ShoutLA conducted an interview with Bre Fernandez, senior copywriter at BBDO NY and co-founder of BreakingAD—an Instagram account that helps introduce creative people to the ad agency business.
During the interview, she opens up about her childhood and how it shaped who she is today:
Can you open up a bit about your work and career?
I’m a political refugee. My parents and I fled Cuba’s tyrannical chokehold in ’95, and escaped to Mexico for refuge. After being admitted into the US, my parents took odd jobs to make ends meet, but ultimately found the means to provide a ‘comfortable’ life for us. Being witness to this takes a deep toll on your mental health. And while I’ve lived in the U.S. for over 20 years, this sobering reality never leaves you. The will to survive. The fear of uncertainty. The trauma of oppression is all too real. I attribute my tireless work ethic to my struggle. In an industry that’s extremely male dominated, it’s definitely set me apart. The reality is, breaking into advertising, as a Latinx female, is hard. You hear stats that there’s very few women in leadership positions, it’s a boys club, and the barrier to entry is high if you don’t have the pedigree. I never let that stop me. I’ve faced worse obstacles, and have never let it weigh me down. And that’s my brand. It’s what I preach and use to uplift others in my #Breisms thread on LinkedIn and on @BreakingAD.
The lady has grit! And I think a case can be made that grit, not talent, is what propels certain highly ambitious and hard-working people into the career stratosphere. When you have talent too, the pathway is yours to chart.
I’ve learned is to be resilient. There’s always going to be a better writer. A better ideator. A better presenter. But grit is what’ll help you push through the fire in the most trying times. And most importantly, never feel like you’re in this alone. Female creatives stand on the shoulders of those before us, reach out to them, and find the right mentors to guide you in your path.
@BreakAD_ on Insta
Bre Fern’s advice for aspiring and new creative professionals—offered up on Instagram—is well-intended, well-designed, and well-received.
View this post on Instagram
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Bre Fern isn’t waiting to win a spot in a corner office to help lift people up. She’s leading by example and giving back now. She’s also affirming her power, coming up with solutions, staying on strategy, and letting her freak flag fly (all things that she advises others to do).
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