Meet Ike Elimsa | Director of Twelve12

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

Hi Ike, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor that has contributed to the success of Twelve12, and I believe for any company, is integrity. Although not solely in the traditional definition of the word, but a multifaceted, wall to wall, 360 degree view of integrity in which honesty with ourselves, our team, and our clients and customers is the number one priority. Being honest with ourselves is the first step towards integrity, meaning we must understand our abilities and limitations in order to provide a product or service that we truly believe in.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
First of all we are a branding agency, and although this saying is cliche, in order to succeed you must be doing something that you love. It is very difficult to run a company if your passions do not align with that business. One thing Elon Musk said that always stuck with me is that starting a business is like chewing glass, it’s very hard and no one wants to do it. Creating a business, running multiple teams and offices around the globe is no feeble task, and while it is very rewarding, the lows can be equally as defeating as the highs are rewarding. This changes if you are passionate about the job because the lows are easier to deal with given the fact that you love what you are doing. In the context of my professional career, I am most pleased with loving what I do and having teams who share that love, fulfilling our maximum potential with every single product or service.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would begin our journey in Malibu and continue up the coastline, stopping for the crisp beach air. We would then stop at Santa Barbara where we could have a beautiful lunch, which we would follow up with a walk around the mission or nearby redwoods. Our next stop would be in Cambria where we could again walk the beach, pausing for fresh fish along the way. Next we would go to Big Sur, one of the most beautiful places in the world, stopping by Monterey before finally heading back. This would all ideally be done on a motorcycle to feel the temperature changes or hangout at the motorcycle stops such as Neptune’s Net.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my two mentors, Uncle R. and Uncle S. Without their relentless dedication and guidance I would have never made it to where I am today. From a young age they were the catalyst to find my blind spots early, which furthered into helping me navigate these impediments and avoid mistakes. I once read a passage that said something to the effect of “even if you’re a midget you’re taller if you stand on the shoulders of giants,” and in my story they are my giants. Their expertise, one running a multi-billion dollar corporation and the other with a very special tech company, has allowed me to achieve what I have today, and I still do and will continue to seek their advice on many choices.

Website: twelve12.com

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

Youtube: youtube.com/twelve12