The We Are Next Podcast: Recent Episodes
We Are Next
Advice and insight from the advertising industry to help students and fresh talent start their careers with confidence. Natalie Kim, Founder of We Are Next, sits down with people from all agencies, roles and levels to understand what they do, how they got there, and what they've learned along the way. It's equal parts actionable advice and reassurance that everything is going to be okay.
Amber Hahn, VP, Head of Strategy at Madwell and Mary Ergul, Strategist at Madwell show us the importance of finding a leader and team who will support your growth. Hear about not feeling guilty about leaving a job with a lot of perks, why it’s totally okay to be completely different from your boss, questions to ask in your interview to make sure your manager will have your back, and how to make a good impression when starting an internship or new job virtually.
Alex Cuevas, Director of Talent & Recruitment at DDB New York, gives you the tools to land a job in the new year. Hear about how to shift your job search approach, tips on interviewing virtually, how to craft questions that make a great impression at your interview, and how and when to have the conversation with your manager about moving up.
Alex Cuevas, Director of Talent & Recruitment at DDB New York, gives you the tools to land a job in the new year. Hear about how to shift your job search approach, tips on interviewing virtually, how to craft questions that make a great impression at your interview, and how and when to have the conversation with your manager about moving up.
Sit down for an end of year heart-to-heart with Natalie Kim, Founder of We Are Next. Hear about what she’s been struggling with recently and tactics to help overcome them if you’re in a similar boat, what’s coming in 2021 on We Are Next, and a reminder to take a break this holiday season.
Sara Anhorn, EVP, Talent at Critical Mass, provides guidance and some much needed reassurance for those looking for a job. Hear about what’s kept her at Critical Mass for the past 20 years (she’s worked in three offices and three different disciplines), the difference between a digital experience agency and a creative agency, what she looks for in candidates these days, and OpenBook, a new resource by Critical Mass for emerging talent.
Katie Ramp, Director of Talent & Operations at MUH-TAY-ZIK / HOF-FER, helps you get the most out of your relationship with your talent team. Hear about her advice on how to switch roles within an agency, questions to ask in your interview to figure out if an agency will take care of you, tips on getting comfortable speaking up in virtual meetings, and why agencies need to diversity their talent/HR roles.
Carla Eboli, Executive Vice President of Multicultural at EnergyBBDO, joins guest host Leo Wong to talk about what it means to work in multicultural advertising, embracing your accent, and lessons she’s learned about leadership. Hear about tips for finding the right environment for your next job, whether you should apply to multicultural agencies if you don’t have a multicultural background, and how junior talent can be leaders on their teams.
Mark Allen, Owner of RedCape and Senior Lecturer at SMU, doesn’t want to see young talent burn out early in their careers. Hear about how to make your portfolio stand out to potential employers, making sure your hobbies and side hustles are authentic, and choosing which brands to make spec work for, becoming aware of your own boundaries, skills that all young creatives should develop, and how students can make the most out of their relationships with their professors.
Ro Kalonaros, Global Content & Culture at Omnicom, will give you the encouraging push and confidence you’ve been looking for. Hear about how to be an effective communicator with people at all levels, identifying both micro-opportunities to set yourself up for success and micro-aggressions you make against yourself, and why it’s more effective to focus on who you are than what you want to do professionally.
Carl Desir, Global Executive Director, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at R/GA, is tackling the roots of systemic racism and oppression in the industry. Hear about the individual awareness and action we can all take, thinking about what kind of company you want to work for, advice on starting a passion project to help the cause, and the role the pandemic has played in making this a window of opportunity for the industry to change for the better.
Marinda McKenzie Cummings & Tessa Kohler, Associate Planners at VMLY&R, give us a look into working in experience strategy and starting your career in the Midwest. Hear about what their work entails, advice on receiving feedback as a junior, relocating to Kansas City for their first jobs, and diversifying your network and perspective.
Carolina Cruz-Letelier, Director for Client Services and Partner at MUH-TAY-ZIK / HOF-FER, champions small agency life, leading with kindness, and listening to what your coworkers need in 2020. Hear about being the youngest female Partner and what led to her rise, building a strong relationship with your manager, how agencies should be taking care of its people in 2020, and going back to fundamentals to prove your value while working from home.
Jesse Meza, Digital Media Supervisor, encourages you to be true to yourself—in your interviews, when dealing with other people’s biases, and as you move through your career. Hear about why it was still difficult to land his first job despite all his credentials, how to keep your media skills sharp, how to set yourself up for a promotion, and choosing when to act vs. when to preserve your own energy.
Saneel Radia, Global Chief Innovation Officer at R/GA, gives you a blueprint for starting your career and a look at what it means to work in innovation in the industry. Hear about his many roles and how each was additive to his career, why business needs both those who are and who aren’t entrepreneurial, the steps to getting started in innovation, and the variables that will define your career early on.
Christena Pyle, Executive Director of Advertising at TIME'S UP, shows us the power of changing your definition of success in your career. Hear about her journey working in account management and production agency-side, to ADCOLOR, to TIME’S UP, the value of trying on different roles, and how young talent can be an allies and create inclusive spaces. While recorded at the end of 2019, her advice is even more important and critical today.
Bea Iturregui, VP of Brand Partnerships at Cycle, guides us into the ever-evolving world of influencer marketing. Hear about tools she uses to keep up with what’s changing across the space, lessons she’s learned on relationship building (and why you don’t need to be an extrovert to do so), why brands are turning to influencers now more than ever, and how to prove you have what it takes without that internship you thought you’d have.
Matt Dunn, Art Director at Goodby Silverstein & Partners, joins us to inspire your next creative side hustle. Hear about how stealing a brief from the printer at his internship led to winning a Coca-Cola pitch, his first creative side hustle and how it’s shaped his career, the ingredients of a good creative side project, and why it’s even more important to stay connected with past colleagues during this time.
Angela Brown, Senior Social Strategist at GSD&M, helps us understand Covid-19’s effect on social media, brands, and our individual paths. Hear about how Covid-19 has changed her role, examples of brands that responded well (and others that didn’t) and the lasting effect of Covid-19 will have on brands, behind-the-scenes of the infamous tweet that started the Popeye’s/Chik-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich War, and dealing with the reality of a pivot from a practical and emotional perspective.
Natalie sits down to give her advice on starting your career amidst Covid-19, and answers some unanswered questions from the Q&A portion of the Virtual Recruiter Roundtables.
RSVP to the third and final Roundtable.
Gina Asaro-Collura, SVP/Creative Director at FCB Health & Adjunct Professor at FIT, shares her best tips for freelancing, virtual networking and interviews, and working your connections. Hear about getting fired and entering the world of freelance, the benefits of working freelance for six and a half years, advice on virtual networking and pointers for phone or virtual interviews, and pitching her full-time role at FCB Health after freelancing there.
Aaron Wiggan, Director of Brand Strategy at REI, shares lessons on mentorship and leadership from his career on both the agency and brand side. Hear about how his undergraduate studies in post-colonial theory, English, and forestry played a role in shaping him as a strategist, the similarities and differences of the markets he’s worked in, learning to let go of the work as a senior leader, and understanding the challenges of being a client after moving to the brand side.
This week's guest is a creative director at a global brand who has chosen to be anonymous so she can speak more freely about the things she sees her younger team members deal with and challenges she herself faces as a female leader. Hear about taking up space in a room and how to handle being interrupted (tips that can translate to virtual meetings), the power of straightforward conversation to address issues, making time to be there for members of your team, and microactions anyone who feels marginalized can take to make the work environment better.
Mara Lecocq, Brand & Community Director at Fishbowl, is here to help your side hustle by sharing advice from her own experience. Hear about the birth of Where Are The Boss Ladies and how she created her role at Fishbowl, the agency brief that led her to create Secret Code, balancing her side hustles with her full-time job, and why she decided she didn’t want to be a CEO, and the fastest way to get a raise or promotion.
The On She Goes crew talks to Ebro Darden of Hot97 & Apple Music, Chantal Rochelle of Buzzfeed’s Cocoa Butter, Shea Jackson McCann of Google, Carla Hassan of Citi, Diego Scotti from Verizon & on-air personality/journalist Tai Beauchamp; all about Taking A Stand at ADCOLOR 2019.
Molly Schlinger, Vice President, Creative Strategy at Hill+Knowlton, wants you to know that a creative agency isn’t the only place to be a strategist. Hear about resources for those who don't have formal strategy training, the opportunities to work in strategy in PR, the nuances and similarities of applying to work at a PR agency, and why feeling like you don’t know what you’re doing is okay.
Tien Dang, Associate Producer at Anomaly LA, didn’t know what she wanted to do within advertising, took her time figuring it out, and found a job she’s excited to go to every day. Hear about keeping yourself open and learning along the way, balancing your financial needs with finding a job that fulfills you, how to build more meaningful relationships, and the ingredients of a stand out MAIP Fellow or summer intern.
Digital Nomads: A new generation of people traveling and working remotely at the same time. But what is it really like to be one? Sam Kern, host of Radically Different, talks to 5 digital nomads and thought-leaders about the pros and cons of the lifestyle, how they became location-independent, and what this revolution means for the world in this special Friends of We Are Next featured episode.
Jen Joyce, Senior Social Content Strategist at WONGDOODY, pulls back the curtain on working in social media. Hear about the difference between community management and social strategy, her brainchild #UberKITTENS and tips for pitching experiential ideas, behind-the-scenes learnings from WONGDOODY’s own Instagram account, and how social strategy has evolved as a career path.
Amanda Chin, Vice President of Brand Marketing at the Golden State Warriors & Chase Center, started her career agency-side before going client side at the NBA and later the Warriors. Hear about realizing the instability of agency life early on, how to build the most fruitful relationships, how her agency experience influences her current job, being a woman of color in the sports industry, and lessons she’s learned about being a leader.
Chris Kwak, Senior Strategist at BBH, shares some of the harder learnings from his career in this open, reflective interview. Hear about how he frames the 6-7 years he spent touring the world with his band (in hindsight), taking an internship at age 26, why he started applying to full-time jobs on the first day of his internship, asking more questions when you’re in over your head, and how to make sure you’re becoming hybrid talent.
Annie Liu, Designer at Ogilvy, shows us the value of having an experimental, play-oriented mindset in your career. Hear about hacking her way into design, building a creative resume to showcase her skills, navigating rejection, why it’s important to experiment with new platforms, and side projects as a way to showcase your personality.
There's a diverse class of disruptive madmen and madwomen who've taken their talents to the startup streets and Mary-'thee stallion'-Pryor is one of them. As the cofounder of Cannaclusive, Mary is using her skills sharpened in the music and ad industries to make sure the cannabis industry is as diverse and inclusive as those who partake in the plant. Listen in as she gives the BTS on her work in this special featured episode from Kai, Karinna, and Simeon of Mixed Company.
Chelsea St. Clair, Cultural Strategist at sparks & honey, helps us squeeze the most out of the opportunities in our careers. Hear about taking a year off to travel (and how she talked about it in interviews), the skillset of a cultural strategist, working in a small agency environment, how she networked her way to Cannes last summer, and the two questions we should ask ourselves before we start any job.
James Ramseur, Integrated Comms & Media Planner at Wieden + Kennedy, shares lessons from his career, including working on one of the most awarded campaigns in 2019. Hear about learning to manage his finances, slowing down and enjoying the process wherever you’re at, being in the room spitballing with creatives and strategists, finding community in Portland, and what it was like to work on Dream Crazy for Nike as his first project.
Ciara Gaffney, Strategist at Deutsch, shows us how to lean into our unique perspectives and passions when applying to jobs and working in advertising. Hear about her approach for making your application materials stand out, how being an immigrant has informed her strategic POV, what contributed to her promotion from a jr. to mid-level strategist in just 8 months, and how her own love of K-Pop played a role in Mattel’s BTS doll line launch.
Sara Porritt, Group Director of Planning and Diversity & Inclusion Lead at OMD US, first dove into marketing and media as a way to promote her own R&B music. Hear about creativity in media, transitioning from being a junior planner to a media strategist, taking a step back to find the meaning in your career, advice for those who are questioning leaving the agency world, and the inspiration for her new podcast, Hear Us Roar.
Julia Vanderput, Director of Strategy at The Marketing Arm, shares the textbook sexual harassment she experienced early in her career and how we can break down the environments that allowed it to happen. Hear about pivoting into strategy from project management, the effect of bystanders, what to do if you see something inappropriate happening, and why the environments we create in our workplaces are important to our role as culture makers.
Julia Vanderput, Director of Strategy at The Marketing Arm, shares the textbook sexual harassment she experienced early in her career and how we can break down the environments that allowed it to happen. Hear about pivoting into strategy from project management, the effect of bystanders, what to do if you see something inappropriate happening, and why the environments we create in our workplaces are important to our role as culture makers.
Deb Ashley, Media Planner at The Wall Street Journal, gives us a glimpse of what it’s like to work in advertising on the publisher-side. Hear about starting out as an administrative assistant at a small agency, how she overcame her feelings of being under-qualified, what she does in her role as a Media Planner at the Wall Street Journal, and feeling the added pressure of being one of only a few black people on past teams.
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Cam Ferrin, Partner at TwentyFirstCenturyBrand, brings his experience working in brand strategy on the client side at some of the biggest brands out there—including Coca-Cola, Mars, Levi’s, and Airbnb—to the podcast. Hear about getting his big break into the industry, how brands and agencies can be better partners to one another, what it means to work in brand strategy, and what he thinks contributed to his rapid advancement in his career.
In this special Minisode, Natalie is joined by Leo Wong, who will be taking over We Are Next for a few months while she's on maternity leave! Hear about his experience in the industry, and what to expect from We Are Next while Natalie takes some time off to become a mom.
Troy Gary, Director of Brand Strategy at Playboy, wants us all to create the environments we want to work in. Hear about how his early experience in sales and account management has been valuable, making sure we’re not talking to ourselves, fostering better relationships with senior leadership, why it’s smart to ask about an agency’s new business strategy in your interview, and the reasons behind his decision to take on a new role at Playboy.
Jennie Moore, Creative Director at WONGDOODY, believes that you are where you are for a reason. Hear about becoming a creative director at age 44 and why she wouldn’t go back and do things differently, the relationship between those just starting out and those with a lot of experience under their belts, how she’s built confidence and become more assertive, and why being laid off could be the best thing for your career.
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Ashlea Ramirez, Engagement & Inclusion Manager at Droga5, made an early career shift from project management to Diversity & Inclusion. Hear about her tips for MAIP 2020 Fellows, the non-profit she co-founded called Women Who Create, how mentees can make the most out of their relationship with their mentors, initiatives she’s worked on at Droga5, including exposing Latinx directors to the creatives and producers at the agency for Hispanic Heritage Month, and how her job has influenced her own coming out story.
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Jack Rogosin, Associate Copywriter at FCB Chicago, grew up around advertising, thanks to his mom, Fallon’s first female creative hire (the original Peggy Olsen). But that didn’t mean it was easy for him to break into the industry. Hear about his struggle to get hired because of his age/lack of a college degree (despite winning The One Club’s Creative Bootcamp several times), what he gained from unpaid internships outside of the industry, finally getting his foot in the door via an out-of-the-box job application, and facing a moral crossroad early in his career.
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Bella Ibrahim, Marketing Director at Kerning Cultures, spent five years as an art director at Digitas before joining a podcast network start-up. Hear about why not getting hired isn't always about you, learning to manage up when it came to promotions, the power of hearing stories from the Middle East and the mission of Kerning Cultures, what it's been like to move to a start-up environment, and podcasts as an advertising medium.
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Rachel Guest and Celine Faledam, Associate Creative Directors at The Many, have been creative partners across 10 years, two continents, five ECDs and 206 late night desk dinners. Hear about the biggest things you don’t learn in ad school, what to do if you aren’t clicking with your partner, their experience and learnings from their passion project Give The Talk, and the role of creativity and brands when it comes to social good issues.
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Marc Phillips, a Content Director at IBM Watson Health, worked in content and social strategy agency-side before recently going in-house. Hear about how to maintain a strong portfolio as a strategist, making yourself indispensable during a period of layoffs, tips on adjusting to the in-house work environment, and why your identity should include something other than what you do professionally.
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Karen Goodman, Group Creative Director at Havas, is here to help you take more risks in your career. Hear about how young creatives can stand out when starting out, integrating into a new city where you don’t know anyone, what she learned from working for two years client-side at Under Armour, letting go of the pressure we put on ourselves when starting something new, and why we should “always be ready”.
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Elizabeth Rosenberg, Global Head of Communications at 72andSunny, joins us to shed light on the huge role PR/Communications professionals play in the agency world. Hear about why encouraging speaking engagements within your own office is underrated, the strategy involved in crafting and pitching a story to the media, tips for networking in the industry, the demand for PR talent, how we should be receiving and using the feedback we get, and tips for getting paid what you’re worth.
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Gina Kim, Art Direction Intern at Squarespace, talks about the day-to-day work, challenges, learnings and advice that came out of her summer internship. Part of Intern Fieldnotes, Vol. 2, a special series created in collaboration with interns and companies all over the industry.
See the full series here.
Kayla Torres-Han, Marketing Intern at Copacino + Fujikado, chats about the day-to-day work, challenges, learnings and advice that came out of her summer internship. Part of Intern Fieldnotes, Vol. 2, a special series created in collaboration with interns and companies all over the industry.
See the full series here.
Graciela Lopez, Project Management Intern at Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness (Publicis Health Summer Internship Program), chats about the day-to-day work, challenges, learnings and advice that came out of her summer internship. Part of Intern Fieldnotes, Vol. 2, a special series created in collaboration with interns and companies all over the industry.
See the full series here.
Zach Wright, Strategy Intern at 72andSunny, shares his day-to-day work, challenges, learnings and advice that came out of his summer internship. Part of Intern Fieldnotes, Vol. 2, a special series created in collaboration with interns and companies all over the industry.
See the full series here.
Jaycee Masucci, Design Intern at Instrument, reflect on the day-to-day work, challenges, learnings and advice that came out of her summer internship. Part of Intern Fieldnotes, Vol. 2, a special series created in collaboration with interns and companies all over the industry.
See the full series here.
Victoria Ayo, Experience Design Intern at R/GA, chats about the day-to-day work, challenges, learnings and advice that came out of her summer internship. Part of Intern Fieldnotes, Vol. 2, a special series created in collaboration with interns and companies all over the industry.
See the full series here.
Shekinah Robinson, Brand/Project Management Intern at The Marcus Graham Project reflects on the day-to-day work, challenges, learnings and advice that came out of her summer internship. Part of Intern Fieldnotes, Vol. 2, a special series created in collaboration with interns and companies all over the industry.
See the full series here.
Jay Choyce Tibbitts, Account Management Intern at DDB NY, reflects on the day-to-day work, challenges, learnings and advice that came out of his summer internship. Part of Intern Fieldnotes, Vol. 2, a special series created in collaboration with interns and companies all over the industry.
See the full series here.
Jenna Alvarez, Social & E-Commerce Intern at The Integer Group, chats about the day-to-day work, challenges, learnings and advice that came out of her summer internship. Part of Intern Fieldnotes, Vol. 2, a special series created in collaboration with interns and companies all over the industry.
See the full series here.
Rachel Kim, Brand Strategy Intern at Mekanism, chats about the day-to-day work, challenges, learnings, and advice that came out of her summer internship. Part of Intern Fieldnotes, Vol. 2, a special series created in collaboration with interns and companies all over the industry.
Eric Hu, Senior Strategist, Engagement Planning, at Area 23 (part of the FCB Health network), went from being a performing artist, to freelance strategist at big name agencies, to working full-time at a healthcare agency (and being a commercial photographer and microinfluencer on top of that!). Hear about pitching yourself to a company as a student, overcoming imposter syndrome as a young strategist, the pros and cons of freelancing, his decision to work at a healthcare agency, and why we should seek to work with people who are different than us.
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In our first Inbox Zero Minisode, Natalie answers questions from We Are Next users, including:
- Do any agencies release applications for full-time spring roles in the fall?
- What should I do about a speaker on the wrong side of the #MeToo movement?
- Is grad school necessary in advertising?
- I'm stuck moving from marketing to advertising
- How can I optimize my networking to land a full-time junior role?
Submit your own question for a future Inbox Zero Miniside here.
Jezz Chung, Diversity & Engagement Lead at Anomaly, shows us the power of listening to yourself, finding outlets that support your mental health, and aligning your profession with your purpose. Hear about her three career pivots and how a video of her dancing helped her become a creative at Media Arts Lab, why moving to NYC was the most triggering experience to her mental health and what she’s learned about comparing herself to others, how she pitched her dream role to Anomaly, and how her Asian American upbringing has influenced her career.
Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Submit a Guest Interest form.
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Mariano Pintor, Account Supervisor at McCann NY, opens up about his experience as a first generation student and how his intersectional identity has influenced his work. Hear about why it’s important to vocalize your passions at work, his response to a serious family crisis having to do with ICE during one of the biggest moments of his career, his contribution to McCann’s recent work for Pride, and advice for other first generation students.
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To celebrate our 100th podcast episode, Vivian Zhang, Integrated Comms & Media Planner at Wieden+Kennedy, comes over to interview Natalie as as guest host. Hear about Natalie’s career before We Are Next, how We Are Next was started, how it’s evolved, behind-the-scenes challenges, how being pregnant (!) has affected how she views We Are Next, and her biggest advice for anyone wanting to start their own thing.
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In this special episode, we’re sharing seven clips from episodes that never aired (for various reasons). Enjoy these previously unheard gems of advice!
As we approach our 100th episode, we’re looking for new podcast guests to interview. If you or someone you work with would make an awesome guest, please fill out our Guest Interest Form.
Alicia Haberman, Senior Experiential Designer at CNX Condé Nast, talks about her dual background in film and graphic design, and belief in bringing your out-of-work passions to your career. Hear about skills and traits that served her well in production, putting what you’ve done and what you want to do out there, what she does as an Experiential Designer at Condé Nast’s in-house agency, and why you’re never really going in the wrong direction.
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Emily Siegel, President and Partner at Lafayette American, has written most of her own job descriptions and built teams that didn’t exist prior. Hear about her nonlinear path to advertising, how to know when’s the right time to move on or take a risk in your career, working with iconic brands in Detroit and what Lafayette American was founded to do as an agency, and advice for future female leaders.
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Tony Joo, Head of Production and Co-Founder of NEON, is here to talk all things production, collaboration, and finding your voice in a room. Hear about the qualities that make for a great producer, variation between working in production at different agencies (and brand-side), co-founding a creative studio, navigating being shy and introverted in an industry full of big personalities and loud voices, and how to make your seat at the table more heard and respected when you feel underrepresented.
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This week’s episode is a live recording from the Double Back panel I moderated last Friday. Panelists Theresa Vargas Wyatt - Chief Growth Officer, La Reyna, Docia Nartey-Koram - Associate Director of Talent Acquisition, AKQA, Tiffany Golden - Creative Producer, Wieden+Kennedy, and Adam Katzenback - Managing Director, Virtue Worldwide, discuss actionable ways to increase representation, diversity, and inclusion in the industry.
Thank you to FIR Northwest, Wieden+Kennedy, and all the sponsors who helped make the event possible!
Zoe Kessler, Creative Director at Barton F. Graf (at the time of recording*), joins us to talk about embracing what makes you different in the industry. Hear about how to make the most of your job even if it’s not your ideal position, why we should grill the person interviewing us, working with other agencies on the pro bono campaign Donate:60, and learning to accept recognition as a female creative.
*Note - since we recorded this episode, Zoe has moved on from Barton F. Graf.
If you’re in the Portland area, RSVP for Friday’s Double Back event at Wieden+Kennedy, hosted in collaboration with FIR Northwest.
Jeff MacDonald, Experience Design Lead at Epic Signal at Mekanism, brings us high-level ways to think about our careers as we navigate through them. Hear about how he found Experience Design (formerly Creative Technology) at Brandcenter, how creative technology has evolved, how to roll with the ups and downs of working in advertising, processing your emotions after being let go, and the importance of actively redefining your career along the way.
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Courtney Jones, New Business Manager at 22squared, brings her empowering advice to the podcast. Hear about what it means to work in new business, speaking up as the “only” one in the room, how she incorporates D&I into her new business role and learnings from 22squared’s inspiring D&I journey, why you should consider moving to Atlanta post-graduation, and the kind of support young talent should be looking for in their first jobs.
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Max Slonim, Senior Strategist at Initiative, is here to help us understand the state of strategy today. Hear about why having a mentor in a different discipline is beneficial, the experience of working in strategy at a media agency (and why you shouldn't write it off!), strategy portfolios, why LinkedIn is the professional equivalent of Instagram, and what being an advocate for diversity has to do with empathy.
For more guidance from the industry, subscribe to our Weekly Email—it's a small dose of advice, delivered Mondays.
In this special episode recorded at the VCU Brandcenter Recruiter Session, we sat down with three Brandcenter alumni—Lizzy Hopkinson (2017), Copywriter, Nitin Dua (2016), Senior Strategist at Fallon, and Brandon Viney (2012), Creative Lead at Google Brand Studio—to talk about the start of their careers, early lessons, and their best advice for graduating seniors.
Huge thank you to our friends at 22squared, who helped make this trip and episode possible!
Alexa DePasquale, SVP of Innovation at Grey Group, shows us how shifting your mindset to one of abundance and gratitude, and health and fitness can have huge impacts on your career. Hear about embracing the fact that your career won’t be a linear process, why networking is an ongoing practice, specific resources she uses to stay on top of innovation, how health and fitness affect your confidence, and why EQ is so important for leaders to have.
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Hwanghah Jeong, Experience Designer at Airbnb, brings early lessons from her career, a desire to give back, and wisdom beyond her years. Hear about how she ended up at her dream company, deciding between taking an internship vs. a full-time job, advice on getting feedback on your portfolio, learning to be vulnerable and asking for help, and how she’s working on building confidence as a young designer.
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Carren O’Keefe and Jim Wood, Partners & Executive Creative Directors at AnalogFolk, share advice from careers full of building self-awareness, navigating fear, and partnership. Hear about learning from fear, deciding what kind of creative you want to be, how they function as Co-ECDs out of AF’s Portland and New York offices, how the industry is evolving and why we need to preserve space for thinking and creative ideas, and your mindset when you’re the only one like you in the room.
Listen to the very end of the interview for a We Are Next first! :)
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Alex Nguyen, Strategy Director at McCann NY*, brings learnings from half a career spent working in Vietnam, a shift from creative to strategy, and figuring out how to advocate for himself as talent of color. Hear about why we should continue to build relationships with agencies that pass on us, returning to NYC without any professional contacts, what he includes in his portfolio, and using diversity and inclusion as a lens when assessing potential agencies.
- Since we recorded his episode, Alex moved on from McCann, and is now a Strategy Director at Johannes Leonardo.
Jessica Kassel, Head of Recruiting at Heat, gives you an inside look at what the other side of the application process is thinking. Hear about her approach to finding great talent and why we shouldn’t be looking for an “X” factor, interview missteps she sees, how we should think about and bounce back from negative experiences in our career, and why you should take the relationship you have with recruiters into your own hands.
Last week to vote! If you'd like to see three sides of the industry—education, recruitment, and junior talent—discuss why where we choose to work can change the industry for the better, please vote for "Voting With Your Talent" under the Leadership track for The One Club's Creative Week!
https://www.creativeweek.org/voting
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Mackenzie Walen, Management Supervisor at Opinionated, is here to help you make those big, important decisions in your career. Hear about how her background in design benefits her current role in account management, making the most of an informational interview, why you should consider working abroad and how to go about it, how to decide between small vs. big agencies, and dealing with the tension between needing to lead with authority and being very junior.
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Jose-Guillermo Diaz, Co-Founder and Director of Miami Ad School Punta Cana, joins us to talk about building an ad program that creates global creative talent in the Central American and Caribbean region. Hear about transitioning from editorial design in publishing to being a creative in advertising, why he began teaching over 19 years ago and how ad students have changed over the years, the goal of Miami Ad School Punta Cana and how the program differs from other campuses, and how to position yourself as international talent.
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Alice Franklin, Strategy Intern at BBH London, shares her story of starting her career as neurodiverse talent. Hear about how her Tourette's and Asperger’s caused years of struggle in her job search before she interviewed (after applying a second time!) at BBH, the challenges that arise in the office, how being autistic makes her a killer strategist, and how the agency world can make interviews and office spaces more inclusive to those who process information differently.
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Nneka Carrie Ude, Director of Strategic Planning at Geometry Global, joins us to talk about non-linear career paths, being a trend investigator, and founding a media startup. Hear about keeping herself adaptive at the beginning of her career, how she identifies trends that matter and the sources she uses to broaden her worldview, what shopper marketing entails, and her media startup and digital community, Welcome to THE PATH, which focuses on the intersection of people, business and culture, particularly within the African diaspora.
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Alicia Buford, Associate Design Director at Instrument, speaks her truth about her winding career path (with stops of frog and SapientNitro), and her struggles with Portland. Hear about why she might not get a master's degree if she could go back and do it again, being active and mindful about the type of education you're receiving, being bullied by an ECD early in her career, and the reality of being talent of color in a city that isn't known for being diverse.
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Jessica McGlory, Director of Paid Social Media Marketing at Bombas, is an award-winning paid social evangelist and data enthusiast who gives fantastic advice. Hear about what she did that contributed to her rapid rise, how to think about awards and recognition, why your work has impact (no matter where you work), the story of her very public coming out on the ADCOLOR Awards stage and being an openly gay black woman in the industry.
Heads up: I'm finalizing my speaking schedule for the semester, so if you're interested in having me come visit your school, reach out via our Contact Form.
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Kat Gabrielle, CEO & Co-Founder of 2050Work, isn't afraid to speak openly about the challenges she's faced in her career, while providing actionable advice and solutions for the industry. Hear about having nine odd jobs her first year in NYC, why operations roles in creative companies are misunderstood, how 2050Work connects diverse talent with the creative and tech industries, her experience being the only black person at every company she's worked at for the past 10 years, and throwing imposter syndrome out the window.
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Lisa Balser, Creative Director, Certified Diversity Executive, and Director of SheSays Atlanta, is working to help tackle some of the industry’s most pressing issues. Hear the best advice she gives to her Creative Circus students, engaging everyone in conversations about diversity, inclusion, and equity, finding ways to make portfolio school more accessible to students, the Atlanta ad scene, and why the 3% Super Bowl Tweet-up is important (and why it’s not just for women!).
Heads up: If you’re in Atlanta, sign up to attend the 3% Super Bowl Tweet-up, hosted by Lisa and The Creative Circus!
See the results of our 2019 User Feedback Survey to learn more about who our users are, what they’re looking for in their careers, and how they use We Are Next. Thank you to everyone who submitted their input!
Kate McElroy, Associate Director of Strategic Planning at Swift, shows us the beauty in knowing there's not one right answer or one way to do things. Hear about the pressure for strategists to have all the answers, why there's no manual for putting together a creative brief, the evolution of social media, and how to get the most out of a mentor relationship (pulled from her involvement in Swift's For The Women program).
Hey, Portland! I'd love to meet you, hang out, and chat over coffee on Saturday, Feb 2. Space is limited, so RSVP for our We Are Next & Friends Meet-up today!
Kevin Green, Creative Director at RAPP, shares his inspirational career path, practical advice for asking for what you need, and how he gives back via the Marcus Graham Project. Hear about how he turned his internship into a full-time job, becoming a Creative Director at 30 and how to accelerate your own growth, co-running the day-to-day operations at the Marcus Graham Project, and his advice for those who feel beat down by the industry.
Applications are live for the Marcus Graham Project's 2019 iCR8 Summer Bootcamp. Apply here!
Heads up: Take our 2019 User Feedback Survey for a chance to win one of four $50 Amazon gift cards! Your input helps us make We Are Next better, so thank you for taking a sec to tell us about you.
We're starting off 2019 with Bekah Nutt, UX Lead at Zambezi! Hear about how her experience in musical theater (she performed in over 900 performances of Mamma Mia!) has been useful to her agency career, advice for those wanting to switch teams within their agency, a breakdown of what UX entails and the opportunities within the industry, how creatives and strategists can use UX in their own work flows, and why it's important for you to understand an agency's parental leave policy (even if you're not yet a parent).
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Natalie shares her end-of-year thoughts and reflections, as well as focuses for 2019, in the hopes that it'll spark some self-reflection of your own.
Regular episodes will return on Tuesday, January 8. Until then, have a happy holiday!
Julie Lubbers, Brand Strategist at Droga5, brings her unique perspective as young, female, and foreign talent to the podcast. Hear about tips for reaching out for informational interviews (the way Julie did to land at Droga5!), how her identity has influenced the way she presents herself, learning to sit at the table, her honest take on the visa process, and her approach to being a leader at any level.
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Seth Feingersh, Audio Engineer for GaryVee, breaks down the world of content creation from his experience producing Gary Vaynerchuk’s daily podcast, The GaryVee Audio Experience, and assisting with client projects at VaynerMedia. Hear about his decision to take an "adult internship," learning how to tell stories through audio, branded content and applying content best practices to your own personal brand, and his advice for starting a podcast.
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Keith Stoeckeler, VP/Group Director, Digital at MKTG, is here to answer all your questions on being a digital strategist. Hear about switching from account management to strategy, the evolution of the role of a digital strategist, what he's learned from working in experiential at MKTG, why self-reflection is crucial to your job search, and how he learned to speak up and navigate meeting culture.
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For more guidance from the industry, subscribe to our Weekly email—it's a small dose of advice, delivered Mondays. Or search for a specific topic in our ever-growing Stash of Advice.
Amy Rangel, Director of Human Resources at RAPP, gives us a look into the perceptions and realities of HR. Hear about the state of HR in the industry today, how to get the most out of your relationship with HR, how her identity as a queer woman of color has shaped her career, how she's applying takeaways from ADCOLOR to her D&I work at RAPP, and understanding your own strengths.
Subscribe & leave us a review on iTunes to help others discover the podcast!
For more guidance from the industry, subscribe to our Weekly email—it's a small dose of advice, delivered Mondays. Or search for a specific topic in our ever-growing Stash of Advice.
Speakers Jen Ostrich, President and Founder of Ostrich Coaching & Consulting, and Gary J. Nix, Strategic Consultant, Adjunct Professor, and Diversity & Inclusion Advocate, join us at the 3% Conference to drop gems from their talks. Hear about understanding your strengths, how to ask your manager for the right kind of feedback, understanding an agency’s reputation and the options available to you in the industry, and how to maintain hope and drive in your career.
Subscribe & leave us a review on iTunes to help others discover the podcast!
For more guidance from the industry, subscribe to our Weekly email—it's a small dose of advice, delivered Mondays. Or search for a specific topic in our ever-growing Stash of Advice.
Heide Gardner, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Interpublic Group, and Nick Childs, Chief Creative Officer, sat down with us at the 3% Conference to discuss how some of the most important themes are applicable to the beginning of your career. Hear about how to get a sense of an agency’s D&I practices, advocating for yourself, how to be an ally to all underrepresented voices in our industry, and more.
Stay tuned for Part II, releasing Friday!
Rachel Mercer, Executive Strategy Director at R/GA, helps us see the bigger picture in our jobs and careers in this week's episode. Hear about how she handled rejection while getting her start, the importance of understanding what's going on in business (and the email newsletters she uses to do so), how to reach out to someone in the industry most effectively, the result of having the most diverse team at Deutsch, creating a structure for training strategists, and how to be your own best advocate.
Subscribe & leave us a review on iTunes to help others discover the podcast!
For more guidance from the industry, subscribe to our Weekly email—it's a small dose of advice, delivered Mondays. Or search for a specific topic in our ever-growing Stash of Advice.
Recorded at our event, The Job Search Struggle is Real: Breaking Into Advertising, we got super specific and tactical with Jenny Hudak, Talent Director at Anomaly. We talked about what to include (and not include) on your resume/portfolio, building industry connections online and in-person at recruiting fairs, the ingredients of a stand-out interview, how to follow up with a recruiter, and more.
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Vann Graves, Executive Director of the VCU Brandcenter, brings stories, learnings, and vision from his highly-awarded career working with some of the world's biggest brands. Hear about how being asked to create a Christmas card for (then CCO and Chairman of BBDO) Phil Dusenberry's dog taught him a lesson about being a great creative, his enormous goal for making Brandcenter more accessible to students and diversifying the pipeline to the industry, what the industry should know about the next generation of advertising, and why you shouldn't "fake it 'til you make it".
Subscribe & leave us a review on iTunes to help others discover the podcast!
For more guidance from the industry, subscribe to our Weekly email—it's a small dose of advice, delivered Mondays. Or search for a specific topic in our ever-growing Stash of Advice.
Brett Schneider, Director of Brand Partnerships at Complex Networks, worked in account management at agencies like Translation and 72andSunny (among others) before shifting into brand partnerships on the publisher's side. Hear about how publishers like Complex are changing the industry landscape and how he works with brands in his role, struggling with account managers not being seen as creative, and how his mindfulness practice affects him professionally.
Vanessa Toro, Vice President of Creative Strategy at Digitas, speaks to all the outliers in the industry who don’t come from an advertising background. Hear about why it’s important to be out participating in the world, navigating the cultural and social norms of working at an agency, how her identity as a woman of color influences her leadership style, and why she’s not here for strategy jargon.
Legends Sandy Greenberg and Terri Meyer, Co-founders and CEOs of TERRI & SANDY, share wisdom from their years of navigating the industry as creative and business partners — and they aren't afraid to tell it like it is. Hear about the difference between starting your career at a big vs. small agency, how to build resilience in your career, mindfucks to look out for and how to deal with them, and more.
Jewell Donaldson, Writer at Flagrant Creative, helps other creatives project themselves into the world and secure the bag. Hear about how she turned an internship into a full-time role, things to watch out for when you go freelance, building your tribe, and how to get a real sense of an agency's culture—especially when it comes to diversity & inclusion.
Nathalie Con, VP, Strategy Director at Giant Spoon, joins us to talk about owning and branding your weirdness. Hear about the importance of asking why and the kind of work Giant Spoon is known for, being a culture add vs. a culture fit, and translating your non-advertising and non-work related interests and passions into relevant skills on your resume/in an interview (with lots of specific examples!).
Natalie joins Karinna, Kai, and Simeon as a guest of the Mixed Company Podcast to talk about recent headlines (like Serena Williams vs. Carlos Ramos, Nike's Kaepernick ad, and Les Moonves), the origin of We Are Next, the future of Mixed Company, and more!
Alyssa Neilson is a Digital Strategist at 180LA, and joined us to share learnings about her traditional educational path into advertising and non-traditional postgrad path into agency life. Hear about breaking into strategy, reaching back and helping people behind you despite having imposter syndrome, and her recent move to Los Angeles from New York (which was anything but easy!).
Alicia Harris, Brand Strategy Intern at Droga5, talks about deciding to take an internship over a full-time job offer, bringing in perspective from your life to your work, and thriving in fast-paced environments.
Natalie Shinault, Account Coordinator Intern at New Honor Society, talks about making friends in a city where you don't know anyone, loving structure but embracing change, and slowing down when communicating with a client.
Sydni Chustz, Video Production Intern at RPA, talks about how she transitioned between teams, learning how to fail forward, appreciating the opportunities to connect with people within the agency, and finding ways to assert her personal identity through her work.
Lisa Scotto Pommerening, Head of Media and Entertainment Industry Partnerships at the World Economic Forum, brings advice from a 20-year career working at places like The Walt Disney Company and Advertising Age. Hear about what working in strategic partnerships entails, building a thick skin and getting over the fear of following up, the importance of developing your other selves outside of work, and why having a non-linear career path is valuable.
For more guidance from the industry, subscribe to our Weekly email—it's a small dose of advice, delivered Mondays. Or search for a specific topic in our ever-growing Stash of Advice.
Hunter Kelly, Strategy Intern at HAYMAKER, talks about what contributing to her getting hired full-time (yay!), flexing her creative muscles, and giving yourself enough credit for the things that come naturally.
Akin Abode, Copywriting Intern at HAYMAKER, talks about learning to partner with strategists, making time to study the industry, and bringing things you like outside of work to the work you do.
See Akin's full Intern Fieldnotes piece about his experience at HAYMAKER.
About Intern Fieldnotes
In this special series, summer interns from agencies all over the advertising industry share their experience to help make learnings about themselves, the agency, and the industry more accessible to everyone.
Ivo Ilić, Developer Intern at Firstborn, talks about raising your hand for help, writing down things to look up later, and seeing feedback as an opportunity for self-improvement.
Over the course of his career, Jerico Cabaysa went from wanting to be a sports agent to overseeing one of the biggest sports brands as Managing Director on Gatorade at TBWA\Chiat\Day. Hear about trying on every role at the agency before he found account management, working on brands that you care about, becoming a dad while working in advertising, and how being asked to be in comps shaped his outlook on his identity at work.
Gabrielle Gomez, Design & Social Media Intern at Wolf & Wilhelmine, talks about embracing uncertainty, being a design intern at a brand strategy agency, and finding women at Wolf & Wilhelmine who inspire her to be even more ambitious.
Chloe Hurckes, Account Management Intern at Anomaly LA, talks about learning how to build relationships with clients, the working culture in LA, and appreciating that everyone's opinions are valued at Anomaly.
Anthony Williams II, Brand Management Intern at Wieden + Kennedy, talks about how to gauge whether or not you'll be hired after your internship, getting past initial worries about not fitting in with the team, and learning about how he processes information by observing the thoughts of others.
Deidry Gomez, Planning Intern at VML, talks about unexpectedly falling in love with Kansas City, learning to take more initiative, and understanding that it's okay to not know everything.
Makeda Loney, Junior Copywriter at Burrell Communications, brings her fresh perspective for young talent to the podcast. Hear about her advice for getting started in advertising when you have no prior experience, how her identity as a poet influences her copywriting, her approach to taking care of her mental health, and her perspective on diversity as a young black woman in the industry.
Heads up: Introducing Intern Fieldnotes—13 pieces, released 1 per day, created by summer interns all over the industry. By sharing their work, agency culture, challenges, and learnings, interns help make the internship experience more accessible and beneficial to all. http://bit.ly/2w1jifa
If you're in Los Angeles, I'm running a free workshop in partnership with General Assembly this Thursday 8/23. Very excited to have Jenny Hudak, Talent Director at Anomaly, as our special guest! RSVP to save your spot: https://generalassemb.ly/education/the-job-search-struggle-is-real-breaking-into-advertising/los-angeles/55760
Check out all of We Are Next's resources, including our Weekly Email, We Are Next Jobs, and the We Are Next Index on our website.
Bolora Munkhbold, Art Direction Intern at WONGDOODY LA, talks about learning to be kind to herself and leave room to mess up, her experience interning with a smaller team, and not letting your work define you.
Jenny Gomez, Director of Product Marketing for the Advanced Media and Advertising Group at TiVo, went from being a theatre professional to working both on the agency and ad tech sides of the industry. Hear about what ad tech actually entails and how data stories illuminate human behavior, how to keep up with the continually shifting needs of agencies, the misconceptions about B2B marketing, and small ways to build confidence.
Brandon Solis, Integrated Strategy Director at R/GA, joins us to share learnings from his untraditional entry into advertising and rapid advancement in his career. Hear about hacking the education system and how his past experience in car insurance is valuable, applying self-reflection in order to learn quickly, the state of strategy roles, and dealing with imposter syndrome.
It's the one year anniversary of the We Are Next Podcast, and we're celebrating with a special episode. Revisit some of our favorite advice from the past year, and hear answers to behind-the-scenes questions about the podcast and We Are Next.
THANK YOU to every single guest from the past year and to anyone who listens, subscribes, and shares the podcast. The We Are Next Podcast doesn't happen without you.
Ellen Wong, Executive Creative Director at RED Interactive Agency*, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her career as a female designer and leader. Hear about how she got her start designing rave flyers, the struggle to find work-life balance, finding her voice and being taken seriously as a female designer, and the best way to initiate and sustain relationships in your career.
*Since we recorded, Ellen has moved on to an exciting new venture of her own. Listen for the update at the end of the episode
Patrick Buchanan, Creative Director and Copywriter, brings stories and learnings from his whirlwind career working at agencies all over the world. Hear about how this musician serendipitously found himself at Miami Ad School (where he later taught), the politics of big and small agencies, working internationally in countries like Hungary and Moscow, and his experience co-writing a Super Bowl spot for Chrysler with Bob Dylan.
Jazmin Burrell, Account Manager at Vox Media and Founder of Lizzie Della Creative Strategies, brings her forward-thinking, entrepreneurial spirit, and advice A-game to the podcast. Hear about the best parts and biggest challenges of working at big name agencies vs. smaller boutique shops (like 72andSunny and Spike DDB), being an account manager at a media/publishing company, why the time is now to "make your own table," and remembering to look at the larger picture.
Thas Naseemuddeen, Partner, Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director at Omelet, brightens the podcast with her genuine love of what she does and insightful takeaways from her career. Hear about the innate traits of strategists, one of the biggest conversations about talent development that no one is talking about, why brand positioning today is anything but traditional, and the art and science of getting to an insight (without getting formulaic about it).
Erin and Angela, creative team at Rodgers Townsend, reflect on how they got their starts (very differently!) and careers to date, including last year's Gold Cannes Young Lions win and trip to the festival. Hear about why there are no real missteps when navigating your career, how they get to their best ideas, their experience entering and winning a Gold Cannes Young Lions award, and why we shouldn't be afraid to start over.
Andrie helped lead account management teams at agencies like TBWA\Chiat\Day, Wieden + Kennedy, and Media Arts Lab and worked on clients like Airbnb, KFC, and Apple before going client-side at AT&T Entertainment Group. Hear about how to overcome common hurdles young account mangers face, what interns can do to up the probability of getting hired, and how the heck to "manage up".
Jiah brings us an epic episode full of wisdom and real talk from her experience on both the agency and client-side. Hear about how to be a leader when just starting out, working at Coca-Cola and why being a client is nothing like you think it is, where the industry is headed, and why you shouldn't be afraid of what makes you different.
Jennifer brings her love of gaming, geek culture, and cosplay to her role as Associate Creative Director at Moxie (and wins the award for coolest headshot, hands down!). Hear about how she kept up her portfolio and landed a job after four years out of the industry, how to translate your creative hobbies into your skillset at work, working on social media for Arby's, and her tips for those who aren't naturally vocal.
Mouzel Manugas, Jr. Copywriter at PP+K, Peter Iliopoulos, Senior Account Manager at Catalina Marketing, and Kaitlyn Zeitler, Copywriter at Dunn&Co discuss the successes and learnings from Ad 2 Tampa Bay's diversity and inclusion initiatives. Hear about the benefits of a tight-knit ad community, advice on creating events that allow people to open up and get to solutions despite differing viewpoints, and small but powerful ways to advocate for diversity and inclusion as jr. talent.
Ever wonder what it's like to start your own agency? Co-founders of HAYMAKER—Matt Johnson, Chief Strategy Officer and Jay Kamath, Chief Creative Officer—give us a peek into what's on their minds as they prepare for their first interns. Hear about the collaboration that inspired the agency (and how you can be a better partner to your creative or strategy teams), how to start forming your POV as junior talent, and why you shouldn't be afraid to make mistakes. Plus, lots and lots of sports metaphors!
Aliya tells us everything we need to know about getting started in UX and product design. Hear about her transition from the wine industry to UX, the hard and soft skills needed to be a product designer, specific resources (including blogs, courses, and communities) for those starting out, and her advice on the biggest hurdles that junior designers face—including building your portfolio from scratch and finding mentors.
Cecilia takes us through her journey from print production, to creative manager, to creative recruiter, to talent development specialist. Hear about why operational roles like creative services make for great careers, how to be thoughtfully considered about when to leave an agency, and how jr. talent can check their own unconscious biases.
Rebecca gives us a peek into the world of social strategy from her experience working on clients like Coca-Cola, Converse, and Bud Light. Hear about how the past stigma of being a social strategist has evolved, how she stays up on new platform developments, and the value of bringing your fresh perspective and understanding of youth culture to the agency.
Eli joins us to talk about naming, branding, and running a creative studio. Hear about why naming is more complicated than you think, the importance of guiding someone through your creative process, what you should put in your portfolio, and why we should seek out weird shit as inspiration.
Heads up: For some reason my mic recorded me a little quieter than usual, but you can hear Eli just fine, which is all that really matters. :)
Nika shares especially insightful advice and her love of planning in a conversation about all thing strategy. Hear about her hypothesis on why strategy is especially hard to break into, why you don't necessarily need a strategy portfolio, qualities of stand-out interns she's worked with (who got hired!), the stigma surrounding LA and why she’s never worked harder in her career.
Lauren Walker, Media Supervisor at Crispin Porter + Bogusky, brings tons of useful advice and tells us what's what in the world of media, drawing from her experience working in creative agencies, media agencies, and ad tech. Hear examples of how media can drive creative, why working in ad tech is a great way to get to an agency role, plus key media-related terms you should know—including one that will make you stand out if used in an interview!
Michael comes to us from the world of visual branding, sharing his experience from 20+ years of being a self-defined design nerd. Hear about the process of creating a visual brand identity, personal branding and resume tips from the class he teaches at CU Boulder, and being a creative of color in a city not known for its diversity (and the case for sticking it out).
Meaghan gives us a peek behind the recruiting curtain, helping us understand what she actually looks for when searching for high quality talent. Hear her super specific resume and portfolio tips, how to make a good impression during an interview, her mantra of ABR (Always Be Recruiting) and what that means for talent, and why just applying to a job application online usually won't cut it.
In this experimental Minisode, we take things down to a whisper to relax after a long week of storms on both coasts. Hear about how to build good work/life balance habits even as you're beginning your career, so you don't burn out before you've even gotten started.
(If you're not a fan of unintentional mouth sounds, this episode may not be for you. Just trying something new—it won't become an every Minisode thing.)
Carolina went from studying art direction to working in digital production at the Ad Council, helping to bring campaigns like Love Has No Labels and Seize The Awkward to life. Hear about the hard and soft skills needed to work in digital production, tips on managing multiple projects at once, and her super inspirational realization that we shouldn't constrain ourselves or our dreams while in college.
Heidi Singleton, Chief Creative Officer at female-led New Honor Society, brings the agency's ethos of "Less Sell, More Soul" to life in this week's episode. Hear about how to differentiate your portfolio, things that tell her a candidate is a good hire, tips on making your voice heard in rooms full of strong ones, and the importance of defining what success looks like in your career.
Bennett digs deep, pulling from his experience coming up as a creative of color in NYC, working as a copywriter, and his bird's eye view from covering the industry as a Staff Writer at The Drum. Hear about how volunteering got him into some of the biggest conferences and events, making sure your employer is as invested in you as you are in them, and the lack of middle management of color—and what it means for jr. talent.
Whether you're in the thick of summer internship applications, or want to proactively brush up your resume (always a good idea), here are 5 quick fixes you can do today to make your resume stronger.
Sharon and Kim, Partners & Principal Strategists at Ripley Strategy, bring their boss selves and years of experience to the podcast. Hear about creating your own opportunities, building good habits to avoid burnout (while still working your ass of as junior talent), new ways of working, and the importance of communities in your career. Bonus: why their agency is named after Ellen Ripley from Alien (how awesome is that??).
Leif started his career when he joined Natalie's team as a Strategy Intern at Firstborn. A few years later, he's moved up and over to the brand side in the explosive world of gaming and Esports. Hear about getting started in strategy, learning how to better work with clients now that he is one, and how to leave an agency the right way.
Christof takes us behind the scenes of innovation strategy. Hear about why the “dull” industries are the ones that need the most help and yield the biggest impact, the best way to sell innovative ideas to clients, and building trust and landing the crazy cool briefs by leaning into the day-to-day serving of your clients. He provides a ton of actual examples throughout, making this episode a great sneak peek at the assignments and conversations happening within agencies.
Julie worked with Natalie at the same agency when they were both really junior, and is now an Associate Creative Director at Droga5, pumping out award-winning work with her team (such as the, "Did You Mean...MailChimp?" campaign and the amazing New York Times "He Said, She Said" ad). Hear about adjusting your voice as a copywriter, learning from every agency you work at (even the ones where you have a bad experience), and why you shouldn’t feel pressure when you see where people you graduate with get a j
Because advertising isn’t your typical 9-5—it’s a creative, often more laid-back environment—it can be hard to tell what to wear to a job interview. In this Minisode, we talk about things to consider when choosing what to wear on the big day.
Felix fell into starting his own design studio 13 years ago, and has been figuring it out ever since. Hear his perspective on the importance of designers who read, translating what we do creatively into something that clients can understand, A Design Film Festival (started by Anonymous in 2010), and the creative explosion in Asia (specifically Shanghai and Bangkok).
Jocelyn recruited talent at some of the industry's biggest agencies (like Droga5 and R/GA) before founding her own business, jsl talent consulting. Hear about how she lost everything she worked for at the start of her career, how to build a personal brand, and the biggest mistakes she sees when people apply to jobs. In the thick of internship application season, you don't want to miss this episode!
Anthony drops some of the best advice as only he can—from the perspective of an Associate Creative Director (formerly at R/GA on Nike), journalist (he's written for Esquire and Billboard), and published writer. Hear about getting the most out of your conversations with others, using and reframing the time you're not working full-time (like when you're trying to find a job) to make you more valuable, and building resilience as a creative.
Marissa joins us to talk about working in Media on the agency-side vs. her role as Senior Corporate Brand Manager on the client-side, the resources, real-world experience and chance to give back available to junior talent through Ad 2, and how to take control of your own advancement. Plus, don't miss our very special and exciting announcement!
Analysa and Farin of Wieden + Kennedy sat down together to talk about hurdles like overcommitting yourself and building a position that didn't exist before, what it's like to work at W+K, how a banana piano produced by the agency made it onto Jimmy Fallon, and leaning into their identities as women of color. So much advice and laughing in this episode—enjoy!
Docia brings warmth, wit, and tons of actionable advice that will help anyone find their next job. Hear about how to differentiate yourself when you're just starting out, smart questions you should ask a recruiter in your next interview, and why approaching industry people at local events is a half-open door.
This is the last episode of the year! We'll pick back up on January 2. Happy holidays, everyone!
Kristen opens up and passes on insightful wisdom well beyond her years in the industry. Hear about why we should kill the word "networking," how she's risen quickly within her team, and her theory on why being open with your coworkers about what’s going on outside of work helps with work-life balance.
What do you do when you realize the role you're in isn't for you? In this Minisode, we talk about tips for switching teams while staying at your agency (vs. finding another opportunity somewhere else).
Leo Wong brings his A, D & I game (see what I did there?) to Episode #20. Hear about how to overcome common intern hurdles, why you should pull the newbie card to get time with the leaders of your agency, and how to have conversations about Diversity & Inclusion as junior talent.
Lalita's trifecta of titles means she's chocked full of useful advice and unique perspective. Hear about how to vent your frustrations while avoiding the negativity swirl, the importance of a Fuck Off Fund, and what it's like being a contributing writer to some of the industry's biggest trades (and how you can be one too!).
Brian gives us a look into the world of new business in an interview recorded during our NYC trip. Hear about his career shift from investment banking, why relationships and timing are everything, and the best pitch techniques he's picked up over the years. You'll find that there are a lot of parallels between winning new business and landing a job!
Reese McGillie is a badass. She's a female person of color without a college degree who's become a leader in one of the most in-demand fields in the industry. Hear about how creativity is used in Analytics, platforms and resources for those interested in data, and how Analytics is helping the industry's Diversity & Inclusion efforts.
Natalie shares and processes her #MeToo story of sexual misconduct in the work place in the hopes that it'll help junior talent think about how to handle similar situations.
Natalie shares and processes her #MeToo story of sexual misconduct in the work place in the hopes that it'll help junior talent think about how to handle similar situations.
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Daniel started as a software engineer in Barcelona before diving into advertising in NYC with positions at ROKKAN, R/GA, and currently Firstborn. Hear about the role of the Tech team within agencies, building digital products vs. digital campaigns, and his mindset when applying for a visa. For anyone interested in the tech side of the industry, this one's for you.
In a special two-person interview, we sat down with Kat and Vig to get to know the creatives behind Young Shits. Hear about how they overcame their introverted natures to land a job at Droga5 through networking, their advice as former international students, and tips on entering student ad competitions.
We often interchange "marketing" and "advertising," but in reality, marketing encompasses so much more. In this Minisode, we talk about how marketing relates to advertising, and some of the roles you can pursue within the field of marketing.
Carlvin gives us a peek at the publishing side of the industry through his inspiring stories and advice. Hear how he applies his passion for fitness and health to his work, how to be straight up when something falls through the cracks, and his way of explaining campaign optimization. If you're needing a kick of motivation, this episode is for you!
Elyse started her career in NYC before heading back to her hometown of Rochester, NY where she found work-life balance and an agency that feels like family at Partners + Napier. Hear her advice on receiving critical feedback, pushing back on clients, and the biggest misconception about working in account management.
Jordan spent 7 years in Strategy on the agency side at shops like Rokkan and Wieden + Kennedy before becoming Director of Marketing at Impossible Foods (you know the brand from its first product, the Impossible Burger). Hear how her agency experience prepared her for the world of marketing, her insight on how teams can be better partners to their clients, and why you should spend your 20s in NYC.
Pann Lim is a giant name in the Singapore design/advertising world, though you'd never know it by talking to him. One of the most down-to-earth people I've ever met, his advice is both thoughtful and thought-provoking for students and future leaders. Hear how he defines success, how he differentiated his student portfolio, and his secret to finding the time to lead an agency and form an art collective with his family. You don't want to miss this one.
Intuitively, we want to find agencies with strong cultures, but it's not always clear what to look for. In this Minisode, we talk about questions you can ask in your interviews to get a sense of an agency's culture, based on five key indicators.
Elle found advertising after studying religion and working in fashion, and her passion for Strategy is clear in the way she talks about her role as Senior Strategist at Giant Spoon (Advertising Age's 2017 Small Agency Awards Gold Winner). Hear about the one question that made her realize Strategy was for her, working with luxury and premium clients, and showing up for your teammates as a strategist.
Adu is what you'd call a creative chameleon. He's applied his interests and skills in visual art, videography, social, teaching and art direction to a variety of roles along his career path to feed his continuous desire to grow. Hear about culture fits, keeping your creative momentum, and how to engage others when networking.
Whether we don't know what to do, are lost in the weeds, or are straight up procrastinating, we all get stuck from time to time. In this Minisode, we talk about ways to get unstuck so you can move forward faster.
Michael's career path took him from the left-brained world of management consulting to creative brand strategy and innovation, which allows him to flex both sides. Hear about his approach to uncovering strong consumer insights, the best ways to sell innovation to clients, and how to build strong client relationships, even as a junior—all while working slightly outside the traditional advertising agency model.
Mariam Guessous is a Creative Director who recently left the industry to create her own vision of what an agency should be. She manages to tell it like it is—even sharing the lowest point in her career—while still being full of encouraging, self-affirming advice. Hear why sucking as a junior is okay, how to prevent burnout, and how to know when to leave the agency world.
There's a lot out there on how to put together a portfolio as a creative, but it's less clear for the rest of us. In this Minisode, we talk about what should be included and emphasized in a strategy, account management, or media portfolio.
Rafi Kugler has spent the last eight years recruiting at amazing shops like Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Pereira & O'Dell, and now barrettSF as its Director of Recruiting. He shares some inspiring ways to think about your career, as well as super practical advice on applying for a job—all from the perspective of someone who looks at talent every day.
William Yu is a Freelance Senior Strategist (formerly at TBWA\Chiat\Day and SapientNitro), who recently leapt into film making and writing full-time. You may know him from his impactful project #StarringJohnCho, which garnered over 1 billion impressions worldwide and continues the conversation of how Asian-Americans are perceived in society today. Hear William's advice on getting new initiatives off the ground at your agency, pursuing strategy, and applying strategic thinking to your own side projects.
Kendra Croft knows where she comes from, and what she brings to the table. Hear how she stays invested by incorporating things she's interested in into her work, and why it's all about bringing your own culture to the agency.
So much of our jobs in advertising involve persuading others to see our POV, believe in our ideas, and buy our work. In this Minisode, we talk about small, subtle, but powerful ways to speak and write so you sound confident in what you're saying—even when you aren't.
On the early side of her career, Dominique brings both fresh energy and a sense of knowing her shit to the table. Her enthusiasm for what she does is infectious, and her advice is hyper-relevant.
We recorded with Dave at the Grenadier office during a trip to Boulder to get to know the agency scene. Hear about how he overcame the hurdle of speaking up, why strategy isn't just for strategists, and how to better understand your clients and their business problems.
Our first Minisode is inspired by conversations with people who discovered advertising later in college, wanted to switch departments, or decided to make a career shift from another industry. Hear how to frame your non-advertising experience as an asset, and not a barrier.
We sat down with Pam at the WONGDOODY LA office to talk about having an entrepreneurial mindset when getting into advertising, not defining yourself too early, and finding gratification in what we do. We couldn't think of a better way to kick off the We Are Next Podcast.