Own It

We’re buying out of the ad industry boys’ club. Hosted by Cornett owner Christy Hiler, Own It lifts up the stories of women and nonbinary ad agency owners: their challenges, their successes, and their goals for the industry. We’re aiming to start a movement—because you don’t have the power until you own it.

How Barbara Pantuso and Lisa Reid from Nimble Works, Own It

Today we’re talking to Barbara Pantuso and Lisa Reid from Nimble Works. These sisters started their creative collaboration when they were kids with a fun neighborhood newspaper. But they didn’t always work together. In fact, Barbara started her professional career in the restaurant business.  Lisa’s career was more rooted in writing and marketing creative. Eventually,…

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How Ali Cox of Noble West, Owns It

On this episode of OWN IT, we’re talking to Ali Cox from Noble West. It’s not every day that you run into an Olympic athlete. Ali not only is one, she was a member of the United States Silver Medal-winning Women’s Eight Rowing team in 2004.  It’s also not every day you run into an…

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How Allison Bakken of Collective Measures, Owns It

On this episode of OWN IT, we’re talking to Allison Bakken from Collective Measures. Her path to ownership is very different and interesting. She began at an agency called Nina Hale, once a small agency owned by a woman. When Nina retired, she sold the company to its employees.  Allison became the managing director and…

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How Rachel Carlson and Jourdan Huys from Foul Mouth, Own It

In this episode of OWN IT we’re talking to Rachel Carlson and Jourdan Huys from the brand new agency Foul Mouth. They officially announced the firm’s opening the week before we spoke, I’m so excited to talk to new agency owners at the very beginning of their journey. But make no mistake, Rachel and Jourdan…

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How Tahira White of 19th & Park, Owns It

In this episode of Own It, we’ve got something new and special for you. Our conversations about closing the gender gap in advertising agency ownership shouldn’t be limited to just one person asking the questions. So I’ve asked Carrie Kerpen, who you heard me talk to a few weeks ago, to step in and host…

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How Nina Stanley of MOD, Owns It

In this episode, we’re talking to Nina Stanley of MOD. Her Philadelphia-based agency does amazing work around brand storytelling, strategy and creative, but is rooted in the study of consumer behavior, neuroscience and the psychology behind what makes advertising work. That’s a long way from starting her professional career as a ballerina. We talked about…

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How Sam Laubach and Meghan Martin of Here & Now Creative Co., Own It

Today, we’re talking to Sam Laubach and Meghan Martin from Here & Now Creative Co. The two are actually cousins, so they run a family business. They didn’t start out as collaborators, though. And I love their origin story. Meghan texted Sam one day and said, “Why don’t we just start our own agency?” YES!!!!…

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How Lisa Slagle of Wheelie, Owns It

Today, we’re talking to Lisa Slagle from WHEELIE! Her firm specializes in video-centric campaigns and rebrands, but they say their creative is for people who thrive outside. As you might expect, she deals with a lot of clients in the outdoor industry. She’s an avid outdoor enthusiast like me. And being in Colorado helps her…

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How Carrie Kerpen of Likeable, Owns It

Today, we’re talking to Carrie Kerpen of Likeable. Her agency was one of the early firms to lay claim on social media expertise and her business exploded with the trend. But she says that early and fast growth covered up a lot of problems she had to work through and learn from. Carrie tells us…

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How Stacy Durand of Smart Media Technologies, Owns It

Today, we’re talking to Stacy Durand of Smart Media Technologies. Stacy launched her own agency after years as the CEO of another.  Stacy comes from the media buying segment of the industry, which as you’ll hear, is very different in gender dynamics. That turned out to be quite empowering for her. Our conversation about what…

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