Meet Christopher Gialanella | President and Publisher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christopher Gialanella, the President and Publisher of Los Angeles, Orange Coast, and Pasadena Magazines and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christopher, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
In our industry, many think we are simply just a magazine and they do not realize the magnitude of what we do as a media company. We are connectors in the community who supply relatable news, content, and stories for our readers through not only print, but digital capabilities, social media, and experiential events. Our industry is always evolving and when some ask, “Does anyone read magazines anymore?”, my answer is always “YES, and have you seen our relevant website and social media channels?” In our current climate in Los Angeles regarding the LA Fires, we have been able to reach more people locally than most national platforms, especially with keeping Angelenos up to date on whats happening, where to go for help, and also what resources are available to those affected through all of our media channels.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my career as a door to door sales person. I quickly learned it is about building relationships and trust. Once you tackle that, you can help anyone and their business. I also learned that “no” means, “not yet”. Along the way, I learned how to run a proper business, stay within budgets, On the creative side, I learned how to create new revenue streams to build our business up to create more profit. I want the world to know that you need to start somewhere, so don’t be afraid to take a risk. The rewards are worth it in the end. Even though I am at the top of my game, I also am learning something new every day from my employees. I take the motto to lead by example.

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.
Southern California is built to be outdoors! The day would start with brunch at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach, a workout at my favorite spot, Stark Training, followed by a coold down at the Santa Monica Stairs. Cocktails at Shutters, and dinner at Crustacean in Beverly Hills. A nightcap is always a necessity, so go see Fran the bartender at The Rtiz Carlton in Marina Del Rey.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Michael Kong – Founder of Modern Luxury and now CEO of Mapti Ventures. Michael took a chance on me back in 1999 and learned everything about the media business from him first hand. When he launched Modern Luxury in Los Angeles, our office space was limited, so i sat at a small desk in his office, which was the best spot to be in!

Website: https://lamag.com

Instagram: @christophergia

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cgialanella/

Twitter: @christophergia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christophergia/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cthomasg2

Image Credits
Photos by: Yves Bright, Michael Pool, and Graphics Metropolis,