Meet Armando Guerrero | Marketing Enthusiast | Innovation Explorer | Tech Geek

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

Hi Armando, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
There’s a lot of outsourcing that happens with digital agencies. The digital ad space is vast, and not all facets of the agency’s services are often executed by in-house team members. As a client, it’s important to understand what areas are outsourced, as it could impact quality control and have some pretty hefty cost implications. In most cases, having a single agency leading a client’s digital ad strategy is very beneficial as it provides efficiency and a single point of responsibility for clients; however the key is transparency.

Do you have a favorite quote or affirmation? What does it mean to you / what do you like about it?
“It’s not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It’s because we dare not venture that they are difficult” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca. I love this quote as it reminds me that making difficult decisions has been the single most contributing factor to my professional success and more importantly, that I need to foster an environment for my team that empowers them to make similar decisions.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I began my career as a marketing director for several television and radio stations in the Los Angeles market. A position that helped me understand the value of connecting with audiences authentically and, being in Los Angeles, the importance of cultural relevance in marketing. Early on, one thing that helped me along the way was always taking on challenges larger than my role: at times, that meant signing up for classes to develop new skills or volunteering to help on a project that fell way outside of my department’s scope. This approach helped me develop a reputation as an individual who got things done and made every project or campaign I touched better. However, in a corporate environment, this meant that I was sometimes “stepping on toes,” and it took me a while to be okay with this uncomfortable feeling. In an entrepreneurial environment, I find that stepping on toes is the only real way to drive innovation and I’ve tried to surround myself with folks that don’t mind “having their toes stepped on.” Today, we can maintain long-standing relationships with our clients because we continue to evolve how we do business, keeping them ahead of their competitors.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, so my idea of fun is very urban; you won’t find any good camping recommendations on my itinerary. For starters, we will have to visit two of my favorite breakfast spots during the week: the Original Pantry Cafe in downtown L.A. (an L.A. institution) and Belle’s Bagels in Highland Park; their white fish bagel sandwich is my preferred way to start any morning. Assuming we’re here in the spring, no week would be complete without an afternoon at Dodger Stadium: it’s the perfect way to get to see all of L.A. in a single venue. Another one of our nights would have to end at the Greek Theatre for some live music – I love going to live shows and there’s no better place to experience live music in L.A. than the Greek. The Greek is unique in its ability to be both big and intimate simultaneously. Also, I’ve recently taken up golf as a hobby and one of my favorite places to play is across from the Greek at Roosevelt Golf Course; it’s a beautiful course that gives you amazing views of L.A. and it’s a great place to get paired up with all sorts of interesting people from all walks of life in L.A. For dinner, we would probably want to visit Bestia in the Arts District. The food here is consistently spectacular, plus I grew up down the street from this place and it reminds me of how much L.A. has evolved. Growing up, this was an area that was pretty desolate at night. Somebody decided it was a good idea to step on a few toes and make it a little extra and I appreciate people that do a little extra.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Many individuals have contributed to my professional success and, while I could point to several executive mentors that helped shape my career, none come close to the impact made by my wife, Terry. She believed in me and pushed me to extend outside my comfort zone. In those moments when my instinct was to stay on the safe career path, she pushed me to take the risks and, perhaps more importantly, keep taking those risks even after failing. More than a motivator, everybody needs a partner that challenges you when fear sets in, keeps you balanced when you stumble and reminds you of your talents when that imposter’s voice keeps whispering in your ear. I feel lucky to have dinner with that person every night.

Website: www.ntooitive.com