Faculty Profile: Colin Robey

Colin Robey

Brief Bio

Colin is a graduate of Sheridan’s advertising program and began his career at a small marketing company that specialized in developing and selling strategic sponsorships. He then moved to the agency side of the industry and as a media strategist worked for various clients including Energizer, Canadian Tourism Commission, Johnson & Johnson, Clorox and Gillette – developing media strategies in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Colin returned to the program he graduated from and has been teaching for the past 12 years.

Which course do you teach within the post-grad program and why are you passionate about this course?

I teach media strategy in the post-grad program. It’s an extremely exciting and dynamic field that many students don’t consider when they first investigate advertising as a career. We talk about ad placement: finding the right time, situation and person to show the creative to.  From Snapchat sponsorships to television product placement to dynamic video game ads – the opportunities to advertise have exploded in the past decade and the chance to explore different strategies makes it a lot of fun to teach.

How long have you been with Sheridan?

I joined Sheridan in 2005 and have been a part of the post-grad program since its inception in 2007.

What is your favourite part about Sheridan?

Sheridan is a community – everyone works together and learns from each other. Sometimes the greatest opportunity to learn for faculty is from students. Students bring to the classroom a diverse background and different ways of thinking. It’s exciting to see students explore their creativity as they develop their strategy or support their recommendations. My interaction with students often sparks ideas for me on ways to adjust and improve on my courses.

What do you think the greatest strength of the post-grad program is?

Students taking the post-grad advertising program get an overview of many different career possibilities so that they can make an informed choice and impress their boss when they get their first job. I frequently get feedback from graduates who state that their employers are surprised (happily) at what they are already able to do in that first week.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering a post-grad education in Advertising?

Once you find your passion, talk to your professors – they’ll be able to give you additional insights into the career you’re interested in. They’ll also be able to show you where to find more information about the industry so that you can really impress people (to get the job, and then get promoted in the job!).