About
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Click here if you are looking for my biography.
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I tend to generalise my positive and negative attributes into past, present and future tense. Hopefully the things I must improve on become retrospective, but I will never stop learning.
Here though, I would like to present the things I am still working on but I am probably better than worse at. I regularly seek feedback from those I spend my personal and professional life with. It’s not always easy to hear how people see you, but I believe it is vital.
From feedback, spanning almost 2 decades, my abilities seem to categorise themselves into 4 areas:
• Strategy – I strive to find the most efficient and elegant way of getting something done. For most of my professional life, the strategies I have created cover: brand, offering and business growth – all of which revolve around the critical need for brilliant and effective communication – the purest form of interaction. How something is ‘sold-in’ to the world at large.
• Negotiation – Such a critical part of communication, negotiation is sometimes seen as ‘deal-making’ but arguably it runs deeper than that. Knowing the effect of a successful value-exchange is as powerful as knowing the effect of well-placed silence. Understanding the axis of integrity is as vital as learning the vast language of non-verbal communication.
• Evangelising – Spreading the word is a magnet for new opportunities, new clients, new consumers and overall belief. Evangelising is crucial to partner relationships and public acceptance, sculpturing how stories are delivered ensuring that readers, writers, partners, users and buyers; believe.
• Leadership – Over the years, the teams I have built are undoubtedly my best references. I see the main components of leadership including: motivation, delegation, respect and experience. I believe effective leadership is found within the ability to strategise, negotiate and evangelise.
Every role I have had to date, either in my own companies or with others, has been about communication. Titles and positions do not necessarily need to include the words ‘Brand Marketing’ or ‘Communications’ to show a common thread. Upon occasion of having excelled, the environment has consistently been one of communication.
Whether one calls it engagement, market positioning or creating belief – my ambition is to have a significant influence and effect in the world of communication. Its what my life is, was and always will be about.
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What others say:
“One of the most honest, trustworthy and insightful marketing professionals I have ever had the pleasure to work with. Jonathan has an ability to grasp and dissect concepts like few I have ever met and his ability to formulate and deliver motivating presentations is legend.” October 13, 2009
Barney Craggs, Freelance Strategy Consultant, Exponere
“Jonathan is one of those rare people who are so good at what they do that to judge others by the same standard borders on being unreasonable. Some people think outside the box, Jonathan thinks outside the warehouse. He is an outstanding strategic thinker, able to zero in on what matters immediately, inspiring presenter, highly gifted business man and negotiator and – something I really value – he just tells it like he sees it, without making concessions to what people may or may not want to hear, or may or may not be ready for. Doing business with him is uncomplicated, fast and delightfully devoid of everything that doesn’t really matter – the way it should be. 5 stars!” September 15, 2009
Christopher Billich, SVP, Research & Strategy, Infinita Inc.
“Jon is one of the rare people who possess massive charisma, detailed technical knowledge, a driven sales personality and business acumen. He has a knack of embedding himself quickly into the core of companies, and becoming that ‘go to’ guy. I was fortunate to work along side of him and learn from him, and would not hesitate to work with him again. .” June 16, 2009
Paul Dingle, Chief Technology Officer, SUBtv
“Jonathan is hands down the most inspirational speaker I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. He has the ability to look past the industry limitations and mindsets of today and work towards an open communication vision for the future. His passion for progress should be the standard for the rest of us in the digital communications industry.” May 7, 2009
Eliza Dashwood, Director of Sales and Marketing, Ambergreen Internet Marketing
“jMac was the third keynote speaker at a national conference I produced for Media Trust at Chelsea Football Club on 26th March 2009. This high profile conference explored Engaging ‘hard to reach’ communities. jMac followed Kevin Brennan MP, Minister for the Third Sector and Lord Herman Ouseley of Peckham Rye. His inspirational and innovative speech was well received by the delegates from VCS, government and corporate organisations from across the UK. jMac’s humourous and entertaining promotion of the digital revolution and rules of engagement won him numerous new supporters and members of “his gang”. He was also quoted alongside our CEO in an about the conference in PR week. I was personally pleased to have secured such a gifted orator who provides consultation to Ogilvy (WPP) and that jMac offered his services free to the charity. jMac is good value and I certainly want to keep linked in to him so I can pick his brain for every ounce of his fantastic imagination and ideas! Jonathan’s top qualities: Great Results, Expert, Creative” April 4, 2009
Keith Winestein, Media Trust
“Jonathan is an inspirational, enthusiastic and super energetic thought leader. He’s taught me to always keep the main thing, the main thing. An incredible communicator, captivating and entertaining when others would bore a room to sleep. He gets what makes people tick through his years of experience and has mastered the art of presenting. I would agree with a previous comment that he is one of the shapers of the global media industry. I hope to work with him again one day and am definitely happy to be a personal reference.” January 5, 2009
Michael Litman, Social Media Strategist, Consolidated PR
“Jonathan is one of those rare people who seem to make business meetings fun. His smile and enthusiasm drag you into the moment. However, underlying this persona is a deep knowledge of new media strategy, and lightning speed thought processing. He can evaluate products and services almost instantly and churn out highly intuitive takes on business positions. I have found his input into my venture invaluable and would recommend him to anyone looking for outside input into their business model in this market segment (ie., web, mobile, new media in general).” November 6, 2008
Paul Christian, Founder, LiveAps.com
“There can only be one Jonathan MacDonald, with his boundless enthusiasm and energy.” January 22, 2009
David Wilkinson, Finance Director, Blyk
“Jonathan’s enthusiasm, belief and application to the job-in-hand made him a great person to work for. Jonathan inspired the team (including myself) to think ‘outside of the box’ to deliver solutions in a brand new marketplace, and in doing so, created an environment which drew ideas from all corners of the team regardless of rank/position. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with Jonathan and look forward to one day working in the same team again.” October 31, 2008
Sam Tillotson, Campaign/Delivery Manager, Blyk
“Jonathan has an amazing personality. He is super energetic, excited and passionate about all challenges he has got at hand. And that is contagious too!” June 10, 2008
Timo Romppanen, Business Manager / Voice services, Blyk
“Jonathan is one of the most astute and talented Interactive and commercial brains I have had the pleasure to work with. A true entrepreneur who creates the bigger picture, he is definitely one of the genuine shapers of the global media industry – especially advertising. An insatiable appetite to excel in everything he does, he is also a top guy and I would fully endorse Jonathan as an asset to any company. I really hope to work with him again one day and am definitely happy to be a personal reference now or in the future.” June 9, 2008
Adrian Watkins, Business Development Director, Europe, Fox Interactive Media
“Jonathan brilliantly cuts through the complexity of the emerging dominance of the networked world to find winning solutions. His enthusiasm and passion for technology and its human dimension makes him an inspiring, informed and excellent communicator, too. We twice worked together on internal conferences. The first aimed at changing the way we think about mobile, the second at marketing and advertising solutions for the networked world. His contribution on both occasions was world class. I would be absolutely delighted to work with Jonathan again and do not hestitate in recommending him to you.” June 9, 2008
David Cushman, Digital Development Director, Bauer Consumer Media
“Jonathan is a great manager, demonstrating inventiveness and charisma when we worked together at Ministry of Sound. He’s always proved to be ahead of the game – demonstrated by his blog and the respect he has from the industry. A real pleasure to work with.” June 12, 2009
Steve Wilson-Beales, Head of Internet, Ministry of Sound
“I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and work with some very talented people over the years, but I have not found many that I actually find inspiring. Jonathan is someone to me that defines the world inspirational. I don’t always understand what he does but I always want to listen to what he has to say. I can pay him no bigger compliment than that. It is always a pleasure to meet him and to work with him.” May 14, 2009
John Steven, Director of Marketing, Sennheiser UK LTD
“Jonathan has such passion to get the job done, his encouragement almost certainly rubs off on you. He has an incredible creative mind, visions ahead of most and you certainly want to be involved and on board. I learnt a lot about business and process under his leadership.” November 5, 2008
Mark Phillips, Digital Sales Manager, Ministry of Sound
“Jonathan is enthusiastic and brimming with energy and ideas, a pleasure to work with someone with these attributes. Makes the workplace fun, creative and productive.” July 15, 2008
Chris Clapperton, eCommerce Manager, Ministry of Sound
