We were lucky to catch up with Kyle Plesa recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyle, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

In the very beginning, it was just me. But I was lucky enough to find someone who today serves as our Vice President of Digital Media. A lot of it was the right timing and simple luck.

My recruiting and hiring process typically revolves around some degree of personal relationships. In other words, I want to get a trusted reference from someone I know for the prospective candidate. Resumes are important. But I want to know if the person is likable, trustworthy, ambitious, and collaborative. Our team’s chemistry and dynamic are the lifeblood of our company’s success and I’ve always believed that if your team is genuinely happy, then both the company and the client benefit. So it has to be the right fit.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started as an intern for the Miami Dolphins while getting my Master’s degree at the University of Miami. My life goal at that point was to be a Chief Marketing Officer for a major sports franchise. I learned the basics of digital marketing while interning for the Miami Dolphins and thought it was something I could do. So I slowly but surely would go home every night, build my own website, begin printing business cards, and leverage those in my network. My father is in the thoroughbred horse racing industry, and most of the horse owners are very successful business people. I was able to facilitate those relationships into new business and future clients.

I think one of the things I’m most proud of us is winning a bid to launch Brightline’s social media channels. At the time, we were going up against much larger agencies and we came out on top.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Ultimately it’s our work. Our experience and portfolio has been key in demonstrating to potential clients what our abilities are, what we’ve done in the real world for other clients, how it’s helped, and what working together can look like.

Any advice for managing a team?

Be firm but fair. At the end of the day, we’re here because we’re making a living. But I also want it to be an enjoyable experience where the team feels like they have genuine input and creative influence.

Also, clarity is key. Each team member needs to be acutely aware of what their role is, how they’re expected to fulfill that role, and what the general expectations are. If we’re clear from the beginning, it minimizes any risk for miscommunication.

We’re only as strong as our weakest link, so I want everyone to feel empowered, appreciated, and supported.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.socialgroup.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/socialgroupinc

Image Credits
The Social Group Inc. Jordan Braun