My name is Ryan. I’m a dad, a loyal friend, an artist and community advocate, and I spend most of my time thinking about people and human systems -- constantly deconstructing the status quo, pushing the boundaries, and searching for a better way to do things — especially in the workplace. My pronouns are he/him.

I have the privilege of leading the absolute best collection of creative human beings on the planet. It all happens at a music agency I’ve built called Marmoset. It's my sandbox.

The aim of this journal is to share some of the more fascinating and impactful experiences of my journey. And moreover, to share a new way of leading and achieving high performance among teams of people. I call it Nurture Theory and over time, I will distill it all here.

An advocate of creators, makers and artists, I once gave a TED Talk about "leading creatives amidst a modern landscape" and I've delivered talks on topics of workplace culture, diversity + equity + inclusion, leadership, start-ups, branding and music licensing at places like SXSW, CMJ Music Festival, The Sync Summit, Tech Fest NW, MusicFest NW, Shades of Green, NextCon, LB Con, The Hawaii Songwriting Festival, The University of Montana, Lewis & Clark College, Southern Oregon University, The Portland Business Journal, Oregon Business Magazine, Portland Public Schools, The Young Presidents Organization and for The Entrepreneurs Organization.

A graduate (and former college radio DJ) at Southern Oregon University, I'm honored to serve my alma mater on the University's Foundation Board of Trustees.  I'm a member of The Guild of Music Supervisors and have served on the Board of Governors for The Recording Academy (The Grammys).  I’ve also served on the Board of Directors for the Portland, Oregon Chapter of EO (Entrepreneurs Organization) as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Co-Chair, Communications Chair, and the Learning Chair. I’ve completed EO's Entrepreneurial Masters Program at MIT and EO's Finance & Operations program at The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Entrepreneurial Strategy program at Harvard Business School. I occasionally contribute to Forbes.com and The Portland Business Journal and others.

An amatuer DJ and ocassional music producer, I’m a frequent keynote speaker at events, conferences, for organizations and community events, I’m available for keynotes, advising and consulting opportunities.

And I’m always game for conversations or debates about Native Tongues, AJ 1 colorways, Japanese whiskey, off-grid camping, all things Jim Collins, and/ important samples in hip hop.

At the end of the day, community, people and relationships are what makes the world go ‘round. The meaning of life is to be in relationship. In relationship with people and other living things… and non-living things. In relationship with the cosmos. In relationship with history, the future and the present. Relationships with, in and between people and places, ideas and beliefs, concepts and dreams, mother and child, good and evil…. and everything. Relationship is where all the magic and mysteries of the universe exist. And relationships are also where love abounds from. Everything else is simply context, color and meaning… for relationships. It’s all about relationships.

Business and commerce and leading people to achieve things together is all about relationships too. It’s not about profit or growth or ROI or winning. It’s important to not get lost or caught up in those things. Never forget.