(In)trospect—For young creatives
When A Rising Tide wrapped in 2024, we asked the Young Artistic Directorate to create a ‘resource’—a means of sharing their practical and experiential knowledge with other emerging creative practitioners.
This is what Lydia Tesema had to share:
Being a creative can sometimes mean dancing between clarity and confusion, inspiration and burnout, and staying true to yourself while trying to survive the world around you.
This little resource is a pause. A space to step back and look inward — to reflect on what drives you, what drains you, and what might need to shift.
Think of this as a gentle nudge: not to fix yourself, but to notice yourself. To honour both the mess and the meaning.
No pressure. Just (In)trospection.
Lydia Tesema
Lydia Tesema is a Melbourne born and raised, Ethiopian MC, Conversationalist, Creative, Youth Programs Facilitator, Cultural and Community Engagement Consultant, Converse All Star and the founder of creative media agency ‘Below The Surface’.
She was also one of Next Wave's Young Artistic Directors, as part of our inaugural A Riding Tide program.
Dedicated to carving out a unique and versatile career as a global Thought Leader, Entrepreneur and Community Leader, Lydia divides her time between community work and her love Presenting, Hosting Emceeing, Speaking and Panel Moderating.
Academically, Lydia has completed a Bachelor of Social Science (Behavioural Studies), MicroCert in Digital Storytelling, Engaging in Positive Behaviour Support Practices (short course) and is a 2021 Blue Nile African Australian Business Masterclass Program alumni.
Extremely passionate about making sense of the world and inspiring the next generation to be purpose- and change-driven, Lydia uses the power of connection, communication, conversation, creating (in all its forms) and her deep interest in social cohesion to leave her unique mark on the world.