130 - From FSU Athletics Content to Founder: Leonardo Georgi on Pollex Media and Media Strategy

InNOLEvation® Mindset Host Mark McNees interviews Leonardo Georgi, Founder of Pollex Media, a Tallahassee-based content agency focused on premium video production and short-form content for fitness brands and other high-end service businesses. Georgi shares his early entrepreneurial attempts, his pivot from a political science/law path after a public defender internship, and how building a portfolio during COVID led to his role at Florida State Athletics, where he produced and led short-form and social content across sports, built an internship program, and managed fast-turnaround cinematic recaps while balancing access with PR and competitive sensitivities. He discusses what performs well (including beach volleyball), evolving social KPIs, and tension between fans’ desire for access and coaches’ need to reduce distractions. Georgi explains leaving FSU in 2024 amid major personal change to pursue Pollex Media, describing early struggles, growth in 2026, interest-media strategy, ideal clients like law firms, the origin of the Pollex name, and his definition of success centered on building a collaborative studio space and educating others. Pollex Media Website: www.pollexmedia.com 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:29 Pollex Media Overview 01:11 Tallahassee Roots and Florida High 02:53 Early Hustles and Entrepreneur DNA 04:03 From Poli Sci to Video Pivot 04:37 Landing the FSU Athletics Role 06:22 Inside the Social Content Machine 08:57 Building the Team and Intern Program 09:26 Film School vs Hungry Learners 12:14 Turnaround Times and Storytelling 15:40 What Makes the Final Cut 17:11 Unexpected Hits Like Beach Volleyball 21:46 KPIs and Fan vs Coach Tension 24:52 Virality Wins and Avoiding Backlash 28:45 NIL Era Budget Cuts and Recruiting 31:54 Podcast Impact and FSU Brand Power 34:11 Mentoring Entrepreneurs 35:01 Leap Into Business 37:38 Turning Down Big Money 39:17 Pollex Media Explained 41:59 Ideal Clients Law Firms 44:17 Content Strategy Playbook 46:13 Naming Pollex Media 46:54 Choosing Platforms 49:47 Next Platforms Whatnot 51:29 Meta Glasses Demo 59:54 Defining Success Vision 01:02:20 Mindset Reset Lessons 01:05:51 Final Advice Farewell