Creativity has always been at the center of who John Walls ’05 is. As a kid, he was hooked from the moment he opened his first LEGO pirate set, sails and cannons included.

That early passion came full circle in summer 2025 when Walls took the national stage as a contestant on Fox’s hit competition series LEGO Masters.

Along the way, Walls realized LEGO is more than a toy: “When we’re young, we think LEGO is just this cool toy. But what we’re really doing is learning how to create, solve problems and tell stories.”

A Lifelong Builder
Growing up, Walls dreamed of becoming an architect, a creator who could bring ideas to life. Although his career led him into public relations and marketing, his fascination with building never faded. Like many fans, he experienced what many LEGO enthusiasts call a “dark age,” a period when life and work take priority over creativity.

Years later, a LEGO set he received for his 30th birthday rekindled that spark.

“I slowly realized that building again wasn’t just a hobby. It was therapy. It gave me a creative space to recharge and reconnect with the part of me that just loves to build something from nothing,” he said.

When the world seemed to pause during the 2020 pandemic, Walls dove headfirst into building again, sharing his creations online and connecting with a global LEGO community. It was through these online groups that he met his future LEGO Masters building partner, Justin Brady-Joyner.

From Hobby to National Stage
When producers first reached out about LEGO Masters, Walls hesitated. Balancing a demanding career with auditions felt impossible. But a few years later, when Brady-Joyner invited him to partner and audition together, the timing was just right.

“The audition process was no joke,” Walls recalled. “There were interviews, timed build challenges and so much creative problem-solving under pressure. But every step reminded me why I love LEGO so much. I was actually sitting in my car outside TCU, about to walk into a Schieffer College board meeting, when I got the call. I went from board member mode to ‘OMG Reality TV Contestant’ in seconds, and it’s still one of the most surreal, joy-filled moments of my life.”

Filming was intense — timelines were shorter than in any prior season, and the pressure of performing under time constraints was real. Still, Walls said the experience brought a new level of creativity, connection and empathy.

“When you’re building on that scale, every brick you use is a lesson,” he said. “You learn how to let go, adapt and build something even more incredible, but together.”

Walls’ favorite build?

“Batman,” he said with a laugh. “Ironically, it was the challenge where we were eliminated, but we poured so much passion into it. It was also the one I’m most proud of. It reminded me that being creative isn’t about being perfect. It’s about passion and heart.”

Building Community Around the World
Since appearing on LEGO Masters, Walls has continued to share his passion through events and collaborations. One adventure even took him abroad to AFOL Day (Adult Fans of LEGO) in Denmark, where he toured LEGO headquarters, the company museum and the exclusive employee store.

“It was surreal,” he said. “Seeing where it all started and learning how LEGO built itself from a wooden toy company into what it is today just deepened my appreciation and love for the brick.”

Walls’ creativity also took him to the 2025 State Fair of Texas, where he served as a judge in the Creative Arts Department, evaluating LEGO builds from across the country. His own large-scale project, a 6-foot model of the iconic Big Tex, is set to debut at the 2026 fair.

For Walls, whether he’s building LEGO creations, businesses or connections, the work is about more than the final product. It is about creativity, community and finding joy in the process.

“Find what gives you joy. Allow yourself to unplug and build something, whatever that looks like for you,” he said. “We all need something that reconnects us to who we are.”

Advice for Future Creators
That philosophy extends to every part of his life, including his appreciation for TCU.

“Every time I talk about TCU, it’s with gratitude,” he said. “It built the framework for how I think, how I lead and how I tell stories. It’s where I learned that creativity and communication go hand in hand.”

Walls built a successful career in communications, founding his Dallas-based communications consulting firm, JWPR.

“When I launched my own consultancy, I named it JWPR as a nod to my first boss and mentor, Paige Hendricks ’71. Paige founded PHPR Inc. and gave me my very first job out of college. She taught me what thoughtful, strategic communications really look like and that relationships are at the heart of every great story,” he said. “I love that, all these years later, we’re still close and now serve together on the Schieffer College Board of Visitors (BOV). It feels like things have come full circle."

He expanded his entrepreneurial reach by co-founding Sēkwl Beverage House with Matthew Eaton ’06, Ryan Kelley and Shannon Eurich ’04. Sēkwl is a sparkling water and beverage company in Colorado that infuses functional mushrooms into its organic drinks. With a career built on curiosity and creativity and fueled by a passion for innovation and community, he continues to help build brands that adapt to evolving technologies and trends.

Walls joined the BOV in 2023 and was Schieffer College’s challenge ambassador for TCU Gives Day 2024. He also established the John Walls Strategic Communications Excellence Fund, which supports Schieffer College’s strategic communication professors and helps expand opportunities for students.

“Like a lot of LEGO builders, I had my own ‘dark age’ where career came first and hobbies took a back seat,” he said. “But at some point, you realize the most meaningful thing you can build is opportunity and doing more for others. That’s what giving back to TCU means for me.”

-Rian Schultz