Mindshare Unplugged spotlights and interview rising stars across Mindshare North America – people who exemplify our core values of Provocation, Speed, and Teamwork. Say hello to Sharon Choi, Senior Associate in Atlanta, and find out what makes her tick.
What inspired you to go into the media industry?
My internships! I was a Journalism major with a concentration in public relations, and many of my internships were heavily focused in social media, graphic design and advertising. I realized how much I am absolutely fascinated with the amount of data in the world, and how influential media can be. Media is the perfect blend of perception and relevancy that can change the world.
What do you think is the most exciting thing happening in media right now?
Hmm…I would say voice-activated virtual assistants. It’s so crazy how this has become such a trend – Alexa, Cortana, Siri –along with home voice speakers, almost every smartphone and computer on the market has a smart assistant coded within the device. You can pretty much get help or information on anything at any time: travel, email, messaging, sports, music, weather, time, etc.
From a consumer standpoint, it’s easy to use and convenient and it is one of the most exciting spaces to watch from a media perspective. Depending on how it evolves, the amount of data advertisers can obtain can help media agencies create a much more seamless, non-intrusive ad experience.
What is your favorite thing about being a part of #TeamMindshare?
One of my favorite things about being part of the Mindshare family is one word: teamwork. I have an amazing team that I work with but I also get to work with other amazing people across all Mindshare offices through outside projects, community groups. Everyone is so willing, helpful and open to sharing ideas and working with people outside of their team!
What are the biggest do’s and don’ts for leading a multi-team collaboration?
- Do listen. Being patient and listening to your team’s opinions and ideas gives you more perspective when it comes to leading your team. Simply listening builds trust and confidence within your team.
- Have empathy. Everyone is going through something in their life. Put yourself in their shoes!
- Stay optimistic. Things can get hectic or stressful, but staying positive and calm sets a good example and balances the team’s mood and dynamic. We don’t want negativity to overshadow the positive things that are happening.
- Don’t jump to conclusions. It’s really easy to perceive things in a certain way or misinterpret actions and words. Don’t be quick too rush to conclusions. Be open and communicate with your team.
Last one: if you got a blank plane ticket today, where would you go – and why?
Hands down, Santorini, Greece. To me, it seems like a place out of storybook. My computer desktop background is always of some place in Santorini. Being the curious person that I am, constantly seeing the same picturesque image makes me wonder who lives there, what do they do, what do they eat, and what makes Santorini the island of beauty.
As a curious amateur photographer and a romantic (guilty), the blend of blue and white buildings, breath-taking sunsets and sunrises, sandy beaches, and TONS of local vineyards equals a paradise worth exploring.
