We recently connected with Marcus Wesson and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Marcus, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I’m empowered by the proven understanding from the Harvard Business Review that the more diverse a company is, the higher performing it will be. I’ve seen this firsthand. When I built creative departments, I made a concerted effort to ensure the team reflected America’s diversity, especially when we had brand assignments across various audiences. We were successful when other agencies and teams weren’t. Having diverse opinions from diverse backgrounds makes teams stronger.
I’m often the only Black person in a room. I know I generally have to immediately overcome the internalized bias of others. My philosophy is simple: my perspective is valuably different. I come from a background that is likely totally different from others, and armed with the facts, I know that my perspective matters. This gives me the confidence to share my vision, experiences, and viewpoint.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a maker at heart, and I love creating. That said, I have many irons in the fire. Professionally, I lead Digital Domain’s advertising division from a creative standpoint, providing leadership, creative direction, and holistic thinking to develop unique advertising experiences across diverse projects, platforms, and media for the commercial division. We work with brands, agencies, and production companies to help them develop effective and engaging advertising experiences. Digital Domain has a rich history that I’m thrilled to be a part of. We are a global visual effects company creating stunning visuals for hundreds of features, commercials, episodic and streaming programs, music videos, and mixed-reality projects, including films such as Titanic, Apollo 13, and too many Marvel films to name. One of my favorite Digital Domain culture-bending moments is the Tupac hologram at Coachella years ago.
In addition to my professional work, I serve on various boards that I am passionate about. First, I’m on the board of directors for Klean Energy Kulture, which aims to transition Black communities to the clean energy economy through impactful campaigns for the culture. Essentially, we make climate action cool, and we have some exciting initiatives coming up. I’m also on the board of directors for ThinkLA, a group of advertising professionals with a mission to connect, inspire, and promote the Los Angeles marketing community. Lastly, I’m on the board of directors for Three’s A Crowd, a group of Black advertising professionals aimed at cultivating the talents of the community.
On top of all this, during the pandemic, I was creatively inspired to write, and I have been putting the final touches on a graphic novel that I not only wrote but also illustrated. It’s nearly complete, and I’m currently sharing it with industry professionals, but it will likely be available online soon. Additionally, my wife and I reconnected with my love of roller skating, so I am also launching a roller skating lifestyle brand called “Roll On Venice,” which I hope to launch this summer.
Whew, I’m exhausted!
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?
1. Keep learning. Too often, I see creatives rest on their laurels and stop learning new skills and improving their craft. The individuals who advance are those who continuously improve and add more tools to their toolbox. It seems simple but is crucial, especially in an industry that is constantly changing and evolving.
2. Networking. I dislike the word “networking” because it evokes images of awkward Getty Image-like corporate handshake stock photos. However, the reason I advanced and found new opportunities was largely due to connections. Initially, it happened naturally, but since then, I’ve made a point to attend happy hours, events, and meet new people. It has really paid off, and it’s fun to meet interesting people in this field.
3. Have a point of view. Advertising is highly subjective, but there are award-winning pieces that break through the mundane and dull. It helps to simply know what’s good. Have a strong POV on what makes good work and embrace it. Read industry journals, meet your heroes, watch the awards… it all contributes to a strong understanding of what makes a good piece of work.
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?
I owe a large part of my incredible journey to my parents, who allowed me to be myself. Initially, they encouraged me to pursue a career in engineering, which my dad had succeeded in. It was understandable because neither my parents nor I knew of a career path in the things I loved—art and design. I was unfortunately told that creativity was simply a “hobby.” So, I initially followed the engineering path at the University of Texas at Austin. Needless to say, I was miserable.
One day, my mom told me, “Do what you want to do,” and that stuck with me. It gave me permission to pursue a path that was foreign to my family. I had always loved film and new media, so I switched to communications, and it was the best move I could have made.
My advice to students and anyone wanting to pursue what they love is simple: “Do what you love, and the money will follow.” If you live, breathe, and eat what you love, you’ll become an expert and an aficionado in the field, and you’ll love what you’re doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marcuswesson.com/
- Instagram: mdubb
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcuswesson/
- Twitter: https://x.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fmahhcus
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