The Lightning Rod — Featuring Laura Linthicum, Arnold

Beyond the Brief:

If you haven’t bought into the talent of Arnold Worldwide associate creative director/copywriter Laura Linthicum yet, now’s the time.

Laura Linthicum, Arnold Worldwide
Laura Linthicum, Arnold Worldwide

Actually, the Florida State alum has been saying this for years, dating back to her time as a two-time MAIP fellow in 2013 and 2014. By the time she graduated from FSU, she’d already had nationally-televised spots for TaxSlayer.com in her portfolio, internships at Mcgarrybowen, Zimmermann, and TBWA on her resume, and a very bright future ahead.

Since joining Arnold, Linthicum has been a one of their power hitters: for Hershey’s, she’s helped reimagine a classic with the launch of the Cookie Layer Crunch candy, and blondes everywhere can appreciate the iconic, cinematic treatment that she and John Frieda gave them. After just over a year there, she was promoted to ACD-level—let’s remember, she graduated in 2014—rising up to global challenges, executing at an extremely high level, and reaching back to ensure more young women break through as creatives as well. No wonder ADCOLOR selected her as part of their 2016 Futures Program class.

Linthicum has a rare creative spark combined with a grounded poise: a winning formula that lets her thrive at her job and live beyond the brief.

If you weren’t in advertising, what would you be doing?

Selling real estate in Florida.

Who, or what, do you consider the future of the industry?

The future of advertising will hopefully come from people who hate advertising. Or at least finding more viewpoints outside of that agency blah-blah bubble. Otherwise, we’re just talking to ourselves.

What have you always wanted to say to your heroes?

I actually have met George Lois. I told him that his book was the only piece of “Good Advice” my ex had ever given me.

On a more feminist note, I’d like to thank Cindy Gallop for so vocally spreading the news to women that you can demand what you’d think is a batshit crazy number for a salary, and actually get it.

What’s a virtue that you live by?

“It’s not genius if it can’t be said simply.”

What’s a hobby that you love or would like to start?

I’m really into starting craft projects and not finishing them.

When you take a break from work (i.e. – vacation), what do you like to do most? Why?

This is so specific, but my apartment only has a shower. And I really really really love Lush bath bombs. So my one of my biggest priorities for wherever I take a trip is just that it needs a bathtub.

That’s my ideal, just sitting in the dark, soaking and not thinking. Creepy?

 

To celebrate its 100th Anniversary, the 4A’s has partnered with The Drum to pull back the curtain and look at an industry full of problem solvers, creative types and analytical minds. But what keeps them going once the briefs are written, the campaigns executed, and the pitches won (or lost)? We’re interviewing 100 people at 4A’s member agencies — across all disciplines, levels, regions, and agency types — to get a glimpse into what drives them at work and what fuels them in life.

To pitch someone from a 4A’s member agency for Beyond the Brief, please complete this linked form.

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