After TMU — Andrew Wagar

1. What is a typical “Day in Your Work Life” like?

As the owner/CEO I wear many hats and oversee and support multiple teams and a number of people. I hate to sound cliché but there isn't really a “typical day” for me. Some days I am focused on sales and new business development, some days I am focused on client strategy and planning, and some days I am dealing with client issues and challenges. There are also staffing issues, hiring, our events and influencer programs, etc. I tend to be involved in many different things that require me to get involved when and where I am needed. One thing is typical — my involvement is more listening than directing. We have a great team at Swerve PR who are all solutions-minded vs. problem-minded people, so I am often called in to listen and provide input vs. directing the overall program or challenge.

2. What are the best parts of your job; what are the necessary evils?

The best part is when our team creates a solid strategy and creative plan and executes an amazing program that delivers great results. These moments make everyone happy — the client, the team, the market and myself. They are the best moments and the ones the Swerve team strives to deliver every day — that and landing a new client. That is a great feeling.

The necessarily evil is the boring admin work — reporting, media monitoring, goal tracking, etc. It’s all the mundane, everyday stuff we all have to do. Our team is full of highly creative types — myself included — and admin is not generally coded into our DNA, but it’s something we have to do, and that we deliver on, but is certainly not fun.

3. How did your degree influence your career choice?

It gave me the high-level business knowledge I needed to understand almost every aspect of running a business. I graduated Ryerson University with a strong understanding of basic business principles and practices. This in turn gave me a level of confidence in myself. I believe getting my degree from TMU was a significant factor in my decision to start my own business.

4. What are some skills you developed through university that help you in your career?

Accounting, stats and finance as I had zero understanding of these when I started my degree. In fact, I had always been terrible at math but I am no longer, and actually kind of enjoy it now. Two other important skills I developed in university were focus and work ethic. I put myself through school and paid for it myself, so it meant a lot to me. I had to work hard and focus and turn down good times and nights out to study and complete assignments as I wanted good grades.

5. How did your experience at TMU help you find your first position after graduation?

It definitely had an impact. I took my degree later in age than most, starting at age 28. I had already graduated from Sheridan College basically right out of high school and had a career in marketing for 5-6 years, but I felt I wasn't getting the forward momentum/raises/positions I was capable of due to the lack of a university degree. Upon graduating from TMU, I began to get more senior positions making more money than before.

6. What do you wish you could tell your university self?

Invent a social media channel called Facebook and invest in Apple. Seriously, I would have taken more classes in entrepreneurship and sales. Those are the two roles where I thrive and that I enjoy the most and that I did the least amount of schooling in. Perhaps that benefitted me as I forced myself out of my comfort zone with Accounting and Finance which do not come naturally, and which I now have a stronger understanding of.

7. What are some attributes of individuals who are most successful in your field?

My field is marketing and PR. Successful personality attributes include being outgoing, having a love of networking and speaking to people, being able to push your creative boundaries and not settling for the ordinary or mundane. Successful professional attributes include a strong understanding of digital marketing, e-commerce, analytics and sales.

8. If you could start all over again, would you change your career path?

Perhaps I would have entered sales at an earlier age. I shied away from it when I was younger and I believe that was a confidence thing, or a lack of understanding of the role. But I have no regrets. I love owning my own business and would encourage anyone considering it to take the risk and go for it. It is very hard to succeed, but it is worth the time, stress and risk. The pay-off in freedom, confidence, lifestyle and money are usually worth it.