Media People Podcast

Stewart Stevenson is the president and founder of The Social Producers- a Toronto-based startup focused on simplifying the social video production process for both brands and consumers. A digital media veteran, Stewart kicked-off his career at internet domain & directory company N49. From there he made the jump to the agency world, holding senior level positions at places such as Cossette Media, Mediacom, Klick Health, and OMD. Stewart chats with us about his time in the industry, where he got the idea for The Social Producers, and why he chose to go out on his own.

Tom Yawney is both the head of business development and a partner at The influence Agency- A Toronto-based agency leading the charge in the influencer marketing space. Tom’s career path has had some interesting turns- with more pivots than linear progressions. Some highlights include playing hockey in Australia and the Netherlands, scriptwriting for TSN, and working as a consultant for an internet marketing company. What makes Tom’s story unique is that unlike other entrepreneurs who have appeared on the Media People Podcast- with businesses in their 4th, 5th, or 6th year of operation, is that at time of recording The Influence Agency is just four months old.

In this episode we chat with Jed Schneiderman, President & Co-Founder of Tapped Mobile- a mobile-focused ad tech solutions company. But media and tech weren’t always part of his story. Jed started out in the garment industry before making the jump to CPG powerhouse, Procter & Gamble. His professional media career kicked off at AOL- back when dial-up subscribers were just as important as ad sales. Jed’s held senior roles at Digital Cement, Echo Marketing, Bell Media, and Microsoft- where he helped launch the Bing search engine to the Canadian Market.

My guest is Shelley Middlebrook, President of Fifth Story- a company that specializes in content marketing solutions and strategies. Shelley started her professional career selling cars, but a recession moved her into media sales as a print rep, working for some of Quebecor’s B2B publications. Her next role was at Brunico Communications, where she started an impressive 11-year stint capped off with her rising to the role Executive Vice President. She pivoted to broadcast media at the CBC, and after holding senior roles at Rogers Media, the Globe and Mail, and Postmedia, she’s moved into the agency world.

Today we get a peek into the life of an executive at a global media agency. Scott Stewart, Managing Director, Head of Strategy, for Maxus Canada stops by to chat. Scott’s path into the media world didn’t start directly out of school. After taking some time to be a self-proclaimed snowboard bum in Kelowna, British Columbia, Scott landed his first media gig at the legendary Canadian advertising firm, Vickers & Benson. From there he rose through the industry ranks, assuming senior roles at agencies such as Vizuem, Carat, and UM. So what’s Scott’s secret to success? More than anything else, he credits having great mentors.

From client side, to supplier side, to agency side- Ray Reid has had one of the most well rounded media careers. Ray can also add one other title to his resume: entrepreneur. The former head of Neo@Ogilivy sits down to chat with us about his two new endeavours: advertience, a digital media agency and consulting firm, and Digital AdLab, an education company brining practical and theoretical programmatic education to the masses.

Today’s guest is Dave Howlett, RHB. He’s the founder and Managing Director of Real Human Being Inc.- a keynote speaking company focused on helping organizations and their employee’s breakdown silos and transcend tribalism. But being an entrepreneur is just one of the many hats this self-proclaimed 'military brat' wears. Dave is also a distinguished toastmaster, veteran scuba dive instructor, triathlete, and most recently, published author. Dave Howlett drops by to chat with us about growing up in a military family during the cold war, the perfect pitch for selling an electric toothbrush to dentists, his personal experiences with entrepreneurship, and the Real Human Being philosophy for breaking down silos and shifting gears.

It’s part 2 of our chat with Laura Gaggi, Founder and CEO of Gaggi Media. In this episode we’ll learn about the growth of Gaggi Media, some of Laura’s ventures that didn’t go as planned, and her most recent endeavour- Peleton Media. And if you haven’t already, be sure to check out Part 2 of our interview.

It’s Part 1 of our chat with Laura Gaggi- Founder and CEO of Gaggi Media. In this episode Laura Gaggi chats with us about life growing up in Toronto, her first media gig, and why she decided to go out on her own and start Gaggi Media- an agency that’s been a major player in the Canadian media world for the past 24 years. Come back next week for Part 2, where we’ll learn about the growth of Gaggi Media, some of Laura’s ventures that didn’t go as planned, and her most recent endeavour- Peleton Media.

In today’s episode we get a peek into the life of a musician working the local music scene. Francesco Alfano, the founder, and one third of the rock trio, Lucid Movement, stops by to chat about life as an artist in a digital world. We’ll also get a listen to 'Next Thing'- one of Lucid Movement’s tracks. And if you like what you hear, be sure to check them out in-person at their next show on May 20th, in Toronto, at Club 120. Tickets are available now at the band's website – www.LucidMovementBand.com.

A former #1 ranked wheelchair tennis player in Canada, Joel Dembe has represented his county at numerous tournaments across the globe. Notably the 2012 Paralympics in London, and the 2015 ParaPan Am Games in Toronto, where he brought home the bronze medal in front of a hometown crowd. He recently retired from competition, and sits down with us to chat about what it’s like starting off as an athlete, and then growing into his own personal brand.

Jeff Atkinson is the Vice-President of Sales & Marketing for Green Savroee Racing Promotions, and while you may not be familiar with the company name, if you’re from the Toronto area, you are probably familiar with one of their events- the Honda Indy Toronto, a race for which he also serves as President. Jeff chats with us about managing one of Canada’s largest annual sporting events, and what it’s like working in the racing world- a place where he has spent virtually his entire professional career.

Gut instincts and assumptions have taken a back seat to data in the decision making process and today’s guest, Devon MacDonald, is that the forefont of this practice. Devon is the Chief Strategy Officer at Mindshare Canada, where he leads overall strategy and story for the agency and their roster of clients.

Have you ever wanted to work abroad? Pack a suitcase and dive into a new job, in a new location? Well today’s guest, Joni Joyner, has done just that. Not once, but multiple times. Originally from Scotland, Joni has held senior ad tech and ad operations roles in places like London, Kansas City, and Australia, at companies such as AOL, Adknowledge, Sky Broadcasting, and Adconion- to name a few. She’s landed in Canada where she currently serves as Managing Director of AdGear’s Toronto Office.

Today’s guest, Ben Davies, wears two hats. By day, Ben is an executive recruiter at Grapevine Executive Recruiters, matching candidates in the media industry with their next big opportunity. By night, he’s a filmmaker- carving his own path in the Canadian film industry. Ben chats with us today about life as headhunter, and the production of his first feature length film entitled Rise & Fall, that recently wrapped principle photography, and is slated for a spring 2016 release.

Have you ever had a rep come in and pitch the WRONG solution for the WRONG client? Marilyn Sherman did, but instead of dismissing the idea she leveraged it to win a new business pitch. This story illustrates why it's important for media agencies and sales reps to have as much face time as possible- something Marilyn feels has regressed over the years. All this, and insight into Marilyn's time at Echo Advertising, and her current role as Media Director at Twenty6Two International.

It wasn't for a teacher's strike, Marilyn Sherman might have had a different career path. In Part 1 of our chat with the Media Director of Twenty6Two International, we hear about how she 'tripped' (her words) into media while still in high school, learn about her days at Saffer, Cravit, and Freedman- where she served as planner and buyer on many big retail accounts like Towers department stores and Bata Shoes, and learn how the entrepreneurial culture of that agency challenged planners and buyers to rethink how they did business.

It's Part 2 of our interview with Sonia Carreno- President of the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada. In this episode Sonia chats about her time at the DAC Group, and her experiences working in local digital media. We also get peek into some of things she is looking to accomplish during her tenure as President of the IAB Canada. Missed Part 1? Catch up on it here --> https://soundcloud.com/mediapeoplepodcast/episode9part1

Have you ever wondered what it was like to be part of digital media world in the 90s? You know, back when the industry was young, VC capital was plentiful, there was no Google, and, as we saw later on, a growing bubble that was about to burst. Today's guest, Sonia Carreno- the new President of the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada, was front and centre for all the excitement. In Part 1 of our interview we get a glimpse into the dawn of digital advertising, but also learn about Sonia's time growing up on both sides of the Atlantic, and why she left a promising position with IMG to join the digital media world.

What's it like working for Canada's biggest sports talkshow? In Part Two of our chat with Aaron Bronsteter, Aaron speaks about his current role as Producer, Talent Relations, with TSN's hit sports talkshow- Off The Record with Michael Landsberg.