Inspiring Conversations with Joshua Mead of The Meadia Agency

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Mead.

Hi Joshua, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a creative marketing strategist and entrepreneur. Since childhood, I’ve always imagined myself in my current space. However, the journey here has been far from predictable. During my college days, I focused on building a network, increasing my exposure, and gaining hands-on experience. In practical terms, this ranged from internships at NBC Universal and other mega brands to signing personal retainer clients.

Throughout my years of study, I constantly worked to line up a full-time position for when college ended. With graduation approaching, my efforts intensified. I customized every resume and cover letter to the specific role I was applying for. However, I was receiving little in return. Over one 6-month period, I submitted more than 250 applications without a single response.

This situation coincided with the world shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The immediate effect was my graduation ceremony being canceled. Also, I quickly discovered that job opportunities had also diminished, particularly in creative industries.

I decided the lack of response and limited openings would not deter me from achieving my goal. In March 2020, I approached two college friends with an idea to pool our skills and set up a creative services agency. We were able to combine our networks, share innovative concepts, and multiply opportunities to raise the culture through our work.

After just one year, business was booming. We had landed several significant clients, including NFL star Jason Pinnock, NYC’s favorite chicken joint Sticky’s, PUMA, Saks Fifth Avenue, and others. However, at the 12-month point, my two colleagues landed full-time jobs. In the same period, I had only managed to secure a couple of interviews.

We decided to dissolve our joint venture, and they headed off to their new jobs. My attention turned once again to personal growth and achieving my goals. I rebranded the company and launched it as The Meadia Agency.

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?
The entertainment industry is not for the weak-hearted. Indeed, you must be prepared to scrap for every opportunity, and I understood this before immersing myself in it. However, the challenges and obstacles I faced were unexpected, even with my knowledge of how the sector operates.

Rejection, isolation, constant criticism, and the fear of failure were never far from the door. The external validation I craved was beginning to stifle my motivation and creativity. I had always had these two qualities, but I was now struggling to overcome some challenges.

How did I find my niche and space within a highly competitive and oversaturated sector? I had no full-time experience and received zero professional mentorships. I was forced to learn through trial and error, taking the initiative and developing my processes for success.

Yes, success arrived, and it took 6 internships, 3 jobs, 250+ rejections, and 3 LLCs to finally achieve it. I grew through dismissal, lack of mentorship, and constant comparison to others. However, these things made me more robust, and I view them as vital components in getting me to where I am today.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always felt compelled to probe the unknown. My curiosity and desire to understand the “How?” and “Why?” have helped me achieve the levels of success I’ve reached so far. For instance, while my friends were engrossed in watching the latest movie, I would be thinking about how the set was created, why particular actors were chosen, or how the stunts were designed.

I graduated from Temple University in 2020, just as the world was changing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This period taught me that I would have to accelerate my goal of becoming a successful marketing and communications entrepreneur.
The isolation imposed during the pandemic highlighted my need to enhance my relationships, network, and work experience. I set about doing this in preparation for the world’s return to “normality.”

My solution was establishing The Meadia Agency (TMA), a culture-driven marketing and communications agency. Our aim is to bridge the culture gap that we see between marginalized creatives and major brand opportunities.

We do this by curating events, developing brand partnerships, and building media strategies. TMA has gained traction quickly, working with the likes of Paige Hurd, Sean “Diddy” Combs, King Combs, Complexcon, DeLeon Tequila, Viola, and many others.

Three qualities have contributed to my success. Firstly, I can identify and analyze a problem and then develop a strategy to work through it. The situation during COVID-19 exemplified this ability and gave me the persistence to bring order and success from chaos.

Self-reflection is the next quality, and I can do this while carrying out everyday tasks like washing dishes or walking the dog. Reflecting frequently has helped me grow into a more effective leader and learner. Such internal feedback is crucial in validating wins and understanding where things haven’t gone to plan.

My third essential quality is effective time management. The entertainment industry is driven by deadlines, short-notice meetings, and last-minute activities. Time is a luxury in short supply, so handling the pressures this brings is a significant factor in achieving success.

How do you think about happiness?
Shortly after launching TMA, I was approached by a Los Angeles-based business with an offer of a Marketing Manager position. This role was what I’d been waiting for; it checked all the boxes. Within a few weeks, I had landed in California, only to be informed shortly after that the position was no longer available. I had kept TMA going, and the LA company’s team viewed this as a conflict of interest. They feared I might use the role to pull their contacts and clients, including Diddy and HBO.

It’s at this point that the story turns full circle. Within six months of the role being pulled, Combs Enterprises contacted TMA with an offer to work directly with their Digital team on the Diddy and DeLeon Tequila brands. This moment was when I knew I was doing the thing I was born to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/meadiaagency/?hl=en
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_joshuameadia/?hl=en

Image Credits
@daposho