About
Jeff and I at GenCon Indy 2008.
I’m Caroline Himmelman, currently enrolled MBA 2011 student at Babson. Here you will find information about my ideas, professional and personal experiences, and much more.
I focusing on the games industry, social media, technology, and social impact in my studies. My interest lies in utilizing social technologies and games to create engaging communities that have a social impact.
About The Art of Business Blog
The focus of this blog is somewhat personal, but also meant to be a tool for freelancers in the illustration industry. When my husband got out of art school, he had no road map for how to break into the industry or to get where he wanted to go. I’ve always had the head for numbers and spreadsheets and networking in the family, so it seemed natural that the business side of his art career would fall under my purview. We found that there was no guide book for how to be successful; we had to figure it out for ourselves. Along the way, we made a lot of good choices but also had some missteps that could have been avoided if we’d had a bit more knowledge.
This blog attempts to rectify that lack of knowledge for those getting into the industry, and perhaps even those who are already well established on the artistic side but are less business savvy. It talks about the things I have learned as a business manager in the hopes that others will benefit from my experiences.
It will also attempt to relate my experiences as I help to grow my husband’s business, likely branching off into a studio undertaking with several artists working as employees/partners… someday.
Finally, I will do what I can to give practical tips to people facing business situations similar to that with which I have experience or knowledge.
In addition to this blog, I serve as a business consultant on the WIP podcast for fantasy/scifi illustrators looking to break into the business.
Please understand that I am not a professional financial adviser, tax lawyer, or CPA, and I cannot make market or investment predictions (yes, this is my disclaimer), but I can give some helpful hints as to things everyone should be looking out for, and how to navigate the complicated world that is a freelancer’s business.
About me
When I’m not working, which is pretty infrequent, I spend my spare time volunteering, playing games, absorbing tech, and generally trying to save the world. I should not be mistaken for cool. My favorite show is Firefly, followed closely by Stargate SG-1. I met my husband gaming- I was an elven ranger and he was a drow sorcerer. We don’t get to game as much anymore, but we will take on any Elder God you throw at us.
As a Graduate Assistant at Babson, I act as a game designer for the Serious Games initiative. Games are designed to teach entrepreneurial curriculum, and one of my games is a finalist in the 2010 3E learning competition. I also write/design on a freelance basis for various game and media companies. For more on my work experience, check out my resume, linked in the top navigation.
If you have any suggestions or inquiries, use the contact page to reach me, or email me directly at caroline.himmelman (at) gmail (dot) com.
