Jonathon Shaevitz
Managing Director, Interactive
What got you into this business in the first place?
I love technology and how it connects people.
Who was a big influence in your career?
My mother who always assumed I could do whatever I wanted and my Dad who showed
me how.
What was "your finest moment," the thing you're most proud of?
My family.
What was your most embarrassing moment in this business?
I always believe, if you don't fail regularly you are not trying hard enough, but not
everyone needs to know the details.
Is there a great client story you'd care to share?
Walking into a presentation to a Board of Directors a recommending a major strategic
shift and being told that the night before, the CEO had previewed the plan and it was
almost unanimously rejected, spending the next five hours in front of 23 people and
walking out of the meeting with the approval to go ahead.
What attracted you to Parham Santana?
Smart, creative people doing great work.
Do you have a method for coming up with ideas and solutions for clients?
Listening.
What makes a great brand?
Creating a strong intellectual and emotional connection between a product and
person.
What driving career goals do you still have?
Money, power, and world domination.
What talent do you wish you had?
I still wish I could fly.
If you had to live on a desert island, what would you miss most?
My family and my coffee (I'm not sure about the order).
Is there any food that helps you think more creatively?
Coffee.
What's your favorite sports team?
Yankees.
Tell us about your pets?
Our cat, name Lizzed but called Pussy Kitty Kat, was my gift to the family. She now
worships my wife (who did not want her, but now can't live without her), loves my kids,
and hisses at me.
What was growing up like for you?
Confusing and exhilarating.
What's your favorite TV program? And your least favorite?
Rescue Me. Don't know, if I don't like them I switch the channel.
What do you do for a good time when you're not working?
Spend time with my family or cycle.
What was college like for you?
Like growing into a pair of shoes.
What are your favorite Internet sites?
Whichever one I am working on at that moment.
What is your greatest extravagance?
I love my cappuccino maker-I'm a bit of an addict.
What is your most treasured possession?
My family.
What is your motto?
Never No Back.
What is your current state of mind?
Insatiable optimist.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Obedience.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Confidence.
