How Sophie Ozoux of Kin, Owns It
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, we’re talking to Sophie Ozoux from Kin. Sophie brings a diverse worldview to her work. She is French, but spent time in her youth in Africa and Saudi Arabia. She has also lived and worked in Paris, New York and L.A.
Her work has taken her through several large agencies, plus Coca-Cola on the brand side as well.
She co-founded Kin as a creative agency that champions social change through culture. We talk about her evolution to ownership and the purpose behind what Kin does.
It was such a delight to get to know her and learn her perspective on closing the agency gap in the advertising business.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Loading...
Key Takeaways
EPISODE: Sophie Ozoux from Kin
1. The Power of Diversity in Leadership and Background | 00:02:04
Sophie emphasizes how her upbringing as a "third culture kid" in Africa and Saudi Arabia, coupled with her international work experiences, profoundly shaped her approach to life and work. This diverse background fostered an appreciation for different cultures and perspectives, which she now champions in her agency. She and her co-founder, Kwame, connected over similar experiences of often being the "only token in the room" (he as a Black man, she as a female leader), driving their vision for an agency that values diverse viewpoints and elevates talent from various backgrounds.
2. The Business Advantage of Female Leadership | 00:23:46
While acknowledging the importance of discussions around maternity leave and equal pay, Sophie advocates for shifting the conversation to highlight the business performance and innovative approaches of female leaders. She asserts that female leaders bring new models, drive progress differently, and contribute to companies outperforming those dominated by men, urging a focus on these concrete business outcomes rather than solely "soft" or "motherly" values.
3. Fostering Innovation and Ownership through Proactive Projects | 00:25:58
To encourage female ownership and innovative thinking, Sophie suggests creating opportunities for women to experiment and lead without the fear of failure. At her agency, Kin, they dedicate resources to proactive projects not tied to revenue, allowing talent (especially female talent) a "free play zone" to test new ideas and innovate. This approach, inspired by Mailchimp's "big change starts small" campaign, helps foster an entrepreneurial spirit and allows individuals to explore their full potential in a safe environment.
4. The Importance of Early Mentorship and Vision Casting for Young Women | 00:28:30
Sophie highlights the significance of early mentorship and planting the seed of ownership in young women's careers. She emphasizes the need for platforms and conversations that encourage aspiring female leaders to envision running their own agencies and developing their unique approaches. This includes allowing younger women to participate in high-level business discussions, shaping proposals, and contributing to methodologies, fostering a sense of ownership from the start.
5. Defining Your Path and Standing for What You Want | 00:32:19
Sophie's personal advice for aspiring female owners is to gain clarity on their desired path and personal values. She explains that her own success came when she deliberately decided what she didn't want in her career and then boldly claimed her space, articulating her strengths, what she could bring, and her boundaries. This clear self-definition and willingness to share it, she believes, opens doors to opportunities and garners respect and support from others.
View All Episodes
Recent Episodes
