A love letter to the daring darlings in advertising
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Lali Koehler, Chief Production Officer at Publicis Groupe's PXP reflects on the inspiration she's gained from remarkable women in adland and shares the invaluable lessons learned from them.
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As I sit at the end of the day, in a quiet office, I find myself thinking about the incredible women in advertising who've inspired and helped me.
You know who you are — the ones who've paved the way and those still working their magic to this day.
Let go of others expectations
To the mentors who were so much more, who taught me that being me was my superpower in a world where everyone expected me to play by rules not made for us. You proved that the whole 'natural born leader' thing is just smoke and mirrors.
True leadership? It's f—ing hard work! It comes with the grind, the discomfort, constant feedback, the haunting fear of never messing up. And in this gritty pursuit, I could let go of the weight of others' expectations, to truly stand tall in my own power, unapologetically and boldly me.
Curiosity is your secret weapon. It disarms people and helps you reach across the table. Keep that spirit alive. It's what sets you apart.
Embrace curiosity
To my dear team, never let go of your curiosity. Always ask those simple questions, no matter how straightforward they seem. They're not dumb — in fact, nobody else is asking them, and that's your advantage. Asking these questions doesn't make you look clueless. It shows you're thinking deeper and staying ahead.
It can be tough to shake off the worry of looking silly, but remember, whether you're just starting out or you've been in the game for decades, staying curious is what keeps you sharp. Curiosity is your secret weapon. It disarms people and helps you reach across the table. Keep that spirit alive. It's what sets you apart.
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Build endurance
To my cycling friends who taught me that living life is resilience — be it enduring frustration and stress, or cultivating patience and kindness. You are capable of anything, truly!
No one is born into greatness. Gold medalists didn't come out of the womb doing somersaults, and Beyoncé (probably) hit a few flat notes on the karaoke machine. Build your endurance, build your stamina. Endurance sports can be a helpful tool to develop these mental skills too. Your body can only work as hard as your mind allows it.
We're all in the same boat, wrestling with our fears, trying to figure things out.
Sweat the creative details
To those who follow in our path, remember this: In the world of advertising and content production, it's all about a creative perspective, not formulas or fixed answers. This isn't like science or math where things add up the same way every time.
Our industry thrives on uniqueness. You can use creativity to find solutions, to make the work better. I can't stress this enough; have a creative point of view. Get better at your craft. Sweat the details. They matter today, and they will matter in the future.
Think generously
Fear spares no one. Not the CEO and not the toughest person you know. We're all in the same boat, wrestling with our fears, trying to figure things out. Keep this in mind when you're collaborating. It's a reminder that deep down, we're not so different, which can help us stay grounded and not be too hard on each other. Assume best intentions. It will help you get to end results faster.
May you continue to inspire, disrupt, and lead. You've always had the power, and now you have the floor.
So, here's to the women in advertising and content production: may you continue to inspire, disrupt, and lead. You've always had the power, and now you have the floor.
