Hayel Wartemberg is the co-founder and Managing Director at Word on the Curb, a research and creative consultancy that specialises in engaging hard-to-reach audiences. Since its inception as a YouTube channel in 2012/13, Hayel, alongside his business partner Ndubuisi Uchea, has grown the platform into a multifaceted agency with nearly 400,000 social media followers and a dedicated community of 20,000 young people. Word on the Curb is renowned for its qualitative and quantitative research, strategy, content production, and distribution services, helping brands like Google, Spotify, and Just Eat understand and communicate with Gen-Z, Millennial, and Minority Audiences.
Before fully committing to Word on the Curb, Hayel was the Head of Content at Million Youth Media from 2015 to 2017. He also worked in Digital Marketing for Barclays via Livity in 2015 and started his career as a Researcher at ITV Studios from 2013 to 2014. His work has significantly impacted public and voluntary sectors, notably with the NHS and Anthony Nolan, enhancing engagement with ethnic minority communities.
Hayel is a member of the MRS ‘Representation in Research Steering Group since 2024 and has been sitting on the ICS Studies Civic Journey Committee steering group since 2022. He was awarded the Points of Light award by the Prime Minister in 2015 for his services to youth freedom of speech.
His commitment to equity and representation in media drives his professional endeavours, ensuring that underrepresented voices are not only heard but are integral to shaping societal narratives.
