Meet Jacob Maher

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jacob Maher. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jacob , so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

I was adopted by two amazing parents at a young age from South Korea and grew up in a suburb of Cleveland that was predominantly white. Being one of the few Asians throughout school made me realize that I always stuck out. As I moved into my career, I can honestly say it has helped me more than hurt me. Because you stick out indoor are different than the majority of who is at these events and/or in rooms. I have used it as a way for people to remember my face and who I am.

I personally don’t feel any different or feel like I stick out in any setting that I’m in. I just approach everything with confidence. The bottom line is that if you’re a genuine caring person and make an effort to connect with people race or the way you look is the least important factor in business and personal relationship.

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 am a co-founder and creative director of THRTEY agency, a full-service content, marketing agency heavily based in Ohio. My business partner, Sam Pakman & I work with a wide variety of brands and businesses all over the United States, helping to elevate their online presence through content. From one-off video projects to full-scale campaigns, we do it all. In addition to that, we have an amazing team of designers who help us take care of our e-commerce clients, rendered imagery for ads, and online stores.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Communication skills, time management, and empathy. I would recommend finding a couple specific areas that you’re really good at to focus on of whatever industry you want to work in. It’s good to have a well-rounded knowledge of everything but it’s not always the best approach to try to be the BEST at EVERYTHING all at once. Niche markets are your friend, use them to your advantage. As I’m sure you’ve heard before it’s better to have one piece of a large pie then an entire small pie.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My parents are both very hard-working and were able to provide a comfortable childhood for myself. Not only did they financially help me through college, which allowed me to get my bachelors degree in marketing from Miami University’s Farmer School of Bussiness, they gave me the space and support to practice my craft which allowed me to develop a number of skill sets, and ultimately brought me to where I am today.

While it’s good to do things on your own and not need the help of others people underestimate the power of knowing you have someone rooting for you.

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