Today we’d like to introduce you to Gareth Leah.
Hi Gareth, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I came to outdoor media half by happenstance. I’d spent a good chunk of my 20s as a mountain guide in Europe and the Middle East. When I moved to NYC in 2010, I found myself in the fashion photo industry through friends. I quickly became immersed in the media world, working alongside renowned photographers such as Mario Sorrenti and Annie Leibovitz. I exited the media world for a brief period from 2014 to 2018 when I decided to pursue other careers. I had an Arbor company, a cell tower painting company, and a climbing gym construction company to name a few.
In 2019, I decided to dive back into media after a close friend of mine reached out in need of an Outdoor and Adventure Producer. Having spent many years in this role in New York and my previous career as a guide, it seemed like the perfect fit. Adopting the British slang phrase “Well Good” about something incredible as a company title – we began our journey into the outdoor space and have never looked back.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to creating a company is rarely smooth. In the early days, I barely made enough money to make ends meet. I was able to offset this problem by living in a van which effectively lowered my outgoings to less than $200 a month. Over time, we grew and more companies came to us for media. By 2022 – our revenues were reaching the 7-figure mark when things started to slow down.
As we moved into 2023, sales had dropped significantly due to a changing of the guard at many of the companies that we worked with previously and we needed to adapt. We expanded our roster of creatives, built a sales funnel to help create a continuous workflow, and handed off some of the hands-on responsibilities to our producer. I also recently signed onto an MBA program through a local initiative called 10KSB which helps small businesses navigate their challenges and grow.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I came to the creative world through sports. As someone who chases the dream of a professional mountain athlete, I find myself surrounded by incredible people who are pushing the limits of possibility, and creatives hoping to capture some insight into that world. With one foot in each world, I developed my skills that allowed me to share stories from the edge.
Big wall adventures in the jungles of São Tomé, ski mountaineering in isolated mountains of Alaska, pack rafting through the remote valleys of Patagonia, and the exploring vast deserts of Oman. Combining a wide skillset that includes expertise in: Big Wall Climbing, Skiing, Alpine Climbing, Mountaineering, Paragliding, Scuba diving, Scuba Diving, and Trail running – I’ve been able to bring the world’s harshest environments to the comfort of the viewers at home.
Acting as both an aspirational carrot to chase your adventures, and a voyeuristic insight into the world of extreme sports – the stories I create aim to uplift watchers to the power of possibility.
What matters most to you?
The things that matter most to me is that I encourage people to live their best life. To celebrate their existence in a way that is meaningful to them.
Creating media that empowers people through the sharing of impactful stories helps shape the narrative of our world, and nudges our global culture towards a better future.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wellgoodproductions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellgoodmedia
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethleah/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmp7z0YAuqCV3RX2Hmla7lA
- Other: https://wellgoodproductions.pixieset.com
Image Credits
Will Saunders, Clark Ageter, Andy Earl, Dan Krauss, and Gareth Leah
