Russ Macumber shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Russ, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’d say the self-esteem and confidence of my four kids: Lilah (14), Siella and Coby (12), and Harvey (8). They’re all kind, caring, intelligent, and sensitive – especially the boys, they tear up at the silliest things at this age.
Helping them believe in themselves, encouraging them to speak up, and showing them that kindness is strength is the most important “project” I’ll ever work on.
The campaigns, awards, and businesses are great, but if my kids grow up knowing who they are, carrying that confidence into the world, and then pouring that same energy into others… that’s the legacy I’m most proud of.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Russ Macumber, Managing Director and co-founder of Impressive Digital in the U.S., an award-winning performance marketing agency that specializes in SEO and paid media for e-commerce brands.
Our sweet spot is helping businesses navigate the new era of search – across Google, TikTok, Meta, Amazon, and even AI platforms – and running fully integrated campaigns that drive profitable growth. We’ve been fortunate to win 20+ international awards for our work, but what excites me most is seeing our clients scale from $2M to $500M in revenue while knowing we had a hand in it.
On a personal note, I grew up in retail back in Melbourne, stacking shelves and serving customers from a young age. That experience stuck with me – it taught me how people shop, what they care about, and how important it is to actually listen. It’s a perspective I carry into my work today, where helping brands connect with customers feels like a natural extension of those early lessons.
Now based in Austin, Texas, I’m proud to represent the Australian business community here. Making the move taught me how hard it can be to start fresh in a new country, which is why I make it a priority to help other Australians settle in, find their footing, and thrive in the U.S. For me, it’s not just about building businesses; it’s about building community too.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
In 2004, my wife Angelique met a drunken, hard-partying, college drop-out DJ. What she saw wasn’t what I was at the time, but who I could become – an intelligent, caring man with real potential.
Twenty-one years later, her belief has shaped everything: an incredible marriage, four amazing children, a successful sales and marketing career, multiple businesses founded, and even an international move from Melbourne to Austin. Angelique saw the future version of me long before I could, and I’ll always be grateful that she did.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Stop drinking. You’re terrible at it.
Trust me… EVERYTHING in life will get better, easier, less regretful, more productive… just better, without the grog.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Marketing loves to hide behind buzzwords, jargon, and acronyms – almost like it’s a badge of honor. When I first joined a digital marketing agency, I’d already spent 15 years in marketing and had been teaching digital to small businesses for five. But agency culture took jargon to a whole new level. I constantly worried I was saying the wrong thing, or missing some insider term I’d never heard of before.
That experience taught me to go the other way. I keep my language plain-spoken, and I lean on metaphors a lot. Some might think it comes off folksy – maybe even in a weird Aussie bogan kind of way. But far more often, I hear: “I’ve never heard it explained that way before – and now I get it.”
I think that’s a big part of why I’m such a well-regarded public speaker today. I’ve had the privilege of sharing thought leadership with some of the world’s biggest brands on stages from Melbourne and Sydney to New York and LA — and beyond. Breaking down the complex into the clear is probably my biggest strength.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing?
If I ever looked back, the only thing I’d regret is not being a great dad and not spending enough time with my kids. Right now, that means coaching Harvey’s 9–10 year-old soccer team. It means volunteering on chains for Coby’s middle school football games. It’s helping Siella with her math homework and hitting the gym together twice a week to support her 25-hour-a-week competitive gymnastics schedule. With our oldest, Lilah, who’s fiercely independent, it’s about sharing wisdom, making sure she feels comfortable telling me everything, and giving advice when she asks.
I’m not saying any of this to brag. It’s just the truth: the business wins, the awards, the speaking gigs – they’re all important. But if I were to regret anything, it would be missing out on being present for my kids. That’s the role that matters most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.impressivedigital.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impressivedigital/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russmacumber/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/impressivedigital/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@impressivedigital6644
Image Credits
Jessica Frey Photography
