“The Business of Thriving: From Cornfields to Creative Careers”

Join VCFA alum Lorilee Rager as she shares critical insights—like how to pronounce her last name, why she doesn’t have a middle name, and highly classified intel on her favorite colors and fonts. Oh, and also her journey from rural beginnings to building a thriving creative career as a designer, entrepreneur, and educator.

This talk explores the realities of running a creative business, navigating career pivots, and embracing lifelong learning as a key to fulfillment—even if you’re a terrible speller but endlessly curious. Lorilee will share personal insights, best practices, and practical advice for creatives forging their own paths—whether as freelancers, agency owners, in-house designers, or design professors.

She’ll also dive into the power of curiosity, understanding your origin story, and prioritizing mental health and wellness in a creative career. If there’s time (and there will be), she’d love an open conversation. The goal? To inspire you to pick up your own cartographer’s tools and start mapping the creative acres around you. Expect real-world stories, field notes from experience, and plenty of time for Q&A to keep the discussion engaging and dynamic.