Insider Insights: Alumni Share Essential Career Advice for Breaking Into Advertising
At our All Agency Meeting on Monday, December 2nd, we were joined by some alums who took the time to give us their best advice and insights! Here’s who we spoke to:
Lily Segal: former president and VP of accounts, currently AAE at Saatchi & Saatchi
Sam Lurie: former AE, currently social strategist at We Are Social
Timothy Wu: former copywriter and strategist, currently senior associate media planner at Spark Foundry
Carly Berry: former VP of new business, currently account supervisor at Ogilvy
Mark Flitsch: former Art Director, currently associate creative director at Boathouse
Lindsey Rosenblatt:former president, EVP, and ACD of copy, currently copywriter at PepsiCo
We were absolutely buzzing with excitement to hear from those who’ve already navigated the wild ride of breaking into the advertising world. It was like getting a backstage pass to the secrets of the industry. These seasoned pros were refreshingly honest, sharing their insider tips and hard-earned wisdom—everything they wish they’d known when they were in our shoes
Their biggest pieces of advice hit us like a ton of creatively-constructed bricks. First up: networking is your best friend. It’s not just about who you know, but who knows you—and it’s never too early to start making those connections. The second nugget of wisdom? Negotiate your salary like a pro. No, seriously, don’t just accept the first offer that comes your way. Your skills are worth it, and you should make sure the paycheck reflects that. And lastly, they reminded us all to embrace rejection—because let’s face it, it’s a part of the process. In this industry, a “no” is often just a “not yet,” and the right opportunity will come knocking when you least expect it.
It was eye-opening, inspiring, and just a little bit terrifying—all in the best possible way. But hey, we’re ready for the challenge, armed with advice from those who’ve been there, done that, and have the success stories to prove it.