Based in Liverpool, Mike Smith is founder and CEO of out-of-home advertising provider, Open Media.
Smith led the business to secure B-Corp certification in 2023, making Open Media the first B-corp certified outdoor media owner in the UK.
Open Media recently revealed its rebrand and the launch of its new website, delivered by brand and communications agency Agent.
Here, Smith shares a week in his life…
Monday
Monday morning starts bright and early for me at 5:30 am as I hit the gym for an intense workout session. By 7:30 am, I’m back home feeling supercharged and ready to kick-start my day with a pleasant stroll to our Liverpool office, located in the iconic Royal Liver Building.
We start the week with our Monday morning meeting. It’s a time when the our whole team gathers to chat about the week’s priorities and reflect on the previous week.
This particular Monday was extra special because we had the team from our brand and communications agency, Agent, visiting us. They were helping us gear up for the launch of our new brand identity on Wednesday.
During the meeting, we dive deep into our brand rollout plans, put the finishing touches on our sleek new website, and mull over our communication and video strategies.
The office atmosphere is incredibly positive and upbeat. Our team is eagerly anticipating the launch of our fabulous new brand, which is live from Wednesday. We’re all fully aware of the immense effort and expertise that the Agent team has poured into this project.
After wrapping up work around 5:30 pm, I head over to my son Ari’s football practice. Watching him on the field fills me with such immense joy and happiness.
Tuesday
At 8 am, I attended a board meeting for the Teenage Cancer Trust North West. It’s a cause I care about deeply, so I am passionate about supporting this incredible charity and gladly contribute my time.
In the morning, I catch up on emails and touch base with Michael, Anna, and Ricky from our marketing team to ensure everything is in place for tomorrow’s big reveal – the launch of our new brand!
I also had some external meetings with clients to discuss the exciting new developments we have planned for this year.
Just before the day ended, I had a final check-in with Michael from the marketing team to ensure we were fully prepared for tomorrow.
Wednesday
Today was the day we’ve all been waiting for – the big launch! I headed to London to touch base with the team there and attend an event put on by one of our clients, Kinetic. It was a great opportunity to learn and network.
Throughout the day, people came up to congratulate me and my chief revenue officer, Fi, on the positive response to our brand. It put the biggest smile on my face!
I had back-to-back meetings until 1 pm, but once I got to our London office, I saw all the buzz on social media and in my emails. The new brand Agent created was a hit and looked absolutely stunning.
I also made sure to check in with our Liverpool office to make sure everything was going smoothly. We had organised for some new merchandise to be sent out as part of the launch, and the feedback we received from clients was fantastic. They loved it!
I caught an earlier train back to Liverpool and even made it in time to watch Ari’s football match. Win-win!
Thursday
Another early start – I’m off back to London at 6 am for back-to-back client meetings.
It was also Sophie’s third work anniversary, so we took a break for lunch to celebrate together.
After that, I attended an event, hosted by our clients at Talon. It was a great chance to gain insights and look at predicted trends of 2024 in OOH.
I finally made it home around 6 pm, so it felt like a long day. But seeing the overwhelmingly positive response to our brand made it all worth it. Thrilled doesn’t even begin to cover it!
Friday
I start the day with my usual 6 am gym session. It’s always tempting to stay in bed, but I know how important it is to clear my mind and get focused for the day.
I kicked things off with our Friday morning sales meeting, catching up with the sales team to see what they’ve got in the works.
Later on, I met with the team and had a chat with a new team member, who’s starting a new role with us on Monday. Seeing my team members grow and succeed is so rewarding, and I’m looking forward to watching her develop.
I wrap up the working week at around 4pm, going home to have the most important meeting of the week – with my wife!
We always make sure to spend quality time together at least once a week. Whether it’s a romantic dinner, a workout session or just enjoying a cup of coffee on a walk, that time together is priceless.
