Creativity and Humanity: TBWA\Chiat Day LA's Erin Riley

Erin Riley
President TBWA\Chiat\Day LA
 

How would you describe the overall culture at your agency and would you say that there is a separate female culture? 

The culture we're fostering is about celebrating creativity and humanity.  We actively invest in encouraging our talent to be their full, authentic selves and we know this makes our people happier and our work more powerful.  We are all united by an ambition to do breakthrough things and by a standard of creative excellence, but we also encourage people to activate around specific passion areas.  I am not sure if we have a female culture, but we have strong, talented women across every level in every discipline that make the culture richer and we support women who have come together to focus on issues that affect women specifically.

 

 In your opinion, what do you see as being the biggest change in the advertising industry since women have begun to break the “glass ceiling”?         

Women breaking the 'glass ceiling' on mass has coincided with other tectonic shifts in the industry and I believe women are proving to be good leaders of change in times of tumult.  While not exclusive to women and not necessarily true for all women, I do see many of them listening, nurturing, building coalitions, and rolling up their sleeves to navigate change without burning things down. I also think we're seeing more interesting work targeted towards women that is informed with deeper, more nuanced insights and executed with a broader range of tonality.

 

What are some of the challenges that women still face in the industry?

I think women are still underestimated.  They are still seen as dutiful or approachable number 2's and not the top dog.  I see the oldest man in the room getting respect before he opens his mouth and women, especially young women, having to earn it....again and again.  And now, I think many women have to contend with people questioning whether their rise is the result of satisfying a quota or seeking positive press.

 

What steps do you take to ensure you achieve a healthy work-life balance?            

I don't believe in work life balance, I am trying my best to achieve a level of integration that enables me to give my energy to the things in my professional and personal life that are most important to me, when they really need it.  It requires making peace with being always 'on' for someone, but also being ok with saying no sometimes.

 

What professional achievement are you most proud of?

I am proud of challenging myself to expand my experience set and skill base by going client side and I am equally proud of following my gut back to the agency side.  I think my biggest achievements are yet to come, but I am confident that I'll be proud of getting there by being fair and good to people along the way.

 

Tell us about a mentor that helped guide you in your career. What made them so special?

I have been so very fortunate to have strong role models both male and female throughout my career.  From the all-female team on Always at D'Arcy early in my career to watching Cindy Gallop and Emma Cookson at the helm during my formative years at BBH NY.  But, I am especially grateful for the support and advice Sarah Thompson has given me over the years.  She has always given me the unvarnished truth, always been totally honest about her own experiences good and bad, and told me I could do "it" when I really needed hear it.

 

How do you as a successful woman plan to inspire the next generation of women?

I really try to lead by example - to be strong, opinionated, and fearless, but also humble and honest about the struggle being real.  I also need to use my position of influence to ensure the next generation gets all the opportunity they deserve.