At Humans of Fuzia, we celebrate individuals who inspire change through innovation, creativity, and purpose. In this feature, we spotlight Josh Penzell — a technologist, speaker, and creative thinker who blends art, technology, and business to help people rethink how they approach work and artificial intelligence. His journey from theatre and performance to leading roles in the tech industry reflects the power of imagination, adaptability, and continuous learning. We are proud to share his story with our 5+ million global community working toward supporting women and building an inclusive future through He for She and She for She.
Can you tell us about your background and what inspired you to enter the world of technology?
I originally wanted to be a theatre actor. While pursuing acting and directing, I also worked with technology to support myself financially. Back in the 1990s, I earned technical certifications and began fixing computers and networks.
As I continued directing theatre and teaching, I discovered I had a natural ability for teaching technical concepts. Over time, that evolved into a career in technology. I later pursued a Master of Fine Arts in directing and eventually completed an MBA to strengthen my business knowledge.
This unique mix of art, business, and technology led me into major tech roles, including working with companies like Amazon, autonomous vehicle organizations, and Zillow. As artificial intelligence emerged, I realized my diverse background helped me connect creativity with technology in meaningful ways.
How did your diverse experiences shape your career path?
My journey has always been about combining different ways of thinking. Theatre taught me storytelling, performance, and human connection, while technology provided structure and problem-solving.
Because of this blend, I naturally began helping people understand complex ideas in simple and creative ways. Today, I focus on public speaking and workshops that empower people to think artistically about AI and use imagination as a tool for innovation.
What inspired you to create “Imagination Applied”?
The inspiration came from observing how much of our professional lives involve performance. At work, we all play roles, communicate with audiences, and try to achieve certain outcomes — much like theatre.
I believe artistry and imagination are essential in the workplace. Even with advanced technologies like AI, there’s still a deeply human element involved in decision-making, creativity, and judgment.
“Imagination Applied” focuses on helping people understand that work itself is a form of creative expression. Instead of simply using technology to automate processes, we should use it to enhance human creativity and innovation.
What is your perspective on artificial intelligence and the future of work?
For a long time, businesses focused on efficiency — reducing human involvement and increasing automation. But generative AI is different because it’s built on human language, creativity, and expression.
AI reflects how we think, communicate, and imagine. This makes creativity and human insight more valuable than ever. The future of work will not just be about speed or productivity — it will be about how creatively we can think, adapt, and solve problems.
What message would you like to share with professionals navigating today’s evolving world?
We all have the ability to show up confidently, learn continuously, and adapt to change. Even when we don’t feel fully confident, we can still step forward, learn the process, and grow.
Imagination and creativity are powerful tools — not just for artists, but for anyone looking to make an impact in their work and life.
“Imagination and creativity are not separate from work — they are what make work meaningful, human, and transformative.”
Connect with Josh Penzell:
www.linkedin.com/in/josh-penzell
www.joshpenzell.com
Want to be featured?
If you’d like to be featured in the Humans of Fuzia series, email us at fuziatalent@fuzia.com.
