Montreal Marketeers Episode 21 – Nick Messina on Personal Branding, Social Media, and Staying True to Yourself

On Episode 21 of the Montreal Marketeers Podcast, we explore personal branding and social media with Nick Messina, the Montreal‑born creator behind the popular Instagram persona Sicilianu Di Montreal.

Raised by proud Sicilian parents, Nick has always been deeply connected to his roots and traditions. His cultural heritage plays a major role in shaping his identity — both offline and online. In 2015, he started posting regularly on Instagram, using humor, authenticity, and cultural pride to engage an ever‑growing audience. Over time, this transformed into the character Sicilianu Di Montreal, a persona that celebrates Montreal’s Italian community through relatable storytelling and lifestyle content.

By staying genuine and having fun, Nick organically built his personal brand to over 10,000 followers. What started as a creative outlet has now evolved into a platform that allows him to collaborate with other brands and achieve personal goals while continuing to connect with his audience on a personal level.

In this episode, Nick talks about the journey of turning everyday moments into content, leveraging social influence for growth, and how authenticity remains the most powerful form of marketing.

Show Highlights and Topics

Duration: 42 minutes

• Generating leads by leveraging Instagram visibility

• Staying humble as your audience grows

• Building and maintaining a personal brand

• Unlocking new features through online growth (like “Swipe Up”)

• Using influence to support products and partners

• Balancing the real‑world and online personas

• Drawing inspiration from cultural roots and upbringing

• Staying authentic and having fun along the way

• Generating creative content ideas consistently