Not many people can say they’ve worked with Oprah Winfrey, but all three founders of Media Beyond can. John Carlson, Research Director; David Parsons, Creative Director; and Andy Rostad, Executive Producer worked in different departments at Harpo Studios for a combined 26 years before launching Media Beyond.
Carlson, Parsons, and Rostad were given a seven-year notice by Winfrey regarding the end of her daily talk show. This gave them each a long runway to plan the next adventure in their careers. After deciding to join forces and start a business together, the three began brainstorming a business plan. Ironically, 2007-2012 was a time of rapid change in the media and digital world, and they decided their future was in digital marketing.
Media Beyond was born in 2011, and the team’s process, dedication, and expertise have resulted in lasting relationships and repeat business. “Nothing helps you succeed more than your past failures,” Carlson says with a smile.
While there used to be a phone number to call and receive information about a given company, consumers these days can learn about a company from many different platforms. This causes many companies to feel overwhelmed and discouraged; fortunately, it invigorates the Media Beyond team. After working at Harpo, the team is accustomed to thinking ahead and has experience with a wide variety of mediums.
Bob Heffernan, Creator at Mangia.TV, says of Media Beyond, “Their passion for content creation and their ability to listen to you and understand your vision,” allow them to grasp where the client wants to go. This creative success begins with a meeting between Media Beyond and their clients to discuss any marketing challenges the company is experiencing and brainstorm ways to address them. With this knowledge, Media Beyond can pilot a project and start building with their wide range of abilities (video, graphics, advertising, and more). They also tap into a network of talented professionals for extra help when needed.
Prior to moving to Novel Coworking, Media Beyond worked out of the only office in a residential building. Moving into Novel Coworking’s 318 W. Adams location in 2015 was “exactly what we needed when we needed it,” says Carlson. Now that they are surrounded by other growing companies, he says they find a spark of motivation any time they walk down the hallway.
On top of their marketing strategies and execution, the team has built a virtual warehouse that allows them to store any images, interviews, and graphics in a library for their clients to review and use.“People will do this regularly in ten years,” Carlson says, but for now, Media Beyond is at the forefront.