AdLab’s Department Meetings Sets the Stage for the Fall 2023 Semester
On September 25th, AdLab had their first department meetings. After an exciting all-agency meeting welcoming students to agency life, AdLabbers went to their respective departments for the first time. There are six departments at AdLab: Accounts, Project Management, Strategy, Creative, Brand, and New Business.
The first department kickoff is a key moment in introducing the course of the semester ahead. E-board members of each department took the lead in these department breakouts, guiding their members in setting the groundwork and objectives for the new semester.
Accounts: The Accounts department introduced the in’s and out’s of being a client whisperer. In the meeting they learned about a range of items; from learning about crafting a comprehensive Scope of Work (SOW), to preparing for the first client meeting, to understanding our client’s goals for this semester. With this kick-off meeting the books, our account executives are off to build a successful AdLab-Client relationship.
Amanda Brown, the VP of Accounts, introduced SOW to all AEs
Strategy: The Strategy Department kicked-off their department meeting by introducing AdLabbers to what it means to be a strategist. They discussed initial client research, the brand audit, and creating meaningful findings. In this meeting, strategists were also introduced to writing the creative brief, which is the imperative insight of creating great creative work.
Reed Cory and Ulrika Brameus, the VPs of Strategy, talked about examples of creative brief
Creative: The Creative Department kicked off their first department meeting by introducing the Fall 2023 Creative Jam. The Creative Jam is a way to kickstart creative thinking and creative partnerships, where the winning team will receive a grand prize. It provides a platform for team members to bring together their unique talents and perspectives, as well as build the partnerships that are the foundation of every innovative campaign. This year’s theme was creating a campaign for ChatGPT to change their audience’s mind and view the AI chatbot as a helpful tool instead of a dangerous weapon.
Simon Yu and Zach Tsun, the VPs of Creative, introduced fall 2023 Creative Jam to all creatives
Project Management: The PM department started to learn about Gantt Charts, which are an integral centerpiece of their agenda. The Gantt Chart is an essential tool for project planning and management, as it prevents confusion and ensures everybody is on track. Project Managers were also introduced to the practise of being a team leader and motivator. They learned about monitoring group dynamics, making sure everyone is on the same page, and the ins and outs of Basecamp.
Geneva Thai, the VP of Project Management, taught PMs how to assign to-do
Brand: The Brand Department is responsible for updating all of AdLab’s social media channels and optimizing the website. All members of the Brand department began working on formulating brand strategies as well as ideating social posts and news.
New Business: Even though the New Business Department is not open for student enrollment this semester, they worked on staying in contact with current clients and implementing new strategies to attract more potential clients for future semesters
All AdLab departments work hard to perform their duties, and had a great time introducing themselves to their new employees. We can’t wait to see all the great work that will be produced as the semester goes on. Stay tuned to learn more!