Nik Goodner shares how mentors—both good and bad—shaped his path as a storyteller and entrepreneur, revealing how the lessons we take from others can fuel ambition, reshape our perspective, and inspire us to support the next generation.
Nik Goodner’s talk reflects on how different mentors shaped his personal growth, creative philosophy, and career. He describes how an early mentor who discouraged him left him with a “chip on his shoulder” that initially fueled ambition and led him to build CRTVCHURCH, but also created pressure and insecurity. A later mentor helped reshape his perspective by modeling advocacy and support, inspiring him to build Good Collabs as a collaborative environment where creatives feel safe and valued. Ultimately, Goodner emphasizes that mentorship can come from many sources—people, experiences, and even books—and that the lessons we take from them shape how we lead, collaborate, and tell stories.
About the speaker
Nik Goodner is the mind behind GoodCollabs — a marketing agency that collaborates with founder-led brands. And the creator of CRTVCHURCH — a community platform helping church creatives find jobs they love.
You can find him online obsessing over creativity, marketing, and story.
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