More Than a Podcast: 5 Ideas for the Ampersand Movement

0:07 Have you ever felt like you live in two worlds? You're leading teams at a tech company by day, but at night you're choreographing dance pieces. Or you're a venture capitalist who's also producing music, or an engineer who performs opera? You're not alone and you're not weird. Welcome to the Ampersand Manifesto, the podcast for people who make their mark in multiple fields. I'm Jessica Watt and after 50 interviews with Multi Passionate Ampersands, I'm sharing the manifesto, why we keep doing what we do even when it's hard, and what it means for how we live, lead and create.

1:07 From the beginning, I've envisioned The Ampersand Manifesto as more than a podcast. I see it as a catalyst for a movement. A movement about living out your interests fully, finding the connections between disciplines and fields, and contributing to the world in ways that are unique to you. Today, as a part of my year end reflection, I want to explore with you some big ideas at the heart of the Ampersand movement. Ideas that I think aren't talked about enough that can fundamentally change how you think about your work, your passions, and the life you want to live.

1:51 Here's the first big idea. Creativity is essential, not optional. Why do we as a society so often treat creative pursuits as hobbies or extras when so much of our work and our lives depend on our ability to be creative? Even if you think your day job doesn't look creative, say you work in finance or healthcare or law or another traditional industry. You are constantly solving problems, imagining solutions and connecting ideas.

2:33 That is creativity in action. Creativity is an innately human quality. I'm reminded of Doctor Maya Ackerman who we interviewed in Season 3. She's an AI researcher, Co founder and CEO of Wave, AIA, singer and songwriter and pianist, and the author of Creative Machines, one of my favorite books that I read this year. Maya's perspective on creativity is inspiring, she says. Quote No matter how much I work with AI, the real world always calls me back.

3:16 Back to the resonance of my piano. Back to the texture of paint under my fingernails. Because at the core of it all, this world, the physical, sensory human world, is what life is about. Maya's work operates under this assumption that AI is not here to replace humans. It's here to partner with humans and to enhance what makes us the most human, our creativity. And each of us has that potential fundamentally inside of us to solve problems in new ways, to think beyond the obvious, and to make something that didn't exist before that's novel and valuable. And Speaking of valuable, let's talk about something I think a lot of us wrestle with.

4:13 Big idea #2 There's more to value than financial value. Work is not the same as value, and value is not the same as meaning. Last year I had the chance to talk with Christina Wallace. She wrote The Portfolio Life, and she lives her portfolio life fully as a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, a serial entrepreneur, and a Broadway investor, among other roles. She encourages us to define work by what gives us meaning, not just what pays the bills. One of the core tenets of her book Quote You are more than anyone, role or opportunity.

5:01 I agree 100%. I'll be honest, I'm still untangling myself from equating money with worth. I spent almost 20 years climbing the corporate ladder, chasing the next title, promotion and compensation. One of the main ways I measured that I was doing a good job. Over time, I've had to unlearn this mindset again and again. Even now, I sometimes catch myself thinking, what if this thing I'm doing doesn't make money? Is it valuable? Is it worth it? The answer, I keep discovering is yes, because there's more to value than financial value. Here's the key insight.

5:49 Value isn't the same as values. Alongside financial stability, my core values include learning, contribution, beauty, joy, and the helping others. The work that nourishes curiosity, sparks creativity, and helps others. That is what truly matters and holds value. Living this way isn't theoretical for me, it's an ongoing practice. It's central to what it means to live an ampersand life. This brings me to one of the questions I get asked more than any other question.

6:33 Big idea #3 ampersand potential. Everyone has it, but if you want it depends on you. People often ask me is everyone in ampersand? It's really the most common question I get asked, and honestly I've never been fully satisfied with my own answer. Here's the thing, the term ampersand isn't meant to put anyone in a box or force a yes no answer. That's really the opposite of the point. The term ampersand is a name for a way of living, a way for people who are curious about exploring multiple dimensions of themselves to feel seen, understood, and inspired. So is everyone an ampersand?

7:26 No. But could you identify with the term? If it serves you? Absolutely. I've heard from so many guests that simply naming this multi passionate part of themselves has led to deeper acceptance and a stronger sense of what matters to them. The truth is, everyone has the potential to live a life that reflects multiple parts of themselves. You have to notice it, nurture it, and give yourself permission to explore. While we're on the topic of exploring what we love, let's talk about one of the most misunderstood terms in the creative world. Here's big idea #4 amateurs are not lesser than professionals. How many times have you heard the word amateur used as a dis? People assume amateurs are less skilled, inexperienced, or in over their heads.

8:34 But wait a minute, let's take a step back. The word amateur comes from the Latin word amateur, meaning one who loves. It's not a lesser version of professional. Both amateurs and professional are driven by passion, curiosity and joy. The main difference where the money comes from what pays the bills, Which, if you think about it, is a strange fixation that doesn't truly capture talent, creativity or contribution. I think of Percy Liang, who we interviewed in Season 2.

9:19 He's a highly accomplished pianist who doesn't make his living from music. He's a computer science professor at Stanford. Some of the most incredible musicians I've had the honor of hearing or collaborating with wouldn't qualify as professional in the traditional sense, yet their artistry and commitment is extraordinary and professional level. One of my favorite recent moments was watching Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston, perform piano with yo-yo Ma. Talk about one who loves.

9:59 Seeing her play gave me an even deeper sense of who she is as a leader. The point is, the world isn't black and white. Between amateur and professional, there are many Shades of Grey, and those shades are where creativity, innovation and fulfillment often live. And boy do we need those Shades of Grey, because what work looks like is rapidly changing. Here's the fifth big idea for today, the ampersand. Life is an advantage for the future of work. The notion that work follows a linear ladder, Pick a lane, specialize, climb step by step.

10:50 That's unraveling. This year I had the opportunity to co-author an article for Fast Company with my friend Tony Martin Yeti. We believe that increasingly complex, fast changing global dynamics demand leaders who are adaptive, integrative, and truly multifaceted. Think about it. In today's world, AI, economic shifts, hybrid work structures, and continuous change mean that narrow specializations often won't cut it. Instead, the leaders most likely to thrive are those who can move across disciplines and connect across worlds.

11:36 That's exactly what the Ampersand Life is about. We built this podcast, this movement for people who live in more than one world. We believe that being multi passionate is not a liability in a changing work landscape. It's an advantage. For me personally, this means always acknowledging every part of my identity, business executive coach, creative, apparent, a human being. It means leaning to my multi passionate reality as a source of strength. And I invite you to do the same. So I want to ask you, as the world of work keeps changing, how will you show up? What part of your multifaceted self will you bring forward not just for career success, but for meaning, creativity, impact, and a life well lived?

12:38 Here's a summary of the big ideas in my 2025 year end reflection 1. Creativity is essential, not optional. 2, value isn't only financial. Three, everyone has ampersand potential. Four, amateurs aren't lesser, they are ones who love. And five, the ampersand life is an advantage for the future of work. I'd love to know what resonates with you from this episode. Leave me a voicemail at the ampersandmanifesto.com/voicemail or send me an e-mail at j@jessicawan.com. And if you want a place to discuss these sorts of ideas, to be around other ampersands and find people like you, check out The Cohort, an online community that I've been part of this year.

13:37 I'm taking on a leadership role starting this month and would love to continue the conversation with you there. I'll drop a link in the show notes. We'll be back in early 2026 with Season 5 as the Ampersand Manifesto and the Ampersand Movement grows. Stay tuned for more interviews, insights, and inspiration. Have a peaceful and safe holiday season. If you liked this show, share it with your friends and fellow ampersands and make sure to hit the follow button to be notified when new episodes drop. It would mean the world to us if you took two minutes to rate and review the show.

14:24 Just go to the main show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and look for the stars.