By Jackie Reau, CEO and Co-Founder, Game Day Communications
In July 2027, Game Day Communications will celebrate 25 years in business.
Twenty-five years. Thousands of stories told. Countless relationships built. More early mornings, late nights, unexpected opportunities and lessons learned than I could possibly count.
When Betsy Ross and I started Game Day in 2002, we shared a vision for a different kind of public relations agency. We believed in the power of storytelling, the importance of relationships and the ability of strategic communications to move businesses and communities forward.
We also had a healthy dose of hustle. What we didn't have was a crystal ball.
We couldn't have predicted the transformation of traditional media, the rise of social platforms, the economic disruptions that would challenge businesses or the arrival of artificial intelligence.
But 25 years later, I've learned that entrepreneurship isn't about predicting the future. It's about having the courage to adapt to it.
As we approach this milestone, I've been reflecting on five lessons that have shaped our agency and my perspective on leadership.
1. Relationships are the most valuable currency in business.
Technology changes. Business models evolve. People change jobs. But meaningful relationships endure.
When we launched Game Day, our work centered on connecting journalists with compelling stories. We developed relationships with reporters, producers and editors, understanding their audiences and what made a story newsworthy.
Today, those relationships extend to business leaders, creators, nonprofit executives, influencers and community partners.
The platforms have changed, but the principle hasn't: people want to work with people they trust.
I've never viewed networking as collecting business cards or LinkedIn connections. It's about showing up, being curious, helping others and building authentic relationships before you need anything in return.
Some of our greatest opportunities have come from relationships that began years earlier, often with no expectation of future business.
My takeaway: Build your network before you need it. Be generous with your connections. And always follow through.
2. Reinvention is essential to staying relevant.
In 2002, Instagram, TikTok and ChatGPT didn't exist. Traditional media dominated communications, and public relations agencies measured success largely through earned media coverage.
Today, the landscape is almost unrecognizable.
We've navigated economic downturns, the pandemic, shrinking newsrooms, changing consumer behavior and an explosion of digital channels.
Every disruption has challenged us to reconsider how we deliver value.
The most important question we've asked ourselves is: What business are we really in?
The answer was never simply public relations.
We're in the business of helping organizations understand audiences, communicate effectively, build relationships and achieve measurable results.
That's why Game Day is evolving from a traditional PR agency into a media and marketing intelligence agency.
We're combining the creativity and relationships that built our reputation with research, analytics, artificial intelligence and sophisticated approaches to measuring impact.
AI can accelerate research, uncover trends and inform smarter decisions. But it cannot replace human curiosity, judgment, creativity or trust.
My takeaway: Don't become so attached to how you've always done business that you miss the opportunity to build what comes next.
3. Your people are your greatest competitive advantage.
An agency doesn't grow because of a clever tagline or beautiful website.
It grows because of talented people.
Over 25 years, Betsy and I have worked with professionals who brought fresh perspectives, creative ideas and remarkable dedication to Game Day.
Some have built long careers with us. Others have moved into leadership positions throughout the industry. Their accomplishments are part of our legacy.
I've learned that hiring talented people is only the beginning. You must create an environment where they can learn, contribute, take risks and develop into leaders.
That means trusting people with responsibility, celebrating successes and recognizing that mistakes are often valuable learning experiences.
My own leadership style has evolved. Earlier in my career, I thought strong leaders needed to have all the answers.
Today, I believe great leaders ask better questions, surround themselves with talented people and give them room to succeed.
My takeaway: Invest in people, not just positions. Your greatest legacy may be the leaders you help develop.
4. Business success and community impact belong together.
Some of the most meaningful work we've done at Game Day cannot be measured solely in revenue, media impressions or campaign results.
It's reflected in the communities we've helped strengthen.
Throughout my career, I've worked with organizations advancing women's leadership, higher education, youth development, sports, the arts and philanthropy.
Serving on nonprofit and university boards has also made me a better business leader. These experiences have strengthened my understanding of governance, financial stewardship, fundraising and long-term strategy.
They've reinforced my belief that businesses have an opportunity and responsibility to contribute to the communities supporting them.
Community engagement doesn't always require writing a large check. Sometimes the greatest contribution is sharing expertise, opening doors, making introductions or helping an organization tell its story.
For Game Day, community involvement isn't separate from our business philosophy. It's part of our identity.
My takeaway: Measure success not only by what you build for yourself, but by what you help make possible for others.
5. Hustle opens doors. Strategy determines what happens next.
I've spent much of my career talking about hustle. It's also the inspiration behind my book, The Power of Hustle, publishing in March 2027.
But my definition of hustle has evolved.
Early in my career, hustle meant working harder, taking every meeting, saying yes to opportunities and putting in the hours necessary to build a business.
Hard work still matters. But after 25 years, I've learned that hustle isn't simply about being busy.
It's about being intentional.
It's recognizing opportunities, connecting people and ideas, taking calculated risks and following through.
It's also knowing when to say no.
Not every opportunity is the right opportunity. Growth without focus can create complexity rather than value.
Today, I'm increasingly focused on working smarter, using data to guide decisions, investing in talent and building a business that's both successful and sustainable.
My takeaway: Hustle gets you into the game. Relationships, strategy and reinvention keep you there.
What's next?
As Game Day approaches its 25th anniversary, I'm more excited about the future than ever.
We're entering an era when organizations have access to more information, communications channels and technology than at any point in history.
But more data doesn't automatically produce better decisions. More content doesn't guarantee stronger connections. And technology alone doesn't create meaningful stories.
The future belongs to organizations that connect intelligence with imagination, data with storytelling and technology with human relationships.
That's the future we're building at Game Day.
I'm proud of what Betsy and I started in 2002. I'm grateful for our clients, colleagues, team members and community partners who have helped shape our journey.
And I'm especially grateful that, nearly 25 years later, I still wake up excited about what's next.
If entrepreneurship has taught me anything, it's this:
Never stop learning. Never stop building relationships. Never become too comfortable to reinvent yourself.
And never lose your hustle.
Jackie Reau is CEO and Co-Founder of Game Day Communications, a Cincinnati-based media and marketing intelligence agency founded in 2002. She is the author of The Power of Hustle, publishing March 2, 2027.
