Sept. 18, 2026
His First Company Failed. Here’s What He Did Differently the Second Time | Gabriel Smith
What happens when you’re incredibly talented at your craft—but realize that talent alone isn’t enough to build a successful business?
In this episode of The CEO Lounge, Derrick Thompson and Joselyn Flores sit down with animator and entrepreneur Gabriel Smith, founder of AniNation Productions, to talk about his journey from working as a lead animator on the Kung Fu Panda video game and presenting his work at DreamWorks to launching his own creative business.
But Gabriel’s first attempt at entrepreneurship didn’t go according to plan.
After landing a major project, he became so focused on doing the work that he wasn’t building relationships or finding the next opportunity. When the project ended, there was nothing waiting behind it—and Gabriel eventually went back to work.
That experience changed the way he approached entrepreneurship.
Gabriel shares what he learned about the difference between being great at your craft and actually knowing how to run a business, why going back to work became an opportunity to learn from mentors, and how networking, partnerships, sales, and relationships helped him build differently the second time around.
We also dive into the rapidly changing creative industry, including AI, creative ownership, brand assets, animation, and why Gabriel believes the human perspective and human experience can never truly be replicated by technology.
Whether you’re a creative thinking about starting a business, an entrepreneur trying to turn your skills into something sustainable, or a business owner navigating the changing creative landscape, there’s a lot to take away from Gabriel’s story.
🎧 EPISODE 2: You’re networking wrong
We referenced our previous conversation about networking and why the best relationships start with asking “What can I do for them?” instead of “What can they do for me?”
👉 Watch that episode here: youtu.be/lycaU9-0nYw?is=RBzkdLoSvlm_uc2w
CHAPTERS
00:00 Meet Gabriel Smith: From DreamWorks to Entrepreneurship
06:00 Being Talented vs. Knowing How to Run a Business
10:03 His First Business Failed — Here’s What He Learned
15:31 Networking, Relationships & Finding the Next Opportunity
20:28 AI: A Tool, a Threat, or Both?
25:17 Creative Ownership in the Age of AI
28:53 Why Businesses Should Invest in Animation
31:42 The Future of Animation, AI & Human Creativity
34:07 The One Thing Technology Can’t Replace
If you’re building a business—or thinking about taking the leap—subscribe to The CEO Lounge for real conversations about entrepreneurship, failure, growth, leadership, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.
In this episode of The CEO Lounge, Derrick Thompson and Joselyn Flores sit down with animator and entrepreneur Gabriel Smith, founder of AniNation Productions, to talk about his journey from working as a lead animator on the Kung Fu Panda video game and presenting his work at DreamWorks to launching his own creative business.
But Gabriel’s first attempt at entrepreneurship didn’t go according to plan.
After landing a major project, he became so focused on doing the work that he wasn’t building relationships or finding the next opportunity. When the project ended, there was nothing waiting behind it—and Gabriel eventually went back to work.
That experience changed the way he approached entrepreneurship.
Gabriel shares what he learned about the difference between being great at your craft and actually knowing how to run a business, why going back to work became an opportunity to learn from mentors, and how networking, partnerships, sales, and relationships helped him build differently the second time around.
We also dive into the rapidly changing creative industry, including AI, creative ownership, brand assets, animation, and why Gabriel believes the human perspective and human experience can never truly be replicated by technology.
Whether you’re a creative thinking about starting a business, an entrepreneur trying to turn your skills into something sustainable, or a business owner navigating the changing creative landscape, there’s a lot to take away from Gabriel’s story.
🎧 EPISODE 2: You’re networking wrong
We referenced our previous conversation about networking and why the best relationships start with asking “What can I do for them?” instead of “What can they do for me?”
👉 Watch that episode here: youtu.be/lycaU9-0nYw?is=RBzkdLoSvlm_uc2w
CHAPTERS
00:00 Meet Gabriel Smith: From DreamWorks to Entrepreneurship
06:00 Being Talented vs. Knowing How to Run a Business
10:03 His First Business Failed — Here’s What He Learned
15:31 Networking, Relationships & Finding the Next Opportunity
20:28 AI: A Tool, a Threat, or Both?
25:17 Creative Ownership in the Age of AI
28:53 Why Businesses Should Invest in Animation
31:42 The Future of Animation, AI & Human Creativity
34:07 The One Thing Technology Can’t Replace
If you’re building a business—or thinking about taking the leap—subscribe to The CEO Lounge for real conversations about entrepreneurship, failure, growth, leadership, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.
