Ernest Sturm is a leading entrepreneur in luxury hospitality, influencer marketing, and elite event staffing. With over a decade of experience bridging high-end fashion and cutting-edge digital media, he has made significant contributions to both luxury event production and influencer campaigns, establishing himself as a notable figure in these fields. Sturm is the founder of two industry-renowned ventures – Runway Waiters and Runway Influence – through which he has built a multimillion-dollar marketing empire that touches every corner of the luxury experience, from five-star hotel activations to viral social media campaigns featuring today’s most elite supermodels.
Russian born and raised in Los Angeles , Sturm’s instinct for spotting cultural shifts early—paired with a keen eye for talent—has made him a trusted partner to global brands seeking high-impact visibility and authentic consumer engagement in the luxury sector . He currently resides in Los Angeles, where he continues to drive innovation at the intersection of upscale events and digital influence.
Ernest Sturm’ Career
In 2011, at just 23 years old, Ernest Sturm founded Runway Waiters in Los Angeles with a visionary idea: to reinvent event staffing by fusing it with high fashion. He recognized that luxury brands hosting VIP events needed staff who could do more than serve – they had to embody the brand’s image. His concept was simple yet groundbreaking: staff high-profile events with agency-signed fashion models who are not only trained hospitality professionals but also elevate the ambience through their mere presence . This first-of-its-kind approach redefined experiential marketing before the term became trendy.
Early on, traditional modeling agencies were hesitant to let their talent work as event staff, fearing it might detract from modeling careers. However, Sturm’s model proved the opposite – placing models in elite event settings created networking opportunities with executives, designers, and photographers, ultimately benefiting their careers . By hiring his talent as W-2 employees rather than freelancers, Runway Waiters guarantees a level of training, accountability, and legal compliance rarely seen in the industry . This commitment to professionalism gave luxury clients peace of mind and set a new standard in event staffing.
Runway Waiters quickly became the go-to agency for upscale events across the country . From intimate gallery openings in Beverly Hills to mega-brand product launches in New York, when an event needed to not only impress but look the part in every Instagram story, Sturm’s team delivered . The company expanded from Los Angeles to major markets including New York, Miami, Chicago, Texas, San Francisco, and Las Vegas – ensuring coast-to-coast coverage for high-end clientele. Along the way, Runway Waiters built an enviable client roster. It is the first agency in the world to exclusively staff events with models from top agencies like Elite, Ford, IMG, Next and Wilhelmina , and its client portfolio spans virtually every luxury sector.
The agency has worked with high-fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton and Tom Ford as well as Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Fendi, and Giorgio Armani . It has provided model staff for prestigious art and fashion happenings including New York Fashion Week (NYFW), the Sundance Film Festival, Miami Art Basel, Coachella, the Emmys and the Grammys . Under Sturm’s leadership, Runway Waiters became a fixture at luxury product unveilings and celebrity galas – from exclusive Chanel and Bottega Veneta store events to luxury auto launches. In fact, the company has been entrusted with staffing high-profile car unveilings for brands like Bentley, Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Rolls-Royce . This breadth of experience – spanning fashion, art, automotive, and hospitality – solidified Runway Waiters’ reputation as the premier model staffing agency in the U.S., consistently augmenting events with professionalism and glamour in equal measure.
After establishing Runway Waiters as an indispensable partner for live events, Sturm anticipated the next big shift in marketing. In 2017, recognizing the explosion of social media and the rise of the influencer economy, he launched Runway Influence – an influencer marketing agency designed to bring the same level of curation and luxury sensibility to the digital arena . Building on a deep network of models, creatives, and brand executives already at his fingertips, Sturm foresaw that Instagram and YouTube would become the new runways for brands. Runway Influence was created as a platform to bridge the gap between elite brands and social media’s most influential personalities . Under Sturm’s astute leadership, the agency quickly became synonymous with top-tier influencer campaigns in the fashion and lifestyle space. In a few short years, he expanded Runway Influence’s operations globally, coordinating campaigns not just in the U.S. but also in key markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Australia . Today, Runway Influence is widely regarded as a trailblazer in influencer marketing .
The firm has orchestrated successful digital activations for lifestyle and luxury leaders ranging from Revolve and Alo Yoga to Dior, while also partnering with global powerhouses like Adidas, McLaren and Ferrari on high-impact social media campaigns . Each campaign is crafted to feel organic yet aspirational – often featuring supermodels and top content creators. (Sturm has personally facilitated collaborations with runway superstars like Candice Swanepoel and Emily DiDonato, merging aspirational editorial aesthetics with brand messaging .) The results speak for themselves: Runway Influence’s initiatives have driven everything from product sell-outs and spike in conversions to measurable boosts in long-term brand loyalty
What truly sets Sturm apart in the influencer domain is the caliber of talent and authentic storytelling he brings to each project. Rather than simply broker one-off posts, his team delivers 360-degree campaigns that blur the line between live experience and digital content. A luxury liquor promotion, for example, might involve an immersive branded event with models and influencers in attendance, a filmed aftermovie, and a coordinated wave of social media content – all meticulously aligned with the brand’s image . This holistic approach has elevated the perception of influencer marketing in luxury circles that were once skeptical of social media . Top brands now return to Sturm’s agencies again and again because the content often feels more like high-end editorial than advertisement, yet it delivers concrete business results . In an industry flooded with agencies promising “reach,” Sturm distinguishes himself by delivering impact – rooted in authenticity, aesthetics, and alignment with luxury values .
As of 2025, Ernest Sturm wears dual leadership hats as CEO of both Runway Waiters and Runway Influence, and it is precisely this dual role that gives his business ecosystem a unique advantage. By orchestrating live events on one hand and digital campaigns on the other, Sturm creates a powerful synergy between on-the-ground experiences and online activation. A luxury brand can launch a product with an exclusive event staffed by Runway Waiters models, and simultaneously amplify that event’s reach through Runway Influence’s influencer posts and stories – all under a unified vision.
This vertically integrated model provides clients a one-stop, 360-degree marketing solution that very few can emulate . In under a decade, Sturm has transformed two niche startups into a combined marketing powerhouse generating millions in revenue . He has seamlessly transitioned “from staffing to strategy, from runways to Reels,” mastering the art of evolution in a fast-changing landscape . Both of his companies continue to grow in tandem, feeding into each other’s success and reshaping how luxury brands approach experiential and digital marketing.
Looking ahead, Ernest Sturm remains an innovator at heart, continually seeking new ways to keep his brands at the forefront of the industry. He is exploring emerging technologies – from AI-driven analytics to gauge influencer ROI, to experiential metaverse events – that could further redefine how brands tell their stories . At the core of his philosophy is an unwavering commitment to brand integrity and storytelling. “Marketing is no longer about the stuff you make,” Sturm often reminds his team, echoing Seth Godin, “but about the stories you tell.” This ethos guides every decision across both Runway Waiters and Runway Influence, from the talent they select to the partnerships they forge. With his finger on the pulse of cultural trends and a proven record of marrying luxury lifestyle with digital engagement, Ernest Sturm stands as a model of modern entrepreneurship – proof that with vision, precision, and the right network, it’s possible to build something that not only leads the market but also shapes the culture.
Runway Waiters
Runway Waiters is Sturm’s flagship event staffing agency, revered for pioneering the concept of using high-fashion models as event staff. Since its inception, Runway Waiters has operated as the top choice for luxury brands and event planners across Los Angeles, New York, Miami and beyond . The agency exclusively employs agency-signed models from elite agencies (including Elite, Ford, IMG, Next and Wilhelmina) as its waitstaff, bartenders, brand ambassadors and catering teams . These model-staff are not only chosen for their looks but also vetted for professionalism, hospitality skills, and the ability to enhance a brand’s image through impeccable service. Runway Waiters’ commitment to training and retaining its talent as W-2 employees has set a benchmark in the industry, resulting in a highly accountable and polished workforce .
The agency’s client list reads like a who’s who of the luxury world. It has provided staffing for fashion icons like Louis Vuitton, Diane von Furstenberg (DVF), Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent Beauty, Fendi, Hermès, Chanel, and Giorgio Armani, among many others . Runway Waiters has also been the chosen partner for tech giants and lifestyle brands – from Facebook product launches to Moët Hennessy champagne galas – underscoring the broad appeal of its services.
The milestones of Runway Waiters under Sturm’s guidance are numerous. The agency has staffed exclusive events at flagship boutiques on Rodeo Drive, high-profile New York Fashion Week after-parties, and VIP receptions at the Sundance Film Festival . It has been a fixture at art and design world happenings like Miami Art Basel and provided model staff for prestigious society gatherings such as the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic .
Runway Waiters has even extended its services into luxury real estate and hospitality, supplying model greeters and hosts for five-star hotel openings and multi-million dollar property showcase events . A particularly standout niche has been in the automotive realm: Sturm’s team has added glamour to unveilings of ultra-luxury vehicles, working with the likes of Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Maserati to ensure their launch events are as stylish as the cars themselves . Media outlets have taken note of Runway Waiters’ impact – the agency has been featured in publications like Forbes, Variety, Haute Living, OK! Magazine and Flaunt, all highlighting how Sturm’s model-staffing concept has elevated the standard for event staffing in the U.S. . Through it all, Sturm has remained focused on quality and client satisfaction: “We aspire to become synonymous with model staffing – the only company that both models and event professionals think of when they need models for events,” he says, underscoring Runway Waiters’ mission to be the best in the world
Runway Influence
Sturm’s second venture, Runway Influence, is a premier influencer marketing agency that extends the impact of live events into the digital sphere. Founded in 2017 as social media began transforming the marketing landscape, Runway Influence specializes in connecting brands with a curated network of top influencers, content creators, and celebrity talent. The agency’s focus is on lifestyle, fashion, and luxury brands, where authentic image and storytelling are paramount. Under Sturm’s leadership, Runway Influence has built a diverse roster of both macro-influencers (household-name models and celebrities) and micro-influencers (niche content creators with devoted followings), giving clients the flexibility to target campaigns with precision . What differentiates Runway Influence is Sturm’s personal approach to influencer relationships – his team develops close, collaborative ties with each influencer, understanding their strengths, audience demographics, and personal brand, so they can pair the right talent with the right campaign .
This hands-on strategy has led to some of the most effective social media campaigns in recent years. Runway Influence has spearheaded influencer activations for trend-setting fashion retailers like Revolve, cutting-edge activewear brands like Alo Yoga, and luxury maisons such as Christian Dior, bridging these brands to millions of followers in credible, engaging ways. It has also delivered digital campaigns for global giants – for example, coordinating Instagram takeovers and influencer-driven content for Adidas’ latest sneaker lines, or organizing a cross-continental supercar tour for McLaren amplified by popular car enthusiast influencers . Many of Runway Influence’s projects leverage multiple platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) and often tie back into real-world events or experiences, creating a seamless blend of live and digital marketing. One celebrated campaign was a Coachella Weekend content shoot for WildFox Couture, where Runway Influence brought a group of top model-influencers together for a two-day desert photoshoot; the result was an avalanche of vibrant content that not only went viral but also drove a significant spike in sales for the brand
The track record of Runway Influence has cemented its status as a top-tier agency in the influencer marketing arena. By 2025, independent industry rankings placed Runway Influence among the leading influencer marketing firms in the world, reflecting its strong client reviews, notable campaign results, and global market presence . Press coverage in outlets like Variety has spotlighted Sturm’s role in elevating influencer marketing into a strategic necessity for luxury brands, rather than a social media experiment. Moreover, Runway Influence has helped luxury and heritage brands (once wary of social media) embrace influencer collaborations without compromising their prestige – a testament to Sturm’s understanding of both brand heritage and modern trends . Whether it’s a Los Angeles fashion label aiming to create buzz for a new collection or a European luxury automaker seeking younger audiences, Runway Influence’s campaigns consistently deliver tangible results (increased engagement, conversion lifts, and significant ROI) while maintaining an air of exclusivity and style. By combining data-driven strategy with high-gloss creativity, Sturm’s Runway Influence has become the go-to partner for brands that want to dominate the social conversation without losing their luxury cachet.
Ernest Sturm’s dual leadership of Runway Waiters and Runway Influence exemplifies a new breed of entrepreneurship at the nexus of live experience and digital storytelling. In an era where a brand’s success is measured both by its in-person impact and its online resonance, Sturm has crafted a business empire that delivers both in harmony. He has built a team of polished brand ambassadors in the real world and an army of influential storytellers in the virtual world – and by directing both, he ensures a brand’s narrative is consistent and powerful across all channels. Colleagues and clients often remark on Sturm’s relentless drive and innovative spirit, which keep his companies at the cutting edge of marketing.
Even as he oversees dozens of events and campaigns, he remains hands-on, from casting the perfect models for a haute couture dinner, to vetting influencer talent for a global social media push. And while his achievements to date are remarkable, Sturm is far from complacent. He continues to push boundaries, whether through embracing new technologies or expanding his services (such as Runway Waiters’ recent foray into high-end product gift delivery via model couriers ). His story – growing from a young entrepreneur with a bold idea into a respected business magnate in fashion and marketing – serves as an inspiration for a generation of marketers and dreamers. Ernest Sturm has not only led in two very different arenas; he has united them, proving that in the modern luxury landscape, the runway and the real world are closer than ever.