EPISODE / 081

February 2, 2026

Brandon Triola

Chief Creative Officer / Author

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Saving the Creatives in an AI-Driven World

In this energizing episode of the HeadSmack Podcast, Paul Povolni sits down with Brandon Triola—bestselling author of Save the Creatives, cofounder of the global brand consultancy Forrest, and a fierce advocate for the strategic evolution of creative professionals.

With over 15 years of experience leading design and brand strategy for B2B tech companies, Brandon has a message for creatives everywhere: Talent is not enough anymore.

The Myth of the Talented Creative

Too many creatives, Brandon says, rely on talent alone. They’re brilliant in execution but unclear in direction. The result? Burnout, undervaluation, and stalled careers.

“If you’re only selling your hands, you’re a commodity.”

Brandon challenges designers, writers, and visual thinkers to make the leap from service providers to strategic leaders—people who shape outcomes, not just outputs.

From Hands to Head: The Strategy Shift

Through his work at Forrest, Brandon helps creatives and companies reimagine how they work together. The shift starts by moving upstream into strategy:

Learn to think like a business leader
Speak in outcomes, not deliverables
Build systems that scale beyond you

In short, don’t just solve problems. Redefine them.

How to Future-Proof Your Creative Career

As AI tools continue to flood the market, Brandon doesn’t see them as a threat—he sees them as a test.

Will you compete with machines on speed and volume?

Or will you rise above with insight, empathy, and direction?

Brandon argues that creativity needs to evolve from intuition-based guesswork to structured, repeatable thinking—the kind that builds brand equity, not just brand assets.

Creative Leadership Isn’t Optional

Brandon shares the personal and professional shifts that helped him step into leadership: slowing down, learning the language of business, and letting go of the need to be the smartest person in the room.

“You don’t have to prove your value with every project. You prove it with your thinking over time.”

Final Takeaway: Creatives, It’s Time to Evolve

Save the Creatives isn’t just a book title. It’s a battle cry.

Brandon Triola is calling an entire generation of creative professionals to upgrade their mindset, master strategy, and take their seat at the table.

If you’re a designer, copywriter, brand builder, or creative entrepreneur trying to thrive in a noisy, AI-infused world—this episode will wake you up and set you on fire.

Because as Brandon says: “Creative work matters. But creative leadership changes everything.”

Guest Bio

Brandon Triola is an award-winning creative professional, author, speaker, and entrepreneur who co-founded Forrest.co, a global brand and marketing consultancy specializing in B2B technology companies. After overcoming two mental illnesses as a young creative and crumpling up multiple scholarship offers to prestigious art schools, Brandon spent the last 15 years building a multimillion-dollar creative business without selling out or becoming an influencer. As Chief Creative Officer at Forrest.co, he has helped build brands for bestselling authors and major publishing companies like Thomas Nelson and Baker, while developing strategic campaigns that have generated millions of dollars in revenue for personal brands and global tech firms. His bestselling book, Save The Creatives: 8 Uncommon Keys for Achieving Abundant Success and Bulletproofing Your Career Against AI as a Creative Professional, has remained in the top 10 of Amazon’s bestseller lists for over a month and is inspiring creative professionals worldwide to remove the ceiling on their income and become irreplaceable in the age of AI. Brandon lives in Franklin, Tennessee with his wife Celeste and four kids, runs a free community for creative professionals, and believes that creativity can change the world.

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About the Host

Paul Povolni (aka Voppa) is the founder of Voppa Creative and a creative leader with more than 30 years of experience working with organizations and teams around the world. His career spans brand strategy, design leadership, and creative direction, with a focus on helping organizations clarify who they are, how they lead, and how they communicate with intention.

Paul has led multidisciplinary teams in the development of award-winning branding and design systems across a wide range of industries. His work consistently connects strategy to execution, ensuring that brand expression reflects both organizational purpose and internal culture.

In addition to his consulting work, Paul is an experienced coach and speaker. He works with leaders, executives, and creative teams to strengthen decision-making, build creative confidence, and cultivate cultures rooted in clarity and accountability. His speaking engagements and workshops are grounded in practical frameworks shaped by decades of real-world leadership experience.

Paul is also the host of the Headsmack Podcast, where he interviews world-class thinkers, strategists, creatives, and business leaders from around the globe. The podcast explores branding, leadership, creativity, and culture through candid, in-depth conversations that challenge assumptions and sharpen thinking.

Through his consulting, speaking, and coaching, he equips clients to lead with Clarity, Creativity, and Culture—aligning vision with execution and purpose with performance.