In this episode of Born to Build, Richard Bolland shares the journey of building Studio Bo from a freelance operation into one of South Africa's leading animation and game development studios. He reflects on discovering his passion for animation at just 13 years old, navigating the leap into entrepreneurship, building a values-driven creative culture, and why kindness—not relentless growth—has become Studio Bo's greatest competitive advantage.

Richard also offers refreshingly honest insights into AI's impact on the creative industry, how authentic brands are standing out in an age of content overload, and the practical financial discipline that helped Studio Bo weather one of its toughest years yet.

Chapters:

(00:00) Welcome & Finding Animation at 13(02:52) Learning the Craft Before the Business(06:54) Starting Studio Bo & Taking the Leap(10:37) Landing the First Clients(12:56) Growing from Creative to Leader(18:55) Building a Culture of Kindness(22:10) Leading a Team of Creatives(25:17) Why Studio Bo Expanded into Game Development(28:18) AI, Creativity & Surviving Industry Disruption(32:17) The Financial Rule That Saved the Business(34:36) Authentic Marketing in the Age of AI(39:16) Advice for Creative Founders(40:35) Rapid Fire

Check them out: https://www.studiobo.io

About Born to Build:

Born to Build is a podcast featuring conversations with the builders, founders, and pioneers driving change from the ground up. Each episode highlights the real stories of SME owners - how they started, what they've overcome, and what keeps them building their business. It's honest, practical business insight from those shaping their industries one bold move at a time, equipping you with the tools to build and grow YOUR business.