If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why?
There are so many people who have championed me and helped me be seen by the right people at the right time, but I can think of one person who made a pivotal difference. Titi!
She was the creative coordinator at DAVID when I was an intern, and she was the one who raised the alarm to leadership that if they didn’t make an effort to hire me after my internship, I would walk out the door. And I’m happy they listened to her, because that’s when my growth really started.
What is the number one quality you look for in talent?
Curiosity.
When people have weird ideas that come from random rabbit holes, or when they ask questions in briefing meetings, you can tell their brains are already working—trying to solve the puzzle in front of them.
What is something the industry isn’t paying attention to that they should?
I think there is a crisis in training younger talent.
It’s above my pay grade to understand why we don’t have as many junior- and mid-level creatives in agencies anymore, but we need more people learning on the job so the industry can keep going in the future. And I feel like that’s happening everywhere.
What is the very best career advice you’ve ever received?
Two things come to mind.
Once, I asked a Creative Director about an offer I had received to see if it was good, and he said: “Looks like they need you more than you need them.” That stuck with me. Sometimes we get flattered by offers, but it’s important to really think about what’s right for you and your career path.
The second one is silly, but I think about it a lot. I was getting feedback on a script and my CD said, “You’re a creative, go create!” And I was like, “You know what? Yes, I will.” We don’t need permission to create, that’s literally our job.
What part of your role as a leader do you find most rewarding?
Saying yes to other people’s ideas.
I used to be very self-conscious about getting my own work across, to prove to myself and others that I could do the job. But after doing it for a while, it’s become much more fun to see other people’s ideas and help them grow.
What are you most proud of in the last 12 months? Or, what milestones do you most look forward to over the next 12 months
Stepping into this new role as a Creative Director is the latest milestone I’m achieving.
With it comes a new set of challenges, and I often think back to the good (and bad) examples I’ve seen in my career, trying to figure out what to emulate and what to do differently. Let’s see how I do.
What has been the most challenging moment so far in your career?
Probably the pandemic.
It feels both recent and long ago, but it fundamentally changed how we work and the kind of ideas we make. I think I’m still trying to get a read on the culture, understanding what truly lands and becomes part of everyday conversation, versus what stays stuck only within the industry.
