Meet Erik Huberman

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Erik Huberman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Erik below.

Hi Erik, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

My work ethic has been deeply rooted in me since a young age, thanks to my dad who was a successful entrepreneur and always emphasized the importance of hard work and self-reliance. I started my entrepreneurial journey at a tender six years old when I took it upon myself to become a door-to-door salesman, selling my family’s household cast-offs. A few years later, I found myself jumping in on the Beanie Baby craze, which further solidified my knack for predicting trends and acting on them.

Whether I was navigating the challenges of the commercial real estate sector during the banking crisis or building and selling multiple e-commerce businesses, the work ethic my dad instilled in me has been a constant driving force. It’s this same work ethic that helped me identify gaps in the market and create Hawke Media, a company founded on the principles of hard work, adaptability, and providing value.

This mindset has been instrumental in my professional journey, from consulting for brands and identifying market needs to building a team of specialized marketers and growing Hawke Media into the fastest-growing marketing consultancy in the U.S. Today, as I continue to expand into new ventures like Hawke Ventures and HawkeAI, I carry with me the lessons my dad taught me. They remind me to stay grounded, work hard, and always strive for excellence. These values are at the heart of everything I do, and they continue to drive me forward, inspiring me to tackle new challenges and seize new opportunities.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m Erik Huberman, CEO & Founder of Hawke Media, and my entrepreneurial journey has been defined by a relentless drive for innovation and excellence. In 2008, fresh out of college, I faced the challenges of the commercial real estate sector during the banking crisis, where I earned just $350 in my first year in Los Angeles. This early experience taught me resilience and the importance of adapting quickly to changing circumstances, leading me to shift gears and combine my sales talent with my passion for the music industry by co-founding Fame Wizard. From there, I founded and sold two more businesses before turning 30. These ventures immersed me in the worlds of marketing, e-commerce, and consultancy, exposing me to various agency practices. In 2014, I founded Hawke Media with the mission to provide flexible, affordable marketing solutions—a vision that has propelled us to become the fastest-growing marketing consultancy agency in the US, now valued at over $150 million.

What sets Hawke Media apart is our commitment to innovation and our unique approach to marketing. We’ve introduced cutting-edge tools like HawkeAI, which has empowered over 7,000 companies to benchmark analytics and optimize their marketing strategies effectively. This innovation has solidified our position as a leader in the industry.

Over the past decade, Hawke Media has achieved remarkable milestones that underscore its position as a leader in the marketing industry. Generating an impressive $2.9 billion in gross revenue, the company has not only propelled its own growth but has also assisted 4,755 brands in achieving significant success and expansion. Employing over 900 talented professionals, Hawke Media has cultivated a diverse and skilled team dedicated to delivering innovative marketing solutions. The company’s commitment to excellence is reflected in the 90 prestigious awards and recognitions it has garnered, acknowledging its impact and industry leadership.

In addition to its core operations, Hawke Media has been actively investing in the future of business through Hawke Ventures, which has funded 50 promising companies. This strategic investment approach extends to 44 angel investments made directly through Hawke Media, further supporting entrepreneurial ventures and innovation. Moreover, Hawke Media has expanded its capabilities through the acquisition of 1412 unique companies, enhancing its expertise and broadening its service offerings to better meet the evolving needs of its clients.

These achievements highlight Hawke Media’s steadfast dedication to challenging the status quo and driving growth in the marketing sector. With a proven track record of success and a commitment to innovation, Hawke Media continues to set new standards while empowering brands to thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace.

As we continue to innovate and grow, I remain focused on staying ahead of marketing trends and expanding the Hawke Method by integrating AI and technology into our strategies. Our success story is a testament to our unwavering commitment to challenging the status quo and delivering exceptional value to our clients.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my journey, the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that have been most impactful align with the core principles of marketing outlined in The Hawke Method: awareness, nurturing, and trust.

1. Awareness
Impact: Building awareness is the foundation of success. Making yourself or your brand known opens doors to opportunities and collaborations.

Advice: Increase your visibility through networking, social media, and industry engagement. Consistency and authenticity are key.

2. Nurturing
Impact: Nurturing relationships and skills converts opportunities into tangible outcomes. It’s essential for personal and professional growth.

Advice: Continuously develop your skills and relationships. Follow up with connections, offer value, and invest in professional development.

3. Trust
Impact: Trust is the bedrock of lasting partnerships and a positive reputation. It’s earned through consistent performance and ethical behavior.

Advice: Be trustworthy in all interactions. Deliver on promises, be transparent, and maintain integrity. Build and showcase your expertise to enhance credibility.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

One book that has been instrumental in my development is “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi. This insightful read emphasizes the profound impact of networking and building genuine relationships on both personal and professional success.

One of the most valuable lessons from the book is the emphasis on the importance of relationships. Ferrazzi argues that the strength of our connections and networks significantly influences our ability to achieve our goals. This resonated deeply with me as I navigated the complexities of entrepreneurship and sought to build Hawke Media into a thriving business.

Another impactful nugget of wisdom from “Never Eat Alone” is the principle of generosity and reciprocity. Ferrazzi advocates for approaching networking with a mindset of giving rather than taking. By freely sharing knowledge, resources, and support with others, we not only build stronger relationships but also create opportunities for mutual growth and success.

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