Insights

Mexico boasts a rich tradition of arts, culture, and gastronomy that is loved and respected worldwide. But the country has long been overlooked as a source of talent for the advertising industry and, even worse, as a dynamic and diverse consumer market. But a confluence of events seems to be driving Mexico to become a bigger and bigger player in the advertising industry and as a target audience for global marketing opportunities. On the talent side, more agencies are opening offices in Mexico, including Gut, Isla, Wieden + Kennedy, We Believers, Circus Marketing/Media Monks and David. They join global agencies,…

If you could attribute your success to one other person or life event, who or what would it be and why? Hunter: Being a “Hunter S.” and partnering with a “Thompson” to become ‘Hunter S. & Thompson’ was almost a cosmic level coincidence. The only better naming would have been if we were Samuel and Jackson. Creative partnerships are like a marriage—if you find the right one, stick with them. Thompson: Same answer, but reversed. Borrowing from “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” we’re the advertising version of Leon finding his Mary Ferguson. Although, I’m not sure if I’m Leon or Mary? Probably…

What is the number one quality you look for in talent? A person who is committed to the craft. That being said, I believe being responsible and sensible is also key. I’m always on the lookout for creative people who are hungry for challenges and are open even to the hardest feedback. Being kind and hard-working also means the world to me. What is the very best career advice you’ve ever received? “Ask for feedback whenever possible.” Asking your boss for feedback is actually extremely beneficial to your career, especially because you receive an updated point of view from them…

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why? I could name people that have been pivotal in my career in a direct or indirect way: The Gaston Bigios, the Fede Garcias, the Josh Steins of the world and even my 10 year-long copywriter partner Ignacio Jardon… but I think my “success” has been mostly fueled by starting from the very bottom of the food chain. My very first ad ever was a real estate ad with multiple office listings. I personally took the CD-Rom and the signed…

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why? Hands down my husband. I could never have imagined having (or needing) the level of support he gives me. The only way I have been able to “do it all” is with his unwavering championing of my career. Especially since starting a family, he has picked up so much of my equal share of the parenting duties. He’s helped shape who I am as a person today and for that, I am forever grateful.  What is the number one…

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why? Dorky as it sounds, my dad. He passed on an insane work ethic. And he let me goof around and search for the right career without looking at his watch when my university career hit the 4–year mark. At the time, I was mildly appreciative. Today, I’m immensely grateful.  What is the number one quality you look for in talent?  I look for resilience. The ability to hear criticism of their work, understand it, not take it personally, and…

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why?  Without a doubt the upbringing provided by my parents, their perspective on life, the quality of education I’ve received, the life experiences, and, most importantly, the attitude towards life instilled in me by my family and my surroundings. What is the number one quality you look for in talent?  Attitude. Attitude leads to passion, to putting love into the things one does, to being a perfectionist, and to finding solutions to the obstacles and problems one may encounter both…

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why? My wife. I can list a handful of mentors who pushed me along the way, but at the end of the day, it’s the one person who has always been there for me. She was there, throughout my entire journey. Supporting me during the long hours, weekend work, and even on holidays. You need someone who understands the game, and carries the team, so that I can play my part.  What is the number one quality you look for…

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why?  Quitting journalism was a pivotal moment for my success. During my time as a photojournalism student in University, I worked as a part-time stringer for national dailies. In my final year, I found myself covering a significant anti-government protest and submitted my story to one of India’s top and highly respected newspapers. They accepted it. However, when the article was published, it bore little resemblance to the truth—I discovered that the photos had been manipulated, and the text was…

If you could attribute another person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why? Meeting each other 18 years ago. It kickstarted everything that brought us to where we are today. As a young creative team, we immediately shared a drive and passion for creating great work and a combined understanding of when we needed to keep pushing. This was critical as we grew into our roles as Partners/Executive Creative Directors in charge of an entire agency, and is even more relevant now as we get back to working as a creative team again…

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why? Success hardly ever happens overnight. It takes 10.000 hours to master a skill. But I did have a very defining moment a few years back, when I faced a major health scare in my family. Until then being a Creative had just been a fun job that I loved doing. The situation forced me to change how I viewed my career in order to support my family. And that led to my success. I finally had the skill set,…

What has been the most challenging moment so far in your career? It’s both weird and weirdly rewarding to change countries and start over. What is the very best career advice you’ve ever received? Keep your head down and your eyes on the ball. What is the number one quality you look for in talent? Willingness to work hard. If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why? It’s never just one person. Every person I ever worked with started the butterfly effect of who I am today…