Written by our junior, mid‑level, and new‑to‑the‑industry team members, this series offers an unfiltered look at advertising through the eyes of the next generation. From first‑brief insights to behind‑the‑scenes stories, The Briefing Room captures the energy, curiosity, ingenuity, and hard-learned lessons that drive advertising careers forward.
Early on in our careers, most of us feel a little lost trying to find our way. To find some guidance, we book informational interviews, read articles, slide into LinkedIn DMs, and maybe even attend a conference or two. The advice helps, but it doesn’t always click, there always seems to be a missing piece between where you are and where the person giving the advice is speaking from.
Advertising is an industry that never stops changing, and with every new generation, that gap only grows. So speaking as someone five years in the industry, close enough to remember the confusion, yet experienced enough to have picked up a few scars, I want to share a few skillsets that have helped me find my rhythm.
Not the kind that comes with a big title or years of experience, the everyday kind. The kind that shows up in how you support your team, thinks ahead, and knows how to carry yourself when things get messy.
For me, leadership starts with knowing the people around you and finding ways to amplify them. Like a point guard in the NBA, the best move isn’t always the splashy three-pointer. Sometimes it’s setting the screen, making the simple pass, and giving someone else the open layup. Playing to your team’s strengths, helping cover their blind spots, and making them in turn make the whole better.
In that vein of support, having the foresight to look ahead, even just hours down the line, helps position you as a leader. You don’t need to be able to develop a complicated strategy. You just need to be aware enough to flag potential issues early, anticipate client questions before they’re asked, and develop an internal compass for what needs attention now versus what can wait a beat. The industry moves fast, and being able to create a sense of steadiness in that pace matters.
And leadership doesn’t mean always being right. Some of the most valuable moments in my career have been saying, “I don’t know yet, but I’ll find out,” or owning a mistake before it becomes a bigger one. Accountability builds trust faster than perfection ever will.
Because leadership in your early years isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about showing up in a way that helps everyone move forward.
Advertising moves fast. Briefs turn into decks, decks turn into feedback, feedback turns into long meetings and late nights. And somewhere in the middle of all that, it’s easy to start seeing people as faceless roles: “the client,” “the creative,” “the vendor.”
But the longer I’ve been in this industry, the more I’ve realized how important it is to remember that everyone you work with is a person first.
Your coworkers aren’t effortlessly putting out work, they’re juggling multiple projects, their own goals, and lives outside the office. Your clients aren’t just stakeholders, they’re trying to make the right call for their brand, answer to people above them, and deal with personal pressures you may never see.
That awareness changes everything. It allows you to build stronger relationships, clearer communication, and develop a sixth sense of sorts to tell you when to push and when to adjust.
Emotional intelligence isn’t just a “soft skill” in advertising, it’s an essential. Knowing how to read the room (or an email), give people the benefit of the doubt, and approach challenges with compassion makes the work better and the relationships stronger.
Because at the end of the day, great advertising isn’t just built on strategy or creativity. It’s built by people, with people, for people.
This is the kind of industry where it’s easy to coast if you let yourself. The pace is fast, the work keeps coming, and before you know it, you’re in a routine, flowing through a river of processes instead of growing. Complacency and comfort are the quickest ways to get left behind in an industry that never stops evolving.
That’s why curiosity matters so much. It’s the seasoning that keeps you digging in the bag for another chip. Staying genuinely interested in new campaigns, emerging trends, and fresh ways people are thinking and creating. Getting excited about great work out in the world and asking how you can apply that energy and insight to your own clients. Curiosity keeps you awake, invested, and hungry for the challenge.
And if curiosity is the seasoning, goals are the sauce that makes it stick. Whether it’s a promotion, winning an award, or simply nailing a client presentation, having something to work toward keeps you motivated to develop and grow.
Honestly, don’t forget that this job is supposed to be fun. We get to bring cool, unexpected ideas to life by telling stories, creating memories through experiences and changing perspectives.
Knowing yourself in advertising means understanding what drives you, what excites you, and how you want to keep growing, so you don’t just settle into the work, but continue to move with it.
I’m still figuring it out, but that’s kind of the point. Advertising will always move fast and evolve. But if you stay grounded, show up for the people around you, and keep your curiosity alive, you’ll be surprised at how much you grow and accomplish.
Giovanni “Gio” Torres joined Copacino Fujikado in late 2022 as an Account Executive and has since grown into an Account Supervisor role. In his time at the agency, he’s contributed to award-winning campaigns across a range of clients and disciplines. While he works on all types of advertising, he’s especially drawn to experiential projects—like the cross-country popsicle tour, Kissing in the Rain, and Love for All Boat—where he can connect directly with consumers and see the impact firsthand.
