The TEAR Professional Development Model™
Creative professionals need a business eco-system that aids them in developing new skills, new relationships and the confidence they need to create a pattern of life-long growth. As technology evolves and impacts the way humans interact with one another, creative professionals and students need real-world experience that equips them to lead the way to adoption of these emerging technologies. Also, their portfolio must reflect the acquisition of these new skills; and finally they need professional references to serve as industry advocates, mentors and guides for them.

The TEAR Professional Development Model is an innovative approach to leadership creation that exposes creative professionals and students to multi-level opportunities in the creative fields and corporate marketplace. This ongoing system of instruction, measurement, and feedback increases the leadership capabilities of creative professionals using four development phases:

TEAR Phase 1: Training
Through creative projects managed by our network partners, creative professionals and students develop and sharpen key leadership skills and gain experience in:

  • Creative direction
  • Emerging media
  • Communication and presentation
  • Cross-functional team management
  • Strategic thinking, ideation and creative problem solving
  • Contract negotiation and finance management
  • Psychology and human behavior

Creatives in this program also gain increased insight into key cross-departmental functions such as account management, strategy and production. Additionally TEAR Mentors are given specific training in how to guide creatives through their career, ensuring sustained personal growth, confidence and professional satisfaction.

Training resources include:

  • The TEAR Leadership Handbook
  • The TEAR Leadership Webinar Series
  • The TEAR Leadership E-learning Series and
  • The TEAR Project Mentorship Model

Progress is measured via online test results and project performance ratings documented in the TEAR Professional Feedback Report.

TEAR Phase 2: Exposure
Phase 2: Exposure gives working creative professionals the publicity they need to communicate the value they offer to the corporate marketplace. Through portfolio review sessions, panel discussions, workshops, publlcations and hands-on guidance, we help them develop an interactive portfolio and a professional profile that accurately reflects their talent.

The Black Creatives website and TEAR partner website hosts each TEAR member’s portfolio and authorization to use the TEAR trademark in email signatures, business cards, and social network badges are provided.

As the working professional continues to increase his skills, graduating through various levels of the TEAR program, his/her book is updated to reflect the strategic thinking and results of the work.

Exposure resources include:

  • TEAR Portfolio Review Sessions
  • TEAR Mentorship Development Workshops and
  • TEAR Network Print Annuals and Publications

TEAR Phase 3: Access
Phase 3: Access means that once the creative professionals experience and portfolio has been TEAR certified, they are given access to creative leadership roles within the corporate marketplace in contract assignments. Black Creatives will recommend the creative professional for placement in organizations whose corporate culture and creative needs are aligned with the professional’s goals and career path. Black Creatives along with mentors from our professional networks will continue to provide guidance, personal advocacy, and support to the TEAR professional during the term of their contract and after their professional contract with the TEAR program has been fulfilled.

Access resources include:

  • TEAR Professional Recommendation
  • TEAR Professional Contract Assignment and
  • TEAR Professional Mentorship Model

TEAR Phase 4: Recognition
Phase 4 gives creative professionals recognition for their progress, accomplishments and performance using various industry award channels based on the professional’s creative discipline.

Recognition Resources include:

  • The TEAR Awards Showcase Dinner
  • TEAR Certification
  • Creative Showcases and Events
  • Industry & Student Annual Publications 

To learn more about Black Creatives or to become a member of the TEAR Cross-cultural Network™ please contact, Reginald Christian, blackcreatives@gmail.com | 718 300 3725


The TEAR Professional Development Model and the TEAR Cross-Cultural Network by Black Creatives, LLC are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.