23: How Leah Abucayan-Cook Has Been Able To Thrive In Both Her 9-5 Dream Careers And Her Side Hustles At The Same Time

Leah Abucayan-Cook, widely known by her artist name "hellaLEAH", is originally from Sacramento, California, but is currently residing in Atlanta, GA working as a production designer for CNN Politics. Previously she interned at her dream job at Walt Disney Imagineering where she designed print collateral and environmental signage for Walt Disney parks, resorts, and cruise lines. She originally studied Graphic Design at the Academy of Art University of San Francisco to pursue her dream of turning a hobby into a career. At the age of 11, Leah had her own business crafting purses, bags, and wallets, and you can still find her creating commissioned portraits made entirely out of duct tape. Leah's versatile talent has taken her far in her creative ventures. She's collabed with companies like MailChimp and Punkpost, and continues to create many kinds of works of art, from digital portraits and custom door mats to murals and hand-lettered signage. Her mission is to make a positive impact on the world and inspire others with her positivity, art, and passion for design. In this episode, we discuss... How Leah landed her dream job designing for Disney How she got into duct tape art How she landed her current job as a Production Designer at CNN How to balance your work, life, and side hustles at the same time What got her into real estate investing and becoming an Airbnb host What it's like to have your art go viral and how to deal with the repercussions of viral art And so much more! Social Media & Links: @hellaleah @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com