First thing’s first – a story…

When I was trying to get into advertising, I didn’t know how things worked, but I knew what great work was. I used to create ‘zines filled with spec ads and minifestos about how I saw the world. I used to mail them to my favorite ad agencies hoping like hell I’d stand out enough for them to talk to me. I didn’t go to some fancy ad school. I didn’t have a portfolio full of award-winning work. I didn’t have any experience, but I was fearless.

So why am I telling you this story?

Chris is freaked out expression

Because I still don’t know what I’m doing (and I’m loving every second of it.)

Why am I so bold (brazen? stupid?) to lead with this fact?

Well, I have to imagine that if you love Masterclass as much as I do, then you love not knowing stuff too. Because not knowing is the first step on the road of curiosity.

It’s true.

But when I read the job description and learned what you were looking for and what the opportunity entailed…

I got excited.

Really, really excited.

Next fact:

I don’t know what a Senior Director of Creative Development is.

Here’s why:

I am a maker. I’ve always been a maker.
For the past 15+ years, I’ve been working at the best ad agencies around, making everything from branded documentary content to big broadcast campaigns. All of it created and concepted with teams that I was a part of or led. We more than got by, we thrived, spreading brand love, doing incredible work and earning a ton of awards and results along the way.

F I T F O

Figure it the f#%@ out.
In 2020, I left traditional advertising to go to Hulu where I became the Creative Director of Brand. It was new. It was Entertainment Marketing. There was layers and processes I didn’t know how to navigate. It was a place that had devalued brand work, where multi-show promos and big heads on posters dominated our budgets. I FITFO’d it quick and led teams to develop the best brand work Hulu ever made. In the Hulu Greenhouse, we developed new channels for brand communication beyond the :30 broadcast spot and spotlighted new voices. We fought to do things our way.

I want to FITFO again.

I’m hungry to do something totally new with the skills I’ve developed over the last 15+ years of making stuff.

I love Masterclass.

I’ve loved it since I bought Aaron Sorkin’s Masterclass back in 2016. And I still love it as a current subscriber. I love the lessons. I love the mission of diversity of voices and teachers. I love the design. I love David Sedaris telling me about his weird questions. I love the PDFs from the lessons that I keep on my desktop.

I love Es Devlin telling me that I get to give myself a title if I want to. So here goes…

Chris Kahle
Senior Director, Creative Development
@ Masterclass

Thank you for letting me share a little about myself.
I’d love to talk to you more about Masterclass and what’s next for the brand I love.
Please scroll down to the bottom to see my past work and resume.

And please keep feeding the know-nothings of the world. We’re hungry for more.

- Chris

P.S. Here’s Some Masterclasses I’d Begin Developing ASAP

  • Tina Payne Bryson

    AUTHOR, THE WHOLE BRAIN CHILD
    MASTERCLASS: TEACHES PARENTING

  • Steven Pressfield

    AUTHOR, THE WAR OF ART
    MASTERCLASS: DEVELOPING AN ARTIST’S TEMPERAMENT

  • Retna

    ARTIST
    MASTERCLASS: TEACHES CALLIGRAPHY

  • Ryan Holiday

    AUTHOR, THE OBSTACLE IS THE WAY
    MASTERCLASS: TEACHES MODERN STOICISM

  • Kara Walker

    ARTIST
    MASTERCLASS: INTERPRETING HISTORY THROUGH ART

  • Nardwuar

    Nardwuar the Human Serviette

    JOURNALIST
    MASTERCLASS: THE ART OF THE INTERVIEW