Insights

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be?Besides my mother, I would say it was my high school ROTC instructor, Sergeant Mitchell.One afternoon he asked our unit a simple question: “What is leadership?” One eager cadet shot his hand up and said, “Getting people to do what you want them to do.” Sergeant Mitchell replied. “That’s only half right.” He said, “Leadership is getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it. And the ‘because they want to do it’ part? That’s…

What is something the industry isn’t paying attention to that they should?  AI. Just kidding, can we please stop making every conversation about that? Right now, we are living through two of the biggest macroeconomic shifts in modern history; declining birth rates reshaping the family structures brands have built around for decades, and the largest generational wealth transfer ever recorded already underway. The whole map is being redrawn. And yet so much of what I see is hyper-targeted content optimized for micro-moments, so specific that if you fall outside the bullseye, it’s completely invisible to you. I can’t tell you…

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why? I’d have to say my late husband.  Bruce passed from ALS about 8 years ago but watching him battle ALS taught me that no matter how tough life is there’s a way to get through it with grace, kindness, laughter and a healthy dose of perspective. It made me a better human, not just at work, but in every sense of my life.   What is the number one quality you look for in talent?Curiosity. The kind that doesn’t wait…

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why?  There isn’t a specific life event, but I credit a good chunk of my success to the how I was raised. I was encouraged to explore, and create, and build, and fail, and get back up, and listen, and to be empathic and respectful. And to never stop learning or trying something new. Without rad parents and three siblings, I don’t think I’d be who or where I am today. 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? My old partner, Erika Reyes. Over the thousands of hours we spent together and the comparable number of beers, she taught me more than I ever could have imagined about concept, craft, humility, passion, and how to not murder someone you spend way too much time with. What is the number one quality you look for in talent? Passion. Pretty much everything else you can learn. Humility for extra credit. What is something the industry isn’t paying attention to…

What is the number one quality you look for in talent? Curiosity. A curious mind is the irreplaceable quality in a creative. Our job mostly comes down to, “how can I say or do this differently?” And on some level, you have to be a curious person to think that way. Also, unless you’re working in-house for a single brand, the nature of advertising is that you’re going to be working for clients across a lot of different industries, many of which you’re probably unfamiliar with. To really understand their business, you have to be inclined to dig into the…

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why? Too many. Kirk Souder, David Baldwin, Kara Goodrich, Danny Higgins, Neil French, Jeff Bitsack, Scott Bell, Sara Shelton, Cam Blackley, I’ve worked with and learned from some wonderful people. Most of all though, David Droga, for teaching me not to be cynical, to never give up, and most of all to hold on and value real friendship. What is the number one quality you look for in talent? I love to see what kind of work they aspire to…

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why? Anywhere in my life where there’s love, those are the people who are driving my success. That’s the foundation.  What is the number one quality you look for in talent? Perseverance. There aren’t many easy answers to the big questions our clients are asking us to help them solve. Hard roads take grit to walk. And there are some folks who for whatever reason just love the grind. These are people who see and believe in hard work’s ability…

What is the number one quality you look for in talent?  Taste. Amongst other things of course, but for a creative person it’s taste. It’s one of those things you can’t teach. It’s such an amazing thing when you find someone that can process the world in their own unique way and then creatively articulate that point of view with a level of clarity and panache. Particularly within the confines of an ad brief because brands are typically unimaginative and conservative. So yeah, taste coupled with a little grit, kindness, and a sense of responsibility is the kind of talent…

What is the number one quality you look for in talent? Passion. Sure, everyone’s got some talent. But what separates the good from the great? It’s that unquenchable passion to learn, to push limits, and to keep wrestling with a problem until something amazing pops out. I’ve seen countless creatives with less natural “gifts,” but their unyielding passion will outwork, outthink, and outperform talented people who don’t have that real drive. They are open to criticism, soak up feedback like a sponge, and always hunt for that never-been-done-before idea. When people genuinely care, they dive deeper, ask smarter questions, and…

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why? Tara LaWall Straight was one of my first mentors in advertising. She is an incredible creative leader who I’ve known for 10+ years. I started my career at Droga5 where Tara was my copywriting mentor (and life coach). Tara pushed me to believe in creativity, to take risks, and always encouraged us to have fun at the office. Both a jokester and confidante, she always pushed us to make funnier, quirkier, and more truthful work; and she believed in…

If you could attribute one other person or life event to your success, who or what would it be and why? Without question, my dad, Frank DeMiero, who passed away on February 19th. His influence on my life and leadership philosophy has been profound. As a renowned music educator, he didn’t just teach music — he built communities, nurtured talent, and created spaces where people felt seen and valued. My dad showed me the power of leadership that’s rooted in authenticity, passion, and an unwavering belief in people. His ability to elevate others and create opportunities where none existed has…