YPDaily: Robyn Baldwin

It’s hard to be in a boardroom and not notice Robyn Baldwin. We know from experience. Her insight into the consumer behavior of potential buyers is second to none, not to mention her energy and drive are also show-stoppers. Read the below interview, you’ll see what we mean. Get to know Media Planner and Fitness Model, Robyn Baldwin.

Notable: What is your Name and age?
Robyn: Robyn Baldwin – 28

Notable: What is the name of the company you work for and what industry is it in?
Robyn:
I have two careers. My first is in the advertising industry as a Media Supervisor for MPG Canada. I manage media planning and buying on multiple client accounts. The media agency has just launched a blog and twitter page so it’s definitely exciting being at an agency willing to move with the times! Global Website: Mpg.com Blog: Mpg-mediacontacts.ca Twitter: @MPG_MC_Canada

My second career is in the fitness industry as a fitness model, personality & competitor. I’m currently finishing my personal trainer certification so I can teach a bootcamp style workout for women in 2011 (in my spare time). I am also a co-host of Mid Month Motivation a monthly video on YouTube that covers a fitness tip, a nutrition tip and a product review each month to inspire others towards leading a healthy lifestyle. I’m also exploring my writing skills with my personal blog.

Personal Blog
Personal Facebook Page
Facebook Fan Pages: Personal
Mid Month Motivation 
Twitter: @RobynBaldwin & @MMMotivation

Notable: Elevator Pitch (we just met on an elevator, we have 30 seconds together in the elevator, please describe your business):
Robyn: I am an advertising executive by day and fitness model & entrepreneur by morning, noon and night. I balance a media planning and buying career in a Global Ad agency with the pursuit of fitness & health as a fitness model, personality, host and competitor. My careers complement each other. My fitness allows me the strength and energy to attack each day and my advertising career has taught me how to build my personal brand

Notable: Why did you get involved in your industry, why this one, what was the inspiration?
Robyn: I have a degree in Commerce from McMaster University. In my second year I took a consumer behavior course and fell in love with advertising and the psychology behind it. After graduating I found myself in the ad world selling out of home media and then found my way to the agency world of media planning and buying. I got involved in the industry because I found the ability to research consumers mindsets fascinating. I love selling through plans based on facts and gut feelings that enable companies to sell their products. I like being able to “play” with all sorts of media vehicles from broadcast, print, out-of-home and digital to build a great plan that suit our clients’ needs. 

My inspiration for becoming a fitness personality was discovered while re-evaluating my health 2 years ago. I knew I was always slim but my metabolism changed at 26 and I had become “skinny fat”. I saw a fitness magazine cover and decided if she could do it why couldn’t I? I started researching training techniques and nutrition through online resources and magazines and taught myself how to become healthy and fit. I’ve been involved in modeling since University so it was an easy switch to pursue fitness modeling. In the past two years I also have become a fitness competitor as a tool to motivate me to push my fitness boundaries. In the summer of 2010, I approached Eva Redpath a women’s fitness expert and entrepreneur and we launched a monthly video on YouTube called Mid Month Motivation. I love doing the video because it takes our knowledge and puts it into a package that others can use to motivate themselves. Plus it’s fun to film them every month with Eva!

Notable: What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis?
Robyn:
I love that my media days are never the same. Some days I’m involved in sales meetings discovering new media vehicles or planning client presentations for key launches or sustained product support. Other days I’m balancing budgets or knee deep in blocking charts. I love the constant ebb and flow of busyness and the ability to use both my innovation and organization skills. My career in advertising allows me to work on different types of business so that I’m never complacent and constantly learning. In terms of fitness the best part of my day is ensuring I’m maintaining and growing my health and fitness. I have to make sure I’m in the gym on a daily basis lifting weights to develop muscle and challenge my cardio health. I love learning new techniques or different ways to challenge myself in the gym and the science of nutrition is fascinating to me. 

Notable: What is the most challenging part of your job?
Robyn:
The most challenging part of my media job is making sure nothing slips through the cracks while juggling different clients, campaigns and tasks on a daily basis. Since our days are never the same, to do lists are our secret weapons to organized chaos. The most challenging part of striking out in the fitness industry is navigating the complete unknown as well as time management to ensure my career in advertising is never threatened by my fitness career but complimented instead. I have goals of being published in 2011 in several fitness magazines, of using my writing skills for the better and launching a successful bootcamp.

Notable: Where do you see yourself going in 5 years?
Robyn: I see myself as Group Director in the agency world managing a team of planners that are just as enthusiastic as I am about the media. I see myself leading a successful bootcamp inspiring women to take charge of their health and fitness and incorporating great nutrition and fitness as a part of their lifestyle vs. just a New Year’s Resolution. I see myself as a successful fitness modeling inspiring women visually in the pages of the magazines that inspired me and becoming a successful contributing writer.

Notable: Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Robyn:
Intern, Listen and Learn. And for those who are maybe one year or two into their industry and don’t know if it’s right for them then evaluate what you love and what frustrates you. Frustration will be in any industry. In your career path, if the frustration is manageable and you can affect change then stick to it. You have control of your mindset in developing your career versus just getting through another day job.

What is your greatest asset as it relates to business?
Robyn: My greatest asset in media is my organization and project management skills. I definitely have solid multitasking skills. My greatest asset in fitness is my strength and determination to succeed as a role model in a lifestyle that motivates others to become healthy. Because I have the strong work ethic from working in advertising it translates to any project I take on in the fitness world.

Notable: What does success look like to you?
Robyn:
Success means I work towards accomplishing goals on a daily, weekly, monthly & yearly basis. I choose to be in a happy state of mind and enjoy my life to the fullest. I will have been successful if I lead a full life and touch and inspire at least one person.

Notable: What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
Robyn:
I don’t have just one milestone but I have key moments that I celebrate. In terms of advertising, being published as rising media star in Strategy magazine, receiving an award for the 15 Below Jackets campaign that I worked on at TAXI and working hard to be a young supervisor because of my talents and accomplishments definitely make me proud. In terms of fitness, getting published for the first time in Inside Fitness was a great moment for me. In addition, whenever I get a facebook wall post, message or Twitter @ reply that I’ve inspired or motivated someone to work out or eat clean makes me incredibly happy.

Notable: Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
Robyn: I volunteered for Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2010 and it was the most rewarding experience being able to spend time with a child that might need a different perspective or just a chance to share special time together once a week.

Notable: What is Notable to you?
Robyn:
I love that young professionals today are not boxing themselves in with just one passion or specialty. I believe always challenging your brain and your capabilities is very NOTABLE.

Notable: Anything Else?
Robyn: Help Mid Month Motivation reach out to more viewers. Subscribe to our YouTube channel or share a video on your facebook wall. Enjoy the tips and let us know what else you’d like to see in 2011 to help you lead a healthier lifestyle attacking the professional world.

Photo Credit: Greg Burns – gwburns.com, Luke Tsyzkiewicz – lucasimages.ca, Trevor Fisher (D4 Fish Photography)