Lessons in Leadership: What Building a University Production Studio Taught Me

Building an in-house university production studio wasn’t just a technical challenge—it was a leadership test.

I’ve worked in media for years, but leading the charge to take a university from outsourcing all content to running a full-scale internal production studio pushed me in new ways. In two years, we went from a tiny team of three to a high-performing team of 15, producing 50+ videos per month and saving over $1 million in the process.

Looking back, here are the biggest leadership lessons I took away from the experience.

1?? Think Like a Business Leader, Not Just a Creative

It’s easy to get caught up in creative decisions—camera choices, editing styles, storytelling techniques. But to build something sustainable, I had to think like an entrepreneur inside the university.

? Data mattered more than opinions—decisions had to be backed by real numbers, not just creative instinct.

? Budgets drove priorities—we couldn’t just buy the best gear; we had to invest in what delivered ROI.

? Stakeholder management was half the job—getting buy-in from leadership, faculty, and marketing was just as important as the production work itself.

If you want to get things done, you have to speak the language of leadership. There are plenty of politics to navigate. Creativity is valuable, but strategy makes it sustainable.

2?? Small, Smart Teams Can Outperform Large Ones

We didn’t start with endless resources. We had to hire strategically and build scalable workflows that kept us efficient even as demand exploded.

?? Hired for skill + adaptability—the best team members weren’t just talented, they could wear multiple hats.

?? Built a trusted freelancer network—scaling up without full-time overhead kept us flexible.

?? Standardized production workflows—every project followed a clear, repeatable system to maximize output without burnout.

A lean, high-performing team will always outproduce a bloated one with no clear strategy.

3?? Data Wins Arguments—Every Time

Universities and businesses love creative content until they see the price tag. Convincing leadership to create an in-house studio required more than just enthusiasm—it required hard data and backing from other departments.

?? Showed how much we were spending on outsourcing—and how we could cut costs internally.

?? Defined clear KPIs—number of videos produced, engagement rates, turnaround times. And how much money we saved the university for each job done.

?? Measured success and adapted—we didn’t just create, we optimized based on results.

When you speak in numbers, not just ideas, people listen.

4?? Leadership is About Removing Roadblocks, Not Just Making Decisions

The biggest job as a leader wasn’t telling people what to do—it was making sure nothing got in their way.

?? Clearing bureaucratic hurdles—navigating approvals, budgets, and cross-department politics so my team could focus on creating.

?? Protecting creative bandwidth—cutting down on unnecessary meetings, busy work, and red tape.

?? Creating a culture of trust—letting the team own their work instead of micromanaging every detail. Giving recognition for great work gave everyone a sense of belonging and that they were appreciated.

Good leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself—it’s about building an environment where great work happens naturally.

Creativity Needs Structure to Thrive

I’ve always believed that great storytelling can change the way people learn and connect. But creativity alone isn’t enough—it needs the right systems, leadership, and strategic backing to thrive.

If you’re working on scaling a creative team, launching a production studio, or making the case for in-house media, my advice is simple:

? Think like an entrepreneur. Creativity is valuable, but strategy makes it sustainable.

? Hire for flexibility, not just talent. The best teams adapt as they grow.

? Use data to win support. Decisions are made in numbers, not gut feelings.

? Clear roadblocks for your team. The best leaders set people up for success and get out of their way.

Your turn—what’s the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned while building something from the ground up? Let’s swap insights in the comments.

#Leadership #CreativeTeams #VideoProduction #HigherEdMedia #ContentStrategy #ScalingTeams