MATTY ROSSI: Brand Management, Working Alongside Your Dog, and Monetizing Your Content

Press Record with Kellan Reck

Matt Rossi is an experienced brand marketer with a demonstrated history of working in the food & beverages industry. He’s spent the last 4 years working for Boston Beer Company, currently operating as brand manager for Truly Hard Seltzer. And in the last year, he’s built a dedicated following across social media for his creative and humorous lifestyle content which often features his very cute humorous Kirkland. I personally see Matt’s videos all of the time on TikTok and can’t resist watching them in full. He is also a Michigan Alum, go blue.
In this episode of Press Record with Kellan Reck, we discuss brand management and it's importance in the current world. We go on to talk about Matt's rising social media stardom, and what it's like to gain fame alongside his wiener dog Kirkland. We finish off with a rapid fire Q&A that takes us for a wild ride!
Find Matty Rossi online:
Matty Rossi on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/themattyrossi/
Matty Rossi on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@themattyrossi
Time Stamps:
Introduction (00:00:00)
Podcast Debut (00:01:02)
Matt discusses his first virtual podcast experience and his journey into the podcast scene.
Childhood and Family (00:02:29)
Matt talks about his non-traditional family background, his parents' entrepreneurial spirit, and his childhood aspirations.
College and Career Choice (00:07:22)
Matt shares his college decision-making process, and how he discovered his passion for brand management.
Discovering Brand Management (00:09:53)
Matt recounts the pivotal moment when he stumbled into a Pepsi brand management presentation and found his career path.
Transition to Boston Beer (00:15:18)
The discussion leads to Matt's decision to transition from PepsiCo to Boston Beer, setting the stage for his future endeavors.
Covid and Career Changes (00:16:12)
Discussion about the impact of COVID on career decisions and the transition from New York to Boston.
Joining Twisted Tea and Brand Growth (00:17:05)
The decision to join Twisted Tea, its brand growth, and the impact of COVID on the transition.
Challenges and Opportunities at Twisted Tea (00:19:45)
Challenges faced by Twisted Tea, its market perception, and the viral incident involving the brand.
Entrepreneurial Journey and Content Creation (00:29:53)
Matt's personal and professional journey, including the decision to start creating content and the role of his dog, Kirkland.
Crafting Kirkland's Brand (00:34:09)
Matt explains the process of creating a distinct brand for their dog and the challenges of building a personal brand.
Analyzing Personal Branding (00:36:50)
The importance of personal branding and Matt's approach to building both his and Kirkland's personal brands.
Future of Content Creation (00:44:09)
Matt discusses the future of content creation, the value of personal branding, and the educational aspect of content.
Monetization and Content Creation (00:47:34)
The conversation shifts to the topic of monetization in content creation and Matt's early experiences with monetizing their content.
Building a Portfolio (00:47:56)
Initial brand deals, strategy for growth, and building a portfolio of sponsored content.
Monetization and Negotiation (00:50:32)
Realizing the potential for earnings, the need for negotiation, and the decision to seek management.
Entrepreneurial Challenges (00:52:20)
Struggles with managing multiple revenue streams, the pressure to follow trends, and quality over quantity.
Rapid Fire Round (00:55:57)
Fun, rapid-fire questions on personal preferences and experiences. Talking The Bachelor ex situation.
Relationship and Career Advice (00:59:28)
Advice for those feeling stuck in their careers and the importance of trying something new or