The Business Side of Creativity with Nam Nguyen
Nam Nguyen is the founder of Supervillain, a creative agency known for its sharp aesthetic, distinct narrative edge, and refusal to play by anyone else’s rules. After a defining chapter at Intel - where he built and led a global creative team - Nam chose principle over prestige, walking away when his team was let go. That decision became the foundation of Supervillain, a studio formed by camaraderie, creative guts, and a passion for disruptive storytelling. In just five years, Nam has built an agency that’s garnered the attention of brands like Mythical Games and EA, all while preserving the soul of a tight-knit, values-driven crew.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
How walking away from corporate safety can become the spark for a creative revolution
Why loyalty to your team is a foundational principle in leadership
The story behind building Supervillain from scratch and maintaining its swagger
The power of restraint in branding: Why sometimes less is more (especially online)
Balancing creative mystique with clarity of capabilities
Why being a mission-driven creative partner outlasts being “just another agency”
Real talk about burnout, business resilience, and staying in the game
“If you’re wiping out my team, you’re wiping out me.” - Nam Nguyen
That’s leadership. Nam’s refusal to abandon his team when Intel made cuts wasn’t just a statement - it was a cornerstone. That kind of ride-or-die mentality isn’t common in the creative world, especially when it comes at personal cost. But it’s exactly what makes Nam’s story - and his agency - so compelling. Supervillain isn’t built on buzzwords or business jargon. It’s built on loyalty, principle, and a shared sense of creative purpose.
In this episode…
Hey everyone, Carl here. This week I sat down with Nam Nguyen, the brain behind Supervillain, and man, it was like catching up with a long-lost creative cousin. Nam’s journey from big corporate (Intel) to launching a wildly original agency had me hooked. We vibed on everything from the challenges of leading during tough times, to why keeping your brand mysterious can actually *work* if your work backs it up. His whole vibe is a blend of humility and confidence, and I loved hearing about the storytelling behind Supervillain’s formation - and why they’re not afraid to say “we’re different, and that’s the point.” You’re gonna walk away from this one with a big shot of inspiration and probably a few ideas for how to stay true to your own brand.
Resources Mentioned in this episode:
Mentioned Projects:
Mythical Games: Blankos Block Party
EA Sports: RFP experiences
Web3 & NFTs: Fantasy-themed NFT project with $1.5M+ in trade volume
Cardano: Current branding collaboration
If you’re in the gaming, fantasy, or storytelling space and looking for collaborators who give a damn, this episode’s a must-listen.
Catch you next time,
- Carl Cleanthes
Sponsor for this episode...
This episode is brought to you by Epic Made.
Epic Made creates memorable animation, digital art, and graphic design to elevate brands.
They are a collective of talented artists across a multitude of disciplines who can handle the creativity and communication of any project.
Epic Made has created commercials, key art, social content, and more for leading entertainment brands such as the SYFY Network and Nickelodeon.
To learn more, go to www.epic-made.com or send an email to hey@getepicmade.com.