Foodie Tribe 2019 Influencer Spotlight
As 2019 comes to a close, we would like to thank all our members for being part of the Tribe and sticking with us as we continue to bring you the best opportunities around! Throughout this past year, we worked with a few influencers who had the chance to create amazing content for multiple campaigns.
We are excited to be featuring them here to highlight those three influencers and their work!
Kasim Hardaway
How did you get into Influencer Marketing?
Very randomly! While working for a freelance client during the start of my marketing career, I was asked to find an Influencer to partner with on behalf of the brand I worked for. I never heard the term “influencer” before but once I did some research and understood what it was, my interest was piqued. Starting at that moment, I decided to make an initial effort to build a personal brand and become an influencer.
What has been your favorite Foodie Tribe campaign that you've worked on and why?
That’s a hard one! The Red Lobster To Go campaign was pretty fun. It’s a restaurant that my family often visited growing up - so there was a bit of nostalgia photographing and posting their dishes.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
My name, Kasim, rhymes with Awesome but also is Arabic for “Dispenser of Food and Goods” - I basically was born to cook and eat!
Vanessa Gordon
How did you get into Influencer Marketing?
My path to influencer marketing came coincidentally. I had started eastendtaste.com as my own online platform for writing about food and events within the Hamptons and NYC metro area. I was encouraged to create social media accounts in correspondence to the website. Reluctantly at the time I did. It wasn’t until 2016 that I realized I could create separate content and drive income through my social media channels. It has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done but the most rewarding. I have met so many inspiring people and have had incredible opportunities come about through my work with content creation and influencer marketing, including creating my own annual event in the Hamptons called the Interactive Brunch.
What has been your favorite Foodie Tribe campaign that you've worked on and why?
My favorite Foodie Tribe campaign has to be my most recent one with my experience at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. I loved seeing and meeting the famous Food Network chefs and of course the backdrop of Miami Beach, one of my favorite places in the entire world. I look forward to attending SOBEWFF in 2021.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I have played the violin for over 20 years and was in the Westchester County Community Orchestra while in college.
Samantha Roby
How did you get into Influencer Marketing?
I got into Influencer Marketing as a hobby in 2013 when I started sharing local hidden gems with my friends and family on Instagram. I was shocked by how quickly my account grew from my friends tagging their friends on Instagram and realized that food + Instagram was the perfect match made in heaven.
What has been your favorite Foodie Tribe campaign that you've worked on and why?
I absolutely loved working with American Airlines at SOBEWFF! It was the ultimate culmination of incredible food, brand activations & the best food events I’ve ever been to. I hope to attend in 2020.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I actually went to school at MSU for supply chain management and had no previous experience in Social Media or Marketing before starting @chicagofoodauthority. I just started it as a hobby & fell absolutely in love with it.
Are you looking to join our Tribe? You can apply here to be a part of a great community of passionate food enthusiasts!