Majors and Minors
Translation believes that it is essential to creativity that you are something outside of strat, production, creative, account, or media planning. They want to emphasize that each individual on team can bring their own nerdy/impressive knowledge to the table, because you never know when someone will have an insight about the problem. As a junior, I was taking notes on agency culture and beliefs this whole week. I want a place where I can do my job well but also where I can have open conversations about my own passions.
I think that learning the hobbies and interests that make people tick is incredibly interesting and it really says a lot about the individual. If all you do is talk about the current problem and ad culture at work, is there room for new, spontaneous creativity? I guess that the open bars in so many of these agencies can help with that. Regardless, I’m going to try to encourage these conversations in future team projects.
Noah Andrews
5.12.18
What if it isn’t good?
What if the idea is trash? What if it creates total backlash? These shouldn’t be questions if you are working with a great team. Noah Wilskey from Translation said it best: Take big swings, but check yourself and each other. A large part of this idea of morally checking work is diversity. I really appreciated this week how there is an open atmosphere for anyone, even the new intern who is just there to bring extra dongles, to not only speak up but challenge the team to think twice about the work.
Let’s not give women and people of color equal pay and representation in advertising just because it is the obvious and right thing to do, but let’s do it because it helps the agency, and more importantly, culture. I learned this week that no matter how intelligent you are, or how many Adweek articles you have read, you only have your perspective. I can think something is ok, but that doesn’t necessarily ring true for someone else. Diverse thoughts and people are the source of great team creativity and collaboration. So check yourself, always, but check each other as well. It’s better for our work and for the people who view it.
Noah Andrews
5.12.18
A city that never stops
New York City. Before coming to this city I was always a little skeptical about how I would like being in a place where there is so much going on. Now, I can confidently say that I am in love with this place. No matter what time of day it is, people are always doing something. Whether it’s checking out a new restaurant, seeing a show, or simply just walking around, there is never a dull moment.
With so much going on, New York is a place that has so much inspiration. Inspiration is what helps us in the advertising industry keep up with whats going on around us. By finding new inspirations, we are able to tell stories that are not only compelling but stories that make people want to learn more and be more curious about the world we live in.
Kyle Steffens
5.12.2018
Doug Melville
One of my favorite talks of the week was from Doug Melville. Doug is the Chief Diversity Officer for TBWA/Chiat Day. One thing I appreciated about meeting Doug was his positive attitude towards not only advertising, but life in general. At a young age Doug worked his way up from driving Oscar Mayer cars to managing campaigns for Obama. Through countless days of hard work and hot dogs for lunch, Doug persevered. The most important thing I took from this story was the idea of trusting the process. A lot of times we are so worried about the work in the future that we lose sight of the lessons in the present. As long as we continue perfecting our skills through learning daily, things will work out. Today you’re driving hot dog cars, tomorrow you’re making history.
-Scotty Williams
Soft Skills
Excel, client notes, scheduling. Hard skills can be taught. It comes down to who do you want to spend endless hours with. There are personality traits and understandings that people can’t be taught.
Having an interest in why people act, feel and believe will support an account manger’s ability to push a team forward. Everyone has needs underlying their responsibilities. Know when people need a breather.
Support can be demonstrated in many manners.
Allie Bottinelli
WAIT
One thing that stuck with me throughout the trip was what was said at the Flock Takes Flight event. A question was asked of how we could all be advocates and one of the insightful flock women provided us with the acronym WAIT, meaning Why Am I Talking? It is a clever reminder to allow those around you to speak and actually take the time to listen to what they have to say. Make sure you are giving them the time they need to speak and the support they need to be heard.
-Jenni Hooper
5.11.18
My visit to Joan Creative today energized and inspired me to continue to work to bring about the change that I want to see in the ad world. To make the advertising industry more inclusive and progressive.
As Lisa Clunie and Jamie Robinson said: innovation in the industry is so much better when it can come from a place of positivity and a true belief that you can make something better.
So many things this week have given me the positive energy that I need to take that advice and move forward: the amazing support system provided by Flock, all the incredible women who have taken time out of their day to speak with us at panels, my talented classmates. There’s so much good in the world and so much support. This doesn’t mean that everything is fixed. As it has been said before: there’s still much work to be done.
The world is changing fast, and we need to take action if we want a hand in shaping that direction. Inspiration can come from many places, not simply anger or frustration with what is going wrong (although this is a force that cannot be denied) but also a desire to create a new and better future.
Jordan Blackburn 5/11/18
5.11.18
If there’s one big takeaway from this entire week, it’s to learn to be comfortable with uncertainty. Whether that means approaching graduation without a job on the horizon, changes in your agency, or even taking a path away from advertising, hard work and patience will always be rewarded. Ride the wave.
- Erin Fogerty
What a week this has been.
I have such a range of feelings about this week. I absolutely fell in love with this city, and its people, and their pace. I’m sad to leave it behind, knowing there is so much more to experience and explore. I’m really only comforted by the fact that I know I will be back here someday. I’ll be living and working in New York, just you watch.
Sarah Weiss
5.11.18
Your People Pt 2.
Juniors: I encourage you to challenge yourself to talk to someone you don’t know or someone that intimidates you. Whether that be a senior, a sophomore, a recruiter, or a professor, get to know who they are and, in the process, be completely and utterly yourself. Ask them questions of their experiences, ask what they value, and ask them questions they may not have an answer to. At the end of the day, life is just an abundance of problems to solve and relationships to make.
For seniors going out into the real world soon enough, I challenge you to ask yourself: Where is your Allen Hall? Where are your people?
And when you find them, hold them tight, because the conversations you have are the best network you could ever make and I’m 99.9% sure are going to generate the best ideas you’ve ever had (I mean, this is all hypothetical, I’m only a Junior sheesh).
May 11, 2018.
-Emily Pearson