The Last Advertising Podcast

Shannon Washington, everyone. 

Shannon, who has gracefully transitioned from U.S. Chief Creative Officer at R.G.A. to Global Chief Creative Officer at Gotham (McCann network), shares her career journey and advice. 

We dive into how she pivoted from a medical path at Howard University to leading creative strategies in advertising. Shannon discusses her early career challenges, the importance of adaptability, and the value of building genuine professional connections.

You will learn how embracing diverse experiences and focusing on continuous learning can shape a successful career in advertising.

Introducing Pressing.

This week, we learn from Jasmine Sheena, a Business Reporter at Marketing Brew and contributor to the New York Times. 

Every so often, we invite the people who cover the ad industry to give us the tea on what's trending and what's not. 

Jasmine discusses her focus areas for 2024, particularly the implications of it being an election year on political advertising. She also delves into "Hardcore Agency News," offering in-depth discussions on the state of Agency of Record (AOR), independent agencies, and other advertising trends in 2023, along with predictions for 2024. 

Of course, we talk about these topics through a lens that assists in your break into the ad industry. 

Links:

https://www.marketingbrew.com/contributor/JasmineSheena

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasminesheena/

Jeff Pillet-Shore is the Marketing Director at Allagash Brewing Company. 

Named in Ad Age's 2023 "Break Out Brand Leaders," Jeff's journey is a blend of innovation and adaptability. 

We discuss Allagash, starting as a local brewery in Portland, Maine, in 1995 and how they have grown, thanks to its inclusive approach and unique strategies in the craft beer industry. 

We discuss key moments like their strategic pivot during the pandemic and how launching 12-pack cans right before lockdowns served as especially beneficial. 

Jeff's story is a lesson in aligning personal passions with professional paths. Listen for lessons on navigating market changes, embracing your true calling, and how to break in and thrive in marketing.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffpilletshore/

https://flowcv.me/geno-schellenberger

Quality guests. 

This week, we learn from Gordy and Brian, the co-founders and Co-CCOs of Quality Meats, an acclaimed independent creative agency.

Starting in the summer of 2020 with no initial clients or investors, they and production veteran Kacey Hart have grown Quality Meats into a fully integrated agency known for high-quality work without unnecessary complications. 

Their client list includes Huggies, Regal Cinemas, Doordash, Kotex and more. 

Both Gordy and Brian have an award-winning history in advertising since 2008. 

In this episode, they discuss their professional journey and agency growth and offer advice just for you. 

Links

https://qualitymeatscreative.com/

https://www.crowbarawards.com/

In the inaugural episode of 'Breaking with Brian Bonilla,' Brian and Geno explore various subjects, including Super Bowl ads breaking the mold, the increase of celebrity advertisements, and key non-celebrity ads to look out for this Super Bowl. Hosts also dive into AI trends in advertising, discussing Microsoft's AI assistant Copilot and the push for AI investment from companies such as WPP and Publicis. Changes in the agency world, including Microsoft's shift to a creative CEO and the rise of high-profile agency acquisitions, were also highlighted.

00:01 Introduction and Welcome

00:33 The Vision for the Show

02:33 The Excitement of the Super Bowl

03:15 Behind the Scenes of Super Bowl Reporting

05:13 The Impact of Super Bowl Ads

06:35 The Personal Side of the Super Bowl

08:03 Predictions for the Halftime Show

10:09 The Evolution of Super Bowl Ads

16:44 The Rise of Snack Ads

21:29 The Suits Bowl

27:24 Beyond the Screen: Innovative Ad Strategies

30:59 Understanding Brand Identity and Marketing

32:58 The Impact of Celebrities in Advertising

33:09 Exploring Non-Celebrity Ads in the Super Bowl

34:24 The Rise of Celebrity-Owned Agencies

35:57 The Power of AI in Advertising

38:06 The Influence of AI on Creativity

41:25 The Role of Brands in the Super Bowl

55:34 The Future of Advertising Agencies

01:03:44 The Impact of Agency Acquisitions

01:07:39 The Power of Brands in Elevating Voices

We're talking Lions, people. 

Steve Latham, nicest guy, is the head of Learning for Cannes Lions. 

Since January 2011, Steve has led the Talent & Training Team in London, focusing on training and educating advertising professionals at various career stages.

We break down what a lion award is. Provide context to why we talk about Lions with virtually every guest we've ever had on. 

Steve talks us through how and why aspiring advertisers can study the amazing work and potentially get a free trip to Cannes in June. 

If you listen to this episode and apply the advice, you will likely be a guest in no time. 

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lathamsteve/

https://www.canneslions.com/initiatives/talent-programmes

Here it is. Handpicked by Thas Naseemuddeen herself, the Blue Crowbar award-winning campaign.

The Blue Crowbar goes to the single best campaign submitted. Best in Show.

We asked the nation of aspiring advertisers to develop an integrated campaign that establishes YouTube TV as the cheat code for live TV. This incredible team did an amazing job. 

Tara Sneed, Juliette Dias, and Anna Wesley Dubach created the campaign: “What You Need Now."

All aspiring advertisers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Listen to their conversation with the guest judge, Thas Naseemuddeen, CEO at Omelet.

Links

See the brief and their work here: https://www.crowbarawards.com/previous-winners

https://www.linkedin.com/in/taracorinnesneed/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliette-dias/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annawesleydubach/

Cooper Colvig is back with this week's guest, Evan Russack Co-Founder and Head of Account and Strategy at WorkInProgress Boulder, Colorado. You might know them best for their work on dominos, but they are doing a ton of Incredible work for so many other amazing brands. 

WorkInProgress was named an Ad Age A-List Agency Standout (202), twice recognized by Ad Age’s Small Agency Awards (2020, 2022) and shortlisted for Campaign US’ Independent Agency of the Year (2023). Cooper and Evan talk about the business savvy that Evan picked up in his childhood, his journey through the world of beer, and building a new agency that has become a powerhouse in Boulder, Colorado.

WorkInProgress is another incredible example of how the shops under the flat irons are no joke.

If you decide to engage in this audio experience, you might want to be best friends with Aaron Francois. 

Aaron Francois is an Associate Strategy Director at Laundry Service and the visionary founder of Black Visionaries.

Aaron's journey is one of purpose and impact. As the founder of Black Visionaries, he's dedicated to democratizing access to resources and information for Black professionals, creating a more inclusive and equitable industry.

His unique approach is not just about winning strategies; it's about driving societal change.

Growing up, Aaron saw misrepresentations of his culture in the media and made a promise to himself to change that narrative. Today, he is doing just that.

We uncover his story and advice and learn about Black Visionaries and how Laundry Service makes award-winning creative work for brands like Amazon Music, Jordan Brand, and Adobe. 

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/francoispr/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast

Ian Mackenzie is an award-winning Chief Creative Officer at Performance Art, working in Toronto. 

We talk about his work, including the Cannes Lions-winning "The Greatest Guide" for Grupo Bimbo, which has set new benchmarks in the industry.

Ian shares his insights on building long-lasting creative platforms, his approach to integrating creativity into technological ecosystems, and the art of crafting campaigns that resonate globally. 

Links:

Connect with him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iandavidmackenzie/

Connect with us here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast