Strategist by day, consumer of reality tv by night.
I know,
that sounds kind of dull.
But those two things actually have a lot in common.
Curiosity.
I’m a curious person. I want to know the answers to things. I’m particularly fascinated by human behavior and why we make the choices we do. In another life, maybe I would have been a psychologist.
Every episode of Too Hot to Handle is like an hour-long case study on how much pleasure drives our decisions.
I watch Vanderpump Rules partly to see what stupid and damaging thing Scandoval will do next, despite knowing the consequences he will undoubtedly face.
Since research is such a big part of being a strategist, it pays to be curious.
Culture.
Television is a reflection of our culture. Reality television is that culture lived out in real-time, with some producer-provoked drama for good measure (and ratings). With each show, I get a primer on different cultures and subcultures.
The different Real Housewives franchises show me just how much culture varies from place to place. NYC and Salt Lake City have very different cultural norms.
When I watch The Great British Bake Off, I’m learning about the baking subculture, and the nuances between Paul Hollywood’s Jam & Custard Donuts and Prue Leith’s Raspberry & Salted Caramel Éclairs.
Reality tv is the easiest way to absorb the latest in culture and society.
Empathy.
Reality tv is a constant lesson on understanding and relating to people with different backgrounds and abilities than myself.
Bachelor Nation reminds me that everyone has a backstory that shapes their behavior, and misunderstandings can happen all the time.
Big Brother shows me how power (or the lack of it) changes people.
Branding is all about empathizing with an audience to build a brand they relate to.
So what do I do?
I help places tell their stories to build civic pride and attract like-minded people.
That’s just a fancy way of saying I am Senior Strategist at place branding agency CivicBrand.
I don’t help companies sell things. I help places bring things — residents, visitors, businesses — by defining what it is that makes that place unique and helping the community tell that story in a more effective way.
Here I am on Wardour Street in London’s Chinatown.
What I’m looking for.
I love my job and I want to talk about it with you! I find that I learn the most by talking to other people who work in the industry and face the same challenges I do.
Want to meet up for coffee and talk about how hard it is to find other strategists? Let’s do it.
Wanna hang on Zoom and discuss why there are 14,000 different job titles for strategy roles? I’m in.
Got a podcast and wanna get meta about what we do? Love it.
Need someone to bounce ideas off of? So do I.
Want to talk about your work with someone who “gets it?” Me too.
Confused by who The Bachelorette sent home last night and need to rant about it? I’d love nothing more.