Fiorella—or Fio—is a designer, illustrator, and content creator from Lima, Peru, living in Toronto, Ontario. She's a lifelong basketball player, so it's no surprise she's worked with organizations and sports brands like the WNBA, NBA, NFL, PWHL, and Asics. Not only was Fio named MVP of her high school basketball team TWICE, but she also played guard for the University of Toronto, and her mother played for Peru's Women's National Team. So, yeah, basketball (literally) flows through her veins. Fiorella has always been passionate about blending the intersections of design and sports, and she's on a mission to find meaningful work that allows her to share that passion with women around the world.

Tune in for a talk about designing Canada's first outdoor WNBA court, why she left the world of architecture, and putting yourself out there on social media. Follow Fio on Instagram @fiorelladoodles, connect with her on LinkedIn, and see more of her work on her website, fiorellagranda.myportfolio.com.

Questions for this interview.

• When people ask you about your visual style, how do you like to describe it?
• Before designing Canada's first outdoor WNBA court, what was going through your mind, and what were you struggling with?
• How did you feel when you learned the WNBA was going to play its first game on Canadian soil in 2023?
• Transitioning from architecture, what was missing from your life at that time, and was there a catalyst that convinced you to pursue graphic design and illustration full-time?
• How does your online presence benefit from appearing alongside your artwork?
• What's your advice for someone who wants to build their brand or business like you, but they're holding themselves back because they're intimidated by the idea of being face-forward on their social channels?
• Have you ever felt like what you're doing on Instagram and TikTok is cringeworthy?
• Is there a silver lining when you pitch ideas to big brands, even when you don't hear back from them?
• How do you feel when you notice someone on Instagram or TikTok is doing the same thing you're doing, and their videos are taking off, but yours aren't?
• You adopted a Why Not Me mindset. How and when has that way of thinking helped you in your career?
• How have people you look up to in the creative community helped you get to where you are today?
• If you consider your professional experience, your cultural background, and your strengths and weaknesses, what do you believe gives you an edge?

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