Daily Inspiration: Meet Sheena Gao

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheena Gao.

Hi Sheena, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always moved between different creative worlds, but music was really where it started for me. I trained as a classical violinist and have performed professionally for many years, both as a classical and electric violinist. More recently, I’ve also been exploring country music, which has been a fun new direction for me.

My other great passion has always been fashion and visual design. I earned my Master’s Degree in Fashion and worked in the corporate fashion industry with companies including Target, Marshall Field’s, and Sears in product development, color management, and design. Eventually, I wanted to create something that felt more personal to me. Inspired by my love of world travel and different cultures, I launched my own lifestyle fashion label, International Citizen [i.CTZN]. The collection debuted at OC Fashion Week and LA Fashion Week, was presented at MAGIC, and received quite a bit of fashion press.

From there, my career naturally expanded into styling, costume design, creative direction, and production. I’ve worked on music and entertainment projects connected with Capitol Records, Interscope Records, Columbia Records, and artists including Selena Gomez, Zedd, The Chainsmokers, and Jamie Scott.

Today, I bring all of those experiences together through my freelance creative company, i.Citizen Digital Intelligence. I work as a creative director, producer, multimedia content creator, and social media content developer—creating everything from branding and social campaigns to photography, reels, commercials, and music videos.

Looking back, my career hasn’t followed one straight path, and I think that’s what makes it uniquely mine. Whether I’m designing, directing a shoot, developing a brand, or standing onstage with a violin, it all comes from the same place: storytelling and the need to create something that connects with people.

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?
I wouldn’t say it has been a smooth road, but I’ve never really looked for a straight one. I’ve always been drawn to creative challenges, exploring something new, and pushing myself into areas where I still have something to learn.

Moving between music, fashion, production, digital media, and now AI has required me to constantly adapt and reinvent myself. There are always challenges when you step outside of what is familiar, but I find that process very gratifying. The difficult parts are often where the most growth happens.

Right now, I’m exploring how AI can be incorporated into my artistic development and creative process. I see it as an incredible new tool—not something that replaces creativity, but something that can expand what we are able to imagine and create.

I don’t believe we should always seek the easiest or straightest path. For me, the more interesting road is the one with challenges, discovery, and exploration. That’s usually where I find the most inspiration.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work really lives at the intersection of art, fashion, music, and visual storytelling. I work as a Creative Art Director, Producer, Multimedia Content Creator, and Social Media Content Developer. Depending on the project, I may be developing a brand concept, directing a photo or video shoot, producing a music video, creating social media content, or helping a client find a stronger visual identity.

What I specialize in is taking an idea and developing the entire creative world around it. I love being involved from the very beginning—concept, mood, styling, photography, video, editing, music, and how everything ultimately connects with an audience.

I’m probably most proud of the fact that I’ve been able to build a career across so many different creative disciplines without losing my own point of view. I’ve worked in corporate fashion, launched my own label, styled and designed for major music artists, directed and produced visual content, managed brands, and continued performing as both a classical and electric violinist.

What sets me apart is that I don’t see these as separate careers. Fashion taught me composition, color, and detail. Music taught me emotion, timing, and performance. Travel gave me a broader visual and cultural perspective, and digital media gave me a new way to bring all of those things together.

I think my strength is being able to see the whole picture while still caring about the smallest details. For me, the goal is never just to make something look beautiful—it has to have a feeling, a point of view, and a story behind it.

How do you think about luck?
When I was younger, I felt like “luck” was often on my side. Opportunities seemed to land in my lap sometimes before I even realized what I wanted. I was fortunate to meet the right people, be in the right places, and have doors open that led me into music, fashion, and other creative experiences.

As I’ve grown, my idea of luck has changed. I’ve realized that sometimes you have to seek out your own opportunities. Luck becomes connected to your mission, your goals, the chances you’re willing to take, and your willingness to keep exploring.

There have certainly been times when I felt “unlucky” because something I really wanted didn’t happen. But looking back, many of those disappointments redirected me toward something else I needed to experience. I truly believe every part of the journey—successes, failures, unexpected turns, and even closed doors—is another step toward where you are meant to go.

So today, I don’t think of luck as simply something that happens to me. I believe we create a lot of our own luck by staying curious, putting ourselves out there, and being open to where the journey takes us.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sheenagao.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icproductionsofficial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheenasworld/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheenagao/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SheenaGao
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/WNHJMUfTWj

Image Credits
Behind the Scenes: Shooting a Reality Show Pilot.