Joshua Mead Speaks On His Marketing and Media Inspirations, How His College Experience Shaped His Thoughts on Networking, Building A Company Dedicated To Helping Others Expand Their Brand, And What We Can Look Forward To In 2021.

Brand expansion and effective marketing techniques have become pivotal in the world of social media. Millions of companies have been able to use their resources to broaden their reach when it comes to gaining recognition with the simple click of a button. However, as much as these brands have become household names and garnered hundreds of thousands of followers, most of them tend to drop the ball with it comes to one critical factor - engagement. There’s a long list of brands that have grown overnight due to their constant engagement with the ones who spend money on their product, but on the other side of the coin, we’ve seen brands fold due to not doing so. That’s where Elevate X Media comes in. The thriving company is dedicated to helping each client advance their career through various services such as marketing, PR consulting, management, and brand strategy. Clients have the ability to utilize any of these services that Elevate X Media offers to help hoist their brand upward while also playing a huge role in influencing their respective market and industry.

The Elevate X Media team consists of three founders - Gabrielle Harrison, Madison Lee, and Joshua Mead. They’ve taken a brand that was built post-college and worked with the likes of the Philadelphia 76er’s, Fila, UBIQ x Adidas, and more. Two weeks ago, the collective announced a new marketing project that they’ve taken on with Sticky’s, a New York-based restaurant that will be opening a location in Philadelphia with the help of Elevate X Media.

For this particular interview, I had the chance to catch up with Joshua Mead, the CCO and one of the co-founders of Elevate X Media. Throughout the interview, we talked about his upbringing in New Jersey, how his college life at Temple University helped him understand networking, building Elevate X Media, the crucial role the brand plays in the social media world, and what we can look forward to in 2021. Read the full interview below.

1 - We’re going to start from the beginning. Talk to me about your upbringing in Teaneck, NJ, and how you were introduced to the world of marketing.

Let’s start by saying Teaneck is a place like no other. It wasn't until I was in college and away from my hometown that I truly realized how special my town is. Whether it is the diverse environment, unmatched talent, or unbreakable bonds, Teaneck forever has a special place in my heart.

In my sophomore year of high school I was a part of Tech Theatre where I was able to design multiple sets for productions like Little Shop of Horrors, In the Heights, and Arsenic and Old Lace. My teacher at the time had placed a lot of trust in me and allowed me to lead the entire set design team. This experience led me into the world of entertainment. From there I continued to develop my skills and diversify my experiences, leading me to where I am today—a marketing specialist.

2 - Where were you able to pick up some of your inspirations regarding media and marketing?

From a young age, I always knew I was different. When I would go on road trips I would look at ads and wonder how they were created. I would read magazines and wonder how stories were sourced. I would watch movies and wonder how the scenes were filmed and brought to life. I always wanted to know more. I was intrigued by the behind-the-scenes creation process more than the final product. Asking “how” has always kept me on my toes and allowed me to find my special niche in this oversaturated industry.

3 - How did media and marketing shape your life as you got older and moved throughout your teenage years?

Life is about growth and moving with intention. Navigating the media and marketing worlds have allowed me to shift my perspectives and shape the life I want to live. From a young age, I’ve always had an idea of what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be. Having that vision gave me the drive, hustle, and work ethic I need to successfully achieve all I set out to. With that said, It was not until fairly recently that I made the conscious connection that EVERY aspect of your life has to be made with intention and action. Without intention, you have no focus and without action, you have no results.

4 - You went to Temple University where you studied Public Relations, Advertising, and Communication. How was that college experience for you, and what did it ultimately teach you about media?

Philadelphia has become my second home. The experiences, relationships, and growth that the city offered me have helped get me where I am today. When I first started at Temple University, I was a Media Studies and Production major. I quickly realized that the department wasn't for me and made the switch to Marketing and Public Relations. My college experience taught me that you only get out as much as you put in. Going to class and getting good grades just isn't enough. Everyone hates the word, but my biggest takeaway in regards to the media industry would be network! To make your mark you have to get out and build your rapport.

5 - Let’s switch gears and talk about the brand you’re the co-founder and CCO of, Elevate X Media. Tell me a bit more about this brand and the objective of it.

Our mission at Elevate X is to provide a space for brands to tap into the culture. Now more than ever we see brands trying to reach millennials, Gen-Z, and black culture in unconventional ways. The Elevate X team is the next generation of industry leaders with a huge network and buying power that continues to do numbers. Brands are just now learning that tapping into our community is imperative to the overall growth and success of their business. At Elevate X we want to connect creative influences within our very own culture and ensure they are represented. We have grown up in the digital age, we understand the culture and want to represent it the right way.

6 - Elevate X Media offers various management, marketing, brand strategy, and PR consulting services. How do you, Madison, and Gabrielle, who are your partners, find clients? Secondly, how do you determine which clients you’d like to work with and what treatments they need?

To start off, I would say you need planning and direction. You need to know who and why; who you are looking for as a client and, subsequently, how you can assist them. Once you know that you can start to make sense of what the relationship would look like and if it aligns.

The client procurement process can happen in a few different ways. The method we started with a year ago is different than how we acquire clients today. During the initial stages of building the business, we had collectively put together a list of over 150 “potential clients” that we saw ourselves working with. We went to the extent of listing why we want to work with them, what we would do for them, and what relationships we already had that we could lean on to elevate their brands. Today we still do this on a smaller scale; much more of our new business comes from word of mouth and organic promotion.

7 - We live in a world where people or brands can build their notoriety and buzz with a simple click of a social media button. What makes Elevate X Media important in a space like today?

Our team talks about this all the time with our clients. In today’s world, it is so important that the in-person experience that you or your brand brings to customers needs to also be possible digitally. You must be able to engage and captivate your audience regardless of whether it is in-person or virtual. I would say that mindset alone is what sets Elevate X apart from our competitors. Many agencies are not equipped with employees who grew up immersed in the digital and social media age. It is vital to the success of any business today that they have a comprehensive social media strategy and presence.

8 - You guys recently announced a new marketing project with New York’s chicken spot, Sticky’s. They’ve been a popular go-to in NY since 2012, but now you guys are helping them bring a location to Philadelphia. How did you and your team land that opportunity?

Being completely transparent, this was a huge turning point for me. For a while now I have been aware of my skills and capabilities, but securing Sticky’s put into perspective the abilities of the Elevate X team and the impact we have had in such a short amount of time. With the majority of their stores in NYC, Philadelphia was a new market for Sticky’s. As a company founded and heavily involved in the Philadelphia scene, they tapped on Elevate X to help them build brand awareness and recognition in the city.

9 - If you can sum up Elevate X Media in a few words, how would you describe it?

Determined, connected, and innovative are the simplest ways to describe the Elevate X team. Myself and my partners, Gabrielle Harrison and Madison Lee, three 2020 Temple University graduates, put our best foot forward and defeated the adversities of COVID-19. With a hustler and entrepreneurial mindset, we found a viable solution to tap in and influence the next generation of culture in innovative and creative ways, while simultaneously positioning clients as industry leaders.

10 - What is your true definition of success?

Funny you ask that, I talked about this on live a few weeks ago. I feel like the pandemic changed my view of success. When most people think of success they think of money, designer clothes, expensive cars, lavish trips, etc. Don't get me wrong, I like all that too but for me, success has become so much more. It's the small hurdles you overcome and persevere through. It's the late nights and early mornings handling client projects. Success is not only a process but it is the process of achievement.

11 - What other announcements can we expect from you and the Elevate X Media team?

There is so much in the works. Bigger clients, bigger projects, and bigger impact! We are on a mission to elevate and transform the culture one idea at a time! Keep an eye out on @_joshuamedia and @elevatexmedia for all the latest updates, projects, and tips!

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