Meet Marcus McDougald | LAFC VP, Creative & Branded Content

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marcus McDougald and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marcus, how do you think about risk?
As someone who grew up participating in board sports (surf/skate/snow) since I was 5 y.o. risk taking has always been a necessary condition of my growth. So much so that at some point along the way I became fairly immune to the concept of failure. There have been plenty of moments in my life where the outcomes did not align with my objectives but I’ve always understood that the effort that I’ve invested in those particular objectives has always paid forward toward achieving a larger goal.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
This creative journey is not for the faint of heart or the weak-willed but for those it is for, you already know. A wise person once said, “Ain’t nothing to it but to do it”. That means keep showing up. Keep putting in the work. Get those reps in. Keep asking questions. Keep refining your perspective. Keep adapting with the times. This creative game is a life’s work.

For me personally, I’m obsessed with new challenges and I’m super fortunate that I’m in a position that presents new challenges every day. The mediums vary: social, environmental, experiential, merchandise, etc. The fun part is the attempt to create aesthetic cohesion across such a broad array of mediums. The funnest part is being focused on our people and on our community. Human-centered design is more than a buzz-term. It’s a way of considering those you serve throughout the development process. Cornel West once said, “You can’t lead the people if you don’t love the people. You can’t save the people if you don’t serve the people.” That’s HCD in a nutshell.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
1. Early morning workout w/ A.J. Easley (Savage Fitness) and the crew at Hill Street Boxing Gym (LBC) 2. LAFC match kicked off with a proper tailgate session led by all of the members of The 3252.
3. Little Coyote Pizza (LBC) – best pizza around and dear friends of mine.
4. Sunset surf session at River Jetties (Newport) to burn off some of that pizza.
5. Late night tacos at Angels Tijuana Tacos (Eagle Rock) cuz they are the gold standard.
6. A Shiner Bock schooner at Joe Jost’s (LBC) because it’s a gem. Very few bars remain in LA county with that type of history and atmosphere.
7. Long Beach Antique Market. I’m constantly inspired by the treasure I find here.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, I’ve got to give a shoutout to my dear fried Marc Kharrat for connecting us. I owe so much of my success over the years to our friendship as he keeps me grounded.

Second, I want to shout out Larry Freedman (LAFC President), who’s leadership has led us through quite a few tough times as an organization but who’s vision, trust, and support has led many of us emerging executives to growing into our own. Larry sees the passion in people and has empowered many of us, through responsibility and autonomy, to achieve what we’d not realized achievable prior.

Third, I want to shout out Rich Orosco (LAFC EVP, Brand & Community) who’s been an absolute cultural lightning rod over the years for our Club. He continues to push us beyond the limits of what to expect from a traditional sporting organization and this is what feeds our momentum.

Fourth, I want to thank my team. Absolute creative gems and constant contributors to our brand. We’ve got the A-Team without a doubt.

Lastly, I want to thank my wife, best friend, and mother of my child, Rebekah Rose, for taking the long journey with me. Together 17 years, and continuing to learn about each other as we are on this mission of perpetual growth. So much more to see. So much more to learn.

Website: www.marcusmcdougald.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lafcmarcus/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/marcusmcdougald

Image Credits
Candid photo of Marcus at stadium taken by Angel Franco Candid photo of Marcus w/ Jamaica National Team taken by David Okolo All black & white photos taken by Marcus McDougald