Jason Harris is the CEO and Co-Founder of Mekanism. 

In our conversation, we discussed the evolution of the agency in the past 15-years from a digital shop, to a viral agency, a production house, and now a full-service shop with 4 offices and 200 employees. 

Jason is a firm believer in the importance of relationships and understands that at its essence, advertising is a people business. It's the reason Mekanism establishes offices close to its major clients. It's also the motivation behind a new book he has out called "The Soulful Art of Persuasion" which is something akin to a C21st version of How to Win Friends and Influence People. He acknowledges the big shift that has happened with leadership having to flip to understand concepts like empathy and purpose. What he espouses for human beings he also recognizes matters for brands. 

Mekanism is also an agency with a strong internal culture guided by a fundamental set of beliefs and values. From the onset, this was an agency that celebrated together with trips to Mexico and Hawaii, the most recent outing in 2019 was a camping trip in California. 

We also talked about the key-contributors to long-term success which he defined as being his fellow partners, a long-term legal council/business advisor, and his many connections in the ad industry who he has sought advice when needed. 

Finally, like everyone, Jason is looking forward to Summer 2021 when the Mekanista (Mekanism employees) will return to their offices and the agency can reassert its culture and the development of ideas can be more organic and free-flowing and less of a process run by the demands of Zoom.