Get to Know… Lindsay!

Lindsay Smith joined the Vovia team in the spring of 2023. She’s been working in marketing for close to 20 years—predominantly in ad agencies—in Calgary, AB. She brings with her broad set of skills and will be leading content marketing and social media service offerings for the agency, in an exciting new chapter.

What is your role at Vovia?

I am the Director of Media and Content Marketing. The role straddles the offline media team and content marketing department. In a nutshell it’s buying ad space and creating content.

My undergraduate degree was a double major in Psychology and English, and I often find that this role is similar in that it marries the quantitative and the qualitative. Media strategy can be very analytical and data-driven, whereas content marketing can live in a more subjective and creative realm. I have always enjoyed diving into both mindsets, and showing clients how a variety of marketing strategies and tactics (seemingly diverse ones), can work to complement and build on each other to help reach business goals.

What do you do in your spare time?

If I’m not taking repetitive sunset photos and posting them on Instagram to cheesy 90s songs, I’m probably hanging out with my two little Havanese-terriers (Bogart and Birdie) and binge-watching TV, movies and TikToks. Simultaneously. I enjoy all of the fitness (except running); I recently took a pause from teaching spin classes in my spare time, and am exploring a variety of different types of classes and programs. You can also “find me at the ‘Dome, chilling with”—-*ahem* —-apologies. I mean to say, I’m a life-long Flames fan, having grown up in Calgary and I’ve been supporting the team from the stands of the Saddledome since it was first built! I also enjoy live music and stand-up comedy, and will often travel to go see a show.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people.

Be prepared to be astounded: I used to figure skate competitively and my long programs were the Mission Impossible and Jurassic Park theme songs. I was the girl who could hold her skate over her head. Unsurprised? I’m also an avid antique treasure hunter and my dream job would be to have a Canadian Pickers-style reality show with my brother.  

What do you love/what are you most passionate about?

Something I’m passionate about is learning. I love to dive into topics I don’t know much about, and often find myself down deep rabbit holes of documentaries, podcasts and books on singular topics. Like ‘block universe theory.’ Or, ‘chairs.’ I went back to school and got a Master’s in Communications and Technology, as well as a Graphic Design Post-Grad Certificate, and a Content Marketing Strategy Certificate. There are so many ways to take new courses or programs today, and I’m debating what’s next. 

Something I love is hanging out with my family at our summer home in Prince Edward Island. Although born and raised in Alberta, my family hails from all over the maritimes, from Charlottetown to Halifax to Miramichi. I enjoy sitting on the deck, overlooking the million red sandbars of Tea Hill, with a coffee.

What is your favourite part about working at Vovia?

It’s hard to pick just one thing. In an office that allows you to bring your dog to work, has a Starbucks across the street and a spa in the same building, there are many things jostling for favourite position. That said, it has to be the people. I’ve worked the agency life for over 16 years, and I know it can be exciting and it can also be stressful—having a team of people that you like and trust around you makes all the difference.