Welcome to Episode 106 of the Built on Purpose Podcast, brought to you by Y Scouts.
In this episode of the Built On Purpose Podcast, we sit down with Jared Smith, Former Executive Chairman at Blue Media, a company that has transformed experiential marketing and large-scale event branding. Jared’s journey from printing golf tournament signs to executing high-profile branding at the Super Bowl, FIFA, and Formula 1 is a testament to innovation and strategic growth.
Blue Media has redefined how brands create immersive experiences, pioneering large-scale activations such as stadium wraps, projection mapping on skyscrapers, and high-tech event environments. Jared shares the pivotal moments that fueled the company’s rise, the importance of scaling by working with the right clients, and how technology is shaping the future of event branding.
He also dives into the leadership lessons he learned while transitioning from hands-on work to running a company at scale, along with why saying no can sometimes be the key to success. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, business leader, or creative professional, this episode offers valuable insights into innovation, problem-solving, and executing at the highest level.
Since this conversation was recorded, Jared has successfully exited Blue Media following its acquisition by Wasserman, marking a huge milestone in his journey as an entrepreneur. While this episode doesn’t cover the exit, it provides a deep dive into the mindset, strategy, and innovation that made Blue Media what it is today.
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💡 What You’ll Learn:
✅ How Blue Media grew from a small print shop to a global branding powerhouse
✅ The leadership lessons from handling Super Bowl-level activations
✅ How innovation and technology transformed event marketing
✅ Why focusing on fewer, high-value clients led to greater success
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🔥 Memorable Quotes:
✨ “If you find a way to make it your fault, you can fix it. When problems are owned, problems are solved.” – Jared Smith
✨ “The answers are there if you listen long enough and stay curious enough to hear them.” – Jared Smith
✨ “Innovation happens when necessity meets creativity. Our goal is to make every event better than the last.” – Jared Smith
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🔗 Resources:
📱 Follow Jared Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-smith-9b58873/
📢 Read more about the acquisition here: https://www.teamwass.com/news/wasserman-acquires-bluemedia-leading-branding-and-signage-company/
Connect with Max Hansen & Y Scouts:
📱 Follow Max on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxhansen/
🌐 Y Scouts Website: https://yscouts.com/
🎧 Listen now: https://youtu.be/Bwn86dztIHM
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Y Scouts is a leadership search firm that finds purpose-aligned and performance-proven leaders to help organizations achieve their missions faster. Ready to supercharge your leadership search and get the right person in your organization? Contact Y Scouts.
