Moving the Needle: Erin Brogan

At DDB, our people are the heart and soul to our agency. We believe that the inclusivity of thought and background leads to when we, as a company, are able to be the most authentic and creative. Thus, allowing creativity to be the most powerful force within our business; it has the power to make people laugh, cry, think, alter their behaviour, create change for the world, and impact culture.  

1) Name, Title, Office, Link to LinkedIn Page 

Erin> Erin Brogan, business director, New York   

2) What is your personal mantra?   

Erin> Do it for the story.

3) How did you wind up in advertising?  

Erin> I interned on the social media team for University of Kansas Athletics when Snapchat came out (God I feel old) and I pitched to create one for the KU Basketball team as a way to get fans BTS. It ended up being the first collegiate Snapchat account created and I was interviewed for TIME. From there R/GA reached out to me about an internship and I’ve been in NYC loving advertising ever since. 

4) What is a piece of creative that you worked on that particularly moved you?  

Erin> In 2017 I helped launch a documentary by Rory Kennedy at the New York Film Festival. The film worked to shine a light on the digital divide in America and how kids were being left behind just because they lived in places without WiFi or laptops. This then led to them not being able to do their homework, apply to colleges and just generally keep up. I was shocked to learn about this issue and happy to play my part in raising funds to help. I still think about those kids. 

5) What does your daily routine consist of? 

Erin> Currently I’m taking advantage of adam&eveDDB’s work from anywhere policy which is that every year you can take 30 days and, as is in the title, work from anywhere. So for the next few weeks I’m down the shore and my daily routine consists of getting up around 8AM, jumping in the ocean, meetings from 9-6PM*, and then I try to catch the sunset at the beach and read (I am still on track to my New Year’s resolution to read a new book ever month). 

*End time TBC ☺ 

6) When do you feel the most powerful?  

Erin> When I’m joining a meeting with my team with a banger idea that I know clients HAVE to buy. 

7) Which of the DDB Four Freedoms is the most important to you and why? 

Erin> Freedom to Be. I think it’s important to meet each other where we are and teach each other what we know.  

8) What is one source of creative inspiration you draw from outside of work?  

Erin> I’m a theatre kid at my core, so anything within the arts. Give me your broadway, off-broadway, one-woman shows, and experiential performance art. I’m there. I figure if people can be brave with live performance, we can be brave with creative that has been strategized for months, research tested and expertly produced. 

9) Who are your creative heroes? 

Erin> My current Holy Trinity. Taylor Swift, Renee Rapp and Chappell Roan. Oh and whoever made that U by Kotex commercial “Go with the Flow” in 2008. Can someone find them please? 

10) Wishes or aspirations for the advertising industry?  

Erin> I’d like us to have a bit more fun and bravery when representing the world that we all live in rather than feeling like we have to check boxes to make everyone happy. 

11) How are you moving the advertising industry forward? 

Erin> I think I try to respond to each brief with a level of humanity and find smart, efficient and fun ways forward. I also really aim to create a space where creatives feel like they can pitch anything. I think that’s important as account people and gets to fantastic work that may have been looked over, disregarded, or not presented before. 

12) What has been your most measurable impact? 

Erin> Still working on it ;)  

13) Lasting words to leave us with: 

Erin> Send it.