Pia Mailhot-Leichter
Why Playing it Safe Might Be Holding You Back with Pia Mailhot-Leichter Ep 252 – The Global Discussion
There's something quietly electric about hearing someone talk when they've truly followed a hunch into uncharted territory and made something real out of it. That was the vibe when Pia Mailhot-Leichter, founder of Kollektiv Studio and author of Welcome to the Creative Club, joined The Global Discussion podcast with Host Simon Hodgkins. On the surface, Pia's story might read like a classic creative evolution: agency life, burnout (or close), then the leap into starting something of her own. But when you listen to her speak, you realize it's not just a career arc. It's an ongoing experiment in transformation.
From SWAT Team Creative to Founder
Pia spent over 15 years embedded in the fast-moving world of agencies in cities like London, Gothenburg, and Copenhagen. If you've ever worked in that kind of environment, you'll know the rhythm: briefs flying in, tight turnarounds, brilliant chaos. She likens it to being in a creative SWAT team, called in to solve tough commercial challenges with sharp thinking and sharper execution.
And she loved it until she didn't.
Not because she wasn't thriving, but because the room, ceiling, walls, and floor felt defined. Familiar. And for someone who talks about creative evolution like it's a biological necessity, that wasn't going to cut it anymore.
Pia stepped off the agency treadmill and built something of her own. That something is Kollektiv Studio, based in Copenhagen but working globally with what she calls "people who do things differently to make a difference." Visionaries, misfits, changemakers, the kind of folks who aren't afraid to color outside the lines.
Coaching, Creativity, and the Human Element
One of the more interesting turns in Pia's journey is her pivot into coaching. It wasn't a 180-degree shift, more like a deepening of focus. In coaching, she found a new creative medium: people.
Because if you think about it, coaching and creativity aren't actually that far apart. Both are about transformation. Both ask you to sit with discomfort, reimagine what's possible, and move from idea to reality.
And now, Pia blends the two. She partners closely with founders, leaders, artists, and people at what she calls a "sticky juncture." They may be rebranding. Maybe they're blocked. Perhaps they're building something new but can't quite see it clearly yet. That's where she comes in. Not to tell them what to do, but to reflect, challenge, and co-create.
It's not consulting. It's a creative partnership. There's a difference.
Welcome to the Creative Club
Welcome to the Creative Club is Pia's way of smashing the tired myth that creativity is reserved for the chosen few. You know, the painters, poets, and "creatives" with capital C's on their business cards.
Instead, she invites readers to see creativity as something much more human and expansive, something we all carry but often forget to claim.
The book is a mix of personal stories, insights from neuroscience, and conversations with people like the iconic designer Betsey Johnson (yes, that Betsey Johnson), who happens to be a longtime family friend. It's part memoir, part creative pep talk, part toolkit for anyone feeling a little stuck.
There's poetry in there, too. Literal poems. And now there's a spoken word album in the works, with original tracks for each piece. Because, why not? Creativity likes to roam.
What's Next?
Besides releasing the audiobook and that spoken word project (which, let's be honest, sounds pretty cool), Pia's also keeping things intentionally open. It's not vague, just fluid. She calls it "structured flow", planning enough to move forward, but staying open enough to be surprised.
Because sometimes, when you over-schedule your life, you squeeze out the magic.
She's still working closely with brands and individuals, coaching and writing. But more than anything, she's following what lights her up. That's her north star. Butterflies in her stomach and her heart racing a little are the signals she pays attention to now.
A Parting Thought
Toward the end of the episode, Pia left listeners with a quiet little challenge:
"If you could create anything next, what might that be?"
Not what you should create or what your LinkedIn says you're supposed to do. Just… what's calling you? It could be a business or a book. Or a new pasta recipe. Doesn't matter. The point is to notice what's stirring.
And write it down. A few times over a few days. No pressure. No perfect answer. Just an invitation back to the part of you that wants to make something.
Because creativity isn't a department, it's not a job title or an industry. It's a way of being in the world.
And you're already in the club.
About The Global Discussion
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