Rob Abney, Cofounder of Abney Strategy shares the lessons he has learned as marketing executive, team leader and family man.
Recently, I sat down with Luis A. Ramirez on The Conversation Podcast to discuss my journey and experience as a New Yorker living in Canada, navigating a diverse career, as well as managing work life and family life. Which ultimately led to a a great conversation about how I deal with discomfort and allow myself to be vulnerable enough to share my experiences with others.
We All Have Something To Share.
A large part of my brand is sharing and being open to learning. Every relationship I have is based on that principle; Share what you know and ask when you don't know. Leading with that in mind has opened up a world of opportunity that I couldn't possibly have imagined. It's also taken me on a journey that has exposed me to information and experiences that I otherwise would have never witnessed.
So when my friend and old Seton Hall classmate, Luis, as me to join him on his podcast The Conversation, I couldn't say no. Our 90-minute chat focuses on topics like my family's life changing move from Brooklyn, New York to Ottawa, Ontario, which meant leaving behind a life and career. We also discussed the anxiety around making major decisions that impacted not only me but my wife and children. I make the case that all of these moves; the good, the bad and the complicated, craft experiences that allow me to connect with those I come into contact with. We're all going through life changing moments at one time or another, we should share our findings with each other.
Marketing Is A Sum of All Parts.
The interesting thing about marketing is that it allows us to use our experiences to be creative. We have to lean into that idea and use what we know to drive what we create. "What we know" should be used with caution because we tend to box what we know instead of considering who we know and what THEY know. A podcast named 'The Conversation', is the best place to explore the idea of using conversation to fuel growth. Sharing ideas, perspectives and personal situations help us understand each other and organically drive inclusion.
Luis and I used our time to explore how I've curated a path for myself that embraces the willingness to understand what I don't know and connecting that dot to my willingness to learn. We focused on the relationships it has allowed me to build and the network I have grown because of those relationships. They don't just benefit me, they benefit anyone I come into contact.
My growth as a marketing professional and a person is due to me embracing the sum of all my parts.
Building Effective Strategies Using Our Experience
The premise of Abney Strategy is based on using what we know and who we know to build effective, actionable strategies that drive growth. We can't do it all alone no matter how much we've been conditioned to believe that we can. We rely on our networks to help us move forward. Whether that be chatting on a podcast or having to document processes.
It's up to us to create strategies that don't just take but also give. Luis and I explore all of these concepts throughout the interview. I encourage you to watch the full video above and share your comments and questions in the comments section of this post.
About Rob:
Rob is the cofounder and head strategist at Abney Strategy. Rob brings over 16 years of experience creating marketing activations and leading teams, and uses his professional and personal background to help friends and clients navigate their own growth. Connect with Rob on Linkedin to read more about his journey.