Look at All Those Ducks
On the second day of my arrival in New York, I traveled by train down from Ossining to Bed-Stuy in order to meet up with a few of the other students attending the trip. After spending the evening with some Duck alumni, I was astonished with not only how transparent they were with their experiences entering into the industry but also how there seemed to be such a strong sense of community after graduation. Even though I am still a junior, I can’t help but think about life after college and how that will end up in relation to staying in contact with friends and continuing to nurture the community I’ve built over the past three years. After seeing how close these alumni are with each other, some of which weren’t friends before graduation, emboldened me to think positively of the future and gave me some solace for what’s to come. Now more than ever I’m excited to see what my next chapter holds.
5.4.19. Aodan Reddy.
On Thursday I attended 72 and Sunny with a small group of individuals and got to tour their office, talk to a panel of creatives, and learn more about what makes 72 so unique. Although the entire visit was absolutely transformational and informative, the one thing that stood out to me the most was the idea that it’s okay to keep pushing for what you want. Being an advocate for your own success is such an important part of making it in this industry and being able to continue to ask questions, push for answers, and demonstrate your individual prowess as a creative and as an individual is so important. On the flip side, also know when to step back. Know when you’ve done your best and that there simply might not be a place for you at the agency you’re applying to. Push for what you deserve, and know when to take a break. Although I lost my notebook and many of my ideas along with it at 72, I won’t forget the lessons I learned from the panelists. Everything with balance. Nothing without intention.
5.9.19. Aodan Reddy.
Carbon Offset Notes
21. A carbon offset is a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (or other greenhouse gas) made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.
2. Kyoto protocol: Basically says “we’re going to reduce our emissions by financing emission reduction efforts wherever it is cheapest in the world.”
3. Benefits of carbon offsets: Inexpensive, innovative, tradable.
4. Common types of carbon offsets: Methane collection and combustion, destruction of industrial pollutants, energy efficiency, forestry and land use.
5. Key concepts: Real, Additionality, Permanence, Leakage, Verifiable, Co-benefits.
6. Voluntary offset standards and registries: VCS, Gold standard, VOS, Climate Action Reserve.
4.26.19. Aodan Reddy.
TRANSLATION
Every agency talks about having an impact on culture. Few actually do, and even fewer do it in a way that pushes culture forward. It was refreshing and inspiring to hear what Sandi Preston and Chaucer Barnes had to say during our visit to Translation. There was so much knowledge shared during that meeting, that it would be impossible for me to list everything in a short blog post. Here are my 3 favorite pieces of wisdom that we received during our visit.
On the importance of diversity in an agency
“Diversity empowers empathy, and empathy empowers excellence.”
On selling an idea
“No matter what your selling, it comes down to who people are, and what they want. You have to show people that you know how they think!”
On Culture
“If you really want to learn about culture, talk to an anthropologist. Really when it comes down to it, Culture= Networks + Artifacts. Rewiring networks and language enables us to move culture forward.”
Matt Dzwilewski, 5/15/19
People Really Do Want To Help!
New York can seem like a scary place. Advertising can seem like a scary industry. But, what I found during my stay in New York is that people want to help. Whether you’re confused on the Subway or asking a —insert job title here— a nerve wracking question, 9/10 people in New York and in advertising want to help. At least that has been my experience.
However, once you receive help, the impression you leave is what they will remember. So, if someone on the subway gives you directions, give a sincere thank you and let them go about their day quickly. If someone gives you career advice, write them a thank you note and bring up that advice in the note and explain why it is important to you. The positive impression you leave on someone willing to extend a helping hand is what is going to make them want to extend it again. Be thankful. Then, extend your hand to the next person who needs help.
Katherine Dean
Strategist
The 4 Cs of Rokkan Strategy
During our Rokkan visit, Emma Pindell, Chelsea Coleman, and Spice Walker gave us some insight on they do research for their creative briefs and what they find essential to keep in mind for every account and every campaign. Here are their 4 essentials to look at for each brand/product:
- Culture: what is the culture surrounding this brand/product?
- Category: what category does this brand/product fall into. How do we stand out in this category?
- Consumer: What does the consumer need? Who are they? What are they currently getting out of this category above? Where is our consumer edge?
- Company: Where does this brand/product live currently and how can we use its strengths and unique qualities to elevate them out of the ordinary?
As someone about to step into a strategy internship, these 4 Cs are lenses that I will look at all my work through. Thank you, Rokkan Strategists, for such wisdom!
Katherine Dean
That Work Life Balance
“If you don’t want to work hard” don’t go into this career.
Those words stuck in my head after my favorite visit, to Virtue 55.
It’s true. Not wanting to work hard probably doesn’t mean advertising. I knew that. What I didn’t think about before talking to people in the industry were the tiring nights that extend far beyond college. I pondered the reality of the industry and I’m excited that it has sparked an entirely new understanding in my head. Advertising isn’t all the good glittery stuff. It’s tough clients, late nights, wrong ideas, and pitches that don’t make it through. But all of this leads to that ultra-rewarding glittery stuff. And it’ll be so worth it.
But, I do appreciate the changing landscape of the industry. Agencies want you to take a break. Rokkan mentioned going to get coffee, taking a walk around the block and other mind-freeing opportunities to just breathe.
Working hard will be a definite thing, yes, and I have opened myself up to the idea of an extremely late night where the ideas might still not come. I might be sleep-deprived at some points while at others I might not be. But the passion will all still be there. For this career and this opportunity to better brands, people, and our world.
I’ve always thought “work hard, play harder.” And while I think that’s changing into more of a balance between the two, I think I’ll be okay with that.
Lindsey Epifano 5.15.19
Glee did not prepare me for New York City
My first impression of New York City was from the movie Little Manhattan. If you have seen the film, I know this reference just flooded your memory with nostalgia of little Josh Hutcherson roaming New York on a razor scooter. And if you haven’t seen the film, then the only thing you need to know is that it was by no means ground-breaking, but it was a love story of two kids who grow up in Manhattan. This movie taught me that New York City is a playground.
My second impression of New York City was from the all-too-familiar The Devil Wears Prada. I was nine-years-old, and my mother told me I wasn’t old enough to watch it. So, naturally, I stole the DVD from my mom and secretly watched it on my portable DVD player that I had saved up for. I remember all of the beautiful clothes being worn by beautiful women, and for the first time, I saw the glamor outside of my small, rural town. But more importantly, this movie taught me that New York City is for those who have grit.
My third impression of New York City comes from Glee, season two. I can feel you rolling your eyes, thinking “Here we go again. Another kid who grew up watching Glee during her pre-teen years, and she still can’t stop talking about Glee.” Well, yes. That’s completely true. And just know that though I’m not necessarily proud of it, it did influence my perception of New York City. Behind all of the problematic plots and the adult Kids Bop cover songs, this show taught me that New York City is a place for dreamers.
My last impression of New York City came from Sex and the City. Having seen this as a full- fledged adult living on my own in a dorm room, I was immediately transcended into a different kind of New York City. This show taught me that New York City is for the independent. But it also taught me that the Big Apple can be for those who make it up as they go along.
So where does this leave me? Unprepared. It may come as a shock, but there are not enough 2000’s pop culture references in the world that can truly ready a person for a city as notorious as New York City. But when I arrived in New York, the one thing I was sure of was that New York is a different experience for every person who dares to stomp its streets. I wonder what it has in store for me.
// Olivia Howe, copywriter
Oh brother? Oh Mother!
Mother. That’s it. That’s the tweet.
Just kidding, but seriously. What an incredible agency filled with inspiring people who thrive in thinking outside the box.
Top interesting things I learned from this visit:
- The importance of empathy. Especially as a strategist/writer. You need to constantly be putting yourself in others’ shoes. It is not possible to always know how someone else is feeling, but is important to try. Good work that is inspiring tries to understand emotion and human truth. Being empathetic will lead you to be more successful in the industry, and more successful as a human.
- Being a mom belongs on your résumé. To address the issue of unpaid maternity leave in the United States, Mother worked with The Pregnancy Pause, a company that you can list on LinkedIn as a place you worked at – as a mother. This campaign shows the agency’s passion for gender equality by celebrating women going on maternity leave, which is something that needs to be discussed and addressed more often.
- Be eager to learn and do new things. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone because that is the only way you will learn and grow. If you show up hungry to try new things, you will get the most out of your experience.
- Who you work with > what you work on. Collaboration is super important in this industry. You want to be able to communicate with your peers as effectively as possible. Although the work is important, good work comes from healthy collaboration and smart conversations.
Thank you Mother for the insightful conversation and amazing experience.
–Kristen Friis
Brand Strategist + Copywriter