Insta: @lisalangmantel Webseite: lisalangmantel.at Fotocredits: Marie Menz
Lisa loves to explore, inspire, build and create leading her to work in the space of communication, brand and innovation. In 2014 she founded the Vienna chapter of CreativeMornings Vienna. Together with the CMVIE team, she established the monthly event series in Vienna, inspired and connected creatives and led the chapter for three years. Most recently, she has been exploring entrepreneurial paths and took a look behind the scenes. You can find her findings in the podcast Sparks & Stepson Spotify.
#1 How did it all start? What was your personal motivation to start CreativeMornings in Vienna?
I love to inspire others and I am really good at connecting people. So, when I stumbled upon the possibility of starting a chapter in Vienna, I knew deep down in my heart: I need to try! The next thing I did was start the application process and create the application video: https://vimeo.com/79047428. I was highly motivated by the goal of connecting the creative scene locally and being part of a global network of amazing people that fosters inspiration and connection.
#2 Hand on heart: How many cups of coffee did you need on average to be fit enough on a Friday morning? What was your recipe for success to rock the CreativeMornings Vienna events?
Zero (I don’t drink coffee) 😉 But I did have a nice cup of tea. Waking up very early is no problem for me, and I like the energy and mood when a city is just waking up and is ready to start the day. Our recipe for success? I think we as a team were super motivated, and that spark and energy came across in every aspect of the event—for example, we went the extra mile with location, speaker and partner scouting. I remember people telling me they really liked that they could explore Vienna and its amazing locations with us. Plus: CreativeMornings is a very welcoming community. "Everyone is welcome" is the first sentence in the CreativeMornings manifesto, and this is still very true and resonates with people.
#3 What was the most unusual breakfast snack you've ever offered?
Phew, I just remember the biggest breakfast buffet where we had an amazing muesli station we created together with one of our sponsors, offering loads of variations and fresh fruits.
#4 How has CreativeMornings impacted your own life and career?
The biggest impact was connecting with so many amazing people. My network grew immensely during that time—I am very happy that I was brave enough to just start and give it a try. It also meant a lot to me that Tina (the founder of CreativeMornings) trusted me to be an ambassador for the brand. I felt very honored. As a team we experimented and learned a lot—today, you would call it an agile approach. This definitely prepared me to build new things from scratch with a lot of confidence.
#5 What would you like to share with others who want to start similar initiatives?
Give it a try and have a "Mutausbruch" (a burst of courage). Start small, stay agile, be curious to experiment, and be ready to give up your initial ideas. Talk to others who have started something similar or something from scratch—and don’t forget to have fun along the way. AND: Always appreciate your team—I always said it is not a one-woman show, but a team effort. So thank you again to everybody who was part of my CreativeMornings Vienna journey! I am more than happy that this awesome event series is still happening, so big kudos to the team who is running it right now and keeping the CMVIE spirit alive. HIGH-FIVE! 10 years—I am super proud with what we all achieved together!!!
