Everyone Can Be Creative, Adobe Executive Says

What if the power to innovate has been hiding in plain sight all along, waiting in every employee from the CEO to the newest intern?

Alejandro Chavetta, Executive Creative Director at Adobe, has spent his career proving that creativity isn't something you're born with. It's something you build. His message challenges the old belief that only certain companies or certain people can be truly creative.

The secret starts with redefining what creativity actually means. Dan Wieden, the advertising legend behind Nike's "Just Do It" campaign, described creativity as subversion. It's the act of looking at what exists and reshaping it into something new.

That definition changes everything. Suddenly, creativity isn't about being the next Steve Jobs or Walt Disney. It's about seeing problems from a fresh angle, which everyone can do.

Every person brings unique life experiences and perspectives to their work. The finance team member might spot an opportunity the marketing team missed. The customer service rep might solve a product problem engineers overlooked.

Advertising agencies love to say "ideas can come from anywhere," but Chavetta points out they rarely practice it. Most companies still wall off creativity into special departments, sending the message that innovation only happens in certain rooms with certain job titles.

Why This Inspires

Chavetta's approach flips the script on workplace culture. When organizations recognize that everyone can subvert old thinking patterns, they unlock possibilities hiding in plain sight. The shy analyst who never speaks up in meetings might hold the insight that transforms the business.

This isn't about making everyone a designer or copywriter. It's about creating an operating system where diverse viewpoints are welcomed and valued. When people feel licensed to contribute their unique perspectives, organizations don't just get more ideas—they get better ones.

The shift requires just one powerful change in thinking: treat creativity as something everyone possesses and creation as the craft that brings those ideas to life.

Companies that embrace this truth won't just innovate faster—they'll build workplaces where every voice matters and every perspective counts.