Cadency x New York City

October 27-29, 2025

This industry trip was an immersive, electrifying experience with exposure to many brands, agencies, and networking opportunities. We made the most of our 72 hours in the Big Apple.

Voya Financial

We then headed to Voya to speak with Senior VPs, VPs, Managers, and Analysts. At Voya, we discussed getting into the financial industry and how to stand out during interviews.

Day 1

Swoveralls

Straight off our plane, we headed to Swoveralls to meet with Kyle Bergman, “Chief Swoveralls Officers.” We learned about what it’s like to build your own company.

We also got an insight into the future of Swoveralls, where they want to go, and how they will get there. Our sprint session involved finding innovative solutions to get to their goal.

Day 2

Razorfish

We began our day at Razorfish, an interactive agency. We got to listen to junior talent talk about their roles in strategy, social, copy, and experience design.

We headed to Real Chemistry, a global health innovation company designed to address the unique challenges of the healthcare industry. It was inspiring to see the purpose-driven work that is created to change the way people experience healthcare.

dentsu

Next, we went to Dentsu to discuss junior account, social, and creative roles. Throughout our trip, it was interesting to see the different dynamics that agencies have, what clients they represent, and how they operate. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the denstu office and immersing ourselves into their space.

Columbia Sportswear

At Columbia Sportswear, we met with Joel Gonzalez, their Strategic Account Executive. From Joel, I learned networking is never over and a skill that you need to keep practicing. He discussed how he launched the rerelease of their iconic 1990s boot designed by Peter Moore. It was interesting to hear his opinions on what it took to make this release exclusive and unique.

Day 3: ADWEEK

On our last day in NYC, we went to ADWEEK, a trade publication that covers all things marketing, creativity, agency, and more. We got to hear from two panels:

Panel 1:

Linda Boff, Founder and CEO Said Differently
Kern Schierson, Chairman and CEO of Known
Rita Ferro, President, Disney Advertising
Avery Akkineni, CMO VaynerX
Jason Harris, CEO Mekanism

Panel 2:

Will Lee, CEO ADWEEK
Ryan Joe, Editor-in-Chief ADWEEK
Alison Weissbrot, Executive Editor ADWEEK
Audrey Kemp, Agencies Reporter ADWEEK

ADWEEK was honestly an unforgettable experience. Having the opportunity to speak with these industry professionals is invaluable. We got to hear myths about agencies, how AI is disrupting the industry, the gaps and skills in new talent, and more. This panel lit a fire under me by expanding my knowledge of the industry and how I fit into it.

In panel two, we talked about the ever-changing environment of agencies. Some takeaways were:

How economic instability is affecting brands and consumers

Independent agencies are thriving
Be flexible
Be your own best CMO
Build relationships