Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Glowinski.
Hi Nancy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I went to art school in New York and studied painting. Keith Haring was a classmate so that should give you an idea of how old I am (this photo of him was taken in 1979 on the boardwalk at Coney Island). I moved away from painting to photography – first as a photographer but then got into the business side of licensing and rights. I was good at it so I ended up as the global head of photography for Reuters for many years (I don’t recall who took that photo of me but it was on my phone. I was probably going to use the picture to scare my sales team for numbers. Or else.). When I became a casualty of a corporate reorg – at the height of my career – I was lost. After 41 years of living in New York, I finally gave into my LA friends’ urging and moved to Los Angeles. My mom was living in Honolulu so I figured I could reinvent myself and be closer to her at the same time.
So in 2019, the year I would turn 60, I made a cross-country move that was like the uprooting of a large, old tree. Sadly, at the same time my mom received a grim diagnosis and by the time I finally got to LA for good in September 2019, she was gone.
And then came the pandemic.
During the lockdown, I used the time as a kind of sabbatical to write, draw, reflect, and grieve. I made custom postcards for my friends – a souvenir of this weird time. (These are just two of about 35 made altogether.)
During that time, I also started a consulting business called Tadpole Salon. I wanted to help creatives with business strategy – especially navigating through such uncharted territory with the pandemic. I have an advantage as a kind of hybrid because I started out in fine art. I get visual literacy and I understand the creative process. But I also had the business experience of being responsible for a multimillion-dollar visual business unit within a large, global news organization.
I get most of my clients through referrals but I’ve also had several articles published in the LA Times (not bad for a newcomer) and that has also brought in some wonderful new clients who I love working with, learning from, and being a part of my reinvention journey.
I just wish my mom was here to enjoy it with me.
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?
Facing a new life in a new location is daunting for anyone but even more challenging for someone who is not young. At 60, I was too young to be old but too old to be hired. I kind of had no choice but to start my own business using whatever I had in my arsenal of skills. But to keep those skills from getting rusty and from me going completely feral, I volunteered as a mentor before launching my own business.
While some hated the isolation and lack of real-life interaction during those early days of the pandemic, I actually kind of liked it. I’m an only child so I’m fine with my own company.
However, I did miss in-person networking so as soon as things started opening up again, I sought them (happy to retreat back to solitude in Frogtown at the end of the day, of course). There is nothing like interacting with people in real life, shaking hands and sharing a meal. Building relationships is essential for business and when the dots start to connect, it’s like magic.
As you know, we’re big fans of Tadpole Salon. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Again, I have a unique perspective because of my background in fine art combined with years in the corporate world. I know that for artists and creatives developing a business plan and strategy can be unfamiliar territory. Sometimes it’s just a matter of the client’s messaging and optics. Whether it’s an edit on written communication or a second pair of eyes on how things look, this is the service Tadpole Salon provides. Sometimes all that’s needed is a little nudge to look at things from another angle.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love that LA is so big and ugly (this picture was taken on my first trip out here in 1986). I’m not comfortable when things are too pretty. Harsh sunlight on perfectly manicured landscapes and fancy houses can seem kind of sinister to me. I love finding pockets of creative energy throughout the city – especially off the beaten path. And that there are seasons here and unlike other places, something is always blooming in each season.
Dislikes? Traffic. Duh!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tadpolesalon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancyglowinski/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-glowinski/
Image Credits
All photos and artwork: Nancy Glowinski
