Show notes, links and resources: www.feisworld.com/blog/jason-smith

Jason Smith (@jason_smith) is the Manager Director at Founder at OHO Interactive, a thriving, curious team of 30 strategists, creatives, and developers solving business problems in the digital space.

Jason and I connected via LinkedIn since 2012. Over the years, we exchanged ideas on project management, digital strategy and growing talent.

Over the past three months, I grew closer to the entire OHO team and had the opportunity to speak with everyone in the company. I also developed a tremendous appreciation for founders and understanding for the decisions they have to make, the challenges they have to overcome on a regular basis. I welcomed Jason to open up about his philosophy in running the organization, demystify the startup process and share some of the most important lessons learned.

With a degree in English from Brown University and a degree in Design from RISD, Jason can brand, construct and market an experience, or a product that enables him to quickly engage with clients and understand their business objectives. He believes that "Every project brings a myriad of possibilities" and our podcast also speaks to a much-related belief which is Jason believes "Every person brings a unique set of skills and values to the team."

Jason Smith is also known to be "the beacon of clarity". To me, clarity isn't only an ability, but a choice. Clarity, combined with confidence, knowledge, perhaps timing, is a crucial ingredient in any business setting, yet it's often missing.

Last but not least, I invited Jason to talk about his family, his three children who are completely different from one another, and the most important things he wants to pass on.

Show Notes

• [06:00] Can you tell us a bit about OHO? Client base, philosophy and strategy?
• [07:00] What was it like to be among the first people to focus on interactive and digital media more than 15 years ago, when the context was much different?
• [13:00] There is something called ‘Friday lunch’ at OHO, can you tell us more about that? How did it start?
• [17:00] Has the environment and culture at OHO always been what it is today?
• [21:00] How do you manage to keep an environment where everyone feels safe so that they keep delivering: accepting errors and failure?
• [23:00] What are some of the transitions you experienced, both in your personal life and professional life?
• [24:00] Where (or who) do you seek advice from?
• [27:00] What would you recommend to new entrepreneurs? What are some of the misconceptions behind starting your own company?
• [33:00] Communications at OHO are very transparent and direct. Have you always been that way or did you change your approach over the years?
• [37:00] How has parenthood influenced in the way you run your company? Did you learn anything from it?
• [40:00] What would you like to leave for your children?