We’re looking forward to introducing you to Grayson Milburn. Check out our conversation below.
Grayson, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m most proud of the foundation I’ve built between my college experience and my professional life. During my time in school, I learned what it really means to balance passion with discipline, managing classes, creative projects, leadership roles, and jobs all at once. It taught me how to build structure out of chaos, how to lead with clarity, and how to stay grounded when there’s a lot in motion. Those habits became the framework for how I now approach my work as an arts leader and creative professional.
Most people only see the performances, the finished productions, or the highlight moments online, but what they don’t see are the hours spent planning, organizing, mentoring, and holding everything together with care. I’ve built systems, relationships, and a work ethic that allow creativity to thrive and others to feel supported. That behind-the-scenes part, the invisible strength that makes everything else possible, is what I’m most proud of. It reminds me that leadership isn’t always about being seen; sometimes it’s about building something strong enough that others can stand on it too.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Grayson Micaela, and I’m a Dallas-based arts leader, creative entrepreneur, and storyteller with a deep love for community and collaboration. I wear many hats including Artistic Director, teaching artist, producer, writer, and creative strategist, but they all orbit around one goal: empowering artists to lead with purpose.
As Artistic Director of Momentum Dance Company, I guide young dancers to grow not just as performers but as thinkers, collaborators, and change-makers. My approach to arts education blends technical rigor with leadership development, encouraging students to see their artistry as a platform for empathy, innovation, and community impact.
Beyond the studio, I founded Industry Gal, my creative platform and personal brand that celebrates life in the arts and the people who make it happen. Through Industry Gal, I design educational resources, arts leadership workbooks, and creative business tools that help emerging artists and educators build sustainable, fulfilling careers. I also produce workshops, movement classes, and storytelling projects that connect performers, educators, and arts lovers in new and imaginative ways.
What makes my work unique is that it lives at the intersection of artistry, education, and entrepreneurship. I am passionate about building systems and stories that elevate the creative workforce, from dance companies to classrooms to independent creators carving their own paths. Right now, I am expanding Industry Gal’s reach through teaching materials, creative career guides, and community-driven projects that reimagine what leadership in the arts can look like: creative, human, and unapologetically real.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who to be, I was a whirlwind of creativity and curiosity. I was the kid who could never sit still because my imagination was always one step ahead of me. My bedroom became a stage, my notebook became a script, and my friends became either my cast or my audience depending on the day. I was choreographing, storytelling, organizing, and leading long before I had the vocabulary to describe it. I didn’t worry about whether it made sense or where it might lead. I just loved the rush of turning ideas into something real and sharing that spark with others.
That version of me, the one who created without limits or fear, still guides everything I do. As I’ve grown into an arts leader, educator, and creative entrepreneur, that same childlike curiosity has become the foundation of my work. It’s what keeps my leadership human and my art sincere. I’ve learned that creativity and leadership are not opposites but partners. Both begin with imagination, courage, and a willingness to explore the unknown.
Staying connected to that early version of myself is how I keep my work authentic and alive. It reminds me that the heart of everything I do, whether directing young artists at Momentum Dance Company, developing resources for Industry Gal, or writing new stories, is about building spaces where others can feel seen, inspired, and brave enough to create too. Before the world told me who to be, I already knew that my purpose was to make room for that kind of magic.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one nice thing to my child self, I would tell her that she is doing everything right, even when it doesn’t feel like it. I would tell her that all those hours spent dreaming, creating, and imagining a life in the arts are not silly or unrealistic. They are the beginnings of something real. I would tell her that the way she leads with her heart, the way she takes care of people, and the way she sees the world with wonder are not weaknesses. They are her greatest gifts.
I would tell her that it is okay to take up space, to ask questions, and to want more for herself. I would tell her that she doesn’t have to have it all figured out yet, that the path she is building will take shape one step at a time, and that it is perfectly fine if it looks different from everyone else’s. I would remind her that she will find her place, that her creativity will open doors she can’t even imagine yet, and that all the little things she loves to do will one day become the foundation of her purpose.
Most of all, I would tell her to stay bold and keep her curiosity alive. The world might try to quiet her, but she should never let it. Every idea, every performance, every project, every dream matters. I would tell her that one day she will look back and realize she built a life that honors exactly who she was all along.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
When people meet the public version of me, I think they see someone confident, driven, and always in motion. And that version is absolutely real. It is the part of me that shows up, leads, creates, and pours into others. It is the version that has learned how to represent my work, my company, and my creative brand with professionalism and purpose. But underneath all of that is the quieter side that fuels everything I do. The public version of me is real, but it is not the whole story.
Behind the scenes, I am deeply reflective and constantly learning. I think a lot about how to balance ambition with grace and how to keep growing without losing my sense of joy. I am someone who still gets nervous before big moments, who stays up late reworking an idea until it feels right, and who celebrates small wins that no one else notices. The public me is polished and focused, but the private me is the heartbeat behind it, the part that feels everything deeply and works tirelessly to make sure the energy I put into the world feels authentic.
So yes, the public version of me is real, but it is only one layer of who I am. The truth is that the real me lives somewhere in between, in the balance of both the professional who leads with intention and the artist who still believes in the magic of what she is building.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I think my customers, students, and collaborators would miss the energy and personal connection I bring into everything I do. I have always believed that art and leadership are about people first, and I work hard to make everyone I collaborate with feel seen, supported, and inspired. Whether it is in a studio, a classroom, or a meeting, I try to create an atmosphere that feels both focused and uplifting, a space where creativity can thrive and people feel safe to take risks.
They would probably miss my ability to take big ideas and turn them into something real, the way I stay calm when things get chaotic, and the way I make even the hardest work feel joyful and purposeful. I have built a rhythm of consistency that people can count on, and I take pride in being the person who brings things together with clarity and care.
If I retired tomorrow, I hope what they would miss most is the heart I bring to my work, the feeling that every rehearsal, every project, and every conversation mattered because it was built on intention, kindness, and a genuine belief in what we are creating together.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ballet-grays25
- Other: Tiktol: Graysonmicaela
Industry Gal Insta: Industrygal_dtx
Momentum Dance Company Insta: mdcirving
Image Credits
Kyle Okita
Grayson Micaela
