Vanguard Magazine

44 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016 www.vanguardcanada.com See the full interview online Q How did you start out in the industry? Brian – Our humble beginnings started six years ago. We were all still at school at the time, and we had an opportunity to engage in the marketing industry and with that we had an opportunity to work with a local company here in Ottawa and produce some video products for them as an effort towards driving client retention and repeat business. We were able to grow that success to gain new contract within the video industry. Nik – At one point, we were invited to an event that was held by Canada Company (a charitable organization, that bridges business and community leaders and the Canadian Military). We met the founder of the organization Blake Goldring, who's also CEO of AGF Management Ltd. A couple of weeks later, we were invit- ed to meet the managing director at the time and we sat down and we kind of had a brain storm and what we came up with was a curriculum with a video foundation that would help train all of these returning members of the Armed Forces on how to transition into the civilian workforce, be- yond the ability to make a resume and the cover letters. What came out of it was a seven-hour video curriculum. We gave them the tool they were missing…what one career coun- selor could do in one afternoon with a small group of say 10 potential transition- ing members could now be spread over a much larger geographical region. Q What's the one takeaway, you would want to give to our audience? Brian – One of the things that we've learned in business is any type of posi- tive energy you can put out to the com- munity, it always comes back full circle. The only way to ever get in this world is to give first and then give without the expectation of receiving. Most of our business successes have come from us giving at the beginning and I think went to the local community with charity, not profit in mind…We were very lucky to be in a privileged position, from a market- ing stand point, of being able to offer very unique services with respect to video. Q What technologies or trends do you think are going to drive your busi- ness over the next couple of years? Nik – The social industry, the social me- dia industry has completely changed the way marketers do business. It's no longer the big TV ad campaigns, it's no longer the billboard. These are still components of a marketing strategy, but they are no longer the center of the wheel. The ability to spread word of mouth has grown dramatically with the platforms that are now available to the community being, Facebook, twitter, and Instagram…all of these social platforms have allowed people to speak their mind and share about the things that they like more. That is really something that we are working hard over here to do and continue to understand and continue to dig our hands deeper into it so that we can know where our clients will be and when they will be there. Q Is that the thing that you'd want to hang your hat on in terms of staying within the defense sector? Or are there other areas that you've also explored and cultivated as well? Nik – That's certainly where we'd like to hang our hats first. By doing the curricu- lum and helping develop it and put it on- line, we are able to meet so many military members at all different levels. We were able to make a difference for people who make an absolute difference in the way we are able to live our lives. Brian – Nik hit it right on the head when he said the online portal and web curricu- lum and learning modules that we made are currently what we hang our hats on, but that's not where we are stopping. We want to continue game changing in this industry at every turn we possibly can. Many veterans deal with many com- plicated issues. Not just from a physical standpoint, but from a financial stand- point, from a personal standpoint. It af- fects their personal lives, it affects their marriages… depression among medically discharged military members is at an in- credibly high rate. But the most incredible thing about it, is that once these people find meaning- ful work, the levels of depression and the instances of depression are almost wiped away completely. When we found that out, we immediately wanted to get in- volved with that industry as well. Q What's the best piece of advice that you've ever received and that you'd like to leave with our readers today? Brian – If you have a thought, if you have an idea, if you want to do something and make a difference in the world, just do it. Don't try to figure out all the little things into how you are going to do it, how you are going to get there, just start making a move towards that direction and I guar- antee you, you are going to find success down that road. Nik – I remember sitting with my father for breakfast, who's also in the financial sector and has a very successful business, in his own right. He said: "give, to give and not to receive." Brian Frank nik topoloVeC PRESIDENT aND CO-FOuNDER WAtErbridgE CrEAtivE MEdiA MaNaGING PaRTNER WAtErbridgE CrEAtivE MEdiA

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