Ryham Fontenot

Co-Founder

Hello Yellow

Ryham Fontenot, co-founder of the digital marketing agency Hello Yellow, came to advertising by a happy accident and stayed for the craft of turning media into measurable value. He built the agency on a simple conviction - that delivering value to clients, rather than chasing revenue, is what earns lasting growth. In this interview he reflects on the standards that shaped him, how he reads an industry facing AI disruption, and the mix of hard work and luck behind his success.

A Discussion with...
Ryham Fontenot

What inspired you to pursue your current career path?
Like many I'm sure it was just the right opportunity at the right time. I actually studied Building Surveying at University but never quite felt suited to it. A friend of mine had started working in a media agency and loved it, and the opportunity to interview for a role came up there. I took the interview and was offered the job and the rest, as they say, is history!
What lesson from your first job still guides you today?
70% isn't good enough! My first ever manager after University was quick to point out that in University 70% is a '1st' (first class honours degree). If you do something to 70% here, it's wrong, was the point she made. Always stuck with me from a standards point of view!
How do you define success in your current position?
Client satisfaction and client value. Revenue growth is our ultimate goal, but we see delivering value to clients as the path to that, and focus way more here than on bottom line.
Which skills have been most valuable to your success?
There's a common theme here, but hard work and the acceptance that hard work is a minimum requirement. The ability to prioritise my health outside of work I think is also over-looked to an extent still.
How do you see your profession evolving in the next few years?
AI and the subject of AI disruption is the talk of just about every industry at the moment and rightfully so. Media and Advertising is likely to be one of the more disrupted industries.
We are embracing the change but also reminding ourselves and clients that the principles of extracting the most value will remain largely the same.
What values guide your decision-making at work?
Fairness and equality.
Who or what played a key role in your success story?
A combination of luck and hard work, the latter of which gave me the ability to capitalise on the luck that came my way. I remember early in my career often being the last in the office (admittedly rarely the first!) and putting a lot of work in. This built up a lot of strong relationships with clients that went on to become my future clients.
That said, I'm a huge believer in luck being a key ingredient, but you have to be prepared to capitalise on it when it does come your way.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Absorb as much as you possibly can. Be a sponge. Look around at everyone, what are they doing well? What don't they do well? Everything is a learning opportunity.