Breaking and Entering Advertising Podcast

Eric Rojas went from working in a pharmacy and cutting boards at Deutsch to leading his own New York City agency. In this episode of Breaking and Entering Advertising, he shares how a high school ad class sparked his passion, why he studied psychology before switching into advertising, and how persistence helped him move from art director to creative director. Eric also reveals what he learned building brands like Vitamin Water, Pirate’s Booty, and Spectrum, and why starting Six + One was the most defining step of his career. This is a conversation about grit, growth, and the power of believing in your own path.More from Breaking and Entering Media:💼 Follow on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast/📖 Read our Publications https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog💬 Join our Unlocked GroupMe https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei✉️ Subscribe to The Vault https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising https://www.crowbarawards.com/🤝 Work With Us - Email: breakingandentering@smoothmedia.co 

What does it take to spend your entire career at one agency and rise all the way to CEO? Tom Denari has been at Young and Laramore for 36 years, starting at half salary and working his way up to the top. In this episode of Breaking and Entering Advertising, Tom shares why he chose loyalty over job hopping, the lessons he learned from building a national agency in Indianapolis, and how long-term commitment shaped both his leadership and creativity. From the Steak ‘n Shake campaigns that put the agency on the map to evolving strategy and creative into a true team sport, Tom’s story is proof that staying in one place can be the most daring career move of all.More from Breaking and Entering Media:💼 Follow on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast/📖 Read our Publications https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog💬 Join our Unlocked GroupMe https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei✉️ Subscribe to The Vault https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising https://www.crowbarawards.com/🤝 Work With Us - Email: breakingandentering@smoothmedia.co

Haymaker started in LA with nothing but a borrowed laptop and a big idea. Eight years later they are officially opening their doors in New York City. In this episode Jay Kamath and Matt Johnson share how a vision board turned into reality, what it really takes to expand without investors, and why Madison Avenue still matters. From scrappy beginnings to pitching Coca-Cola, this is the story of betting big on creativity and throwing haymakers in the biggest ad market in the world.More from Breaking and Entering Media:💼 Follow on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast/📖 Read our Publications https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog💬 Join our Unlocked GroupMe https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei✉️ Subscribe to The Vault https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising https://www.crowbarawards.com/🤝 Work With Us - Email: breakingandentering@smoothmedia.co 

Malobi Dasgupta was supposed to be a chemist. Instead she wrote one email, moved to Paris, and now helps run the agency that’s been crowned Cannes Agency of the Year… twice. We get into how Publicis Conseil actually pulls it off, why spec work still matters, and the lessons every young creative can steal to make their own way in.More from Breaking and Entering Media:💼 Follow on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast/📖 Read our Publications https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog💬 Join our Unlocked GroupMe https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei✉️ Subscribe to The Vault https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising https://www.crowbarawards.com/🤝 Work With Us - Email: breakingandentering@smoothmedia.co 

The Breaking and Entering Advertising Podcast is usually about others. But today, Geno turns the mic on himself. After interviewing hundreds of ad professionals, he’s sharing his own path into the industry. You’ll hear:How Mad Men inspired him to pursue advertisingWhy his first internships shaped, but didn’t define, his careerThe pivotal moment when persistence got him an Edelman interviewHow the pandemic sparked the launch of Breaking and EnteringThe three steps he teaches every aspiring ad pro: Nerd Up, Work Up, Cool UpIf you’re just starting out in advertising, or need a reminder that the path is never linear, this episode is for you.More from Breaking and Entering Media:💼 Follow on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast/📖 Read our Publications https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog💬 Join our Unlocked GroupMe https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei✉️ Subscribe to The Vault https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising https://www.crowbarawards.com/🤝 Work With Us - Email: breakingandentering@smoothmedia.co

Nancy Reyes didn’t plan on advertising. In fact, she walked into her first agency job thinking she’d be a writer and walked out an account person. Now she’s the global president and CEO of BBDO, steering one of the biggest names in the game toward bigger, bolder, weirder ideas. We talk breaking in through a fifth grade scholarship program, why she loves a fixer upper agency, the problem with “advertising equals TV,” and why AI won’t replace you unless you let it. Plus, she confesses her Love Island habit. More from Breaking and Entering Media:💼 Follow on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast/📖 Read our Publications https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog💬 Join our Unlocked GroupMe https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei✉️ Subscribe to The Vault https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising https://www.crowbarawards.com/🤝 Work With Us - Email: breakingandentering@smoothmedia.co 

Gabriel Schmitt, Global Chief Creative Officer at Grey, joins us to share his journey from getting fired at 19 to leading a global agency network. He reveals how a Sharpie campaign won his first Cannes Gold Lion and changed his career forever. Gabriel breaks down how he leads creative teams, his 20% rule for staying irreplaceable, and why he believes clarity is a creative’s superpower. This is a must-listen for anyone looking to break into advertising and stay at the top.

Brooke Brown, SVP and Head of Brand and Creative at US Bank, discusses her unconventional journey from public transit marketing to leading significant brand campaigns. She reveals how secret shopping landed her a job and the lessons learned from bold career moves. Brooke shares insights on building strong collaborative relationships, the importance of understanding consumer perspectives, and leveraging innovative strategies for brand storytelling. Her advice encourages creatives to embrace adaptability and prioritize communication in their pursuits.

Davis Priestley, founder and president of Revery, has crafted campaigns for giants like Google Play, Delta, and Disney. He shares his remarkable journey from film sets to founding a storytelling studio. The conversation reveals the importance of empathy in creativity and how authenticity shapes modern branding. Davis emphasizes the value of multidisciplinary talent and nurturing personal connections in creative work. He also reflects on how networking and resilience paved his way in the industry, offering insights for aspiring creatives.

Lorenzo Costa, CEO and founder of Link Creative, started his Chicago-based agency at just 25, blending expertise from financial planning and hospitality. He discusses building intentional in-house teams and the importance of treating your own brand as your best client. The conversation highlights how his background as a DJ shaped his leadership style and creative process. They delve into the value of passion projects and innovative strategies, while emphasizing the need for personal connections and adaptability in the fast-evolving advertising landscape.