What does it actually take to break into advertising in 2026?
Andre Gray, Chief Activation Officer and Head of Culture & Entertainment at Havas Lynx New York, joins the Breaking and Entering Advertising podcast to unpack why the old playbook is dead, why most agencies are behind, and why not knowing everything might be your biggest edge.
From growing up in San Francisco to sleeping on a couch in Paris chasing a career in advertising, Andre shares the real story of how he broke in and what he’s learned as a creative leader navigating an industry that’s changing in real time.
This conversation dives into the gap between culture and corporate marketing, why we no longer live on the same internet, and why emerging media is often more “true” than legacy platforms.
Andre also breaks down:
Why advertising won’t exist the same way in the next few years
The difference between objective truth and what agencies sell
How young talent can win in a system that hasn’t caught up
The two skills that matter most when breaking in today
Why relatability and trust beat resumes every time

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