Today’s Notable Young Professional is Vancouver’s Matthew Owchar, who’s in charge of the digital presence of Western Canada’s largest events promoter and hospitality company. Here’s what inspired his career route and advice he would share with other young professionals…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
I manage and execute the digital presence and strategy for Blueprint – Western Canada’s largest events promoter and hospitality company.
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
I started working for the company in a very casual manner as a DJ & promoter. This evolving into my career was definitely a mix of cultural happenstance and the company just growing at an astronomical rate. Ultimately, my inspiration for doing what I do is really love for music.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
The best and most challenging parts of what I do on a daily basis are pretty much one and the same, and that’s the breakneck speed with which digital platforms, practices and trends evolve. It can be simultaneously inspiring and infuriating.
What is one sign that you’ve seen over the years to suggest that your work/life balance is off? Haha – that I haven’t been on a real vacation in like four years.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
That’s hard to say! I’m very happy with Blueprint, but five years is a lot of time. Despite what I’ll be doing, I know it’ll still have me involved in the music industry.
What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it? Choosing what I want to do and sticking with it. I’ve largely been in a position where I’ve had to juggle doing multiple things I may be good at and also interested in, but eventually realized you really can’t do it all. You have to narrow it down to a few key things you can really be successful at, and it’s something I’m still working on achieving.
What does success look like to you? Does Money = Happiness?
Success is waking up every day feeling you’re doing the right thing. As far as material pursuits, it’s less about money and more about quality of life.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
There are so many. Just being a part of what we’ve accomplished at Blueprint in only a few short years feels inspirational every day. Breaking the social media record in Vancouver with Contact Festival two years in a row was a big one. Also, discovering artists in the infancy of their careers and seeing them go on to do great things is always personally satisfying.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Go after what you really want to do even if it takes a really long time, and meet lots of interesting people that you admire and want to emulate professionally along the way.
Where is your favourite place to wine/dine in your city?
Hawksworth, Campagnolo and Vij’s.
When you’re not working how do you love to spend your “Me” time?
Producing music when at all possible (which is very time intensive, so not often enough) and reading.
Where is your favourite place to travel? Why?
My favourite big city would be New York and I would love to live there if the chance every presented itself. I’m really hoping to go to Europe sometime soon though.
If you had to choose a theme song, what would it be?
Right now, it would be “All Day” by Kanye West
If you weren’t doing what you’re doing, what would you be doing?
I probably would’ve done something ridiculous like go to law school.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
There isn’t a particular charity I’m personally engaged in, although I’d like to be. I admire what Big Brothers does and believe everybody deserves some sort of mentorship and guidance in life.
What to you is notable?
I think we live in an age where true creativity and art are really fuelling innovation across multiple industries, and that makes it a great time to be alive.
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
iPhone all the way. It’s a very underrated tool for creativity.
#NOTABLE
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