My Biggest Lesson: Tracy Mathison

Tracy is an SVP, group creative director who has worked at some of WPP’s most esteemed agencies, including JWT, Wunderman and VMLY&R COMMERCE. She has led creative for iconic companies such as Unilever, GSK, Kimberly Clark, Abbott, Nestle and more. All while winning Effie, Tempo and Reggie awards for her work and being shortlisted at Cannes. 

She tackles each assignment with unmatched enthusiasm, energy and ambition; making it her personal mission to see her clients succeed. All the while, being grateful for the chance to work with the incredible talent that surrounds her at VMLY&R COMMERCE everyday.

I have always loved presenting and knew whatever I did in advertising, it would involve pitching business. In fact, in one of my first jobs I got hired to pitch new business and I told my boss I would do it if I could write about the business I brought in. Needless to say, I met and exceeded goals because writing was my passion. Then I got extremely fortunate and got hired at JWT working for Patrick Kelley, who was my first true mentor. I still rate him as one of the best storytellers I’ve ever known. He showed me how to bring a presentation to life. How to take my love of presenting and light a fire in the people around me, so they got just as excited about an idea as I did. It was an incredible way to start my career, and those days of humility, hustle and perseverance stay with me even now. 

When I started in this field, getting into copywriting was like winning the lottery. Everyone wanted to be a creative in advertising. It was glamorous, hard to obtain and even harder to keep. I was hungry and ready to succeed, but because of how difficult it was to land the jobs I wanted, I learned to be forever grateful. Don’t take a day for granted because you could be doing something else, and I guarantee nothing as fun. That grit and determination has taken me far, but above all it has helped me to foster relationships with co-workers, clients and industry pros that are authentic and real – in a world that doesn’t always value the same. 

As I progressed in my career, I was lucky enough to meet many other great mentors at phenomenal agencies. All who allowed me to be myself, while growing and thriving along the way. That’s key… find people who believe in you and then pass that belief to the people who work for you next. Don’t cave to demands that make you question yourself and always stay true to who you are – because it’s that same you, you have to face after you leave that agency. 

Above all, celebrate being you, that’s why you got hired in the first place and why you’ll do incredible things!