Is there life after layoff? Today, former creative director Carmen Acosta, aka Jane Dope, joins us to talk about resilience, the lessons she learned during her recent career transition, and how she found renewed passion in creative pursuits after leaving her corporate job.
As the former creative director at Sofi Stadium, Carmen played a key role in shaping the stadium’s brand identity with her innovative ideas. From her debut group show in Los Angeles in 2008 to curating over 25 art exhibitions in various locations, Carmen’s story is one of purpose and dedication.
In this episode, we dive into her unique experiences and her commitment to uplifting local artists while navigating the challenges of the entertainment industry. Carmen opens up about a major turning point in her career—her transition into voiceover work after a layoff—and shares her excitement about exploring this new avenue of artistic expression.
We also touch on the idea of resilience—Carmen shares some personal and professional challenges she’s faced while adapting to change. Her journey is a powerful reminder to stay flexible and embrace new opportunities. Whether you’re an artist, an art lover, or just someone who enjoys a good story, this episode is packed with advice for navigating the ever-changing art ecosystem.
Quotes From This Episode
“I was like, ‘Oh, my God, who am I without this creative director title?’ In two days, it will be an entire year of this freelance hustle, dude. Without that position. Without that title.” — Carmen Acosta [11:13]
“Fuck it, I'm doing a bunch of shit on my own terms. I'm picking my own projects. I'm saying no to things.” — Carmen Acosta [15:38]
“I made [my friend] a teeny tiny wearable gallery complete with spotlighting a sculpture and every photo she took at Freeze Art Fair inside a tiny pinata gallery that you could wear on your head as a headband.” — Carmen Acosta [33:52]
“Sometimes you think of something so fucking weird, and you're like, just make it. No one's hiring you to do it, but just get it out of your head, you know?” — Carmen Acosta [34:13]
“I'm day drinking with all my friends. My phone rings and says, ‘Maybe Spike Lee.’ That's what the caller ID said. And I'm showing everyone my phone, going, ‘Oh, my God.’” — Carmen Acosta [46:49]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode
About Carmen Acosta
Carmen Acosta served as a creative director at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park from January 2020 through March 2024. In this role, Carmen helped define and implement the brand identity of SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park through art and design. Since her first group show in Los Angeles in 2008, Carmen has curated over 25 art shows locally and internationally. In addition to art curation, Acosta represents two local Los Angeles artists and consults on various creative projects in the entertainment industry. After taking a break from graphic arts in 2009, Carmen found herself scheduling voiceover sessions at Bell Sound Studios in Hollywood. It was there that she discovered her passion for voiceover and decided to start classes to hone her skills. Now, after recently being laid off from her creative director role, Carmen is excited to pursue a career in VO professionally and see where this new path takes her.