We were so impressed with the lineup for Ad Age’s Small Agency Conference & Awards coming Aug. 3-5 that we decided to dig a little deeper to learn more about what they are really like. We polled many of our participants and came up with some interesting insights into these industry influentials. What we found we just might surprise you. Or does it?
Lindsey Slaby, founder of Sunday Dinner
Even though I run a company called Sunday Dinner, people never seem to think I am actually a chef. Because I travel a lot, I have no time for cooking. But in quarantine, I cooked over 100 unique meals and documented it. As I started to post them on Instagram, everyone kept asking for recipes and saying it was the highlight of their day. So I created a blog. I'm slowly finishing it, but it lives here.
Mira Kaddoura, founder and executive creative director, Red & Co.
I am a Certified Yoga Teacher (twice over), English is my third language and I'm usually last on the dance floor.
Matt Lumb, VP-brand building and integrated communications, Procter & Gamble
I once spent several days of a week-long Scout hike "lost" in the Australian bush..... We lost some of the troop on the first evening going down a steep ravine and then spent a few days following a river we hoped was the right one.
Thas Naseemuddeen, CEO Omelet
I started my career as an ice skating coach in a food court in San Diego. At 17, I started navigating what “running your own business” was about—"marketing" and all—as an independent contractor. I was fortunate enough to train future Olympians under the comforting wafts of the Sbarro pizza and Panda Express while attending university full-time. Teaching toddlers through adults how to navigate ice on a couple of thin blades is a metaphor that’s never left me. Those lessons learned as a coach are ones I’ve carried deeply into my career.
Seth Gaffney, co-founder and chief strategy officer, Preacher
I got my first job in advertising through a competition called “Account Executive Survivor.” We lived and worked in an agency for a week.