Meet Cheryl Miller Houser | Director, Producer & Public Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cheryl Miller Houser and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cheryl, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I launched my own company, Creative Breed, with two guiding principles: to tell beautifully crafted stories that drive connection, understanding and positive action and to work with companies and people who align with my values.

I’m a director, writer and producer who helps brands and nonprofits tell their stories, ranging from commercials and brand documentaries to launch films: anything featuring real people that captures genuine human emotion. I also give keynotes and workshops on how to tell stories that change people’s attitudes and behavior and coach leaders in how to communicate in ways that are authentic and relatable.

For the first decades of my career, I was second-in-command at several different production companies, guided by others’ goals and values. I was mostly happy because I was producing and directing interesting movies and TV shows, learning and growing, and building and mentoring teams. But I began to feel something within was awry. I was a talented filmmaker creating programming that was engaging but not making the world a better place. And a compassionate leader managing people in a way that didn’t always reflect my values.

Fear kept me in those jobs: fear of walking away from a sizable income… fear of who I would be since my sense of self was tied up in my title. Fear and the stories we tell ourselves often hold us back, but my unhappiness of staying in a job where I didn’t feel aligned finally grew stronger than my fear of going out on my own.

Every day now I push myself outside my comfort zone. I still feel fear. I still have self-doubts. But I don’t let them hold me back. In fact, they fuel me. Now I tell myself a different story in my head. I say “You can do this. And if you fail, what’s the worst that will happen to you? You will learn from it and try again.” Each time I face a scary new challenge and conquer it, I see I’m capable of far more than I ever imagined. And I now often quake, not with fear, but with the tremendous satisfaction of seeing the positive impact of my work, of meeting and working with people who make my heart sing, of leading teams in joyful collaboration so we can all do great work, of finding my voice, literally and metaphorically.

I wish I had listened to my two guiding principles with my full heart decades earlier, but it’s never too late. If we follow our values and make sure we’re aligned with the people we work with, success and happiness follow.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
In my filmmaking and public speaking, I bring my audience on a moving journey that grabs their attention, opens their heart and leaves them inspired to take positive action. My two greatest strengths as a director are capturing the emotional essence of the people I feature and structuring a compelling narrative story arc, whether it’s a 30 second commercial or a 90 minute branded documentary. I’m an engaged listener, guided by a genuine interest in people, deep compassion and open, non-judgmental spirit. As a director, that’s how people I film with feel comfortable being vulnerable, opening up on camera, and sharing their full range of universally relatable human emotions. I lead and manage teams, interact with clients, and have parented three children guided by those same values. It’s all about treating others with dignity, respect, understanding. That means fully understanding what’s important to others, respecting their needs and wants, embracing their strengths and weaknesses, and creating an environment where people can be the best, most authentic versions of themselves.

When I was young, I thought that one’s career was a linear path. I’ve come to realize that is not true. The most important and rewarding constant for me has been learning, growing and evolving at every step, while staying open to new opportunities and turns in the path. I’ve learned to say “Yes!” and dive into things that scare me because they often end up being the most rewarding, show me what I’m capable of that I could never have imagined and lead to exciting new opportunities. I’ve never regretted doing something that moves me outside my comfort zone. I have only regretted the times I haven’t done that.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I spend a lot of time in the gorgeous Hudson Valley. When friends visit I love taking them to the tiny hamlet of Wassaic to a very cool exhibition and maker space called the Wassaic Project. It’s a 7-story former condensed milk factory. Afterwards we get amazing baked goods at the Vitsky Bakery or delicious meal at the Lantern Inn. From there we go to Millerton, a lovely town with antique stores — Hunter Bee is my favorite — a great bookstore, Harney Tea House where they have a huge choice of their bespoke teas, and a lovingly restored old movie theater. I also love swinging by Chaseholm Farm in Pine Plains where you can get raw milk and fabulous cheeses, yogurts and other dairy products they make on the farm. Hammertown Barn, the most beautiful home goods store with a great mix of modern and antique finds, is nearby too. One of my favorite hikes is in Pine Plains too, up to the Stissing Fire Tower where you get a great view of the valley below. Stissing House, a restaurant in Pine Plains, is stunning, both in terms of the food and the setting.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am grateful to many, many people who have supported, encouraged and believed in me over the years, and also to my collaborators who have given their all since filmmaking is a team sport. I have a special shout out to Dana Cowin, my best friend, life guide, biggest cheerleader and thought partner. Dana picks me up when I’m down, tells me my children are normal when they do things that upset me, reads drafts of what I write with always brilliant feedback, sends me articles that expand my perspective and sees qualities in me that I don’t see in myself. We all need people like that in our lives.

Website: www.creativebreed.com and www.generationstartupthefilm.com

Instagram: @cherylmillerhouser

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-miller-houser/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm84_hIMlII

Image Credits
Jason Bollenbacher for ONLY the close up of me on stage at SXSW 2024