For college seniors, the month of May is a time of celebration and relief. Though finals season may be brutal, the light at the end of the tunnel — in the students’ case, graduation — approaches quickly.
Although one’s hunger for knowledge starts young, college serves as another funnel that feeds curiosity and nurtures inquisitiveness. When Campaign asked industry leaders from the marketing and advertising world, many reinforced the necessity to remain hungry and engaged.
Robert Rave, SVP of creative marketing, Concept Arts
“Don’t aim to get a job — aim to understand culture. Anyone can learn how to make a deck or manage a project. What separates great marketers from good ones is their ability to read the room of culture: what’s trending, what’s shifting, what people are feeling underneath all the noise that’s out there. That’s your edge.”
Rona Mercado, chief growth officer, Concept Arts
“If you’re graduating and trying to get into entertainment, media or the agency world, don’t wait for someone to give you a title to prove what you can do. You’ve got platforms right now — use them. TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn are more than social. They’re stages. They’re portfolios. They’re proof of how you see the world. Pick a brand you love and rework a campaign. Share your take on a trend. Build something that shows your voice. That’s how people find you. That’s how doors start to open. And this summer? Stay curious. Study the moves brands are making. Pay attention to what’s hitting, and what’s missing. Curiosity is your edge. It sharpens your instincts. And when you do get in the room, be the one people can count on. Bring ideas, bring follow-through, authenticity, bring real energy. That’s what lasts!”
Britt Riley, VP and group creative director, Doe-Anderson
“Show up hungry. Not for the free lunches [but] for the work. Show up with ideas, questions, references, obsessions. I don’t care if it’s your first job or your fifth—you should still be curious like it’s day one. The hungriest minds make the most unexpected, most effective, most you-should-get-a-raise-for-that kind of work.”
Jerry Hoak, chief creative officer, The Martin Agency
“Be hungry and stay curious. Don’t be afraid of using tools to enhance your creativity. Say yes to everything.”
Phil Haid, founder and CEO, Public Inc.
“Be courageous. Show an insatiable hunger and a desire for action. Be courageous enough to have a POV — and share it! Have the courage to speak out, show up in unexpected ways and always take action.”
Mark Ballard, SVP and GM, Harmonica (formerly Saeger Media Group)
“Let your conscience and values lead your decision-making — to be fearless and courageous. We’re living through a very confusing and manipulative era. Brashness and bullying masquerade as ‘strength.’ Exclusivity and prejudice are confused with ‘patriotism.’ The best marketers will see through the smog. Stick to what you know in your heart is loving, fair and just — those are the values (and brand messages) that will endure over time.”
Melissa Andraos, SVP of strategy, Exverus Media
“Your network is your net worth, so start building authentic relationships early. Engage with professionals in the industry, ask insightful questions and bring value to every conversation or exchange. It’s important to stay curious and foster meaningful relationships because they could open doors to opportunities that may not have been possible otherwise.”
Jennifer Little, SVP and senior partner, general manager, Texas, FleishmenHillard
“Don’t be afraid to be the mentor to older generations throughout your career. While AI may not have been encouraged for coursework, learn it, use it, get curious and be a force for marketing of the future.”
Lindsay Wyskowski, associate VP of consumer, Identity
“Be curious and raise your hand to try new things. The best way to learn is by doing and exploring, and when you step out of your comfort zone (and also sometimes outside of your job description or expectations), you grow your skill set and gain exposure to many different aspects of this work. You can wait for someone to tell you, but the gratification of embracing something new, exciting, unknown on your own terms is worth the extra effort.”
Marie Lamonica, managing director, creative strategy, We Are Rosie
“Be humble and curious. It is not expected that you know everything or have all of the answers, but it is expected that you will ask clarifying questions and figure it out to the best of your abilities. Also, don’t be a jerk. No one has time for jerks — this industry has maxed out in that area.”
Autumn Drummond, director of PR and communications, TBWA\Chiat\Day LA
“Ask questions. And then ask some more. Remember that you don’t know what you don’t know, and no one expects you to! But they do expect you to be curious and want to grow. Your first job (or first couple of jobs) out of college is the time to make mistakes, so fight the urge to come off all-knowing. As long as you show your interest, curiosity and willingness to learn, you’ll be just fine.”
Elizabeth Rosenberg, founder, strategic communications and marketing consultant and executive branding expert, The Good Advice Company
“What your job looks like when you graduate college is not what it’s going to look like in five years. Always be curious, open to change and learn. Find the white space. Innovate. Find the balance between doing what you love, what you’re good at and what can make you money. This first job is the time in your life to work hard, listen and remember that you don’t know everything, but what you do know will bring value.”
Rob Davis, president and CMO, Novus
“Recent grads should focus on demonstrating a willingness to embrace new approaches, and to bring a data-driven mindset to every aspect of marketing.“Employers are perennially on the hunt for talent that is hard-working, proactive and low-drama. We look for people who are intellectually curious and offer a point-of-view, not someone who takes orders. Come to an interview or meeting with your boss prepared to answer: ‘Why you?’ [Respond with] what sets you apart – with specificity. What have you done in school, in an internship or in your everyday life that indicates initiative and innovation, curiosity and creativity?”
Tyler Easterling, president, TBA Worldwide
“Be relentlessly curious and unafraid to question everything. The best marketers I know aren’t just creative or analytical; they’re challengers and problem solvers. They ask why something works, how to make it better and come up with ideas and solutions that no one else has thought of yet.”
Gretchen Walsh, president, McKinney
“Here’s what matters: be genuinely interested. Dig into timeless marketing fundamentals, read the trades and see what’s grabbing attention daily. But also, get deeply curious about AI. Ask all the questions, but also experiment with the tools, try things out, see what works. That hands-on exploration is crucial.
“Equally important: be interesting. Your experiences, how you see things – that’s your edge. Bring that to how you connect with people and your work.
“And keep that optimism. Marketing is full of possibilities. Being truly curious, actively experimenting, bringing your perspective and staying forward-looking is how you will create impact … and find happiness doing it.”
Howie Kleinberg, president, Glow
“Surround yourself with people who inspire growth, challenge you, and share your ambition. It’s your network that will help shape your energy, mindset, and path forward. Don’t forget to stay endlessly curious and fueled by passion, discipline, and a clear sense of purpose; it’s your mindset, not your résumé, that will carry you. Embrace feedback, stay patient, learn from mistakes, and remember that consistency and effort matter more than instant results. And of course, remember to believe in yourself, but stay humble, and lead with kindness. This is a long game, so enjoy the ride and keep growing.”
Trey Taylor, senior director of story, Day One Agency
“Stay curious and engaged. It’s not enough to know the latest ad campaign — true cultural fluency comes from a deeper curiosity about the world around you. Even if a topic isn’t immediately interesting, train yourself to stay aware and inquisitive.
“Start by curating your feeds intentionally. Follow people who help you think critically or offer smart cultural insights, whether they’re Substack writers, TikTok creators or niche X accounts. Ask yourself: who’s shaping the conversations I care about, whether it’s sailor-cut selvedge denim or Labubus?
“Specificity is your superpower. Demonstrating things going on in your own niche that you find interesting is infinitely more interesting than spouting off what is ‘trending’ in culture.
“Above all, cultivate a point of view on everything. If you can articulate what you think and why, you’ll quickly become a valuable resource, and someone else will look to you for what’s next.”
Abby Stevenson-Greiss, marketing manager, Mas
“Actively listen and learn. Know that you’re not going to be the smartest person in the room 90% of the time, and that’s a good thing. It allows you to learn from seasoned vets in your industry and make intentional relationships that last long past your career. Ask questions, take notes and get curious!”
Amber Higgins, partner and chief strategy officer, Fig
“Be a student of the industry. Study what worked, what didn’t and why. Stay curious, keep digging and never stop learning.”
Christina Rogers, senior director of communications, Luquire
“Your edge won’t come from what you learned in school, but that you learned. The best job skill for this industry is insatiable curiosity. Marketers are truth-seekers, constantly chasing insights into the ever-changing human condition. The best among us know how to not know – how to sit with ambiguity, ask better questions and dig until we find clarity. In this business, knowledge isn’t a static asset. It’s a moving target. Your job is to keep moving with it.”
Leyla Touma Dailey, president and chief creative officer, Doe-Anderson
“The marketing world needs a little more leap-before-you-look energy right now, so be that person. Take everything you learned in your studies, then add a hefty dose of curiosity and naughtiness and jump. I can almost guarantee you’ll be handsomely rewarded.”
Scott Moody, director of communications strategy, The Variable
“You don’t have to ‘fake it ’til you make it.’ It’s OK to ask questions, even if you think they are dumb, because the entire industry is figuring things out (possibly even making them up) as we go.”
David Mink, founder and CEO, Avalaunch Media
“Do some research and find the agency you most want to work at because of their service mix, client base or mentor opportunities. Then go knock on their door once a week and bring things of value. e.g. from real life experiences. I have had students drop by our office with articles that they thought would be helpful, cool swag they thought we might want to use, handwritten notes, poems, programs they have developed. In short: show up consistently, add value, be friendly and get them to want you to stay.”
Yadira Harrison, cofounder, Verb
“To the next gen of marketers: First off, congrats – and welcome to the group chat. My advice? Stay fiercely bold in your creative pursuits, but learn how to blend that fire with tech. Don’t let the myth that ‘AI will replace creativity’ live rent-free in your head. Creativity doesn’t die – it evolves. And you’re the generation that gets to show us how to merge soul and software.
“Also? Listen. Not just to your mentors, but to stories, references, culture, context. Knowing what came before helps you pitch what’s next with way more power.
“And lastly – own your cool. Those first five years are prime time. Everyone will ask you what’s new, what’s hot, what the TikTok girlies are doing. Don’t just answer – lead. Be the go-to in brainstorms. That’s how you quietly (or loudly) become indispensable.
“You’ve got this. Let’s go.”
