A PowerPoint presentation created to present information obtained during an interview with advertising agency CEO Michele Bailey.

1. BY: SEAN AUGER, KATRINA BALZER, MACKENZIE FERRIS, MEESHA MAHIL

2. Brief Company Overview
 Founded in 1995 by Michele Bailey.
 Completed thousands of projects for hundreds of
clients across North America.
 Creative Design is their strong point.
 Success originally found primarily through package
design, corporate branding and traditional
advertising.
 In more recent years have transitioned into a
changing landscape of communication that
includes new media, web, and social platforms
 Clients of note: Thermos, Vermont Castings, 3M,
Health & Safety Ontario, BMO InvestorLine, and
Credit Valley Hospital to name a few.

3. MICHELE
BAILEY
CEO OF BLAZING THE
AGENCY

4. Personal Mission Statement:
“I give energy to the right people at the right time.
My passion is to be a source of inspiration to those around me.
I am an active listener and participant for those who are placed in
my life.
I use my strengths of storytelling to add energy, excitement and joy to
everyday living.”

5. Awards
 2013 Winner of Mary Lehman MacLachlan Economic
Empowerment Award, selected by The Women Presidents’
Organization (WPO)
 2012 Winner of The International Alliance for Women (TIAW)
World of Difference 100 Award – Entrepreneurial Category, for
contributions to the economic empowerment of women
(www.tiaw.org)
 Winner of Oakville’s 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year Award,
selected by the Oakville Awards for Business Excellence

6. THE INTERVIEW

7. WHY DID YOU START YOUR
OWN AGENCY?

8. Why Advertising?
 High school honour student
 Wanted to be a Doctor
 Flunked math and
chemistry
 Western – Bachelor of
Business Administration –
emphasis on Sociology
and Psychology.
 UWO - Only two marketing
courses
 Brand Manager

9. Previous Jobs
 Waitress - 6 years
Life Lessons Learned:
 Communication is key.
 Customers always right.
 Do what you have to do to make the
customer happy.
 No matter how much your feet hurt,
suck it up and smile.

10. Previous Jobs
 Started with a company in
Mississauga selling pens,
mugs, logo products
 The boss handed Michele an
account with Montreal Trust
 Michele took a risk- asked the
client if she were to come up
with an RSP campaign would
he be interested?
 That was 27 years ago that
company grew from $20,000
to $2M because Michele
decided she didn’t like selling
pens

11. Are you a Full Service
Agency?

12. Who are your Clients?
 12 clients – different industries – ranging from
automotive, financial sector, insurance, and
food
 They are a 20 person firm in 4 different
industries.
 Different clients in different industries keeps
things exciting for the whole team. Every day
is a new learning experience.
 The client list is ever changing and growing…
won back a client this year for the third time.

13. What is one of your favourite
campaigns?
 Quebec Ice storm 1998.
 Vermont Casting
 21 days without power
in certain areas.
 People calling in saying
wood burning stoves,
gas fire places and
BBQs were invaluable to
survival during this
natural disaster..”
 4 A.M Campaign Idea:
“Shelter From The
Storm”

14. What do you love about your
Job?
 Learning every day
 Freedom and flexibility

15. How is the environment at
Blazing?
 Summer BBQs
 Monthly events
 Expected dress code
 Weekly outings
 Family Feud

16. What makes Blazing The
Agency different?
 Ask the right questions
 Agreement and
avoiding blame
 Transparency
 Turnover rate

17. What qualities do you look for
when hiring?
 Energy
 Sincerity
 Common sense
 When you know how to
do something – you
become invaluable
 Eye-contact, firm
handshake, smile
 Be humble
 What about grades and
report cards?

18. Why do you believe so much
in being Transparent/
Genuine?
 The world is a scary place – people are busy doing and not being
 “My clients rarely shake my hand, they hug me. We become friends
by being transparent.”
 Speaks from her heart
 A smile for everyone
 Hit a point in her life when she had to evaluate herself
 A lot of people don’t like to be direct, I do I have nothing to hide!
 Almost went bankrupt – openly shared that story – if I don’t share
what really happens in business, how are you going to learn? How
can people really learn if I’m not being truthful. You have to ask
clients “Do you want to hear what I think, really? Or do you want to
hear what I think you want to hear?”
 “We’re here for a short time, make it a good time for everyone – who
I am here at work, is the same person I am at home.”

19. What Inspired you to Write
your Book?
 The people around Michele
 Alex, Michele’s son said it’s time for you to
share your stories with others and help them
learn from your mistakes
 Yvonne and Gail – Writing partners
 Finally convinced Michele to write her book!
 “It took me 12 years to build that network, I
wasn’t using people when I needed them, I
just love meeting people and finding out
about them. I built solid foundations so when I
couldn’t step up, they did and they helped
me along the way..”

20. Who Inspires You?
 Dad (Dr. Fritz Telemaque) – Everyday
 Collective Inspiration (friends, family,
colleagues)
 Self Motivation
 “I have many mentors at different points
in my life. It’s a collective inspiration but
I need to inspire me. I need to be the
one who controls my energy and I want
to wake up everyday happy, and
knowing that life's a full circle, what you
give out comes back to you.“

21. Thank You!
More Information can be found at:
www.BlazingTheAgency.com
www.MicheleBailey.ca