October 21 – Courtney LeBlanc, Callen

Background:

Courtney LeBlanc is the Group Brand Director at Callen, where she leads brand strategy and creative initiatives. She holds a Master’s degree in Global Marketing, Communications and Advertising from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Before Callen, LeBlanc served at restaurants, worked as a customer service representative, became the Global Account Director at Wieden + Kennedy and the Managing Director at FableWorks. She recently worked on the “Bring Home The Bud” campaign for Budweiser during The World Cup, winning multiple awards including the prestigious Titanium Lion. 

Key Takeaways:

• Be bold: LeBlanc’s “three seconds of bravery” rule is key to her success. She believes that short moments of courage can open doors, whether it’s negotiating a salary, moving to a new city or trying something risky in your career. Bravery, not perfection, drives impactful decisions.
• Recharge sometimes: When faced with burnout, LeBlanc took a year off to travel and reset. Her advice? Don’t be afraid to step back when needed. Sometimes the best way forward is to pause and recharge.
• Relationships matter: LeBlanc believes that building strong relationships with clients and colleagues is crucial. Creating trust allows for honest conversations where you can push back or make bold suggestions without damaging the connection.
• Advocate for your creativity: LeBlanc believes standing up for your creativity is important. As you work with clients and teams, it’s essential to protect the integrity of your work and not let others water it down. Building trust is key, but don’t be afraid to push back when necessary to ensure the best outcome.
• Be a kind person: If you’re likable and get people talking about themselves, which she stated was especially the case in advertising, you can connect with them. Be the person that people want to work with, and you will succeed.

Connect with LeBlanc on LinkedIn here.