Sunny Lenarduzzi is a digital queen in Vancouver who seamlessly wears many hats as she hosts and contributes on-air and online content. Her “passion for connecting” has amassed into a career as a broadcaster, social media and video marketing strategist and coach, and digital lifestyle correspondent. When she’s not contributing to Breakfast Television Vancouver, Hootsuite, Rogers Radio Station across Canada or The Huffington Post, she’s hosting weekly social media and tech tutorials on her her own YouTube channel.
Sunny Lenarduzzi talks digital with 604 Now:
What do you like to do in Vancouver when you are off-air and offline?
I’ve lived here my whole life but I still feel like a tourist when I bike around the seawall, that’s definitely one of my favourite activities. I’ve also fallen in love with Bar Method Vancouver, it’s one of the best workouts I’ve ever done and the studio provides such a tranquil escape. I try to disconnect for at least an hour a day to get in some fresh air and fitness, and of course enjoying time with my family and friends is high on my priority list.
What was reporting on the Vancouver 2010 Olympics like for you?
It was an incredible experience. I lived in Whistler during the games and filed new a story each day. it was a lot of work balanced with a little play. To see the country come together and be part of telling that story is something I’ll never forget.
What got you into broadcasting in the first place and how did you make the leap from radio to TV?
As soon as I found out I could be paid to talk to people, I knew media was the career for me! Just kidding…kind of. I went to BCIT and got my first job at Mountain FM in Squamish as a promotions coordinator and announcer. From there, I started freelancing as a reporter and tv host and it just seemed like a natural transition. I love connecting with people, so I don’t focus on the medium as much as I focus on the value of the message being delivered.
Do you have a favourite career avenue in your diverse repertoire?
It’s funny, I get asked “so what exactly do you do?” a lot. And the truth is, I never saw a clear path for my career. I just know what I’m passionate about and what makes me happy and that guides every work related decision I make. If it doesn’t feel good in my gut, I don’t do it. So I have to say everything I do is my favourite thing and I feel really lucky to have been able to combine my passions of social media and broadcasting into my own unique career.
How do you juggle and manage all your different passions?
I don’t feel like I have to juggle my passions because I feel like they all fit together and benefit each other in each vertical of my work. I think staying informed on the latest news in the world of social media and digital marketing is a key component to maintaining balance in everything I do as it all relates back to that – from working with clients on their video marketing and social media strategies to delivering the latest trends and technologies on my own social platforms and YouTube.
What was the goal of starting your own YouTube channel?
Well, I started my channel years ago and didn’t have a clear goal in mind. I just loved the platform and loved discovering new content and vloggers. Recently, I’ve started posting every single Tuesday and my goal is to help my audience navigate the new technology and trends in social media and video marketing to benefit their lives and businesses. It’s really rewarding to have people show their gratitude and tell me that my videos have helped them solve a problem. I love it!
Define yourself in one sentence:
Positive, passionate, driven, and determined to make a ding in the universe.
What free piece of advice would you give to brands and individuals in developing their online strategy?
Start with your ‘why’. Why are you developing your online presence? Once you’re clear on your objective it makes every other element much easier to decide on from content to outreach to platforms.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone on the road to becoming a digital expert?
Don’t call yourself an ‘expert’. Haha, but seriously, I don’t refer to myself as an expert because I feel like I’ll never stop learning. This is an incredibly fast paced industry, so the biggest favour you can do yourself is to invest time every single day into reading the leading industry publications and following the thought leaders to stay on top of the trends and apply them to your work.
Connect with Sunny Lenarduzzi on Twitter @sunnylenarduzzi
Interview by Amar Mirchandani @amarmirch