landing on creativity and art. It was always my passion but because of my programming, I didn’t think a career being creative would be in the cards for me. I always loved making beautiful things out of “junk”, stuff I found around the house. Creating sculptures generally working with my hands and expressing my creativity was a form of release so I leaned into that.
Fast forward a few years and I had built one of the most popular nightlife events in Washington DC with friends of mine called Diamond Life. What started as a way for us to express our creativity through music, event production, and art paved the way for a queer counter-cultural movement that would shape the rest of my career. This was a time before cell phones could take photos and attendees came for the vibe, to let themselves go in the music, and to just be themselves.
Those early days combining music, culture, and live experiences were the foundation of my career in the entertainment industry and later as an entrepreneur. After cutting my teeth at global media conglomerates, I returned to my entrepreneurial roots and started building companies, products, and brands from a place of creativity and sought out new ways to enhance the human experience.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?
Some of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in my career usually came from navigating personalities. Whether it was at big companies like Disney, or small startups, getting teams aligned to a vision is always the most challenging and yet the most important thing a leader can do.
Everyone brings their own biases and unique perspectives to every situation. So even when a mission or vision is put on paper in black and white, everyone translates those words in their own way. Some people are better at visualizing than others but for those who can’t, it’s up to you as a leader to help paint the picture for them.
I like to take a tip from Steve Jobs because he always started every project by asking a simple question – How do we want people to feel when they use our product? People buy from an emotional state and then justify it with logic. When you start from a place of feeling, it’s easier for people to imagine the end result because they can tap into an emotion, or a state of being. Even if someone can’t visualize or picture an end result, they can usually know when something feels right because it comes from the body and the heart.
So to get teams aligned on a vision, start with that simple question – How do we want people to feel? Get the team to feel that emotion, and then work out the logistics of how to get to that feeling.
What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned throughout your career, and how have they influenced your approach to leadership?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned throughout my career is that there’s no manual for success. When I was in school, it was easy to read textbooks and get the information to do well. When it comes to business, there’s no set path to follow to success. Yes, there are principles and best practices, but when you’re an entrepreneur, and especially in the industries I’ve worked in like entertainment, fashion, cannabis, tech, etc. you’re probably the first one to do what you’re doing. So the best thing to do is just to do the thing.
Yes you’ll probably fail the first few times and your first iteration will probably be cringe, but that’s the beauty of it all. You’ll learn from each mistake, each failure, each iteration. If you don’t look back a few years from now and think, wow that first thing we did was really cringe, then you didn’t evolve and grow.
I think you should always be learning, read a ton of books, listen to podcasts, and learn from the masters to see what they did. But true learning comes from doing and getting your hands dirty. As a leader who has reached the pinnacle of the corporate ladder, I learned to never be afraid to roll up your sleeves and get into the work. Because there’s always a new way to do things and if you stop working and doing the things, you’ll stop growing and learning.
One thing that people don’t know about you?
I’m an extremely introverted person. There’s nothing I like better than to be by myself tinkering with things. When I was a young boy, I was painfully shy and didn’t have many friends.
When people hear me say that they don’t believe me. It was through diligent practice and learning how to push through discomfort that I learned to relate to people. Even now when I have to present in front of a group or even walk into an event, I take 3 deep breaths to ground into my body and then flow into the experience.
What advice would you give to young professionals or entrepreneurs who are just starting out in your field?
Build a trusted “board of advisors” around you. Include people from various parts of your life, at various ages with different experiences and backgrounds. Check-in with each of them regularly so that whenever you feel stuck or are facing a challenging situation, you’ll feel comfort in knowing that you have a community of people who support you and want to see you succeed. One of my mentors told me the best advice that I carry with me to this day, “the best medicine is community.”.
Vat Tann, your journey from redefining your career path to pioneering unforgettable nightlife events offers a unique insight into the challenges and triumphs of leadership. Your emphasis on navigating personalities and aligning teams to a shared vision resonates deeply. The emotional essence you bring to leadership underscores its profound impact.
Your wisdom on learning from failures and embracing discomfort is a beacon for aspiring entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of evolving through challenges. Your revelation about being an introvert and overcoming it serves as a testament to resilience.
Your advice on building a trusted advisory circle echoes the power of community in fostering success. Your journey stands as an inspiration for those treading the dynamic paths of entrepreneurship and leadership.
Thank you for sharing your candid insights and invaluable wisdom.
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