Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Walker.
Hi Ryan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
After graduating Santa Clara University, and following a brief foray into local politics and community engagement, I joined a boutique management consultancy group in San Francisco where I worked with some brilliant people, including Andy Cunningham who launched the original Macintosh alongside Steve Jobs. In this role, I worked to develop and execute positioning and go-to-market strategies for Fortune 500 clients including BlackBerry and Facebook, and international powerhouses like Yandex. It was an exciting and challenging experience – I served on the team that won PRWeek’s 2016 “Best in Corporate Branding” Award (and came in 2nd place in the “Best Global Branding Effort” category) for repositioning Blackberry in the marketplace. I also had the opportunity to create an Artificial Intelligence Thought Leadership Platform for an $11 billion international technology company during a pivotal moment in AI research.
Realizing that I wanted to get back home near friends and family, I landed a job at a Public Relations agency in Los Angeles and moved to Manhattan Beach. There, I led a small team that specialized in content creation and messaging for complex and controversial projects in Los Angeles related to land use, public infrastructure, construction and mobility issues. Simultaneously, I served as CMO and led messaging efforts for a popular event-finding app (Admission) that was launched by a close group of friends.
After honing the skills and experience needed to run my own shop, I joined Mecoy Communications, an LA-based network of PR and marketing experts, where I currently serve as Managing Partner. Today, I work to help clients tell their story by crafting effective messaging and properly positioning themselves in the market.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a storyteller, I know that adversity is part of any good story. And I believe the way we deal with it defines who we are
Type 1 Diabetes has been a part of my life since my 7th birthday and continues to be something I work daily to manage.
It’s for that reason that I served as the South Bay Charity Walk Ambassador and a Congressional Advocate for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) funding. With the help and hard work of my family, friends and the diabetic community, we have raised tens of thousands of dollars for diabetes research, providing medical coverage and life-saving technology for thousands of fellow diabetics.
I enjoy proving that diabetes won’t hold me back and I hope I can serve as a role model in that capacity. I regularly participate in 100-mile bike rides to raise money on behalf of juvenile diabetes research, and I previously summited San Gorgonio with a group of my diabetic friends.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Mecoy Communications, we know that stories are powerful. They can convince. They can unite. And they will create the emotional connections needed to raise funds for your nonprofit, move your intended audiences to actions and sell your product, idea or company.
We are a Los Angeles-based network of expert storytellers with decades of experience in researching and creating compelling narratives about companies, products, people, causes and more. Our specialty is in developing and implementing winning communications strategies for clients. We are industry-agnostic, because good stories, intellectual curiosity and tailored messaging transcend category.
As Managing Partner, my role is providing clients with strategic counsel, especially in crisis situations, and services including exceptional content and account/project management. Writing is my passion, and my expertise is in using that passion to create messaging to effectively position, brand and develop go-to-market strategies for clients.
Previously, I worked for one of Silicon Valley’s premier branding and positioning firms and having served as an account manager for a Los Angeles-based public affairs firm specializing in infrastructure and development. I have also participated in numerous political and public information campaigns. At Mecoy Communications, I work to provide clients with the same strategic guidance that helped my team win PRWeek’s 2016 “Best in Corporate Branding” Award for repositioning Blackberry in the marketplace. I also enjoy synthesizing and translating complex topics for clients, as evidenced by the Artificial Intelligence Thought Leadership Platform I previously created for an $11 billion international technology company.
Media relations is another key component of my work: I have successfully placed stories and op-eds in major national publications including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Economist and Tech Crunch, along with local publications, including The Los Angeles Times and Orange County Business Journal. And I have experience in web design and am responsible for managing several client websites.
In my spare time, I am an avid cyclist, a mediocre guitarist and a die-hard basketball fan (Go Lakers!).
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Find your North Star. I vividly remember a quote that used to hang in the computer lab of my elementary school – it read: “Aim for the Moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
While that’s not exactly astrologically accurate, it is telling: Pick your destination, and map each effort towards that eventual goal. Even when goals change, as they often do, the lessons you learned will serve you well in the next venture.
Pricing:
- Hourly & Retainer – Reach Out Via Email for More Info
Contact Info:
- Website: mecoy.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mecoy_communications/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-walker-8919bab0/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/54878397/admin/dashboard/
Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Mecoy Communications
