Think clearly, speak freely, create bravely, and lead philosophically.
Ria Cortez
Ria Cortez is a graphic designer, creative educator and entrepreneur whose work is anchored in four core principles: Think clearly, speak freely, create bravely, and lead philosophically. These pillars guide her approach to personal growth, leadership and business. Both in her own journey and in the communities she serves.
Think clearly.
With a degree in Philosophy, Ria brings depth and thoughtfulness to every conversation. She helps audiences make sense of complex ideas with clarity, encouraging critical thinking as a key to both personal growth and professional success.
Speak freely.
Ria is the host of The Boost Up Podcast, a platform for honest conversations about growth, purpose, and identity. Her background in debate and broadcast journalism has equipped her to communicate with both conviction and empathy which are skills she now uses to help others find and express their voice with confidence.
Create bravely.
As the founder of 1K Design, Ria combines creativity and accessibility supporting small businesses with professional design services while mentoring emerging graphic designers. With nearly a decade of experience in the creative industry, she believes that bold creation is a form of service and self-expression.
Lead philosophically.
Ria’s leadership journey began early. She served in student government, directed award-winning short films, and co-founded Youth G, a volunteer-led organization dedicated to developing value-driven young leaders. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in service, authenticity, and the courage to question and grow.
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We don't choose one path, we build new ones. Here's to the multipotentialite. This is your place. Welcome home.
© Ria Cortez. All rights reserved. 2025.
Figuring out your life’s work after graduation is hard especially when you don’t fit neatly into a single box.I’ve always been one of those people. The ones they called multi-passionate, multipotentialite, or a jack of all trades. In school, those words felt like compliments. But once I stepped into the “real world,” they started to feel more like pressure. Suddenly, I was expected to choose one path, usually something tied to my college degree and stick to it.And while that’s a valid path, I believe it’s not the only one.As humans, we value reason. We like things that make sense, things we can label and categorize. But what about the things that don’t fit? What about people like us who are wired for many things?After graduation, I took a different first step. I started organizing what I knew and sought out mentors. I offered my skills in exchange for knowledge. I wanted to learn not just for the sake of it, but to find better ways to act, live, and serve.I talk more about this in Episode 2 of The Boost Up Podcast, but here’s the gist:
We don’t start learning when school begins, and we don’t stop learning when it ends. We’ve been learning all our lives through our hobbies, relationships, failures, and side gigs. Maybe that’s where we should start when deciding our next steps.It took me almost a year to figure this out. It was messy. It was humbling. I said yes to many things. I said no to others. I made mistakes.But through all of it, I uncovered something important:
The things I thought I wanted to do long-term? Turns out, I didn’t. And that’s okay.Eventually, all the paths I explored, my talents, failures, passions, and experiences led me to four guiding pillars:Think clearly.
Speak freely.
Create bravely.
Lead philosophically.That’s who I am. And from now on, whatever I choose to become, I’ll build it on these four foundations.But more than just figuring things out for myself, I’ve grown deeply passionate about assisting others maximize their potential, not just for personal success, but for collective good. Like a torch we carry only for a while, I believe our gifts are meant to be used up in service of others, and passed on burning brightly for future generations.Now I ask you:
What are your life pillars?Trust your process. Accept that clarity takes time. And that your path might not look like everyone else’s.But if you stay grounded in who you are and where you're going,
you’ll see how much you’ve already done. Who you’ve helped. Who you’ve inspired. How far you’ve come.Focus on your next step.
Stay open. Stay generous.Because your journey doesn’t end here. It’s just beginning.Think clearly. Speak freely. Create bravely. Lead philosophically.