Own It: Recent Episodes
Christy Hiler
We’re buying out of the ad industry boys’ club. Hosted by Cornett owner Christy Hiler, Own It lifts up the stories of women and nonbinary ad agency owners: their challenges, their successes, and their goals for the industry. We’re aiming to start a movement—because you don’t have the power until you own it.
On this episode of OWN IT, we’re talking to MaryBeth Adduci and Karin Rose of 6. We’re going to explore a different angle to ownership with this dynamic duo. MaryBeth and Karin are both creatives and met as creative partners at DDB in Chicago. They started 6 to build an agency that focused on what they call work that matters. But the two still freelance as a creative team for others. The combination of those approaches puts a different spin on ownership and models an interesting hybrid approach that is quite inspiring. We had a wonderful conversation about their journey, ownership and what needs to change for more of what they have done to be possible for others. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with MaryBeth Adduci and Karin Rose of Just6. You can find links to their LinkedIn profiles and the agency website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
On this episode of OWN IT, we’re talking to Amy Deneson from House of Puff, Pheno and the Cannabis Media Council. Each of those endeavors prove she’s not only entrepreneurial, but isn’t afraid to take that plunge into founding and owning agencies and businesses within our space. We talked about why and how each of those were started, the challenges of marketing in the corporate cannabis world, and we get some inspiration from her to help close the gender gap in agency ownership. It’s so inspiring to talk to women like Amy who just Own It … in more ways than one. Get ready to get inspired. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Amy Deneson. You can find links to her LinkedIn profile and the websites of her three businesses … House of Puff, Pheno and the Cannabis Media Council in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
In this week's episode of OWN IT, we’re talking to Jane Ferguson, a correspondent for PBS Newshour and contributor to The New Yorker. As you might expect, this episode expands our conversation into the world of journalism and how Jane has seen parallel challenges in gender equity and opportunity. Since our industries are not only similar, but intimately intertwined, this conversation is an important one for us to have. Jane shared her incredible journey to the top levels of journalism, the parallel challenges she faced that women in the agency world can relate to, and had some wonderful thoughts on what we can all do moving forward to continue closing the gaps in both industries. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to her LinkedIn profile and the show’s website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
In this episode of OWN IT, we’re talking to Blair Brady of The With Agency. It is a brand partnership agency based in Atlanta. She is a mom, a cook and a former ballerina. She started like many of us as an intern at an agency. Her career took what she calls zig-zags through a couple of agencies before she launched With in 2012. Blair had so many interesting things to share including the perspective that women who lead agencies also need women climbing the corporate ladder on the brand side, so our mission here isn’t an all-or-none proposition. She had such great advice and thoughts on closing the gender gap in ad agency ownership. I’m so glad to share it with you this week. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Blair Brady's LinkedIn profile and The With Agency’s website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
On this week's episode of OWN IT, we’re talking to Shannon Gabor of Clever Creative. She has been an agency owner for almost 18 years, so we tapped into her wealth of experience in ownership. Shannon came through the creative side of the business and, in a rather timely coincidence for what’s going on in the world today, she once worked on the licensing and packaging team at Mattel for the Barbie product line! And yes, I asked her to chime in on the amazing campaign we’re seeing today in support of the Barbie movie. We also talked about her passion for cooking and travel. Her mother is Guatemalan, so the conversion diverted there to even more goodness! Shannon was such a joy to talk to. You’re going to love this. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Shannon's LinkedIn profile and Clever Creative's agency website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
Today's episode of OWN IT features Sarah Latz and Francesca Piancone-Crowley from Book180. It is an online portfolio school that sources the best agency talent to teach new professionals in our industry! That is so cool! The conversation that became the idea for Book 180 was born during COVID. The two worked together at a portfolio school in Chicago before and during the pandemic and saw the online-only approach to education as an opportunity. Both are writers by craft, but come to the education space with great experiences from the agency space. Sarah spent time as a writer at many of the large agencies during her time in New York, Atlanta and Chicago before moving back to South Carolina. Francesca spent time in the publishing industry, but then found her way into the ad business through the portfolio school where she and Sarah met. We had a very useful conversation about being entrepreneurs and owners and though Book 180 isn’t a traditional agency, they are helping feed the talent into our industry that builds them. And they are most definitely a part of our community! You’re going to love their perspective and energy. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Sarah Latz and Francesca Piancone-Crowley's LinkedIn profiles and the Book180 website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
On this week's episode of OWN IT, we’re talking to Haley Dagan from The Written World. As you might expect, her background is as a copywriter and her firm specializes in purpose-driven copywriting and content marketing. Writing has been a big piece of her journey along the way. In fact, when she worked in the hotel business, she started a travel blog. She then started blogging and writing as a free-lancer which carried her through the pandemic and inspired her taking the plunge into ownership. I loved our talk, especially when I asked Haley what story she wants to write for our industry. I certainly enjoyed this conversation. I know you will, too. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Haley Dagan from The Written World. You can find links to Haley Dagan's LinkedIn profile and The Written World in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
In this week's episode of OWN IT, we’re talking to Alana Ficalora from Aligned for Impact. Alana is a dancer away from work and does a lot of community and volunteer work in Los Angeles. She actually comes from a deep tradition of building community. She founded HER - Helping Each Other Rise, a community group of like-minded women dedicated to helping women in advertising and entertainment. Her firm, Aligned for Impact, helps companies drive social change through employee and customer engagement and sharing stories of positive impact with the world. She also co-hosts a podcast of her own called Missed Opportunities for Good where she and fellow host Steph Belsky look at brands and their social impact. Alana and I talked a lot about community and how ours is making a change in the industry. Such a great time with Alana. You’re going to enjoy this episode! Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Alana Ficalora from Aligned for Impact. You can find links to her LinkedIn profile and the agency’s website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
On this episode of OWN IT, we’re talking to Mary Knight of Hydrogen. She is a writer and came up in the business on the creative side of the aisle. In fact, she is currently working on a satirical novel of climbing the corporate ladder we can’t wait to read! Mary’s father was a marketing director on the client-side of the advertising business. He raised her and her sisters with the mindset that a woman should be able to do anything a man can do. She carved out an amazing career working on brands like Tabasco and with agencies like FCB, Tracy-Locke and The Richards Group. She joined Hydrogen as ECD 10 years ago with the plan to one day take over as owner. She did that in January of this year. Her perspective of becoming an owner after years in the business is a valuable one for those aspiring agency pros, but also helpful for the owners listening. Mary brings a lot of experience to the table. So let’s dig in. Thanks for listening to this episode. You can find links to Mary Knight's LinkedIn profile and the Hydrogen's website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
On this episode of OWN IT, we’re talking to Megan Devine from cat&tonic. She came up through the account side of advertising, but is also a painter with a creative side. That mix turned out to be important in her climb to a position of ownership. But her path to ownership includes experiences of being fired, leaving an agency and starting something new with partners and then rebranding that agency to what is now cat&tonic. Megan’s thoughts on ownership and closing the gender gap in ad agency ownership are certainly worth hearing. We had such an amazing conversation. I know your’re going to enjoy hearing it. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Megan Devine's LinkedIn Profile and cat&tonic's website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
We're airing an encore presentation of OWN IT today in honor of a recent accomplishment by Libby Brockhoff from Odysseus Arms. We talked to her first almost one year ago about her path to ownership which included a stint working for James Patterson, some of the biggest agencies in the world, then founding Mother. That firm just recently won the D&AD President's Award! Libby since moved on to found Odysseus Arms with her husband and partner. Enjoy our revisit with one of the true visionary agency leaders today on the show. You can find Odysseus Arms' amazing work online at O hyphen Arms dot com (o-arms.com). And be sure to connect with Libby on LinkedIn. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com. I’m Christy Hiler. We’ll talk again soon … On Own It!
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Caitlin Masingill of Full Swing Public Relations. She hails from Boise, Idaho, and wanted to be a broadway actress before she found the wonderful world of agency life. Now, her agency journey and insights about ownership and the main topic we discuss here of closing the gender gap in agency ownership is well worth hearing. But Caitlin’s path to being ready to own it is both incredible and inspirational. In 2012, she became the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the Missoula, Montana city council after being frustrated with “no” votes for an anti-discrimination ordinance. That “first” status led to a role in a large public affairs firm. You just have to hear her tell the story. She is so brilliant and inspiring. I loved this conversation so much. I know you will, too. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Caitlin's LinkedIn profile and agency’s website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Ashley Walters of Curiosity. She is another owner of a recent Ad Age Small Agency of the Year winner. Curiosity does such great work so I’m very excited to talk to her today. Ashley and I talk about her journey to ownership, her path through the advertising industry. She was fortunate in her path to work for many great women in leadership positions, which we have discussed as being fundamental in inspiring future leaders. One interesting story Ashley tells today is her diversion through sales, where at first she wanted little to do with it, but it ultimately led to her owning Curiosity. It’s so much fun being on this side of the mic learning from amazing women. This episode is certainly a highlight for me. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Ashley Walters of Curiosity. You can find links to her LinkedIn profile and Curiosity’s website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Haley Hunter of Party Land. Her firm was named the Small Agency of the Year in 2021 by Ad Age and all of us at Cornett love their work. When Haley was in high school she was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up and her answer was to make ads. She started at a small agency, but shortly after left the business. But the agency life came calling again. Haley has handled a number of roles and responsibilities at places like Bartle Bogle Hegarty and Fallon. That diversity of experiences helped her see how to run the operations of a business, so she was ready when the opportunity to launch Party Land came to be. I get energized talking to people with so much knowledge and passion for our business. You will too. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links Haley Hunter's LinkedIn profile and the Party Land website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Elena Rivera-Cheek of Copy & Art. She came up through the copy side of that equation in the healthcare space thanks to a childhood expectation to become a doctor. But she followed the calling to Own It 11 years ago, and has built an outstanding agency. Like many women agency owners, Elena’s experience with motherhood influenced her decision to plant her own flag rather than work for someone else. Another thing I love about Elena is that she spends a lot of time exposing the advertising business to schools and students to ensure the industry reaches young people, particularly in underserved populations. So inspiring and such a delight to talk to. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Elena's LinkedIn profile and Copy & Art’s website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Zihla Salinas of Conspiracy Theory. She is a self-proclaimed loud and disruptive personality who lets her full self shine. I love that so much and we talk about what that means. Zihla started Conspiracy Theory just a little over a year ago. It is a minority-owned and woman-led independent agency network. While that’s a little different perspective than what we normally hear on Own it, as you can imagine, we have a lot in common to talk about. Zihla spent many years in leadership at a number of great agencies until following her own path to ownership. Her approach to life and work is so inspiring and she shares wisdom we can all learn from. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Zihla Salinas's LinkedIn profile and the Conspiracy Theory website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Laura Janness of Orchard. She is one of the agency owners that everyone I’ve talked to has said, “You need to have Laura on your show!” Well, today, we do! Laura looks to art and poetry to inspire her creative side, and she’s in an appropriate place for that. She loves living in and exploring New York City. Laura worked at some of the biggest and most successful ad agencies in the world. She lists Leo Burnett and Deutsch on her roster. She launched Orchard in 2019 and one year later, was named both the U.S. and Global Agency of the Year by Campaign. We talk about her journey, the variety of experiences she had and needed to own it, and her take on closing the gender gap in the ad agency business. This is a good one. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Laura Janness of Orchard in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, we have a slightly different request than normal. Please go to Own It on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Sophia Johnson of Alpha Business Images or ABI. Sophia calls herself a gatherer of people and is very focused on her family. But she extends that definition beyond her husband, children and relatives to the family around her business and clients. She worked her way up through a financial services company, but was drawn to the marketing side of the business. She wound up managing the agency relationships and learned how to build a brand from that side of the aisle. I so love Sophia’s story and her family-centric approach to both life and business. I think you’ll see why today on the podcast. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Sophia Johnson of ABI. You can find links to her agency and her LinkedIn profile as well in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, we have a slightly different request than normal. Please go to Own It on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Lauren Sweeney of Dotted Line. Her path to agency ownership is very different than most of us. She got started simply trying to help people grow their business. Her job before was a project manager at a financial institution. She even admitted she didn’t even know what an agency was, then started one. Her fresh perspective on marketing has been a boon for clients and those of us who have gotten to know her. She and I also have a few other things in common … we love the outdoors, are both rooted in our faith and our husbands are also entrepreneurs. As you can imagine, our talk was so wonderful. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Lauren Sweeney of Dotted Line. You can find links to her agency and her LinkedIn profile as well in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, we have a slightly different request than normal. Please go to Own It on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
Welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Kate Wadia of Mrs & Mr. Kate found her path to ownership through the creative side of the business. During the 10 years she spent at Arnold, she actually pitched against her husband for a big account. They decided working together would be better, so they started Mrs and Mr. in 2016. We talked about her background, people and places that inspire her and, of course, the challenge of closing the gender gap in agency ownership. Kate is such a delight to talk to and her vision and energy is inspiring. I think you’ll agree. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Kate's agency and her LinkedIn profile as well in our show notes at untilyouownit.com. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Jodi Katz of Base Beauty Creative Agency. Jodi is also the host of the Where Brains Meets Beauty podcast and author of her new book, Facing the Seduction of Success, which is a compilation of some of the best stories and advice from her podcast guests and episodes. Jodi’s rise to success as an agency owner intertwines with being a content creator. She is a great representation of today’s entrepreneur who grew up in the world of social media and personal branding and she shines in that role. We talked about the fear that drives her success, the fun of leading an agency and, as usual, we dive into how to recruit and support more female agency owners. She even says, we need to redefine what an agency is. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Jodi, her agency, her podcast and her book in our show notes. We’ll link to her on LinkedIn as well so you can connect with her there. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Kat Thay of Kat & Carter. You’ll notice right away Kat is British. She has navigated a career path through design, then advertising there. She has been state-side for about five years now, in Austin, Texas, where she and Kat & Carter is based. Her firm is a hybrid agency and content production house that helps brands create content that builds their brand and sells product. They launched during COVID, so are relatively new to the marketplace. We talked a bit about her partnership with Carter Pagel, whom she met at a networking event, her career path and the challenges of owning her own firm. Kat was such a joy to get to know and learn from. I’m sure you’ll feel the same. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. Find Kat Thay and Kat & Carter online at katandcarter.com. You should connect with her on LinkedIn as well. We’ll have those links in our show notes. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Sophie Ozoux from Kin. Sophie brings a diverse worldview to her work. She is French, but spent time in her youth in Africa and Saudi Arabia. She has also lived and worked in Paris, New York and L.A. Her work has taken her through several large agencies, plus Coca-Cola on the brand side as well. She co-founded Kin as a creative agency that champions social change through culture. We talk about her evolution to ownership and the purpose behind what Kin does. It was such a delight to get to know her and learn her perspective on closing the agency gap in the advertising business. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. Find Sophie Ozoux and Kin online at workwithkin.com. You should connect with her on LinkedIn as well. We’ll have those links in our show notes. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Cindy Gallop from If We Ran The World and Make Love Not Porn. As you might guess from the name of her companies, Cindy is bold, brave and a bull in the China shop. She has deep experience in the advertising business and has been ruffling the feathers of the status quo for a long time. Cindy starts off taking swings. She says women are at a distinct disadvantage in the advertising world because white men undermine their progress. Intentionally. You may want to buckle up for this conversation. Cindy is truly amazing. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Cindy Gallop from If We Ran The World and Make Love Not Porn. Make sure to connect with her on LinkedIn as well. We’ll have those links in our show notes. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. On this episode, we're talking to two amazing female owners … Yadira Harrison and Shannon Jones of Verb. Both came into the agency world from the entertainment segment. Yadira even worked on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The two met working at an agency on the AirBnB business. We talked about the organic way they evolved to ownership, the early and often challenging conversations about revenue and bootstrapping, and the building blocks of Verb from its launch to now. One thing that stood out you should listen for is something Yadira said … there’s a difference in working in the business, versus working on the business. So very true. The energy and chemistry these two bring to the table is enviable. We learned so much. We know you will, too. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Yadira Harrison and Shannon Jones of Verb. You can find them online at pickaverb.com. Make sure to connect with both on LinkedIn as well. Those links will be in our show notes. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Megan Lally of Highdive. She and her partners spun off Highdive after working at big holding company agencies and saw early success. We talked about that success, the challenges and advantages of being in a partnership as an owner. Megan and I talked a lot about the qualities women bring to the table to make our industry stronger. It was such a good discussion that helps move our approach to closing the gender gap forward. Learn more about her firm at highdiveus.com. Make sure to connect with Megan on LinkedIn as well. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Maureen Madari of The BAM Connection. I had the good fortune of getting to know Maureen during a recent gathering of female agency owners in NYC and couldn’t wait to introduce her and her experience with all of you. Maureen grew up the daughter of a boxer and boxing trainer. She explained how her conversations with her dad prepared her to go into the business world. We also talked about how the disparity in male-female pay early in her career re-routed her path and inspired her to level the playing field. She is such an inspiration for us all. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. Learn more about her firm at thebam.com. Make sure to connect with Maureen on LinkedIn as well. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Lori Gaffney of Borders Perrin Norrander … BPN. Previously on Own It, we’ve talked to agency owners who came up through strategy or creative. Lori is a bit of a rare breed in that she came up through the media side of the business. But she has been an inspiring and successful leader in the advertising world for 40 years across all aspects of the industry. Lori talked about an interesting challenge in agency ownership that we all need to think more about, which is pay equity. She also shared her challenges with impostor syndrome … a lot of us fight self-doubt. Lori offered some sage advice to win that battle. I had so much fun learning form Lori. I know you will, too. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. Learn more about Borders Perrin Norrander at bpninc.com. Make sure to connect with Lori on LinkedIn as well. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Danielle Wiley of Sway Group. Daneille launched her agency in the middle of the social media and blogging boom of the mid-2000s because she wanted to help fellow bloggers earn more and find better representation in the marketing world. Almost 20 years later, she has one of the most successful and widely recognized influencer marketing firms in the business. Danielle and I got into lots of interesting topics as we talked about the courage to become an owner, facing the fear and uncertainty of ownership, and the power of mentorship and support for those of us who do own, and those who aspire to. Yet another amazing female owner to inspire you. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. Learn more about Sway at swaygroup.com. Make sure to connect with Danielle on LinkedIn as well. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Ruth Bernstein of Yard NYC. Ruth came from the brand side of the business before landing one of the most interesting and exciting jobs I can think of … she was the brand guardian for Sundance, working for Robert Redford, who she calls “Bob.” She told us that story and explained how her experiences led to starting Yard NYC with her husband. Right off the bat, I knew Ruth and I were soul sisters. She’s not only an agency owner who works with her husband. She is a mom and a sister and a soul searcher. As we dove into the issue of the gender gap in agency ownership, she shared some really sound advice for when you take that leap and how to model yourself to ensure others are inspired to. I’m so excited to share this with you. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Ruth Bernstein of Yard NYC. Learn more about the agency at yardnyc.com. Be sure to connect with Ruth on LinkedIn as well. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today, we’re talking to Faculty’s co-founder and CEO, Nasya Kamrat. She started her career as a writer and aspiring theatre director, but happened into the advertising business like many of us, thinking it would be a temporary diversion while she worked on her original career path. Twenty years later, she leads one of the most exciting and smart agencies in the business. As we talked about the lack of female ownership in the advertising business, Nasya opened up some lines of responsibility we haven’t gone deep on yet on the podcast, so you’re in for a treat today. She talks about the responsibility of brands in setting the right environment for women to own it. There’s so much goodness in this episode. You’ll enjoy it! Learn more about Faculty at wearefaculty.com. Be sure to connect with Nasya on LinkedIn as well. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Today, we are truly honored to learn from Carol Williams. She is perhaps most commonly known as the first African-American female creative director and vice-president in the advertising business. She accomplished that at Leo Burnett in Chicago in the early 1980s. But she is more deeply known as a tireless pioneer and change agent, who has worked tirelessly to level the playing field in advertising for women and African-Americans, both in the industry and in our creative outputs. She assumed agency ownership in 1986. Carol H. Williams Advertising continues to be a beacon of great work, great people and great purpose in our industry. What an honor to have her share her path to ownership with us today. Learn more about her agency, its purpose and its people at carolhwilliams.com. Be sure to connect with Mrs. Williams on LinkedIn, too. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today I’m talking to Courtney Spritzer of Social Fly and the Entreprenista community. People with a background in insurance and finance don’t typically find themselves starting a marketing agency, but Courtney did. She and her business partner launched Social Fly in the thick of the social media explosion of the early 2000-teens. After several years of entrepreneurship, they launched the Entreprenista podcast, now community, which supports women entrepreneurs. As you can imagine the overlap in work and interests got me excited to learn more from Courtney. And I did. I’m sure you’ll appreciate the conversations, too. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. To join the league and listen to her podcast, visit entreprenista.com. To find out more about Social Fly, find them online at socialflynyc.com. (Social Fly N-Y-C dot com). You should also connect with Courtney on LinkedIn. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today I’m talking to Katie Klumper of Black Glass Consulting. After several years on the traditional agency side of the business, then time with Deloitte in the consulting vertical, Katie launched a firm that narrows its focus on helping CMOs be more successful in all walks of their challenges with business. We talked about that approach, but also how aware our clients and brands are of the gender gap in agency ownership, and what are they doing to close it in their efforts to be more inclusive and diverse. It was yet again another useful conversation with a different perspective about how we can work toward a future with more diversity in agency ownership. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. Learn more about their offerings to help chief marketing officers grow professionally and personally at blackglassco.com. And be sure to connect with Katie on LinkedIn. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. I’m Christy Hiler, owner of Cornett and today I’m talking to Libby Brockhoff from Odysseus Arms. Her path to ownership is as interesting as they come. She started as an intern for James Patterson when he was still in advertising. She worked at some of the biggest named agencies in the world, and worked around the world. She co-founded Mother, then with her husband and partner, launched Odysseus Arms. Libby’s agency experience alone is worth an episode of exploration. But she has so much more to tell including her passions for Scouting and NASCAR? Yep … NASCAR. I really enjoyed learning from her and I know you’ll appreciate listening in. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Libby Brockhoff from Odysseus Arms. Find their amazing work online at O hyphen Arms dot com (o-arms.com). And be sure to connect with Libby on LinkedIn. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com. I’m Christy Hiler. We’ll talk again soon … On Own It!
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. I’m Christy Hiler, owner of Cornett and today I’m talking to Mira Kaddoura, the amazing and inspiring owner of Red & Co. Mira not only has the unique perspective of coming to America as an immigrant from the Arab world, but operating an agency with offices globally. We talk about the differences in how women work and are received both in and outside of the U.S. Mira also has blazed her path to ownership through the wilderness of freelancing – a path many women follow to ownership. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Mira Kaddoura of Red & Co. Find them online at redandco.com. And be sure to connect with Mira on LinkedIn. Links to her profile and the agency website can be found in our show notes. There, you can also find links to the newsletter and book Mira recommended in the conversation from Mona Eltahawy. The newsletter is The Feminist Giant. The book is The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today I’m talking to Sharon Napier of Partners+Napier. She is not only one of the long-standing women owners in the advertising business, but serves as board chair of the 4As, so her take on the issue with a gender gap in agency ownership is one people listen to. Sharon also grew her agency very intentionally away from the big media markets, in Rochester, New York. So her perspective is familiar to me and I know will be valuable for you. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Sharon Napier of Partners+Napier. Find them online at partersandnapier.com … all spelled out. And be sure to connect with Sharon on LinkedIn. Links to her profile and the agency website can be found in our show notes. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today I’m talking to another dynamic duo in the agency ownership world. Erica Fite and Katie Keating are partners in owning Fancy, an agency they started to make a difference in the world and the world of advertising for women. In fact, both have a directed passion for empowering women in business. We talk about where that mission came from and how they found their path to combine forces to Own it. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Erica Fite and Katie Keating of Fancy. Find more about the agency, its' amazing mission, and see their work at fancynyc.com. And be sure to connect with both Erica and Katie on LinkedIn. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Welcome to the Own It podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today I’m talking to a true legend in the business. Madonna Badger is the chief creative officer and founder of Badger Agency, but is responsible for some of the most iconic, world-changing campaigns in advertising history. She was instrumental in Calvin Klein’s shift away from objectification of women in the 1980s. That led her to champion the same movement across the industry and on a global scale. She also opens different lines of thinking on how to solve the agency ownership gap for women. And points the finger of opportunity at the large holding company segment of the business. And it’s fair to caution you, Madonna also touches on the personal tragedies she’s endured in her journey through life. I was honored and humbled to have her share those, plus her path to ownership, on Own It. Thanks for listening to this episode of Own It with Madonna Badger of the Badger Agency. Learn more about her and her work at BadgerAgency.com. Be sure to connect with Madonna on LinkedIn as well. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. Today I’m talking to Jaime Robinson and Lisa Clunie from JOAN. Both are amazing women with impressive industry credentials in their own right. But when they came together and joined forces to create JOAN, magic happened. They share the story of winning seven brands in one of their first pitches. It’s easy to hear how much fun Jaime and Lisa have working together and owning their agency. You’re going to love what they have to say. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find out more about Jaime and Lisa, their work and their team at joancreative.com. Be sure to connect with Jamie and Lisa on LinkedIn as well. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. I’m Christy Hiler, owner of Cornett and in this episode, I’m talking to Lyn Rundell, the co-founder and retired CEO of HERO Marketing. Lyn not only shares her path to ownership and perspective on helping close the gap for women owners, but shares some amazing wisdom on succession planning for those that are, or will be, agency owners one day. I was so excited to talk to Lyn. I know you will take away some great learnings. Enjoy my conversation with Lyn Rundell. Be sure to see the agency’s great work at heromarketing.com and, though she is retired, you should still connect with Lyn on LinkedIn because she is still very active in the industry. If you’re enjoying Own It, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Today I’m talking to Britt Fero, founder and principal of PB& in Seattle. Her career path took her through large agencies like Publicis, but she eventually knew she wanted to Own it. And does she ever. Let’s hear more about her journey to ownership and her thoughts on how we can open more opportunities for more women to follow in her footsteps. This is my conversation with Britt Fero. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. Be sure to see more about Britt Fero and her agency’s great work at pbandseattle.com. If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Today I’m talking to the highly awarded creative duo Terri Meyer and Sandy Greenberg, Terri & Sandy as most know them. These women rose to the top of several of the largest agencies when there were very few women up there. Their agency, Terri & Sandy, of course, has been named Small Agency of the Year by AdAge, an A-list Standout and #1 Most Effective Indy Agency by the Effie’s. It’s always a thrill to learn from industry pioneers. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. Be sure to see Terri & Sandy's work at terrisandy.com. And connect with both on LinkedIn (Terry Meyer on LinkedIn; Sandy Greenberg on Linkedin). Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Today I’m talking to Kim Lawton, Founder and CEO of Enthuse Marketing Group, an experiential agency with a foundation attached to it. Enthuse Foundation is a non-profit organization investing in a new generation of female entrepreneurs and cultivating the next generation of business leaders. Entrepreneurship and mentorship are huge passions for Kim. And my talk with her was so inspiring. Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Kim Lawton. Be sure to check out Enthuse Foundation and connect with Kim on LinkedIn.
Today I’m talking to Valerie Moizel, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of The Woo, a creative agency based in Los Angeles, California. Valerie is also founder of She Dynasty, an inspiring podcast and supportive community of ambitious women from different fields, backgrounds and passions turning their visions into realities. We are of like mind. And learning from her was an honor. Enjoy my conversation with Valerie Moizel. Connect with her on LinkedIn and check out her podcast She Dynasty. Also, if you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe, then rate and share it on your podcast service of choice. Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at untilyouownit.com.
Today I’m talking to Nancy Hill, the former President and CEO of the 4A’s and current Agency Sherpa. Nancy has been named one of Advertising Age’s 100 Most Influential Women in Advertising History. She has also been recognized by She Runs It, the 3% Conference, the Arthritis Foundation and Girl Scouts of America for championing and giving back to other women. How can you not relish in the opportunity to sit and learn from a legend? Today, we all get that privilege. Here’s my recent talk with Nancy Hill.
On this episode of Own It, Christy Hiler talks to Kat Gordon, founder of The 3% Movement. She has spent the last 10 years championing female creative talent and leadership. She’s been called a triple threat; entrepreneur, ad woman and marketing to women expert. We encourage you to connect with Kat on LinkedIn and follow the great work of the 3% Movement. Also, join us in our celebration of women and non-binary ad agency owners by rating and sharing this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts. And if you or someone you know is a badass female or non-binary agency owner, we want to know about them. Just drop their information off at our website at untilyouownit.com.
In this episode of Own It, Christy Hiler talks to Susan Lee Colby and Kathy Sjogren, co-owners of Grace Creative in Los Angeles. It is the only women-owned marketing and advertising agency focused on women over 50. We encourage you to connect with both of these incredible owners on LinkedIn and check out the some of the brilliant work their agency Grace Creative has done. Especially their Girls Gone 50 blog, It is so good. Also, join us in our celebration of women and non-binary ad agency owners by rating and sharing this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts. If you or someone you know is a badass female or non-binary agency owner, we want to know about them. Just drop their information off at our website at untilyouownit.com.
Today I’m talking to Asmirh Davis founding partner and chief strategy officer of Majority in Atlanta, Georgia. Majority is an agency for the culture, built upon a diversity-led talent model. Majority is not a company with a mission. It is a mission with a company – to accelerate the normalization of diverse faces powering the best creative companies in the world. They are just one year in and are doing really remarkable work! As you’ll hear Asmirh say, she is building an army to tear down the old ways of this business and build a better industry. I can’t think of anyone better to lead that charge. Here’s my recent talk with Asmirh Davis.
On the first episode of Own It, Christy Hiler talks to Jean Freeman, the owner and CEO of Zambezi, the largest female-owned full service agency in America. We encourage you to connect with Jean on LinkedIn and go check out the some of the really incredible work her agency Zambezi has created, our favorite is Rotten Apples. Also, join us in our celebration of women and non-binary ad agency owners by rating and sharing this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts. If you or someone you know is a badass female or non-binary agency owner, we want to know about them. Just drop their information at our website at untilyouownit.com.