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Erik Hauser EMF Founder VP, Executive Creative Director, EURO RSCG 4D IMPACT
		Education: Self-taught and I’m enrolled in the continuing education, experiential learning program offered by The Experiential Marketing Forum. Books Reading: Boy..Do I wish my attention span would allow me to read anything longer than the Harvard Business Review.  I did recently get into audio books and really enjoyed Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.  Of course it was easy to concentrate and listen while I was staring into the clear blue Cayman waters. Favorite Quotes: It may be butchered - “A wise man is one that builds a strong/firm foundation from the bricks that others throw at him”. My Mom re: life’s path :  “If you find things in life you love associate yourself with them.....if you can’t find that something - create it!”		Inspirational Figures: Personally Inspiring : I have just 1  -  My Mom   Business Inspiring : I have 3 of them:  • Richard Branson: The man could do a successful brand extension into any space with credibility. • Steve Jobs: Only a man this great could make 5 plus catastrophic, company ending, strategic business decisions and be bigger, badder and stronger than ever as if they never happened. • Oprah Winfrey: Any person that can elevate themselves to such greatness against such odds should be inspiring to us all. She's the most powerful business figure that I know. She can turn anything into a million dollar brand by recommending it on her show. Relationship Status: Recently engaged to a childhood friend - quite the romantic story! I dare to ask age ... 36

Short bio of career path:
I absolutely refused to walk down the path that was in front of me.  I came up the ranks clocking a bunch of sweat equity hours interacting with customers everywhere across the USA.  I saw a weakness in the existing model, and well, at that age don’t we know it all.;)?  At the ripe ol’ age of 26 with a machete and a whole bunch of naive enthusiasm I started my own company.  I am now at EURO 4D IMPACT and continuing my intentions to dominate the world.  I also started a few other things along my path.:).

Define your leadership style and the feel of the agency:
I 100% believe in ICT.  It is a theory put forth by Boyatzis and is based on the idea that change in any system whether that system is a single person or a large organization, occurs gradually and on many levels.  It is “Specific Intention” that is required to orchestrate and sustain a change in the system.  ICT theory is a 5 part process, but I like to think of myself as the change agent that strikes the match to get the blaze going :)  And, simply put, I treat every member of IMPACT as I would want to be treated.  It is the best way to form strong bonds of respect and create mutual admiration societies.

Toughest challenge overcome in your career?
The bigger the challenge the more I like it.  I’m kind of reverse engineered.  For me, this question should be what was the smallest challenge that you had to overcome......It’s the minutia sometimes that gets me ;)

What was your defining moment at IMPACT?
I am just warming up the bus.  Ask me this question again in 1 year.

Favorite assignment completed to date?
N/A I am my work ;)

Your vision of where we will all be in 10 years (non-apocalyptic):
I will be firmly planted in the driver’s seat with all the EMF members as we’ve been entrenched in experiential methodology for so long.  As the marketing landscape starts to tilt even further in our direction - we’ll be sitting first chair in all meeting as opposed to 10 years ago when we got the last three minutes of the pitch.

Best describe IMPACT:
Simply Put, EURO IMPACT is in the process of becoming the global leading practitioner of experiential marketing methodology.  

Why do clients choose IMPACT and how have you been able to maintain such long relationships?
IMPACT is idea-centric with flawless execution on a global level.  They stay because EURPO IMPACT has the feeling of a family.  We don’t have clients - we have friends.

Advice for those entering into the space from college?
Understand that the first brand that your ever going to be tasked with branding is your own.  Know all of your own salient differentiators and go out there and make a name for yourself.

Advice to the smaller agency owners in this tough economic climate?
Be fluid - play it smart and understand that you have strengths where others have weakness.  Last I checked - every great company grew organically from scratch.