You’re So Fly: Monique Reis

1. What drew you to the Center for Creative Economy (CCE), and what excites you most about stepping into this role?

What drew me to CCE was its clear commitment to helping creative entrepreneurs move ideas from imagination to execution. I’ve been an entrepreneur myself… I owned two skate shops, and I know firsthand what it’s like to take something personal and creative and try to turn it into a sustainable business. That journey is exciting, but it’s also isolating and risky, especially when you’re expected to figure everything out on your own.

Creative people are exceptionally good at generating ideas. What’s often missing is access to the right tools, guidance, and infrastructure to help those ideas thrive as businesses. CCE sits exactly at that intersection, where creativity meets practical support, and that’s what excites me most.

I’m also deeply motivated by the broader impact of the creative economy. Creatives are far more likely to be self-employed, and the growth of this sector opens doors to economic opportunity, especially for women and young people, so this is also about building a stronger, more inclusive regional economy.

2. How do you hope to support individuals who are navigating both creative work and leadership roles?

By meeting them where they are and giving them tools that actually work in the real world. Creative leaders are often juggling vision, execution, and responsibility all at once. My goal is to help them build confidence and clarity in both their creative identity and their leadership role, whether that’s learning how to make decisions, manage people, communicate their value, or structure their time and energy sustainably.

Just as important, I believe in understanding how people learn and operate best. There’s no one-size-fits-all path to leadership. When we tailor support to the individual, creatives are far more likely to grow into leaders who are effective and fulfilled.

3. What perspectives or experiences are you excited to bring into the CCE and Flywheel communities?

Big ideas only matter if they’re paired with systems, structure, and follow-through. I’m excited to help bridge that gap. My background spans education, marketing, and nonprofit leadership, which allows me to connect dots across disciplines and build meaningful partnerships to help individuals not just launch ideas, but help them build businesses that can last.

4. What feels most important for the Center for Creative Economy to focus on in the coming year?

Strengthening our ecosystem. That means deepening partnerships with organizations in the region, ensuring creatives have access to the resources, networks, and capital they need to drive real economic impact. If creative entrepreneurs succeed, the region succeeds.