Medialink Firm Profile | Management Consulted
Updated

Medialink Firm Profile

Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

Key Insights:

  • Firm overview: Medialink is a media and brand advisory company operating at the intersection of marketing, technology, finance, and entertainment.
  • Growth and acquisitions: Founded in 2003, the firm was acquired by Ascential in 2017 and later by UTA in 2021, expanding its global reach and influence.
  • Careers and culture: Medialink offers dynamic career paths, competitive salaries, and high-profile client exposure, though the environment is fast-paced and loosely structured.

The Medialink firm is a media and brand advisory company that specializes in bridging the gap between marketing, media, technology, and finance. Known for providing strategic guidance to brands navigating digital transformation, Medialink LLC supports businesses through a blend of consulting, creative thinking, and deal-making. From launching campaigns to securing capital partnerships, Medialink acts as a hybrid advisory platform serving C-suites, marketers, and tech disruptors alike.

Firm Key Stats

Firm Website: www.medialink.com
Firm Headquarters: New York, NY
Firm Number of Employees: 200+
Firm Number of Locations: 4 globally
Firm Chief Executive: Martin Rothman (Chief Business Officer)
Firm Revenue: Estimated between $80-$100 million annually

Medialink LLC was founded in 2003 by Michael E. Kassan, a distinguished veteran of the media and advertising world. Kassan launched the firm at a time when advertising, marketing, content, sales, service, and commerce were increasingly converging around digital and media technologies. His vision was to build a strategic advisory firm positioned at that intersection, serving Fortune-tier brands, agency leaders, and entertainment executives.

In its early years, Medialink carved a reputation as a connector-in-chief, advising clients across media, tech, and marketing. The firm focused on delivering marketing transformation, agency reviews, executive search, talent advisory, and M&A strategy for leading clients such as Unilever, GM, Adobe, Condé Nast, and major studios. Under Kassan’s leadership, Medialink became synonymous with high-caliber client networks and strategic deal-making at top conferences like CES and Cannes Lions.

In 2017, Medialink was acquired by Ascential PLC, a UK–based events and business media company, for a deal reportedly worth up to $207 million, including earn-outs. This move elevated Medialink’s global reach and allowed it to maintain operational continuity while delivering broader enterprise services.

On December 15, 2021, United Talent Agency (UTA) purchased Medialink from Ascential for approximately $125 million. The acquisition integrated Medialink’s strategic advisory capabilities with UTA’s talent and entertainment ecosystem. Kassan remained CEO and joined UTA’s leadership as a partner, while Medialink retained its brand, team, and offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London.
UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer praised Medialink’s evolution: what began as “an amazing one-man band” had grown into “a first-class, global consulting firm with powerful colleagues, deep expertise and unparalleled relationships.” UTA merged its previous marketing consulting arm into Medialink as UTA Entertainment & Culture Marketing, reinforcing a shared mission across strategy, entertainment, and brand advisory.

In March 2024, Michael Kassan parted ways with UTA amid contentious accusations. UTA alleged misappropriation of funds, while Kassan claimed wrongful termination and filed for arbitration seeking damages. Despite the dispute, Medialink continued operating, focusing on discreet strategic services over large-scale events. Kassan’s new firm, 3C Ventures, began signing clients formerly affiliated with Medialink, signaling his ongoing influence in the advisor space.

For professionals looking to blend strategic consulting with the creative industries, Medialink careers offer a unique opportunity. Employees benefit from exposure to top-tier clients, fast-paced media environments, and opportunities to participate in high-stakes negotiations. While some find the pace intense and the work unstructured compared to traditional consulting firms, others thrive in its entrepreneurial setting.
Though transitioning from Medialink LLC to MBB (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) is uncommon due to differing consulting styles, lateral moves into industry roles or leadership in marketing strategy are well within reach. This makes Medialink careers especially attractive to those seeking dynamic, client-facing work with a creative edge. For more information see the Medialink careers page here.

Medialink Internship

Medialink internship opportunities are available for both undergraduate and MBA students, though positions are highly competitive and not always publicized. Internships typically occur during the summer months, lasting 8–10 weeks. These Medialink summer internships offer experience in media strategy, client engagement, and partnership planning.

Medialink often targets top business schools such as Wharton, Kellogg, and Stern, as well as leading undergraduate institutions including NYU, USC, and Northwestern. To secure a Medialink internship, candidates should demonstrate strong analytical skills, passion for media and marketing, and previous experience in client services or consulting.

Medialink Jobs

Open Medialink jobs range from analyst-level roles to senior advisory positions in media strategy and client management. Positions can often be found on LinkedIn, Medialink’s own careers page, or job boards like the Management Consulted Job Board.

Some example Medialink jobs include:

    • Strategy Analyst (New York)
    • Business Development Associate (Los Angeles)
    • Senior Advisor – Media Partnerships (London)

Practice Areas

Medialink practice areas span media strategy, brand transformation, partnership development, digital transformation, and C-suite advisory. Each project is customized, leveraging Medialink’s unique position at the intersection of content, commerce, and capital. Medialink also provides M&A advisory services within the media and entertainment space, helping companies identify growth opportunities and navigate complex transactions.

Industries

Medialink industries served include entertainment, retail, technology, finance, consumer goods, and telecom. Its clients range from Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing startups, with all seeking to evolve their marketing strategies or form powerful strategic alliances.
The Medialink firm approach is particularly valuable in industries undergoing rapid transformation due to digitization and changing consumer behavior.

Medialink Locations

While headquartered in New York, Medialink locations also include major business hubs such as Medialink Chicago, Medialink London, and Medialink Los Angeles. These offices provide regional support while keeping the firm’s global advisory model intact.

To see more details on Medialink locations, visit their official site.

Career Path

The Medialink career path is less rigid than traditional consulting firms. There’s no formal “up or out” model, allowing professionals to grow at their own pace and explore various client-facing roles. Promotions are performance-based and often influenced by networking, initiative, and business impact.

Advisors and strategists may progress to roles like Director, Partner, or specialized consultants, often leading multi-million-dollar engagements.

Exit Opportunities

Medialink exit opportunities include roles in media conglomerates, digital marketing agencies, private equity firms, and brand-side strategy roles. Due to the firm’s strong entertainment and marketing focus, many alumni go on to hold leadership roles in business development, digital innovation, and strategic partnerships.

Notable Alumni

Medialink alumni include professionals who have gone on to high-profile roles in media, tech, and finance. Notable examples:

    • Robyn Peterson, former CTO at CNN Digital
    • Michael Kassan, Founder & CEO of Medialink (now Founder of 3C Ventures)
    • Shelley Zalis, CEO, The Female Quotient – frequently collaborates with Medialink

Target Schools

Medialink target schools typically include top-tier business and communication programs. Examples include:

    • NYU Stern
    • USC Marshall
    • Northwestern University
    • UPenn Wharton
    • UCLA Anderson

These schools align with Medialink’s emphasis on creative business acumen and strategic thinking.

Diversity Programs

Medialink diversity programs focus on early-career professionals and aim to support underrepresented groups in media and technology. While not always formalized, the firm participates in industry-wide initiatives and mentorships, especially post-undergraduate.
These Medialink diversity programs often feature panel talks, networking events, and industry exposure for students from historically marginalized communities.

Medialink describes itself as operating at the intersection of media, marketing, entertainment, and finance, with a purpose-built team that thrives in fast-moving, high-stakes environments. The firm emphasizes transparency, entrepreneurial spirit, and fluid collaboration across functional disciplines – positioning itself as a place where individuals can make a direct impact on client outcomes and overall company performance.

While formal interviews are scarce in public sources, comments in online forums from current employees paint a picture of the Medialink culture as flexible and fast-paced. One associate based in Chicago commented: “Great work flexibility, opportunity to get promoted quickly” but balanced that with “no company culture, not organized with onboarding, ‘fake it til you make it’ mentality for junior levels.”

Former employees highlight the Medialink culture strengths such as smart, thoughtful colleagues and access to top-tier clients, along with strong leadership transparency. A former employee noted: “The leadership team is strong and provides insights into performance … more open than any other firm I have been a part of.”

At the same time, reviewers frequently mention inconsistent management quality and high workloads – with multi-week sprints that require long hours and a high degree of self-direction.

In summary, the Medialink culture offers a blend of high-energy client work, strategic autonomy, and real opportunity for visibility with senior leadership. The firm projects an image of entrepreneurialism, transparency, and performance accountability. However, employees also cite inconsistency in structure and onboarding (especially for junior hires), variable quality of project leadership, and limited formal DE&I initiatives.

Taken together, Medialink appears best suited to individuals who thrive in dynamic, loosely structured environments, who are comfortable with ambiguity, and who want direct engagement with high-profile media and entertainment clients.

The Medialink interview process does not typically include traditional case interviews. Instead, it focuses on behavioral questions, problem-solving discussions, and a deep dive on previous client experience. Candidates may be asked to pitch a strategy for a hypothetical media challenge or present past work involving cross-functional collaboration.

Sample Medialink interview questions include:

  • “How would you help a streaming platform grow its user base?”
  • “Describe a time when you solved a marketing problem with limited data.”
  • “What media trends do you believe will shape the next five years?”

Expect an emphasis on soft skills, industry awareness, and business intuition.

Firm Interview Process

The firm interview process at Medialink typically involves 2–4 rounds, beginning with an HR screen, followed by interviews with senior strategists or partners. The process may conclude with a final round presentation or executive panel.

Candidates should expect a conversational tone but be prepared with concrete examples of leadership, problem-solving, and industry knowledge. Networking and personal referrals play a strong role in progressing through the firm’s interview process.

The Medialink salary structure is competitive, though typically below MBB levels. Entry-level roles may offer salaries in the $80,000–$95,000 range, while mid-level consultants and advisors can earn between $120,000–$150,000. Senior roles often include performance bonuses and equity opportunities.

Compared to top strategy firms, the Medialink salary is lower, but the unique perks of working in media strategy and the creative freedom often offset this difference for many candidates.

See hundreds of consulting firm salaries in the Management Consulted Consulting Salaries Report.

Conclusion

In summary, Medialink is a leading advisory company at the intersection of media, marketing, and strategy. With a vibrant culture, diverse client base, and focus on real-world problem-solving, it offers compelling Medialink careers for those drawn to high-impact, creative consulting.

Whether you’re exploring a Medialink internship, considering full-time Medialink jobs, or simply interested in a firm that thrives on innovation and industry leadership, Medialink LLC presents a dynamic and rewarding opportunity.

 

Additional Resources:

 

Back to blogs