Tatum Mannion is senior director of partnerships at event production and marketing firm Medium Rare. She's based in New York. A quote from her nomination: "Tatum Mannion, at the age of 26, has proved that she can hold her own with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment, from Shaquille O’Neal to Rob Gronkowski, Guy Fieri to Daymond John."
How she spends her days: "Every day is more exciting than the next at Medium Rare, and I truly mean that. We are a small team that produces a lot of events, so that means we all wear many hats. Take a look at Super Bowl, for example—we produced four mega-festivals in three days with nearly 50 brand partners!
Some days I am focused on building a strategy for our brand partners, which includes how they can activate at our events in a way that will wow the attendees and generate buzz for post-press pickup and social media. Other days are spent leading calls with our brand partners to talk through anything from the media schedule leading into the event to permits and logistics needed for their on-site activations.
Currently, my days are spent working with clients (existing, new, and potential) and our production team on our upcoming fall events: Black Entrepreneurs Day with Daymond John, One Bite Pizza Festival with Dave Portnoy, Shaq’s Bass All Stars, and an all-new female-focused event that I am extremely excited to introduce soon.
Regardless of what the day brings, I continue to keep two things top of mind: innovation and storytelling. I’ve grown up in the sports and entertainment world and have learned that the only constant is change. The way we experience things, tell stories, activate brands, work with partners—you name it—is ever-changing and we must continue to break the rules and reimagine the live experience. At Medium Rare, that’s something we implement every day by providing unprecedented access to our fans’ favorite celebrities including Guy Fieri, Shaquille O’Neal, Rob Gronkowski, Daymond John, etc."
Impact she wants to have on the industry: "I started with Medium Rare during the pandemic when they had to pivot their business model from live events to virtual. And since then we have probably produced nearly 20 other events, most of which are in person or hybrid. But what I have determined is that no matter the type of event we put on, the stage and the stakes seem to be higher.
For longevity in this field, you need to constantly commit to impressing your partners and your guests, which means redefining what the experiences can and should be.
The ultimate impact would be to redefine what a live event looks like by unlocking new experiences for fans, brand partners, and celebrity partners alike. Of course that is done through creating new events and bending traditional live event rules, but that is also done by redefining what it means to be a leader in the entertainment space. I strongly believe leading with your heart and with empathy can be one of the most impactful things in the industry. I care deeply about the partners we work with as well as the fans we reach at Medium Rare and hope that my impact on the industry stems from deep-rooted relationships and kindness."
Career goals: "My biggest career goal is to connect people. Connect brands with our celebrity partners and fans, connect fans with our brands and events, and everything in between. As our world continues to become more technologically driven, it’s easier to connect to people, but harder to connect with people. In five years, I hope to be producing a portfolio of events that bring people together and inspire them to look up, connect, and remember the power of creating memories outside of the screen."
Advice for her peers: "Listen. As someone that moved around a lot growing up, I learned the undeniable power of listening. Hearing people’s stories, letting people’s voices be heard, and indulging yourself in new experiences enables unimaginable self-growth. Through our events, including Black Entrepreneurs Day with Daymond John and our new female-focused event coming this fall, we have worked diligently to build platforms where amazing stories are told. There’s a reason we have two ears and one mouth! Listen to your partners, clients, peers—you never know what might spark the next best opportunity!"
How she spends her free time: "Once the Zoom calls are over, I find myself mentoring as many young women as possible. I would not be where I am today without the strong women in my life (family, friends, camp counselors, past and present co-workers) and hope to always pay it forward. Other than that, I get to play with my dachshund puppy, Bowie, and spend time with my 10 nieces and nephews!"
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