WE BELIEVE CREATIVITY SHAPES CULTURE—AND THE PEOPLE DOING THAT WORK DESERVE SPACE, SUPPORT, AND REAL TALK ABOUT HOW IT HAPPENS.
Building Boldly is a podcast for people who create things that matter, and want to do it sustainably. We explore how founders, artists, and changemakers actually build successful cultural ventures, from the creative spark to the business strategy that funds it. Each episode features special guests sharing their stories, challenges, and valuable insights into how they've designed and funded their creative lives.
Building Boldly is about demystifying the creative process. It’s about the pivots, the funding, the partnerships, and the persistence it takes to keep going.
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I’m Ariana Makonnen.
I’m a cultural strategist, storyteller, and philanthropist. For over a decade, I’ve helped fund and scale creative projects across the U.S. from launching DC’s largest arts festival, Art All Night to moving millions in philanthropic support to writers, filmmakers, and artists to co-founding a film and TV company focused on diaspora stories.
After a decade of championing other creatives, I wanted to create a space for honest, inspiring, and practical conversations about how we make meaningful work actually work. Each episode explores how artists, founders, and cultural changemakers are sustaining their creative lives from the money to the mindset to the tools that make it possible.
I know what it takes to bring bold ideas to life, and Building Boldly is where I get to celebrate the people doing it. And if you’re building something of your own, consider this your invitation to keep going—with clarity, with courage, and in good company.
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