Name:
Mr. Brad Brown
E-mail address:
rbradley_brown@hotmail.com
Education Information
Undergraduate Major:
Communications, Advertising
Degree Received:
BS
Graduation Year:
1994
Activities, student organizations, leadership roles, etc. in which I was
involved at UT:
U.T. Advertising Club and U.T. Rowing Team Member
Job Information
Employer Name:
Feelance
Present Job Title:
Associate Director of Strategy
Brief description of my job responsibilities, e.g. a typical week in my job:
For the past 10 years I've been involved in strategic marketing and media. Working for such clients at McDonald's, Kraft Foods,
Dell Computers and Paramount Pictures, I've been able play an active role in some of this countries largest advertising promotions.
I've handled marketing partnership negotiations with AOL Time Warner as well as Disney in the tens of millions of dollars.
Typical week? Nothing's typical. If you are looking for a typical week, become an accountant. Advertising is a fly
by the seat of your pants type of career.
Suggestions I would give to undergraduate students with regard to courses,
internships, and other means of preparation for my career field:
Read the trade magazines. Know what is going on in the world of advertising. What agency is in trouble, what account
is in trouble. Know the names of the players in advertising. Try to get an internship in NY, LA or Chicago. The
bigger the better. The biggest piece of advice I have. Only work for agencies and clients that are household names.
Start at the top of the pyramid and you'll stay at the top of your game.
My career path in getting to this position:
I started in Atlanta after graduation. I had a friend working for Bates USA a once mighty ad agency. It took me
3 months to get in there. Once in I worked my buns off for $18,000 a year. Management saw that I had a desire. My
Media Director, who hired me out of college, took me with him to two other agencies. That was the largest influence.
Get a job and impress those above you. No one stays at one place very long. And you'll soon realize that you want to
only work with great people. Identify them and seek them out over the course of your career.
Other advice for students interested in gaining entry into and pursuing a career
in this field:
Be knowledgeable about their world. Don't try to make Knoxville live up to large market standards. If you have to
work the entire school year to save up for a trip to NY or LA, do it. Go visit the agencies. Cold call. Show them
how eager you are. Offer to "carry their books". The truth of the matter is that ad jobs are hard to get for
experienced professionals. Entry level is even harder. So the more you can raise your profile or "cut through the
clutter" the better off you are. Don't send crazy gifts or fancy resumes. Just offer to take someone to lunch or
buy them a beer. That will go a long way. Also, schmooze those that are only out of college 2 or 3 years. They are
plugged into the network and your pursuit will go a long way with that crowd.
./profiles/communications/adv2.htm
Last updated: