Bruno Solari Published on Out.com
Solari reviews the Spanish Nextfix drama as the show explores the challenges of coming out for different religious and socio-economic backgrounds
Off the back of National Coming Out Day, team member Bruno Solari recently dug in to the issues and challenges being a gay minority. The show is heavy and Solari discusses his own challenges and how they relate to Netflix’s latest drama.
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Ménage à trois, murder, drug addiction, and HIV barely scratch the surface on the intense themes explored in Elite, Netflix’s latest sleeper hit. The Spanish soap opera, one of the streaming service’s first, bears unexpected nostalgia for those of us who found it hard to come to terms with our own sexuality. I began watching this show expecting your typical young adult high school drama, but little did I know there would be so many steamy gay storylines that left me sweating. Think: Gossip Girl crossed over with Big Little Lies. This sexy, binge-worthy series follows the lives of three, low-income students who receive a scholarship to La Encina, a top preparatory school attended by Spain’s elite.
To read the full piece from on Out.com, please check it out here.
SourceCode Named a Top Place to Work in PR
14 months into SourceCode’s launch, the technology PR agency was named a Top Places to Work in PR by PRNews
We’re pleased to announce we’ve been named a Best Places to Work by PRNews. The award is a testament to our true focus on building a workplace where our teams feel inspired, valued and taken care of. We know we’re nothing without our team and thus couldn’t be prouder of this award.
If you’re looking for a great place to learn, build a team and work on exciting clients, check out our careers page for our current openings. If nothing exactly fits your experience, drop us a line anyway. We love meeting new people.
Check out the announcement from PRNews here!
Featured on Thrive Global
I think most of the world’s problems can be resolved by 3 things — empathy, effort and education. If we as a people focus on living the 3 E’s and instilling them in our children — the world would be a much better place.
Managing Partner Greg Mondshein recently spoke with Yitzi Weiner about his journey, lessons learned and some interesting tidbits about his philosophy and approach.
Check out the full piece here!
Featured on Inc.com
More Than Just Money: Employee Incentives Drive Productivity and Improve Retention
Managing Partner Greg Mondshein spoke with Inc about the employee incentive strategies that SourceCode uses to drive productivity and increase retention.
Check out the full piece here!
Mondshein Speaks on New Business
7 Signs You’re Chasing the Wrong Business
I’ve spent my career toeing the line between client service and business development, and what I’ve learned along the way is that building the client portfolio of your dreams, more often than not, begins with the pitch. Landing the wrong account is a short-term victory that leads to a long-term headache. Not every dollar needs to be chased, and decisions made in the pitch—not listening to prospects’ subtle (and not so subtle) clues—can impact everything from employee satisfaction to profitability. Before you dig into that next RFP, here are a few key indications that you’re chasing the wrong account.
To read the full piece from SourceCode's Managing Director Greg Mondshein, please visit Small Biz Daily here.
SourceCode's Consumer Momentum
SourceCode Communications Announces AOR Relationships with Scruff and Elvie
The upstart agency is on pace to 7x revenue from 2017 and these new relationships swing the balance of B2B and B2C clients towards B2C technology brands with 53% of the agency’s portfolio targeting consumers.
NEW YORK—July 19, 2018— SourceCode Communications has expanded its consumer tech client roster with the addition of two Agency of Record partnerships. The New York-based tech PR agency has signed Scruff—the gay app for chat, dating and social networking with guys worldwide—and Elvie, a health and lifestyle brand developing smarter technology for women. SourceCode’s work for both new clients will focus on building an integrated communications plan bolstered by creative campaign initiatives designed to establish thought leadership, accelerate customer awareness and driving business growth.
“After a competitive agency review, we felt SourceCode’s incredible enthusiasm for our mission combined with their extensive experience in in working successfully with other innovative brands, made it clear to us that SourceCode was best positioned to help us tell our story,” stated Elvie Chief Marketing Officer, Darren Goode.
Scruff COO, Todd Sowers, explained: “SourceCode understood our needs almost immediately, and even set up a thought-leadership opportunity before our contract was signed. I've worked with other PR agencies previously and appreciate their approach to building thoughtful plan to attack our unique challenges.”
These signings expand SourceCode’s consumer technology portfolio, allowing the team to work creatively and strategically to build each brands’ consumer awareness and value. These selections come on the heels of an In2Sabre Award win this past February and being selected as a 2018 New Agency of the Year Finalist by Holmes Report.
On the news, SourceCode Communications Managing Partner Becky Honeyman added: “We’re excited to partner with these high-growth brands as they fit within the agency’s consumer and lifestyle sector of expertise. Elvie is pioneering smarter technology and innovative products that improve women’s lives, while Scruff is creating a secure and reliable place for over 12MM gay, bi, trans and queer men to connect.”
Earlier this year, SourceCode Communications expanded its B2B tech practice with the addition of full-suite research-technology solutions provider FocusVision and SOCi, the leading reputation management and social media management solution for multi-location enterprises. The company also announced the hiring of PR veteran Sara Ajemian to lead the ad and martech practice.
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About SourceCode Communications
SourceCode Communications an award-winning communications marketing agency launched in 2017 by technology PR industry veterans Greg Mondshein and Rebecca Honeyman. Based in New York, the agency is focused on delivering measurable business impact to brands in five major sectors - consumer lifestyle, enterprise technology, marketing technology, mobile and telecommunications and financial technology. SourceCode is a 3x 2018 In2Sabre nominee, 1x In2Sabre winner and a Holmes Report 2018 New Agency of the Year Finalist. For more information, please visit www.sourcecodecommunications.com.
Media Contact
Greg Mondshein
Managing Partner
greg@sourcecodecomms.com
+1.352.246.5532
A Statement from SourceCode Founders
#KeepFamiliesTogether: A Statement from the SourceCode Founders
As a business focused on building connections, relationships and humanity in the work we do for clients, with the media and each other, we find the current state of affairs at our southern border appalling. Putting politics aside, we believe first and foremost, that all human beings are entitled to certain unalienable rights. We stand with those dedicating hearts, minds and dollars to fix injustice. We remind everyone what is inscribed on a plaque at the foot of Statue of Liberty - the beacon of hope for those looking for refuge on our shores. Shores that we both benefited from.
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Thus, we’re immediately donating $1,500 dollars to the ACLU and matching any donations our team members choose to give.
Additionally, we’re looking to support the ACLU and the numerous partner organizations joining the fight by donating not just dollars but also time and expertise. Whether it’s media engagement or message development crafted to support getting the message out, we’re all in.
#keepfamiliestogether
Greg & Becky
SourceCode Bolsters Ad & Martech Practice
SourceCode Communications Bolsters Ad & Martech Practice, Announces AOR Relationships with FocusVision and SOCi; hires PR veteran executive Sara Ajemian
NEW YORK—May 16, 2018, 12:00 PM EST—New York tech agency SourceCode Communications announced today the hiring of PR veteran Sara Ajemian to lead the ad and martech practice, while continuing to drive business impact with two new client engagements: FocusVision and SOCi.
FocusVision is a full-suite research-technology solutions provider and SOCi is a leading social media management solution for multi-location enterprises. For both businesses, Ajemian and the SourceCode team will focus on redefining the messaging platforms, organizing the communications strategy and building creative campaigns that drive customer awareness and understanding; and ultimately, business growth.
FocusVision Lead Research Strategist Zoe Dowling stated: “FocusVision rebranded after completing multiple acquisitions. We needed a partner that understood this unique challenge, believed in our business and intuitively knew how to be effective in the research space. SourceCode clearly demonstrated this and, in just a few short weeks, has helped us professionalize the way we think about communications and is well on the way to helping us build the right strategy and messaging architecture.
Monica Ho, CMO at SOCi remarked: “We selected SourceCode because of the firm’s depth of experience in our sector and the way they built a thoughtful plan to attack our unique challenges. We’re seeing great traction, planning and ability to think strategically and react effectively to the news agenda.”
SourceCode Communications Managing Partner, Greg Mondshein stated: “We’re so excited to be working with both organizations—they are pioneers in their space and run by some truly exceptional executives. With these two additions, the advertising and marketing technology space now makes up 40% of our client portfolio and thus an integral part of our business.”
Ajemian joins SourceCode from DiGennaro Communications where for nearly four years she managed a team of communications strategists across a broad B2B portfolio of global marketing service providers, adtech startups, creative and media agencies, and other data-driven digital companies. She was a critical member of the independent agency’s Leadership Team and supported a number of internal initiatives throughout her tenure, including recruitment, employee training and new business. Ajemian has previously held a number of in-house roles, driving communication strategy and initiatives for CMP.LY, Kinetic, R/GA, the American Foundation for the Blind and Little Diversified Architectural Consulting.
Explaining her decision to join SourceCode, Ajemian said: “I am passionate about how companies are using data to impact and define the future of business and SourceCode has found a niche partnering with clients who sit at the core of this space. I’m thrilled to join the team and continue to support the momentum the firm has experienced in such a short amount of time.”
Added Mondshein: “We pride ourselves on providing exceptional service and the only way that happens is to continue building a team of brilliant PR professionals that have the experience to think and execute strategically for our clients. Needless to say, we couldn’t be happier welcoming Sara to the family.”
Since launching in early September 2017, its focus on strategy, insights and creative narrative development has won the SourceCode team more than 13 clients as well as key industry accolades. SourceCode Co-founder Greg Mondshein was named Co-Chair of the PR Council Next Board. The agency was recently named a top NYC tech agency by the Observer and a 2018 New Agency of the Year Finalist by Holmes Report and also won an In2Sabre Award this past February.
About SourceCode Communications
SourceCode Communications is a 2018 In2 Sabre Award winning communications marketing agency launched in 2017 by technology PR industry veterans Greg Mondshein and Rebecca Honeyman. Based in New York, the agency is focused on delivering measurable business impact to brands in five major sectors - consumer lifestyle, enterprise technology, marketing technology, mobile and telecommunications and financial technology. SourceCode is a 3x 2018 In2Sabre nominee, 1x In2Sabre winner and a Holmes Report 2018 New Agency of the Year Finalist. For more information, please visit www.sourcecodecommunications.com.
Media Contact for:
Greg Mondshein
Managing Partner
greg@sourcecodecomms.com
+1.352.246.5532
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National Stress Awareness Month in PR
National Stress Awareness Month: Remember that it's PR Not ER
This year, the role of PR executive was, once again, ranked in the nine most stressful jobs in the US. To industry professionals this is no surprise. With the stress brought on by unrealistic client demands, tight deadlines, press rejection and long hours, it’s a job the practitioner really needs to love in order to find happiness and be successful.
As someone who loves PR, and in honor of National Stress Awareness Month, here are some tips for finding happiness and managing stress in PR:
Work-life balance. Arguably the most important tip is to maintain your work-life balance as best possible. Between urgent deadlines and needy clients, public relations can be very time-consuming. With clients located all over the world, your to-do list can easily consume your nights and weekends if you let it. Continuous work with no breaks or vacations can make people feel blocked and distracted, leading to having problems concentrating. Surveys show almost three-quarters of people who vacation regularly feel energized and more ready to tackle the tasks at hand. The data shows giving your brain a rest will help prevent burning out and increase the effectiveness of your working hours. Even better, more than 70% of people reported feeling more satisfied with their jobs when they took regular vacations.
Unlimited PTO is another trend that I’ve seen cause internal turmoil among my peers. Many are afraid to take PTO as they feel they may be judged or they aren’t sure how much is considered acceptable by their company. No one is going to object to you taking a long weekend every so often to spend time with family and friends. But please do not check email! When you’re off, you’re off or you’ll never achieve the balance!
We are all guilty of working through lunch, but we really need to eat with the computer closed. I am a huge fan of taking the time to surf social media during lunch but some might find it more stress relieving to get out of the office for a walk or coffee. Spring is almost here which makes for a great outside lunch break with coworkers--people who get the stress!
At SourceCode, we clearly state our working hours in all our client contracts. This sets the tone from the beginning that we’re at your service between 9:00am and 5:00pm. This burnout prevention also means taking breaks during the day and taking time off!
Don’t sweat the small stuff and highlight the great. As my previous boss used to say, it’s PR not ER. If we miss a deadline or a reporter moves a meeting, no one dies. The client might be angry, but that can be remedied. Do your best, learn from your mistake and keep moving forward.
While it’s easy to focus on the negative, you should also pay attention to the positive. Keep things that make you happy and store them in a folder--positive client feedback, stellar media hits or even funny things your coworkers say. My former colleague used to keep a document of the funniest moments from work and it always made me smile and reminded me why I do PR.
At SourceCode, we have a Slack channel specifically created for bragging rights. This dual-purpose channel keeps everyone apprised of the good work their colleagues are doing while also gives team members a little recognition. We all like a little pat on the back, don’t we?
Find an industry that you love. The best thing about PR is that every industry brand needs communication, so I strongly recommend that you find a PR firm that works within a field you’re interested in. For instance, I am in love with the advertising technology industry--I read the trades, even on the weekends. It’s the most fascinating topic to me, and therefore, that’s where the majority of my clients live. Choosing a specialty keeps you happy AND makes you an expert, which makes you more valuable. Don't be a jack of all trades, master of none. Find a sector that makes you want to get up in the morning.
Although public relations can be stressful, with some days are tougher than others, it can also be a really fun and rewarding career path. You can work with global brands, senior level brand marketers and top tier journalists - a surefire path to becoming a stone cold PR warrior!
Fellow practitioners, please share with us some ways that you manage stress!
SourceCode Shortlisted for Best New Agency
SourceCode Shortlisted as one of The Holmes Report's 2018 North American New Agencies of the Year
We're starting of the week right with a Holmes Report New Agency of the Year Shortlist nomination! To be shortlisted as a finalist among such talented peers is an incredible honor and we owe a lot of people a LOT of thank yous. We have been very fortunate to have great mentors, fantastic clients and most importantly, an amazing team. We're taking a moment to celebrate, but then getting right back to work. #prlife
Congratulations to all the other finalists - we're delighted and amazed to be in your company! We'll see you at the SABRE Awards at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York on May 1. We'll be the over-excited and incredibly noisy table - come say hi!