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Storytelling, Creativity, Entrepreneurship
& Mentorship.
Most people would call me a Creative Director, or a Content Producer because I spend my days breathing life and meaning into stories that deserve to be seen, heard, and read. On any given day you might find me shooting & editing promo videos , then writing editorial copy, possibly on location at a photo shoot, or even producing a podcast. What it all boils down to is that I find purpose in creating stories that educate, build community, promote thought-leadership and growth.
If you are looking for someone with a unique, unconventional, multifaceted creative story, you have come to the right place.
Part One | Design
In 2008, with a Communications and Digital Media degree in hand, youthful exuberance under foot, and sparkles in my eyes, I made my way to New York City to begin a career in Graphic and Web Design. I developed my passion for visual storytelling, and piqued my curiosity for using multiple forms of media to tell the same narrative.
Part Two | Photography
By 2010, with a recession looming, and my career prospects compromised, I found myself with a one-way ticket to Ghana in one hand and my first ever digital camera in the other (my bank account hated me). This is when I first realized I had an entrepreneurial spirit. With little practice other than photographing the birds and the bees in Central Park, I stumbled into opportunities as the official photographer for a talent agency, and a fashion photographer for a global brand.
Part Three | Video & Film
Returning to the United States in 2013, emboldened by my success as a visual artist in West Africa, I realized I was no longer a big fish in a small pond. In the US most people already had access to quality graphic design or photography. The rise of social media as a viable business strategy solidified that. I would have to reinvent myself, but also to tap into what I could do better than most: Storytelling. For me, creating stories with moving images felt like a natural progression of my talent and experience thus far.
Part Four | Podcasting
After many years working at some high-profile companies, and several consulting opportunities, I started to wonder what the next iteration of my personal development in storytelling looked like. Over the years I had been intrigued by the idea of radio dramas and podcasting, and in my personal time began workshopping two programs centered around telling and sharing stories of personal challenges, adversity, and growth. These programs later became the limited run podcasts Happy Hour with Friends and Lessons In Being Human.
Words of Affirmation
“Richard Hackman is a Ghanaian-born, New York City-based Creative Director and Content Producer. Storytelling is at the root of everything he does, and his entire life has been defined by a quest to find and tell the truth with a deep sense of purpose.”