The Future Looks Bright (and Hungry)

The Twin Cities advertising scene isn’t just holding steady—it’s charging ahead. After years with Ad 2 Minnesota, I’ve seen first-hand how the next generation of creatives is coming in sharper, braver, and more prepared than ever. They’re not waiting for permission to lead. They’re leading from day one.

Gone are the days when you needed the “right” internship to fit in. Today’s students are showing up with real-world leadership experience, high-level education, and something you can’t teach: confidence. They’re not asking if they belong—they’re asking where they can make an impact. And that’s changing the whole game.

Leadership Isn’t a Title

If there’s one thing I keep telling young pros, it’s this: you don’t need a VP title to be a leader. You need curiosity, humility, and the drive to be elite at your craft. The people who rise fastest are the ones who show up ready to learn—who absorb everything around them like a sponge. The ego trip doesn’t last long. The learner’s mindset does.

Mentorship Is the Glue

Every success story in advertising starts with a mentor. Mine did. I’ve had bosses and peers who took the time to teach me how to think, communicate, and lead—and that’s something I’ll always pay forward. If we stop mentoring, we stop growing. The tools will change (they always do), but the human connection that holds this industry together can’t be automated.

Authenticity Wins

If agencies want to attract and keep great talent, they’ve got to live their values—not just post them on a careers page. Young creatives can smell inauthenticity a mile away. They want to work for people who mean what they say and show up with purpose.

What’s Next

Advertising in ten years? It’ll look different, sure. New tools, new tech, new definitions of “creative.” But the heartbeat—the storytelling, the collaboration, the drive to solve problems—will be the same. So the best thing we can do now is stay open, stay curious, and keep moving forward.

Onward.