ALEXA PADRON

What’s your breaking into advertising story?

My first big break in the advertising industry was a MAIP (Multicultural Advertising Internship Program) internship at GTB translating Ford ads into Spanish. Although the work wasn’t the sexiest, I got to direct voice talent as an intern and spend my summer at a production house. It was a big deal for someone who didn’t go to ad school and built their portfolio on their own. When it was time to find a full-time job, I felt pigeonholed into being a Spanish writer but I wanted to do more than just translations. After turning down a few bilingual offers and working freelance at a cruise line, the legendary creatives Amy Ferguson and Shannon Murphy saw my potential and hired me as a Youngblood at TBWA\Chiat\Day. My first day I was put on a Super Bowl brief and the rest is history.

What’s one piece of advice you wish someone had given you early in your career?

One piece of advice I wish I was given early in my career is advocate for myself. I was lucky enough to have people fiercely advocate for me but I didn’t realize I could do it for myself. In a way, applying to Next Creative Leaders was one of the first steps towards advocating for myself more.

“In a way, applying to Next Creative Leaders was one of the first steps towards advocating for myself more.”

What does paying it forward look like for you?

In practice, “paying it forward” looks like mentoring the next generation of advertisers. I am where I am in my career because of the mentors who cheered me on and showed me the way. I aim to be that mentor for other young professionals, especially multicultural women. Every spring, I mentor a group of six students from the Most Promising Multicultural Students program. The program selects the top 50 multicultural adverting students from across the country and sends them to New York for a week of professional development. I help a small group navigate a critical time in their transition from student to recent graduate.

How can the industry evolve to ensure success in the next decade?

I think the industry needs to evolve to ensure its success in the next decade by nurturing junior talent. Many of us have AI and new tech on our minds. We’re worried about our own job security, but I think we need to invest in the next generation of young creatives. I’m in this industry because someone invested in me. With the rise of new tech, juniors aren’t being hired to do the tasks AI can do. If we don’t invest in young talent, there won’t be anyone to do the work in five years. I’m excited to step into a creative leadership role to guide young creatives, but if we don’t invest in younger creatives now there might not be anyone to guide.

“If we don’t invest in young talent, there won’t be anyone to do the work in five years.”

What’s a creative project outside of work that’s taught you something about yourself?

The creative project outside of work that’s taught me the most about myself is my blog, ThatPlannerFriend.com. It showed me how dedicated (and successful) I can be when I put my mind to something. When I started the blog, I didn’t know what it would become or if I would even have the energy after work to keep it alive. In the first year, I wrote at least one blog post every week, surprising myself and exceeding my own expectations. Two years later, my blog still fuels my creativity. It turns out a writer does love to write. Who knew?!

“It turns out a writer does love to write. Who knew?!”