The future of Canada’s marketing industry will be shaped by its youngest talent—the super-worldly, plugged-in, brilliant and creative youth who are already making a name for themselves. Marketing put out the call to the industry to find the top 30 standouts under the age of 30 who have already made their mark on the industry.
From PR to advertising to media and beyond, our 30 Under 30 showcases the smartest, bravest and most creative ones to watch in the business.
Melissa Smich, 26
Senior cultivator, Tribal DDB
Melissa Smich calls herself a troublemaker.
Her manager, Ed Lee, the director of social media at Tribal DDB Toronto, says this is a good thing.
The title, which leads the Senior Cultivator’s Twitter bio, speaks to the need for DDBers to push themselves, their colleagues and their clients out of comfort zones, he says.
“When she says she’s a ‘troublemaker’ it’s Mel’s way of showing she’s an instigator,” Lee says. “That she’s committed to shift disturbing—thinking about new ways to do things that will move our clients’ businesses forward.”
In Toronto, Smich is something of a social media celebrity. Tech Vibes once referred to her as “one of Toronto’s best known social media personalities,” a position she’s leveraged at work by tapping into her personal network to help solve briefs and move projects forward.
“The thing about being someone with a blog and Twitter presence is there is a commonality that breaks down borders,” she says, explaining that online influencers are usually receptive to her pitches.
“I probably already know them in some way,” she says. “There’s already a face behind the name.”
Smich’s social media expertise has landed her speaking gigs at South By South West Interactive, Podcamp Toronto and Toronto Social Media Week.
The quintessential millennial, Smich is a member of the GenYTO planning team, which hosts events for 20-somethings who work in social media, startups and agencies.
She’s also a member of the Royal Ontario Museum’s Young Patron’s Circle, a member of Breakaway Addiction Service’s board of directors and the founder of a dinner party series for young, career driven women.
Be sure to share our 30 Under 30 profiles through Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. You can read the full 30 Under 30 list in the Sept. 10 issue of Marketing magazine.
Photo: Mike Ford
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