In today´s fast-paced creative industries, building teams that thrive requires more than just talent -- it demands a culture rooted in trust, open dialogue, and shared purpose. In this presentation, Emmy-nominated producer and executive at Floating Rock Studio in New Zealand, Nathan Santell shares insights drawn from his extensive experience in animation, visual effects, previsualization and live-action production on major projects like Mad Max: Fury Road, The Avengers, Sonic the Hedgehog and the recent Surviving Earth for NBCUniversal. Nathan will delve into strategies that foster collaboration across disciplines and break down barriers to effective communication, ensuring that every voice is heard, and every idea has the space to grow.
Attendees will learn how to create environments where candid conversations are encouraged, leading to stronger relationships, faster problem-solving, and better outcomes. Nathan will explore how transparent leadership and active listening have driven success on high-stakes projects and how these lessons can be applied to teams of any size. Whether you're a leader looking to inspire your team or a collaborator aiming to enhance your impact, this session will offer actionable insights to help you nurture a culture of innovation, respect, and creativity.
Through personal anecdotes, practical tools, and real-world examples, Nathan’s presentation will equip you with techniques to turn difficult conversations into growth opportunities and transform collaborative challenges into creative breakthroughs. Join him to discover how building a culture of collaboration and candid conversations can elevate your team’s work -- and potentially your own career!
Nathan Santell is an Emmy-nominated Producer, Consultant, Project Manager, Writer, and Development Executive with extensive experience in animation, visual effects, story development, artist management, and live-action production. Currently serving as Executive Producer and Head of Production at Floating Rock, Nathan is instrumental in securing business for the company's VFX and animation service division, oversees the production team on all of their client projects and plays a key role in the development and sales of Floating Rock's intellectual properties. Throughout his career, Nathan has contributed to numerous high-profile feature films, including "Mad Max: Fury Road", "Gravity," "Iron Man 2 & 3," "Sonic the Hedgehog", "Oz the Great & Powerful", "Men in Black 3", "The Avengers," and "The Hunger Games" Nathan's strengths encompass company building, business development, brand strategy, team management, leadership, and communications.
