We were lucky to catch up with Paula Yakubik recently and have shared our conversation below.

Paula, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

My parents taught me how to hustle, work hard, and think like an entrepreneur. They didn’t hand me opportunities—they showed me how to create them. Growing up, I watched them turn ideas into income, setbacks into lessons, and hard work into freedom.

I firmly believe entrepreneurs are made, not born. It takes grit, determination, and resilience—but also a deep passion for what you’re building. My parents instilled that passion early. They taught me that if you truly want something, you have to commit to it fully—to outwork the obstacles, believe when others doubt, and never lose sight of your vision.

That mindset shaped everything about how I lead today. Whether I’m building a business, mentoring my team, or helping clients grow, I carry their lessons with me: stay driven, stay humble, and never stop creating your own path.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

II’m the Founder and CEO of MassMedia, which I started when I was just 25 years old. This year, we’re proud to celebrate 28 years in business. I began my career as a print reporter before transitioning into public relations—and eventually growing MassMedia into a fully integrated advertising agency offering media, PR, and social strategy for clients in growth mode.

Our specialty is helping brands scale nationally, market by market. While many agencies take a broad national approach, we go deeper—drilling into each individual market to uncover unique opportunities to connect with target audiences in meaningful ways.

I’m most proud of our resilience. Over nearly three decades, we’ve weathered every major storm—the 2008 financial crisis, the industry shifts of 2011, and the global pandemic. Through it all, we’ve stayed strong, evolved, and continued doing what we do best: helping our clients grow.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

During the 2008 financial crisis, nearly 90% of our business was in real estate. We represented every major commercial developer, contractor, condo tower, and bank in the market. At the time, we had 50 employees and business was thriving.

Then, almost overnight, everything changed. As the real estate market collapsed, most of our clients shut down or disappeared entirely. We were forced to downsize to just five employees. It was one of the darkest and most challenging periods of my career—painful, humbling, and deeply uncertain.

But in that adversity, we found opportunity. We pivoted into healthcare, taking on small projects and learning a completely new industry. Over time, those early efforts grew into something much bigger. Before we knew it, our healthcare division had surpassed the size and strength of our former real estate business.

That experience taught me that reinvention isn’t optional—it’s essential. It’s what keeps an entrepreneur, and a company, alive.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Building my reputation in the market didn’t happen overnight—it was the result of years of hard work, consistent networking, and a deep commitment to professional growth.

From the beginning, I believed that relationships are everything in business. I made it a priority to show up—at industry events, community functions, and client meetings—and to truly connect with people, not just exchange business cards. Over time, those relationships became the foundation of referrals, collaborations, and long-term trust.

Equally important was investing in my own professional development and that of my team. I’ve always believed that to stay relevant and deliver real value, you have to keep learning—about new industries, technologies, and marketing strategies. That commitment to continuous improvement has kept our agency sharp and positioned us as trusted experts.

At the heart of it all, though, is hard work and follow-through. Reputation isn’t built by what you say—it’s built by what you do, how you deliver, and how you make people feel when they work with you. My goal has always been to be known as someone who not only gets results but genuinely cares about the success of my clients and partners.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://massmediacc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paula_yakubik/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/paulayakubik
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulayakubik/
• Twitter: https://x.com/paulayakubik

Image Credits

massmedia