User:Colindanielleary

Colin Daniel Leary (born October 27, 1979) is an American citizen currently residing in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Born in Cortland, NY, Colin is the son of John and Mary Leary. One of seven children, Colin, the sixth child, attended St. Mary's Elementary School before moving on to [http://www.cortlandschools.org/ Cortland Jr/Sr. High school] where he studied until graduation in 1998.

At the age of 18, Colin left home to attend Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. While at Harvard, Colin studied Cultural Anthropology and was a member of the Men's Varsity Lacrosse team and AD Club. After attaining his BA Colin heeded the advice of his elders and headed West to see America.

Settling in Missoula, MT Colin enjoyed the life of a small town and the surrounding wilderness. It's commonly assumed that Colin's fondness of the wilderness stems from his mystical connection, to America's 26th President and avid promoter of the conservation movement, Theodore Roosevelt - they share the same birthdate. While in Missoula, Colin discovered he had a deep curiosity in human nature and the effects of advertising on consumer behaviors. Selling wine at Worden's Market served as the catalyst for this interest. Salesmanship took on new meaning in reflection. Colin noticed that customers came with varying degrees of knowledge in what type of wine they were looking to purchase; it was commonplace for customers to be nervous and intimidated by their lack of understanding of wine. Help was often rejected for fear of exposing vulnerability. Aside from all of the other psychological behaviors, Colin realized that the consumers were heavily influenced by the advertising they had seen before entering the store and while in the store. This interest in tow, Colin met the founders of a small start-up agency, Whitaker, Mrazek and Quinn (WMQ). He was brought on as a freelance new business director and eventually landed the Lupine Logic account for the agency. That was the catalyst he needed. Colin had the understanding that his passion and talents would best be honed amongst the advertising goliaths on Madison Avenue in New York City.

Mad Ave is historically synonymous with Advertising and all that comes with it. Landing a job in the storied halls of Young & Rubicam (Y&R), Colin began his career as an Account Executive at the age of 23. Four years and a myriad of personal successes and failures later, Colin sought new career experiences with a smaller, more independent advertising agency, the creative powerhouse, Wieden + Kennedy (W+K).

With no original intent on leaving his life in New York City, Colin jumped at the opportunity to work for W+K in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Colin’s time at W+K proved to be another defining moment in his career and ultimately, his life.

After a year and a half working on Nike's behalf as an Account Manager, Colin made the transition from Agency to Client by taking on a brand management role at Nike's European Headquarters. It was Colin’s understanding that by working at Nike as an Advertising and Content Manager he could combine two of his life's greatest passions – sports and the roller coaster of emotions that come with them and his curiosity with human nature and the effects advertising has on influencing consumer decisions, defining personalities and shaping an ethos - served as the motivation in his decision to make the transition.