Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Baran.
Hi Matthew, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I graduated from the University of North Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Communications with a concentration in Advertising. While attaining my degree, I also played Division I baseball for UNF, as well as the College of Charleston in South Carolina.
Currently, I am the Executive Director of Communications for the United States Polo Association and oversee internal and external communications as well as marketing for the sport of polo. It’s a fascinating game that has been around for thousands of years and not a lot of people have seen or experienced it.
I was instrumental in building the communications division nine years ago and we focus on coverage and promotion of national tournaments to grow the sport across digital and print channels.
Additionally, I oversee the live streaming of major tournaments and other video content creation, social media, multiple websites, email marketing, branding, and POLO Magazine. Most recently, the association purchased one of the top clubs in the US and we are rebuilding it as the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida. I am taking the lead in rebranding the facility and building out the marketing and advertising strategy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a tremendous learning experience since graduating from college over 12 years ago. I was green out of school like most people, but I have always been very competitive with myself in my sports career. So I kept pushing to take on new tasks and focus my attention on perceived weaknesses. It took a few years to build up confidence and feel comfortable sitting in board rooms lobbying for budgets and initiatives, but I have found that preparation is key. You have to be very calculated.
An ongoing struggle we all face is balancing work and life to remain level-headed and peaceful within ourselves. It took a few years of reading, listening to podcasts, self-reflecting, and experimenting to find a daily routine that allows me to feel calm and relaxed even in the most stressful situations. I follow and refine it every day and it has helped me achieve higher levels of business success, retain a positive outlook and foster healthy relationships.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have a talent and passion for elevating brands and building teams to execute communications and marketing strategies by breaking the status quo and leveraging creative content. I welcome new challenges and potential problems, especially under pressure.
The project I am most proud of with the USPA is a documentary idea I pitched and helped produce with a talented video production company, Running Iron Creative. The documentary is titled “The Sport of Horses” and can be found on YouTube.
What do you think about luck?
I don’t think luck has played a large role in my business career but things have aligned in my favor at times. But I believe in exploring new opportunities and being open to new directions or avenues throughout the journey. I enjoy being challenged and learning from intelligent and successful people.
Luck in life is a different story. I was very fortunate to be born into a loving family who gave me every opportunity to succeed and live in the United States. My parents are still together and very much in love. They have supported me financially through college and emotionally to this day; which is as lucky as you can get. Is it perfect right now in the US? No. But it can be a wonderful life if you keep it simple and cut out unhealthy distractions or people.
Contact Info:
- Website: Matthewbaran.com
- Instagram: @mbaran23
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-baran-4b617152
