What We Offer
We are a full service media agency handling media strategy from inception, negotiations, optimizations, reporting, and tight financial control. We excel at developing media agnostic creative solutions because we are skilled at planning and buying all media.
Digital
Guru offers expertise in all forms of digital media – Display, Video, Social, and Search. We are constantly on the lookout for what’s next. We use our internal trade desk, Sage Digital, to access the best online inventory and cutting edge digital ad targeting for our clients. We closely track our digital buys to see what is working and optimize campaigns for success. We provide our clients live dashboards as well as scheduled campaign updates for full campaign transparency. Sage Digital is a Google Partner.
Video
Whether on YouTube, Social Video, OTT, Connected TV, or Linear Television, we can advise the best strategy for disseminating video content based on a campaign’s objectives and budget. We apply our vast experience and learning from traditional TV buying to choosing the right environment and maximizing value no matter the video source.
Audio
Strategies could include Podcasts, Music Streaming, Broadcast Radio, or even Audio Out-of-Home. The rise of digital audio and podcasts has allowed us to use first- and third-party data to effectively target audio ads to distinct audiences and deliver ads in media’s most intimate environments.
Out-of-Home
In addition to mass out-of-home media like Billboards and Transit Shelters, Guru uses tactical out-of-home vehicles like Cinema, Mall, Airport, and Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) to reach our clients’ targets where they live, work, and play. We especially like the opportunities DOOH has opened up like using dynamic and personalized ad options including live weather and time targeting and mobile device proximity targeting.
Newspapers and Magazines can still play a role in plans when used strategically. Sometimes it takes going beyond the mass publications to community newspapers, targeted vertical publications, or direct mail.
Our Approach
Competitive Difference
We pride ourselves on our relationships – with our clients, our creative agencies, and our suppliers. We work together as a team to build the best campaigns to meet our clients’ objectives.
Owner Laurissa Stebeleski is surrounded by a dynamic team of industry and business veterans, many with 20+ years’ experience in their fields of media strategy, negotiation, and finance. They are supported by media experts who research consumer behaviour, investigate new media opportunities, and monitor and optimize campaigns. Guru’s close-knit team is highly maneuverable and responsive to our clients’ needs. Agility is key in such an ever changing and fast-moving industry.
Research & Membership
Guru subscribes to Vividata, the industry’s largest syndicated consumer study. Vividata allows Guru to cross-reference demographics, lifestyle indicators, and media habits to ensure our strategy is rooted in insights. We also subscribe to CARD (Canadian Advertising Rates & Data) which we find especially useful for identifying media opportunities in smaller markets. Our President is a member of SMAC, a group of Canadian Media Directors from small and mid-sized media agencies, that meets regularly to share information and learning.
Maximizing Value
We challenge ourselves to maximize every media budget, no matter the size, to make it as effective as a much larger campaign. We have proven that we can achieve rates as good ore better than the largest media agencies. There are many factors that have more influence on rates than agency size (e.g., experience and relationships of negotiator, timing of approval, and market conditions).
We create further value by planning and buying media strategically. Value for us can take many forms, depending on campaign objectives. It can be straight price reduction, bonus media space, special considerations, and first looks at new opportunities.
We treat a client’s budget like it’s our own money we are spending, carefully accounting for every dollar.
Our Culture
Guru’s head office is located in picturesque Whistler, BC where the team is inspired daily by our surroundings. We are avid skiers, bikers, hikers, and travellers. We bring that same passion to the work. We leverage our environment and lifestyle to get into our targets’ mindsets, to influence and inspire them to action, and to constantly ask ‘what if?’
We also have feet on the ground in Toronto, ON. We feel it’s important to nurture relationships we have established there with clients, creative agencies, and experienced sales reps at the media companies’ head offices. This is a critical part of staying linked in and ahead of the curve with the constantly evolving media industry.
Born and raised in Manitoba, Laurissa spent 15 years gaining experience and building relationships in Canada’s advertising capital of Toronto. She headed up media for some of the largest brands in the country at OMD Canada, then went on to run the media department for several full-service ad agencies.
In 2010 Laurissa created Guru Communications as a solution for advertisers and advertising agencies that weren’t getting the senior expertise they deserved at the big box agencies. She chose Whistler as Guru’s head office, a full decade ahead of the work-from-anywhere movement.
Laurissa oversees the strategy and execution of every client at Guru to ensure media plans are smart, well-negotiated, and built to deliver measurable impact.
Whether for business or pleasure, Laurissa makes it a point to escape the Whistler bubble and fly somewhere every month. When she’s at home in Whistler, you can find her riding her mountain bike, paddling her SUP, hiking, figure skating, or downhill skiing.
Danny joined Guru Communications in January 2018 after migrating to Canada from the United Kingdom in early 2017. Before moving to Canada, Danny spent much of his professional career working abroad in Belgium, Switzerland, and Japan.
Since joining Guru, Danny has grown into a leadership role that spans media strategy and account management, as well as digital execution. He works closely with clients and agencies to develop innovative ways to reach target audiences, and has taken Guru’s analytical capabilities to a new level, developing custom AI tools for clients and building a data lake that powers smarter campaign decisions across the agency.
Danny also sits on the board of ABCOM, the Association of Broadcast Communicators, where he has introduced new initiatives including an AI Conference.
Outside of work you’ll find Danny skiing and exploring the backcountry, throwing darts at the local bar, or taking long walks in the beautiful surroundings of Whistler.
Priyanka moved from India to Canada in 2024. With an MBA in Marketing and over a decade of experience in Marketing, Media Management, and Digital Strategy, she has worked with global brands like Nestlé, Reckitt Benckiser, Procter & Gamble, McCain, and Kenvue, with expertise on both the brand and agency sides across corporations and startups in diverse categories.
Priyanka excels in building strong relationships and has a proven track record in customer success and campaign management. Leading Guru’s media strategy and account management team, she brings a calm, steady presence and an astute attention to detail, mentoring junior team members and introducing structured processes to keep campaigns on track.
Settling in beautiful BC, Priyanka is inspired by the mountains and nature. Outside of work, she enjoys long walks, hiking to scenic viewpoints, ATV rides and cooking new dishes.
Katie grew up on the small island of Jersey, UK, before earning a BSc in Geology from Cardiff University and a Diploma in Sustainable Energy from One Education. She began her career in finance before moving to Whistler in 2018, where she directed her energies toward community support through various non-profit organizations prior to joining Guru.
Since joining Guru, Katie has risen to Senior Media Strategist, leading a team that manages a portfolio of Guru’s accounts. She has a talent for staying on top of the myriad of details that entails, keeping clients well-served and campaigns running smoothly.
Outside the office, you’ll always find Katie immersed in nature, whether she’s skiing, mountain biking, or camping in the backcountry – usually with Toby close at hand.
With a background that bridges science, art, and sustainability, Sarah brings a fresh and adaptable perspective to the Guru team. After earning her BSc in Zoology in the UK, her journey took her from environmental research to property management to the snowy slopes of Whistler, developing a knack for clear communication, creative problem-solving, and staying cool under pressure along the way.
Since joining Guru, Sarah has grown quickly into managing her own portfolio of accounts. She is highly dependable, takes initiative, and is celebrated for her strong written communication and attention to detail. Her calm, positive presence makes her a valued collaborator across the team.
Outside the office, Sarah can be found snowboarding, painting, or digging into conservation projects that fuel her curiosity and commitment to the planet.
Originally from Manchester, UK, Hannah studied Politics before heading to Whistler, drawn by the mountains and a desire for a new challenge. Her curiosity about people and what drives their decisions naturally led her into the world of media, where understanding human behaviour meets strategic thinking.
At Guru, Hannah supports the team across a mix of ongoing campaigns and special projects – from pulling consumer research insights and evaluating supplier proposals to monitoring campaigns and keeping reports on track. She brings a thoughtful, people-first lens to her work, pairing analytical insight with strong attention to detail and a genuine enthusiasm for learning.
Outside the office, you’ll find Hannah skiing, mountain biking Whistler’s legendary trails, hiking to alpine viewpoints, or cooking up tasty dinners for friends.
Sudiksha brings almost a decade of experience in digital media, having collaborated with renowned brands like United Airlines, Burger King, and Bosch. Before relocating to Canada, she worked as an Account Manager at Dentsu International. A Meta Certified Media Buyer and Planner, she holds additional certifications from Google, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
Sudiksha leads the digital buying team at Sage Digital, Guru’s internal trade desk, overseeing the execution of digital campaigns across Guru’s client portfolio. Known for her organization, platform expertise, and clear client communication, she is the engine that keeps Guru’s digital operation running smoothly.
Sudiksha moved from India to BC with her partner in search of the mountains. Outside of work, she enjoys playing badminton and hiking, and loves to travel and explore new destinations.
Manav moved from Mumbai, India to Canada with a Bachelor’s in Management Studies, then earned a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Digital Marketing from Douglas College, graduating on the Dean’s List and named Up and Coming Student Leader of the Year in 2024.
Before joining Guru, Manav spent over three years at Black Press Media managing 100+ paid campaigns monthly across Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Google Ads for a portfolio spanning more than 1,000 clients, building a depth of hands-on experience well beyond his years.
At Guru, he brings that same drive and detail-oriented approach, building digital campaigns that perform from setup to optimization.
Outside the office, Manav has explored over 25 countries. When he’s not travelling, you’ll find him hiking new trails.
Originally from Nepal, Pranish moved to Canada to study Computer Programming at Niagara College Toronto. He holds certifications in Google Advanced Data Analytics, Microsoft Power BI, and IBM SQL, and before joining Guru gained hands-on experience as a Junior Analyst, building dashboards and translating data into clear reporting for business stakeholders, while also running Meta ad campaigns and managing digital performance tracking independently.
At Guru, Pranish supports the digital team across quality assurance, campaign pacing, and performance reporting, bringing an analytical rigour to the detail-oriented work that keeps digital campaigns running accurately and on budget.
Outside the office, Pranish traded one mountain range for another, swapping the Himalayas for Whistler, where you’ll find him year-round snowboarding, hiking, and mountain biking.
Originally from the Czech Republic, Marketa holds a Master’s in Law and spent several years as a Judicial Clerk before transitioning into finance and operations – trading courtrooms for spreadsheets, but never losing the precision and analytical rigour her legal training instilled.
At Guru, Marketa keeps the agency’s financial operations running with exceptional accuracy and efficiency. A certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, she leads monthly finance meetings, delivers cash flow projections, oversees HR, and assists with legal document review, having automated key financial processes along the way to keep the agency lean and ahead of the curve.
Marketa is based in Squamish and commutes to Guru’s Whistler office. A passionate skier in the winter and a dedicated mountain biker in the summer, she’s always chasing the next adventure – whether on the slopes or the trails.
David has over 20 years of advertising experience. Prior to working with Guru, he spent 13 years at Zulu Alpha Kilo as their CFO and Chief Operating Officer. David also spent over 7 years in senior finance roles at Omnicom Media Group, including a global role in New York, before transitioning home to OMD Canada. He started his career with accounting firms KPMG in New York and Deloitte in Toronto.
At Guru, David is focussed on ensuring its operating infrastructure is set up for growth. He’s helping Guru navigate the complexities of expanding an entrepreneurial and independent agency, while staying true to its roots and core values.
Outside of agency life, David can be found outdoors limping home after an exhausting long run, enjoying a frustrating round of golf, or negotiating down one of Whistler’s black diamonds in one piece.
Cathy has built a long and respected career in broadcast media, earning a reputation as a skilled negotiator who understands the nuances of client needs and brings the experience and strategic instincts to deliver meaningful results. She stays ahead of broadcast innovations to ensure Guru’s clients are well-positioned to benefit as the landscape evolves.
In recent years Cathy has diversified her expertise, adding hands-on experience in setting up, buying, and managing campaigns across Meta, Google, Yahoo, TikTok, and X, stepping in to support Guru’s digital capacity when and where the team needs her most.
When she’s not immersed in negotiations or buying, you’ll find Cathy at the stable for horseback riding, with the occasional foster dog from an exotic location curled up next to her desk.
Born in Whistler to a stray mum from Williams Lake, Toby entered the world through foster care at WAG and has never looked back. He joined the Guru team a year into his life and has been an indispensable part of office culture ever since – primarily from underneath someone’s desk.
Don’t let his imposing presence fool you. Toby is exceptionally calm, remarkably quiet, and a credentialed graduate of puppy training. He takes his napping seriously and approaches every workday with the kind of focused dedication that can only be sustained by a steady supply of snacks, particularly yogurt.
Outside the office, Toby is an avid walker, an enthusiastic stick collector, and a committed pursuer of anything willing to run. Katie is his human. He has yet to be promoted but remains optimistic.
Our Clients
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