Up Close with David Ginsberg, Account Manager, Popular Science
My education: I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2002. I majored in journalism and mass communication. Going into my major, I knew that I wanted to launch my career in media/publishing/advertising.
First job: My first job was as an assistant media planner at Saatchi & Saatchi New York. In that role, I worked on the Toyota account.
Main duties as account manager for Popular Science: I am an integrated account manager who is responsible for the cross-selling of all Bonnier Technology Group offerings. That includes print, digital, tablet, mobile and events for Popular Science, Popular Photography, American Photo and Sound + Vision.
Strongest assets: I believe my strongest assets are my creativity, teamwork and drive. I am very driven to ensure that the Bonnier Technology Group is seen as a leader in the marketplace and that my clients’ business goals are exceeded. The most effective way to do this is to constantly deliver unique and creative marketing solutions to our partners, ensuring we over-deliver on their goals. As with any multiplatform idea, teamwork is key. Working seamlessly with sales, marketing, creative and production is absolutely vital to the success of any big-idea program.
Favorite part of the job: What I love most about my job is being able to interact with my clients on both a personal and a professional level. I really love that this role enables me to collaborate with a wide range of clients, while at the same time developing custom and unique ideas for each account. I love being part of the Bonnier family, and could not ask for better colleagues or management. They support me in all aspects of my work and I feel that this truly helps me as well as BTG excel.
Greatest challenge on the job: My biggest challenge is making sure I keep my clients happy. In a turbulent economy, clients’ marketing needs change every day. To best handle these rapid changes, I must understand their business inside and out, and have to be able to adapt quickly. Each day presents a new challenge that I approach head on, ensuring BTG delivers the best product, best solutions and best partnerships.
David Ginsberg on the job.
Why I am a qualified candidate for this award: I came to Bonnier looking to make a difference in my clients’ businesses and I am now at a point where I am delivering on that goal. On top of assembling a multitude of successful and unique programs, I am proud of how my clients view the Bonnier Technology Group. I have successfully been able to position BTG as not only a first-class marketing partner, but also a vital resource in the industry for all things tablet, iPad and new media.
What I want to accomplish at work this year: I want to continue to deliver unique programs and marketing solutions that exceed my clients’ expectations. I want to focus on going above and beyond to ensure I am delivering top-quality marketing partnerships to my clients. This will lead to the ultimate goal of growing my clients’ businesses and relationships for the Bonnier Technology Group. In addition, I also want to help our younger sales reps grow, as they are a vital component in our group’s success. Within our team, I truly believe we can be a resource for one another and can inspire each other, helping to maximize output for BTG.
Most memorable day on the job: The day I completed my first big sale! It was November 2010, and I had just finalized an agreement with Verizon Wireless to become the second advertising partner in Popular Science history to participate in a custom Augmented Reality experience. The full package included Cover 1 Augmented Reality, Cover 2/Page 1, Cover 4, Mobile/Tablet and online microsite.
Greatest advice for success: In my opinion, there are several keys to being successful in this business:
- Creativity: In an ever-changing media landscape, it is imperative that your ideas stand out. Many of the partnerships that have been successful for me start with unique ideas that really transform the clients’ businesses.
- Listen: Listen to your clients, don’t just hear them. Because your ultimate goal is to make your clients’ jobs easier, listening to them and meeting their needs accomplishes just that. This is key to building and maintaining a successful, and long-term, partnership.
- Make it personal: Make every client, big or small, feel like they are your top priority. This helps you establish a personal connection, which ultimately drives partnerships. Clients want to work with media properties they know will have their best interests in mind.
- Flexibility: Resources, especially on the client side, are stretched well beyond their means. Therefore, being flexible and willing to take the “little things” off your clients’ plate will benefit you as you strive to establish a successful partnership.
Fast Facts
David cruises with his wife, Ilana.
About my family: I met my wife, Ilana, back in 1999, while we both worked the same summer job. We dated throughout college, and got married in September 2006 in Springfield, New Jersey.
What I do in my spare time: I love to travel, play golf, go skiing, go to the beach and spend time with family.
Where I would like to visit: I would love to go on an African safari.
My personal bucket list includes: Golfing at Pebble Beach and St. Andrews, skiing in the Swiss Alps, sky diving and driving a race car.
David hits the green.
Who I would most like to meet and why: Arnold Palmer. I’m an avid golfer, and he is someone I have always admired. His class, poise, patience, precision and control are legendary, and all are things we can apply to our everyday lives to help improve our society and quality of life.
Favorite food: Mediterranean cuisine
Last movie I watched: The Descendants
Which day on my calendar I am most looking forward to: Memorial Day. For someone who loves being outdoors and the summertime, this dates marks the true start of the outdoor season in New York/New Jersey!