Idea Industry Contribution, Interview With a Recent Grad
Interview with Recent Grad: Kerry Merrill
Describe your role as a project manager.
“My boss at Wieden explained this in the best way. Project Managers are the coaches of an ad team. Our main priority is to get the best work finished in the easiest, most efficient process as possible. We work very closely with the creative team and the account to ensure things are moving along. Essentially being the liaison between the two teams. You have to be on top of the campaign as much as possible and be one step ahead of the creative work knowing what to do next when something comes up. If someone has a question. I have the answer. If a crisis comes up. I know what to do next. AKA I have to be high key psychic.”
How do you think project management differs from account management?
“The difference between project management and account management is the client. I work closely with the creative team overseeing the creative whereas an account manager works heavily with the client. Account managers work with project managers relaying feedback from the client to the creatives to make sure any and all feedback is addressed and translated .”
How is it changing? Where do you see it going in the future? Have you noticed any trends?
“Being in the industry for only about 8 months now, I don’t have a lot of take on how it’s changed in the past, but my incredible boss at Saatchi is constantly emphasizing how our roles are becoming more complex as advertising is evolving. Before, a project manager was considered more of an admin position whereas now, we are integrated in every aspect of a campaign from start to finish. For example, I take on a lot of producer and art director roles along with being a project manager because sometimes you have to jump in and take over when you see a project going south.”
What skills or characteristics are critical for being a good project manager?
“Project managers can’t give a shit what someone is going to think of you. It is important to be stern and confident when it comes to calling out red flags even if that means in front of the entire team. You have to be hyper aware of everything that is being said in meetings and jump in when something doesn’t seem right. Strong communication skills is KEY in this position. Having the ability to read people and understand how they work is crucial. You also have to be able to develop respectable relationships with each person on your team because they have to trust you or nothing will get done because no one will listen to you.”
Does any part of being a project manager scare you?
“Everything about being a project manager scares me. However, I wouldn’t be doing this position if it didn’t. (If you’re not scared, you’re not in the right field) With so much riding on you, one minor slip up can cause an avalanche of more problems. ”
What are some challenges you face daily.
“We are some of the first to walk into the office and some of the last to leave. In advertising, challenges are constant throughout your day. For example, your entire creative team could be dead set on their idea and when they present it to the ECD (executive creative director), maybe the ECD doesn’t think it’ll work. Timelines are so tight, the team has to stay late into the night at the office in these situations to brainstorm and concept entirely new ideas. Or on the other side, if you present to the client and THEY don’t like it, that really fucks up everyone and puts the campaign back to square one. Some challenges are minor and some can be massive. It really depends on the day. ”
Who do you work the closest with?
“I work closest with our creative teams, ECDs, creative directors, and our CCO (chief creative officer). ”
What is a day at the office like?
“A day at the office usually starts around 9-10AM beginning with an all team status meeting to catch up on what the day will look like. I and the account team usually leads this. Throughout the day, there are creative reviews allowing for creatives to catch up with their creative directors and/or ECDs on the work to receive and address their feedback. I sit in on those and monitor the meetings to take notes and send to the creatives for reference. If there is a client presentation that day, it’s usually high stress and we are finalizing the deck to ensure we are completely prepared for the review. Sometimes I leave by 6PM. Sometimes I leave by midnight.”
What is your role throughout each project? (beginning/middle/end) Does it stay consistent?
“At the beginning, I help source teams. This means that I work with our creative manager to pick the best teams to work on that specific campaign. I then create a full timeline including all key dates to send to the entire team in preparation for the creative briefing. Once the timeline and teams are agreed upon, we brief teams. I’d say the middle of projects are full of creative reviews, full team internals, and client reviews. This is called creative development. I oversee everything going on and schedule all meetings involving the creatives to move things along. When the creative is locked, it goes into production. At this point, the producer begins to take over and I continue to stay aware of what’s going on, but don’t really do much from there besides keep in the know of the work. (Except when producers are unavailable. These are the times I mentioned earlier when I have to step in and take on roles outside of my position) .”
How did you get into project management? / when did you know you wanted to be a project manager?
“ I got into project management after speaking with the recruiter at Wieden + Kennedy on the NYC New York trip.I was very torn on the direction I wanted to pursue and she previously was a project manager and felt as though I had the personality and drive to be able to handle project management. I have always been a very organized person and I wanted a position that allowed for me to be a part of every aspect of a campaign.I didn’t want to be secluded to just one part of it.I loved the idea of getting to work closely with higher up creatives and getting the opportunity to run the organization of campaigns.”