Recorded at The Space LV in Las Vegas, this episode features Chekesha Van Putten, Founder & CEO of Castango, entertainment entrepreneur, SAG-AFTRA Nevada Local Board Member, former President of the Junior League of Las Vegas, and board member of the Arts, Creative & Entertainment (ACE) Chamber.
Shakisha Van Putten has built an impressive career at the intersection of entertainment, business, and community leadership. In this conversation, she shares her journey from performer to entrepreneur, the lessons she learned leading major organizations, and how she built a platform that helps connect talent with opportunity.
Shenea and Shakisha discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, advocacy, workforce development, and what it takes to create meaningful impact both inside and outside the entertainment industry. Whether you’re an artist, business owner, community leader, or someone looking to grow your influence and make a difference, this episode is filled with valuable insights and inspiration.
Shenea Stilleto: You have built Castango into a technology-based platform. What inspired you to become a tech founder, and what does Castango offer artists?
Shakisha Van Putten: Castango grew out of my desire to create more opportunity and accessibility for freelance talent. I originally thought I was simply building a website, but I eventually realized I had created a technology-based business and began identifying as a tech founder.
Castango is an on-demand job marketplace that connects companies and agencies with talent across the country. The platform streamlines the casting process, allowing businesses to find and hire talent without relying entirely on traditional intermediaries.
My background as an actor, dancer, and performer gave me a firsthand understanding of the challenges independent artists face. I wanted to create something that would help talent take greater control of their careers—not only by finding jobs, but also by understanding contracts, rights, resources, and the business side of working professionally.
After more than a decade in the technology space, Castango has grown to more than 200,000 talent members and has worked with organizations including Forbes Travel Guide, Marriott Hotels, Yum Brands, and the state of Nevada.
CS: What advice do you have for artists navigating an industry that increasingly values multiple skills and career paths?
SVP: Artists don’t have to choose just one identity anymore. Someone can be an actor and a dancer, a performer and a content creator, or an artist and an entrepreneur.
When I was younger, I sometimes wondered whether I was an actress, dancer, filmmaker, or something else. Today, I see that we don’t necessarily have to make that choice. We can develop multiple skills and find different ways to use them professionally.
The entertainment industry is changing quickly, particularly with the growth of content creation and digital platforms. Artists can look beyond their primary talent and ask how else they can monetize their skills.
That doesn’t mean abandoning the thing you love. It means recognizing the full range of what you can offer. Your experience as a performer can become valuable in entrepreneurship, education, content creation, advocacy, production, or other areas.
For me, entrepreneurship became another way to serve the artistic community. I recognized that freelance artists needed greater access to jobs, funding, resources, visibility, and support. That realization became a major part of Castango’s mission.
CS: What do you see as the biggest need in the entertainment industry right now, and how can Castango help address it?
SVP: The biggest need continues to be opportunity and access to opportunity. Creating new jobs for talent is always at the forefront of what we do.
At the same time, we’re navigating a very different industry because of artificial intelligence. There are understandable concerns about whether performers will continue to be needed and how AI could affect television, film, and other areas of entertainment.
I don’t believe AI is inherently bad. Technology can simplify processes and create new possibilities. But there need to be protections and awareness around how it is used, particularly when someone’s image, likeness, or performance is involved.
Live entertainment remains an important area of opportunity. Promotional events and other live experiences continue to require human performers, even as other parts of the entertainment industry evolve.
Castango will continue focusing on creating opportunities while adapting to these changes. Artists need to understand that the industry is evolving and be prepared to evolve with it.
CS: Why is union membership important for performers, particularly as AI becomes a bigger part of the industry?
SVP: I’ve been a member of SAG-AFTRA for 20 years, and I believe the value of a union goes beyond benefits such as health insurance and a pension. In a time when AI can potentially replicate or manipulate an entertainer’s likeness, collective representation becomes especially important.
Performers need protections, negotiations, and clear standards around consent and the use of their likeness. An actor’s humanity and performance cannot simply be reduced to a digital replica.
My involvement with SAG-AFTRA has also given me an opportunity to give back. As chair of the Nevada Local Conservatory Committee, I’ve helped bring casting directors, stunt specialists, directors, and independent filmmakers to the local talent community.
I’ve benefited from teachers, mentors, producers, and directors throughout my career. Now I want to help provide that same access and education to other artists.
CS: What has your work with the Junior League taught you about leadership, advocacy, and giving back?
SVP: The Junior League of Las Vegas has two important missions: developing women leaders and creating community impact through volunteerism. I’ve been involved for nearly a decade, and it has taught me the importance of raising your hand and taking responsibility.
Leadership doesn’t always mean someone is going to ask you to step forward. Sometimes you have to recognize a need and say, “I’ll do it.” You learn, grow, and discover what you’re capable of through those experiences.
I’ve also learned that meaningful change takes time. Advocacy is rarely an overnight process. Whether you’re building a company, supporting a community, or trying to create systemic change, you may be working toward that goal for years.
Most importantly, I believe in being a forever student. I’m still taking dance classes even after years as a professional dancer, and I approach new experiences with that same willingness to learn.
Giving back has become central to my work because so much has been given to me throughout my career. Whether it’s through Castango, SAG-AFTRA, the Junior League, or other community efforts, I want to help make opportunities more accessible to the next generation of artists and leaders.
The common thread is simple: show up, keep learning, support one another, and use whatever skills you have to create opportunities for others.
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Featured image courtesy of the author
This post was last modified on August 31, 2026 8:22 pm