Director Profile: Izzy Neis

The subject of this installment of our Director Profile series, Izzy Neis, is a true renaissance woman. Izzy is our Sr. Director, Digital Engagement, and in her well-rounded career, she’s done it all, from teaching and writing to working as an artist and a coach. With a recurring theme of helping others running through her work, Izzy jokes about a particularly helpful book she wrote, an essential tome on the eternal struggle of potty-training kids. (It’s a true collectible: A working, mint-condition book will set you back a few hundred dollars at the time of this writing.)

Izzy has worked in publishing, marketing, entertainment development, and customer engagement. She has spoken at conferences, schools, universities, symposiums, and — in a personal favorite moment for her — in congressional meetings discussing children’s safety legislation. Today, Los Angeles-based Izzy brings her skills as a strategy consultant, community manager, and safety/COPPA expert to ModSquad. We caught up with Izzy to discuss her work.

Tell us about yourself. What was your background before coming to ModSquad?

Before joining ModSquad, I worked for several entertainment brands and game companies, primarily focusing on the areas of digital entertainment branding, user engagement, community development, and online safety (in particular as they pertain to children). I initially met Amy Pritchard, ModSquad’s CEO, a little over ten years ago. She discovered my industry blog, reached out, and we became friends. I had been a ModSquad client three times before joining the team.

What are your primary responsibilities here? What is an average day like for you?

I wear a few hats here, and no two days are the same. I’m an Account Manager for several amazing clients, and I provide strategy consultation. Additionally, I head the Digital Media team, oversee community and social media services, support the digital side of communications, and work very closely with Marketing, Business Development, and Sales. I’m very proud to be a part of the core team in our Services department, innovating and ensuring the highest quality support for our clients.

What sets ModSquad apart, in your opinion?

The people. Our product is our people. ModSquad is a sum of its parts, and its parts are passionate individuals who care about brands, games, experiences, and engagement. We are all fans of something, hobbyists or devoted super fans, who have found a way to tie that passion into a profession.

We’re not a hall of cubicles with bad lighting and precious red staplers. We succeed because we allow people to strive and grow and be creative. We have levels of choice here. If you’re passionate about comics, go for a spot on that new comic client. If you’re a game expert, we need you on our massively popular game client. Have 30 pairs of designer jeans by the same label? You’d be a great help assisting fellow customers.

I have one client, an entertainment brand and game, that has been with us for nearly six years. I still have the majority of the same team that I had when we launched, and they only want to work on that client.

Our Mods are our business, and their passions are our passions. We excel because of the sum of our parts, and that’s the people and the passion they put into work.

Do you have any favorite memories or stories about your time at ModSquad? Was there a memorable rewarding experience you’ve had here?

Where to begin? A few years ago I was flown to Walt Disney World to speak to their parks team about tweens and digital communities. That was a bit of a dream come true. There have been some epic trips with the management and executive teams for yearly planning sessions or conferences like SXSW. Whenever we have a chance to be in the same location at the same time, it’s magic.

And yet, some of the most rewarding experiences have come from the crunch times. Quick launches, large-scale requests, supporting teams as we diligently work through queues for clients. You really see the mettle of people when they’re deep in the “make it work” mode. It’s inspiring, and I’m always reminded how grateful I am for our team and their work ethic.

ModSquad continues to grow, both in size and ability. We flex and flow, and we embrace and support. Every year I’ve been here has shown me a new layer or dimension. The talent we retain, and the new muscle we bring in? That’s a testament to the quality of ModSquad.