Anne is one of those people people love to like. She’s talented without rubbing it in your face mixed with just the right amount of nice. Toss in the fact she writes and performs sketch and stand-up comedy “in her spare time,” including “F.A.R.T.S.,” an original piece that she performed at The Under St. Marks Theater…and we like her even more.
Currently, Anne also performs the role of ECD at TCA, a media, analytics, and creative agency she jumped to after scooping up numerous awards during her eight years at Grey, NY. For Anne, the move was a chance to face totally new challenges (there’s a theme here), while gaining new skills that’ll keep her in demand for many more years. Or until SNL comes calling, anyway.
Is ageism in the industry something you thought about in your 30s? Your 40s?
I never gave ageism a thought in my 30s, maybe because I was guilty of it? When I was about 32, I worked with this AD who was well over 50. He drew out all of his boards and ideas by hand. He was very good and an excellent illustrator. I admired him a lot, but I also believed that the only reason he still had a job was because he knew someone higher up. How obnoxious. He was a talented guy with useful skills! I obviously thought he was too old to be a creative.
Once I got into my mid-40s I started feeling like my time was limited, and I would eventually be let go or shipped to Pharma, which I saw happen to other older creatives.
"I’ve taken my age and dates off of all of my social media accounts. It’s the first impression most people have of me and I can’t risk being dismissed because of it."
Is ageism something that’s affected you? What are some of the challenges you faced as a person who was getting older in the business? Do tell.
For one, I’ve taken my age and dates off of all of my social media accounts. It’s the first impression most people have of me and I can’t risk being dismissed because of it.
Once, when we were dealing with a difficult client, the account director told my partner and I that we needed to “put a younger creative team” in front of the client. But not a younger account director, interestingly enough. They fired my partner, moved me to another account and put a younger team in front of the client. The client remained difficult. Big surprise. I also once interviewed with a “femtech” company that didn’t seem to have a single person on staff who was over 40, including the founders. I thought this was a mistake. That and not hiring me!
Tell us about your own creative journey. What are your thoughts on where you are now, compared to your mindset when you were in the beginning of your career?
When I started in advertising, I thought by the time I reached the age I am now, I’d be at a big, corporate agency like Saatchi or Grey, working on bland creative and collecting big paychecks until my pension kicked in. Because at the time, that’s what older creatives were doing. And you know what? I was fine with that. These guys seemed happy! But now, it’s the absolute opposite and I’ve learned to embrace it. In order to survive I have to be engaged, learning, changing. It’s exhilarating. I’m leaned more into culture and tech than ever. I’m seeing creative opportunities beyond the traditional agency structure that are equal parts exciting and scary. I feel like I’m more awake now than I was as a younger creative.
Did the reality of the ad industry contribute to the decisions you made/the path you’ve taken?
Absolutely. Not only because of I’m growing older, but also because the agency structure is drastically changing, more than ever before. I knew that if I wanted to keep working, I needed added value beyond my creative chops. I took my current job at TCA - a media, analytics and creative agency - because I saw more and more clients demanding performance results for their work and I wanted to dive into those metrics from a creative perspective. I also saw Grey laying off all of the older, more expensive creatives and knew it was time to move.
"My 85-year-old friend Ruth once advised me to 'take the emotion out of business,' and that’s the best career advice I’ve received to date."
What do you feel creative people over 50 can offer over someone 20 years their junior, things that are unappreciated, or just plain overlooked?
My 85-year-old friend Ruth once advised me to “take the emotion out of business,” and that’s the best career advice I’ve received to date. It doesn’t mean that you don’t have feelings. Great sensitivity makes great creative. It just means I know how to balance these assets now that I’m older and have more going on in my life. I work hard to bring this emotional stability to my job, and it’s especially valuable when dealing with clients. Knowing when to hit the pause button and not react, to respond with respect, to say a joke at the right moment and be earnest at another. These skills come with time and experience. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen agencies send young 20 and 30-year-olds into client meetings, only to pull them out and put an older 40-something in front of them the next round.
I think startup “superstars” like Miki Agrawal from Thinx and Steph Corey from Away luggage would’ve avoided a lot of public controversy if they had an older, stable person metaphorically putting their arm over them to protect them at sudden stops. Of course, I do know quite a few over-50 creatives who are immature and quick to anger, so it’s not like all of us can offer this.
"If you feel old and bitter everyone will get that vibe. Yes, I said “vibe” like a Boomer hippy. Screw it."
What is your advice to people who are nearing or over 40 in the ad industry?
Bitterness is the enemy. Don’t dwell on the tired thinking that over 40 or 50 is over. Try new things, be excessively curious, show younger people that 50 can be a happy place. I started doing stand-up comedy at 50. I took a class and wrote my first tv show pilot during the pandemic. In both situations I’m frequently old enough to be everyone’s mother, but who cares? Now I have a slew of younger friends and they’re incredible. Be open and the opportunities will come. And you don’t have to be one of those award-winning, head honcho type of people. Just be interesting and focus on what you can bring to the party. If you feel old and bitter everyone will get that vibe. Yes, I said “vibe” like a Boomer hippy. Screw it.
How are you approaching the next 10 years? What does your future hold?
I’m cautiously optimistic. I have faith that my experience and overall joie de vivre will continue to be appreciated. And if it’s not, I think I’d make a great barista.
"I had to give up on the belief that people should respect me and be open to the idea of making myself more respectable."
What do you see as potential solutions for ageism in the industry? Any thoughts on possibly unionizing?
I can only speak for myself. I had to give up on the belief that people should respect me and be open to the idea of making myself more respectable. I had to promote myself more, push my accomplishments, and find new ways to be valuable. I honestly don’t know enough about unionizing so I can’t answer that question.
What are some positive things you’ve experienced as you’ve grown older in the business?
I‘ve had the absolute pleasure of working and mentoring younger creatives who blow my mind. They are beyond talented, work hard without complaint, (at least to me, haha), and are open to learning and growing. And I’m learning and getting inspiration from them, too. My creative strategist, Brooke, introduced me to the addictive world of Tik Tok. My comedy friend Lana encourages me to go to her open mic each week, even if I write last-minute jokes. My friend and former co-worker Bryan is starting his own business.
Who do you look to for inspiration?
I’m inspired by Tina Fey, who often dismisses any questions about being a “woman in comedy” and focuses instead at being the best in comedy. I love pretty much everything that comes out of Cindy Gallop’s feed. And social media darlings Baddiewinkle, Linda Rodin and Iris Apfel prove that there is still a lot of track in front of me.
I’m inspired by Tina Fey, who often dismisses any questions about being a “woman in comedy” and focuses instead at being the best in comedy. I love pretty much everything that comes out of Cindy Gallop’s feed. And social media darlings Baddiewinkle, Linda Rodin and Iris Apfel prove that there is still a lot of track in front of me.
