KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Monday, October 4

Bridging Communities Through Storytelling

Lisa Caesar Chief Operating Officer Nō Studios

Founded by Oscar-winning filmmaker and Milwaukee native John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, American Crime), Nō Studios is a first-of-its-kind experimental concept bridging arts and entertainment experiences, a networking/social club model and shared workspaces. Nō Studios derives from the wordplay between a rejection artists are so often told (no) and the Sino-Japanese root word for “skill” or “talent” (能).

Nō Studios sits at the intersection of art and activism supporting both the creative community and organizations dedicated to social justice. The desire behind Nō Studios’ headquarters is to create a collaborative workspace and social community offering an environment for artists and art lovers to come together. The historic building – part of the former Pabst Brewery complex – features offices, co-working space, a state-of-the-art screening room, performance stage, café bar, gallery, and rooftop lounge with a deck.

Though John Ridley will be filming in Toronto during the SATW Convention, Nō Studios Chief Operating Officer Lisa Caesar has graciously agreed to speak with SATW about the importance of storytelling in bringing many different communities together. Ridley may have created the idea, but Caesar is the one running the show!

Lisa Caesar graduated with honors in economics from Oberlin College and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School. She has worked in the financial arena for various banks and investment banks both in the United States and abroad. Her previous employers include Lehman Brothers, Citigroup, and JP Morgan where she was executive director of global capital markets. Caesar currently serves as the chief operating officer of Nō Studios in Milwaukee, Wisc. She resides in Westchester, N.Y. with her husband, three children and a beloved labradoodle named Darcy.