Agencies To Reap The Benefits Of Behaving More Like Silicon Valley In 2012 Says 4A's Prez Nancy Hill

2012 Predictions The 2012 version of the AdExchanger.com “predictions” piece comes with a twist as a selection of industry execs offer their thoughts on the following question:

“What’s going to happen next year in advertising that hasn’t happened before? And why?”

Nancy Hill, President of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s), offers her views.

What will we see in advertising in 2012 that’s never been done/happened before?

I think we will finally see agencies reaping the benefits of behaving more like Silicon Valley than Madison Avenue. For years, agencies have been their own worst enemies when it came to the three things that foster true innovation: collaboration, speed to market and entrepreneurial spirit (or what I call the fear of failure factor).

I believe it was Rishad Tobaccowala who said, “Be open to outside partnerships because incest breeds horrible ideas.” Well, we’ve been an incestuous industry alright. But now, we are seeing true partnerships form that gives everyone the ability to look at a problem from many points of view. Most of the start-up agencies over the last two years are built on this tenet and are flourishing nicely.

These partnerships are leading themselves to better speed AND importantly, a willingness to fail/regroup/fix/go back to market; all the while measuring, measuring, measuring.

So, my prediction for 2012? We will see an invention that comes out of an agency that will be beautiful, utilitarian and widely adopted. And, if comedian Louis C. K. is right as he said in the recent Fast Company article: “the next Steve Jobs will be a chick,” and we’ll be celebrating a woman who did it.

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