While attending the Network Upfronts – television’s biggest week to secure advertising for the upcoming season, Grant dove head first into his new role. Kassan proudly states, “I gave him the stage to play on and he played the role brilliantly.” Mastering the Art of Chief of Stuff Grant explains, “The rule was: let me be empowered…let me speak with your authority so I can get stuff done and if it doesn’t work out you can fire me.” He stresses the importance and value of negotiation by using Carl Icahn’s famous words, “Don’t say no. Kassan offered Grant the rare chance to become his “shadow” to which Grant agreed but not without first insisting on substantial responsibility. He tells us, “It wasn’t something that was premeditated. Up to that point in his career, Kassan had fleetingly entertained the idea and he saw a quality in Grant that suggested it was time. Grant Gittlin began his career at MediaLink as ‘Chief of Stuff.’ Photo: Gareth Pon Picking up on qualities that sounded familiar, Alex suggested Grant meet his father Michael Kassan, the CEO of MediaLink, to see if he could provide further direction. It was during an interview with friend and investment banker, Alex Kassan, that Grant revealed his yearlong failed journey of finding someone who loved his or her profession. Feeling slightly defeated as his 26 th birthday approached, Grant decided he would return to finance. “I said I have one year to do this, and in one year I didn’t find anyone,” he laughs. So it was time to leave.” With a newfound mission, he set out to find someone who made a living doing what they loved. “To see them get fired one after another was very demoralizing. The high executive turnover rate made him question his loyalty to the company. “I had seven bosses in 18 months,” he says. Almost a foreshadowing of his life to come, the firm placed him in a program to analyze “how people thought about stuff.” The job certainly had its initial allure, but Grant quickly realized something wasn’t right. And while you’d think he’d be an all-star when it came to speaking Mandarin, Grant humorously informs us, “I’m the singular worst Chinese speaker you will ever meet.”īut as life would have it, Grant didn’t get into politics or even foreign affairs like his area of study would imply, he was recruited to work for a Connecticut based hedge fund straight out of college in 2007. He attended Princeton University, where he majored in political science focusing on East Asian politics and Chinese. Raised in the Sunshine State of Florida, it’s naturally fitting that Grant would become a beacon of light. MiLLENNiAL met up with Grant at his loft in Manhattan where we were welcomed into a bright, open, creative space eloquently reflective of the worldly experiences that fuel his vivacious spirit. With an infectious smile and radiant personality, Grant is a uniquely tenacious executive that honors friendship and community above all else. When encountering Grant, you’d never know he was the connected and influential man his current position – Chief Execution Officer suggests. And for a company like MediaLink, the strategic advisory firm that helps facilitate partnerships between Silicon Valley, Madison Avenue, Hollywood, and Wall Street, the opportunity is game changing. Think of the Chief of Stuff as the ultimate apprentice. Now he has forged a legacy that has helped many in the process. Five years ago, he embodied a role that had no description. At 30, Grant Gittlin has been in more rooms, worked with more high profile individuals, and fostered more deals than anyone his age. It’s not every day you meet the man who defined the title – Chief of Stuff.
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