Advertising Club

A huge thank you to Zeno Group for hosting 20 of our members this morning in Chicago, IL! We had an incredible time learning from the team—including many proud Badger alumni—about the diverse practices at Zeno. From the Purpose & Impact team to Analytics, our members gained valuable firsthand insight into the inner workings of agency life. We’re excited to bring this knowledge back to campus and apply it beyond! A special thank you to Emma Hartenberger and the entire Zeno Group team for making this experience possible. It was truly a formative opportunity for our members, and we’re so proud to see Badger pride shining strong! #uwmadison #adclub #zenogroup

A big thank you to KoKo Rustan, Senior Account Supervisor at Atypikal , for speaking with our Advertising Club last week! We loved hearing about her hands-on experience working on exciting projects like the Graduate Hotel and BravoCon. KoKo shared some fascinating insights, especially about how she and her team brought the Graduate Hotel’s identity to life by having students travel around to capture its essence. Her creative approach and passion for the industry were truly inspiring! Thank you again, KoKo, for taking the time to speak with us and sharing your valuable experiences!

A big thank you to Francesca Piancone and Sarah Latz, founders and directors of book180, for speaking with us! We truly appreciated hearing about your unique approach to teaching creative skills and preparing students to become agency-ready in just 180 days. What stood out the most was how you shared real examples of others’ work, showing us the incredible power of creativity and personality in the field. Your emphasis on how both play such a vital role in making an impact really inspired us. We’re grateful for the insights you shared and for giving us a glimpse into the future of advertising. Thanks again for your time and for all the valuable lessons!

Thank you to Katie Clarkin, Senior Account Executive at Coyne PR for speaking with our club! It was very meaningful to hear from someone who was recently in our shoes, and to hear your journey from college student to a Senior Account Executive in 4 years! We especially appreciated hearing about Coyne PR as an agency and the benefits and growth opportunities associated with an agency compared to other options in the industry. It is clear from your presentation how much confidence plays a role in developing as a PR professional, and your advice on personality in the industry resonated with many of our members. Thank you again for sharing with us!

Thank you Julia Kaufmann for joining us at last weeks meeting! Your insights into public relations and your approach to creating wellness-focused campaigns were inspiring. We loved hearing about your innovative partnerships and how they lead to such impressive client successes. Thanks for teaching us about the importance of strategic collaborations in PR!

Yesterday, we had the incredible opportunity to hear from Jodi Grundyson, VP Strategist at KNOCK Inc.. With her years of retail expertise and strategic skill, Jodi has helped major brands like Target, Levi’s, and New Balance re-envision their identities for the better. Jodi talked to us about the power of rebranding and pitching. It was refreshing to hear her honesty about humanizing brands and the impact of hands-on interaction with the products you're branding. She showed us that authentic branding and a simple approach truly resonates with the audience. Jodi also expressed her passion for fashion, encouraging us to bring our personal passions into our roles as communicators. She explained the importance of following what you love, letting your career build around that experience. One key piece of advice that really stood out: “Don’t be afraid to say yes.”

Thank you to Ryan Murray, President of Solve, and Mindy Gallimore Murray Director of Brand Experience for Morning Foods at General Mills, for speaking at this week's Ad Club meeting. Ryan and Mindy shared incredible insights into the dynamic roles on both the client and agency sides of advertising and marketing. Their discussion on the challenges and benefits of navigating both sides of the industry was extremely valuable for our members, who are approaching their own careers after graduation. Their advice to remain curious inspired our members to explore new opportunities and embrace wherever their careers take them. Thank you, Ryan and Mindy, for your inspiring talk and for motivating the next generation of advertising professionals to think big and take risks!

Huge thank you to Adam Kmiec, from UnitedHealth Group for speaking to our members and inspiring us to embrace new roles, places, and ideas as we grow and expand our knowledge. Adam shared invaluable insights on how to fuel our personal and professional journeys with passion over monetary gain, and how to drive toward success. He left us with a powerful list of tips to keep in mind as we transition from college into our careers. It was extremely helpful to learn from his vast experience in the marketing, advertising and communications world. Thank you, Adam, for your time and guidance!

Huge thank you to Dana Carpenter, Jenn Pisano, Laura Borden, Donovan Frank Green and Sue Spaight from the Core Creative team for joining us in person last night. We loved hearing about their range of campaigns and clients. Their advice to always stay curious and ask questions truly resonated with our members!

A huge thank you to Hallie Humbert, Stefanie Paige Gunning, Knowlton Bourne, Elisabeth Cooper and Erik Mayerson at McKinney for speaking with our members last night! We truly appreciated all of your advice on life after graduation, with an emphasis on the importance of networking. Your walkthrough of the various roles within an advertising agency was incredibly valuable for our members anticipating their future careers. Thank you again, and a special shoutout to former Ad Club President Hallie Humbert for making this possible!