How do I use problem-solving skills to actually build a business, not just take briefs?

Problem-solving is your superpower, and you don't need a stereotypical business profile to lead. Treat your studio as a design problem: what idea do you want to materialize, and for whom? Offer 360º work from the genesis of an idea through brand strategy, naming, UX/UI and art direction, so clients get one global strategy rather than patched touchpoints.

Bring other disciplines into the conversation and collaborate. Give it time, stay ambitious, and seize the right moment. That's how a practice becomes a legacy.