Rising Industry Talent Reflect on Accessibility, Versatility, and More
This month, Factory Studios, Not Just Any and SIREN joined forces to create a new series of events called ‘The Next Course’ – a supper club for up-and-coming creatives and producers, with the first having taken place on September 4th at the Not Just Any offices.
Designed to celebrate and nurture emerging talent in both the production and creative sectors of the advertising industry, the event was a first of many. Those invited were nominated by their heads of production or ECD, in recognition of their talent. ‘The Next Course’s aim is to highlight the incredible work of young professionals at the start of their careers, but also provide them with invaluable networking opportunities with peers and industry veterans alike.
Lou Allen, managing director at Factory Studios said, “Here at Factory, we are passionate about creating an event for up-and-coming producers and creatives. We wanted a fun, new way to celebrate their incredible talent, inspiring energy, and forward-thinking ideas that the industry always needs to keep things fresh! It was a fantastic evening and hopefully the first of many!”
Siân Rogers, company director and music supervisor at SIREN added, “There is so much incredible talent in the industry at the moment! All of the attendees were nominated by their senior leaders, and we felt it was a great way to champion them and give them the opportunity to meet with and be inspired by their peers in the industry. It was such a fantastic and uplifting evening… Here’s to the next one!”
Emily Rudge, managing director and executive producer at Not Just Any said, “It's no secret that the last few years have been challenging, and unfortunately, it's often the younger talent that suffers. Gone are the days of spending weeks in Cannes villas or shoots to far flung locations… we wanted to give everyone some special treatment and spoil them a little! Look forward to the ‘good new days’ rather than looking back, and have an opportunity to socialise with those outside of their own company too.”
It’s no secret that here at LBB we love both the production industry and supporting and showcasing young talent, so this was completely up our street. We were keen to talk to some of the young talent that attended this month’s ‘The Next Course’ and hear about their firsthand experience in the industry – what they love most about it, what they’d change about it and why more events like this one are a must. Here’s what they had to say.
LBB> How did you decide you want to be part of the industry and what were the first steps you took towards joining it? What were the biggest challenges that came with that?
Valentina Schwendinger, assistant film producer at BBH> I started working in film when I was 18, driven by a passion for filmmaking. My first role as an assistant producer on independent films in Vienna allowed me to dive into the world of moving images early on. Over time, I found myself frequently bouncing between the film world and the advertising industry, constantly learning from both. When I moved to London to pursue my passion for directing, the opportunity to become an agency producer came up after graduating and I knew it was the right path to broaden my knowledge in advertising.
The biggest challenge for me was always feeling the pressure of choosing one path over another, worrying that one decision might close off future opportunities. But as I gained more experience, I realised that trying out different roles and industries only deepened my understanding of what I truly enjoy. Each experience has been a stepping stone, helping me to see that one decision doesn’t erase others - it can actually open more doors.
Tina Mwazange, assistant producer at BBH> It came later on in my youth. I have crossed over a number of different industries and I felt like I wasn't entirely focusing on what I really wanted, which is creating. I thought I needed a big change and almost immediately that change appeared. It was a matter of having the right discussions with the right people, and showing them why I would be a distinctive choice. The biggest challenge was more around getting to know the industry. Jobs for the most part are linear, but this industry needs you to be interconnected to the Nth degree.
Jacob Viner, junior creative at Lucky Generals> I got a call from a mate saying this Watford course he was doing would be right up my street. I googled it and was in from the get-go.
The first step towards joining it, a la Tony Cullingham - ‘make a musical instrument’. The biggest challenge faced - ‘play the Peruvian national anthem with said instrument’.
Kezia Clayton, assistant producer at Havas> The creative industry is so shiny and glamorous to look at as you rise through the ranks of education, and after settling in the film industry for several years, I realised a lot of the hot shot players had actually done their apprenticeships and still worked and thrived in advertising. I decided that was where I wanted to be. In the end I tumbled head-first into my role at Havas London after applying to be PA to the head of production. One Zoom interview later I was lined up not as an assistant, but as an assistant producer and hurtling towards my first production as soon as I got in the door. Looking back, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
LBB> If you could give your younger self one piece of advice about your career path, what would it be and why?
Caitlin Horrex, junior creative at Grey> Not to be afraid of failing, especially when in front of peers - to be honest I still need to tell myself this. Why worry what people think, obsess over an idea until it’s ‘perfect’ or worry about whether an idea is right is wrong. Take the pressure off yourself when it comes to ‘nailing a brief’ because that can get in the way of what’s truly great. Leave that to your creative directors.
Alicia Cordell, junior producer at Grey> You don’t have to start every email with ‘just’ or ‘sorry to bother you’. The more people you seek out to learn from – the better equipped you’ll be.
Tina Mwazange, assistant producer at BBH> It doesn't matter unless it matters to you. You need to trust that little idea that has always been prodding and poking around - that didn't seem as if it would come to fruition and slowly it is. Maybe you needed to see it when you saw it, but if you leaned into your curiosity without judgement earlier, and with utter kindness to your growing pains, that could/would have been the ticket.
Lea Georgiev, assistant producer at Wieden + Kennedy> A reminder to be less stressed about making mistakes. It can be very unnerving not knowing how to do something, but often these challenges prove most useful to personal progress and learning.
LBB> How do you think the industry should change to welcome and attract more young and diverse talent? What advice would you give to industry leaders?
Tom Parker, production assistant at Neverland> I think making the industry accessible and welcoming to all is the best way to attract diverse young talent with unique voices. It would be great for film and TV courses to offer modules on advertising so that young people considering their future have advertising in mind as a viable pathway.
Caitlin Horrex, junior creative at Grey> I think having patience – to be able to get diverse thinking and talent we have to acknowledge they might not always fit the mould and have the tools in comparison to someone who came from a traditional background. A lot of the best people I’ve worked under have taken the time to help me learn. We have to be mindful of those who may struggle in certain areas of the business like a dyslexic on a radio script, or a creative team building a deck who didn’t go to ad school. Great ideas have to be nurtured, but sometimes we lose patience when the talent aren't able to articulate their thinking quick enough on tight deadlines.
Jacob Viner, junior creative at Lucky Generals> Advertising is bad at advertising itself as an option to school kids. Free in-agency incubators are doing wonders for lowering barriers into this industry. But we need more of them. And we need the existing ones to get into more schools and uni careers fairs. All I got from my careers fair was a free pen.
Valentina Schwendinger, assistant film producer at BBH> The industry needs to trust in new ideas and be open to taking risks. We’ve seen a shift where fewer projects are being made, and there’s a tendency to stick with what’s worked in the past. But advertising is an ever-changing field, especially with younger generations constantly pushing boundaries on social media. Giving up-and-coming talent the chance to contribute their fresh perspectives is what will keep the industry vibrant and relevant. We’re all tired of seeing the same old ads – it’s time to embrace change and give new voices the platform they deserve.
LBB> What do you love most about your job and how do you plan to build on that?
Flo Cussans, creative at Lucky Generals> You could be the most junior person in the room and your idea still be the winner, so don’t be afraid to speak up and put yourself on the page.
Tina Mwazange, assistant producer at BBH> There’s something magical about taking a germ of an idea, plucking it from the ether of a brainstorm, and then breathing life into it with a team of talented beings. It's the quirks, the details, the collaboration. Feeling like that third creative, but also the orchestrator is riveting. It's inspiring to solve creative problems and the weirder sometimes the better!
As for building on that? Well, I'm planning on turning the volume up to 11. I want to work on odd stuff with new emerging technologies with even more diverse mindsets. More, more, more. The wilder the ideas, the more boundary-pushing, and more days where I get to say, ‘I can’t believe this is my job!’.
Kezia Clayton, assistant producer at Havas> Let me say it loud and proud – this is still one of the most talent-rich industries in the jungle. I still don’t think I’ve met a single monotonous person in this business… Try that test in any other field and see if you can say the same. And you have to love the fact that we work on creative projects that move within the outside world every day in every way. Advertising really is an industry for the people - we make work that’s seen on tiny mobile screens to billboards in Piccadilly Circus. It’s art. It’s science. It’s the notion that you can merge humanity and creativity and technology to build brands, shape markets and, just maybe, change things for the better.
Lea Georgiev, assistant producer at Wieden + Kennedy> The thing I love the most about my job is the versatility, no day is the same 90% of the time. Things can certainly be challenging, but hardly ever dull! Working with a new team on each project and meeting new people on a regular basis is very insightful and inspires greater creative conversations. I intend on encouraging more onboarding of newer, younger talent on projects and hopefully creating more opportunities for young creatives.
LBB> How did you come across ‘The Next Course’ and why did you want to attend? Do you believe the industry should be creating more of these spaces for up-and-coming talent?
Valentina Schwendinger, assistant film producer at BBH> Factory Studios reached out to me about being part of ‘The Next Course’ and I felt really grateful. I absolutely believe we need more spaces like this for emerging talent. These programmes are crucial – they give new voices a platform to be heard, which is essential for both individual growth and the evolution of the industry as a whole. Creating more opportunities for up-and-coming talent ensures that the industry stays fresh, innovative, and forward-thinking.
Saskia Chambers, junior producer at Pablo> I heard about ‘The Next Course’ whilst working with Factory for audio on our recent campaign. I believe these events are definitely worth growing. It’s great to get connected with those in similar positions and interests. And, it's a great way to network within a relaxed environment.
Jacob Viner, junior creative at Lucky Generals> ‘The Next Course’ was very fortunately handed to me on a plate, sent over to me by a couple of our creative directors.
And yes, definitely. Making contacts in this industry is everything. Don’t get me wrong, I get an absurd amount of satisfaction from scrolling on my LinkedIn feed. But networking will always be better over a free dinner.
Alicia Cordell, junior producer at Grey> I heard about ‘The Next Course’ through my fantastic head of production Maxine Hose – she really values pushing her team to explore the whole industry, and makes sure we’re attending everything that will add to our careers and our experience in advertising in general.
I do think it’s important that the industry creates more spaces for junior talent that aren't just ‘pub after work’. It’s fun to meet new people and hear their stories, hear their qualms, hear their ideas about the industry – to have more spaces to come together outside of a work setting is invaluable in creating environments for honest conversations.
