We’re strategists at heart. Makers by trade. And we don’t let good ideas die in decks.
The 10%
That Matters
Strategy without execution is wasted money. Execution without strategy is just noise. the intersection between the two? that’s us.
Hi there, We’re Highlanders, a strategy-grounded production house based in Park City, Utah.
Founded by Michael Mendieta and Ed McCulloch, we built Highlanders on a simple belief: great strategy only matters if it gets made.
The truth is 90% of strategy gets left behind. We focus on the 10% that actually matters and work from there, turning insight into tangible campaigns before the cultural moment passes.
leadership
DEEP BRAND STRATEGY
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production-ready execution
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Michael has spend 15+ years shaping brand strategy and social strategy for some of the biggest clients in the world. With stints at JKR, Interbrand, Vaynermedia, and Ogilvy, he is the creative visionary behind brands like Google, Gillette, Dove, EA, TD Bank, and many others.
Michael also brings deep social expertise to the table, having founded a cultural comedy page that now boasts nearly 500k followers across platforms. He has used this social expertise to run sucessful, viral campaigns for clients such as Netflix, Valentino, Met Gala, Meta, Hugo Boss, and Universal Music Group.
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For 15 years, Ed has led global campaigns for some of the world’s top brands—Google, Kia, Oakley, Ford, Wrangler, Asics, Jeep, and IKEA—bringing big ideas to life across 20+ countries. His experience spans every stage of the creative process, with a focus on turning strategic thinking into powerful, high-impact work.
Known for his ability to simplify the complex and execute with speed and precision, Ed combines deep production expertise with a sharp visual instinct. He builds campaigns that are visually striking and emotionally resonant.
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