Shattering the Advertising Glass Ceiling with Marketing Legend Shelly Lazarus

 

Marketing legend Shelly Lazarus has been described as one of the most powerful executives in advertising and named one of the Top 50 Business Women. One of a mere handful of female graduates from Columbia University with an MBA in the early 1970s, Lazarus propelled herself through the corporate world to become chairman and CEO of the billion-dollar advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather. Shelly was way ahead of her time, stressing the need for balance between work and family life while simultaneously creating an integrated multimedia advertising giant that delivered results for brands. In our conversation, Shelly shares some of her memorable career war stories, and advice for today’s emerging advertising leaders. Join us!

About our Guest:

Shelly Lazarus has been working, as she would say it, “In the business I love,” for more than four decades, almost all of that time at Ogilvy.

Shelly rose through the ranks of Ogilvy & Mather assuming positions of increasing responsibility in the management of the company, including president of O&M Direct North America, Ogilvy & Mather New York and Ogilvy & Mather North America. She was named worldwide CEO of Ogilvy & Mather in 1996 and Chairman in 1997. She became Chairman Emeritus in July 2012.

Shelly started at Ogilvy at a time when the agency’s legendary founder David Ogilvy still walked the halls, and personally preached that the purpose of advertising was to build great brands. Under Shelly’s leadership, that essential mission has remained the centerpiece of the company’s philosophy, extending across regions and marketing disciplines, and attracting some of the world’s largest and most respected brands including American Express, BP, Coca-Cola, IBM and Unilever among many others.

WVU Marketing Communications Today: Marketing Legends is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.