Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Lieu.
Hi Diane, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Like all good things in life, I landed in my current role through a series of fortunate and unfortunate events. I went to uni at an art school in San Francisco, determined to turn my passion for making images into a career. I studied photography, relishing my fine art classes and begrudgingly honing my technical skills in the attempt to create with my hands what I could see in my head. After moving back to Los Angeles, I took photography jobs but found a disconnect that translated into taking a sales job and then pivoting once more into marketing. After nearly a decade, I’ve landed in a career that allows me to tap into my experience, passions, creativity, and voracious love for research.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It never really is a smooth road. Life decks you sometimes and you land hard on your ass. The struggles are various and so human– visions don’t align, goals are miscommunicated, and budgets fall through. But then you get up, look up to see a blue sky, recalibrate, and try, try again.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The best part of my work is that I get to be so many things: a writer, a researcher, a listener, a question-asker, a thinker, a collaborator, a creative problem handler, a spaghetti-thrower.
I’m a copywriter and brand strategist by trade which means I specialize in working with passionate founders and brands to distill their ideas, hopes, and machinations into inviting stories that give their brand pith and make them memorable.
Nowadays, brands have to offer so much more than just a product– they have to compete for attention and bring it home with emotional connection. I delve into the idiosyncrasies and pull out the details worth sharing. I help brands find their light and really put their best, most innovative selves to the forefront.
I believe in working with mission-driven brands and think of my talents as my little superpower: It must be used for good. Sometimes this can look like suggestions around sustainability, giving back, or simply putting a humans-first lens on problem-solving. I aim to use my perspective and presence in the room to affect some good, big or small, whenever I can.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
The Libby app is a gem. Ever since learning to love my Kindle, I’ve been constantly between books and Libby makes it super easy to browse books and place holds which means I’ve surpassed my 2022 reading goal by 200%.
Best books I’ve recently read: “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt, “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus, and “You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty” by Akwaeke Emezi. Oh and “An Everlasting Meal” by Tamar Adler makes you think about food in a strictly magical way.
I’ve really conquered my Instagram discovery page by only following people that make me feel positive feelings, so I get to tune into social media and be showered with inspiration, beautiful spaces, kindness, creativity, and joy instead of posturing and comparison culture.
Procreate on my iPad is my favourite way to doodle, a great exercise at doing something for fun, even if you’re bad at it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dianelieu.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barepaws/
Image Credits
Megan Forbes
HERE Studios
Zippy Burman
In Good Co.
Finance is Cool
Shop Ayda
Xiao Ye
