Empowering the Next
Generation
Lessons from the Women Leading the Way at &Barr
Every career starts with a moment…the first time you speak up in a meeting, share an idea, or realize your voice matters.
During Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating those moments and the women who help create them. At &Barr, supporting women in advertising isn’t just something we talk about, it’s part of who we are. Women make up nearly 70% of our agency and half of our leadership team, creating a culture where mentorship, opportunity and career growth go hand in hand.
Four empowering women currently serve on our leadership team, helping guide the next generation of talent. They’re sharing advice for women at all stages of their career; the lessons they’ve learned and the perspectives they wish they’d known earlier.
Kim Blaylock, SVP, Account Service & Strategy
I look back on my younger self with compassion…I was definitely not the self-confident person that people see me as today. Advertising was a new industry for me (I went to school for broadcast news), so I was learning as I went along and working my you-know-what off!
I think that a good attitude and work ethic led me to where I am today, along with talented colleagues that mentored me. In my opinion, many people want a promotion or the next step up the ladder too soon in their careers these days. Whereas I wouldn’t trade the many years while I “climbed the ladder” – all the wonderful experiences I had and places I traveled, the lessons that I learned in each of my roles (many hard!), the clients I worked with and am still friends with to this day, and the colleagues that I shared blood, sweat, and tears with on many late nights. The memories!
There is so much to be learned on the journey of your career. Slow down, embrace and enjoy each role, each team member, each client, each lesson learned along the way. They will serve you well when you’re in a place that you can mentor and lead.
Erin Gutknecht, VP, Public Relations
Come in early, stay late, and make the most of every hour you’re working to earn trust and respect and demonstrate your work ethic early on. You are an example to everyone around you from interns to executives. Speak succinctly and impactfully. Seek support and resources in any areas you want to grow – including public speaking, being a strong manager, evolving from a tactician to a strategist, and other specific skills you may not have received in your formal education. Work hard and play hard to always bring your A-game and enjoy your down time to rest and rejuvenate. Be assertive in what you know and humble about what you don’t. Confidence when appropriate and humility when appropriate demonstrates authenticity (don’t fall prey to imposter syndrome). Identify women you admire and don’t be afraid to ask to spend time with them to ask questions and advice. I’m still in touch with my mentor from 25 years ago.
I think part of what has led to my successful 43-year career at &Barr, is my attitude towards working hard, thinking strategically, and leading a team with compassion, inspiration, and supporting them, yet giving them space to prove their own value. Don’t micromanage people and always admit your mistakes.
Jenn Rivera, VP, Finance & Operations
One of the best things young professionals can do is show up with an open mind and a real desire to learn. It’s natural early on to focus on just getting your tasks done but try not to stop there. Pay attention to the bigger picture. Ask why a certain decision was made, what options were considered, and how the final direction was chosen. When you shift from simply checking things off a list to understanding the reasoning behind them, you grow so much faster. You start to see how the pieces connect, and you train your brain to follow a similar decision-making process which will prepare you for bigger opportunities down the road.
