Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time.
Today I’m talking to another dynamic duo in the agency ownership world. Erica Fite and Katie Keating are partners in owning Fancy, an agency they started to make a difference in the world and the world of advertising for women. In fact, both have a directed passion for empowering women in business. We talk about where that mission came from and how they found their path to combine forces to Own it.
Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Erica Fite and Katie Keating of Fancy. Find more about the agency, its' amazing mission, and see their work at fancynyc.com. And be sure to connect with both Erica and Katie on LinkedIn.
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A strong business partnership, characterized by mutual support and shared goals, can lead to significant success and provide a solid foundation, especially when venturing into entrepreneurship. This was exemplified by Katie's mother's successful business partnership and how Katie and Erica relied on each other to make their agency work.
For creatives, advertising offers a more tangible and frequent opportunity to see ideas come to fruition compared to other creative fields like acting, where the success rate can be much lower. This perspective highlights advertising as a practical and rewarding path for creative individuals.
The advertising industry needs to change its traditional, rigid structures to accommodate women's needs, such as offering flexible work arrangements. Building an agency that values efficiency, trusts its team, and champions diverse voices can empower women to thrive and contribute effectively without sacrificing personal responsibilities.
Feminism, at its core, advocates for equality for all people. The term has shed its outdated, militant connotations and can coexist with traditionally feminine attributes. Business leaders should embrace and openly advocate for feminism, demonstrating that strength and femininity are not mutually exclusive and can drive positive change.
Many women in advertising are primary breadwinners, and the lack of business training within the industry makes the leap to ownership daunting. To increase female agency ownership, there needs to be better access to business education, a strong support network, and a willingness to "hustle" and make sacrifices, especially in the early stages.
