Jeff Goodby, Rich Silverstein and Dan Wieden Join Advertising Club of New York’s Docu-series

‘Just Do It.’ ‘Got Milk?’ Dan Wieden, Jeff Goodby and Rich Silvertstein share their inspiration as the latest additions to the Advertising Club of New York’s Inspiration series, created and produced by Rick Boyko. These legends helped build some of the most successful brands in history. They moved people. They inspired people. Their fearlessness and vision changed the way we interact with brands. 

Today their stories become tools for schools and educators to use to help students and their parents better understand the opportunities available in the advertising industry. Dan, Jeff and Rich will now join ad titans like Tom Burrell, Lee Clow, David Droga, Sir John Hegarty, Susan Hoffman, David Kennedy, George Lois, Keith Reinhard, Jimmy Smith and Carol Williams.

“Inspiration is about breathing things in. A lot of people think it comes from the inside out, but really it’s about noticing the world around you,” said Jeff Goodby, co-chairman and co-founder of Goodby Silverstein & Partners. “Creativity is a state of awareness and readiness to notice things and use them, combine them and mess with them. If you do that, you will appreciate your life more than other people do.”

These new additions to the Inspiration series come on the heels of the 40th birthday of Wieden+Kennedy. Established on April 1st, 2022, Dan and the late David Kennedy set out to create a place where people from all walks of life could come together to make the best work of their lives, work centred in culture, work that moved people. Dan’s film (which was shot in 2017) is the third film in the series to feature W+K creative leaders, following David and Susan Hoffman.

Dan talks about how the best advertising is a reflection of real culture—and why it matters to hire people with diverse perspectives on the world. 

Today, Dan Wieden and David Kennedy’s founder legacies live on in the people who make the culture, who make the work, and in the second generation of W+K leaders transforming the agency for the future.

Watch the complete series here.

Jeff will share how his early childhood and parents shaped his love of advertising and invite viewers along his journey writing headlines for the Boston Herald, meeting Rich Silverstein and founding Goodby Silverstein & Partners. Silverstein talks about his time as a designer for Rolling Stone, trying out nine different jobs in the first nine years of his career, his mentors, how GS&P hires and the importance of curiosity. 

“Jeff and I founded the company more from an editorial background than an advertising background. That’s how we approach all advertising. We ask ourselves, How does it feel in editorial? Does it feel honest? Does it feel smart?” said Rich. “We don’t just study classical advertising. We write operas. We go to plays. We go to museums. The point is, do other things. You have to have a healthy understanding of the world in order to create pop culture.”

At GS&P, Jeff and Rich have nurtured a familial culture of generosity, acceptance and forgiveness, where a good idea can come from anywhere, and all employees are invited to bring their whole selves and make fun of management.  

Rick, former chief creative officer at Ogilvy North America and former director of the VCU Brandcenter, created and produced Inspiration in partnership with the Advertising Club of New York and AICP. Gina Grillo, president and CEO of The ADVERTISING Club of New York, served as executive producer. Thanks to talented and generous directors, editors, music and post production houses, Inspiration is produced pro bono and is free to view.

Additional series star Lee Clow, the creative soul of TBWA\Chiat\Day, shares the call from Steve Jobs asking him to help rebrand Apple. Their one-time tease ‘1984’ is still recognised as the most popular and provocative Super Bowl spot ever. Tom Burrell details the inspiration behind his tenacious journey from being the first African American to work at a Chicago agency to becoming the legendary owner of the agency that changed the way African Americans are portrayed in advertising. David Droga discusses his journey from working in a mailroom to being the founder of an agency that is transforming the industry as you read this. Additional maverick personalities include George Lois, Susan Hoffman, Sir John Hegarty and the first African American vice president at the great Leo Burnett agency, Carol Williams.  

The list of legends goes on, as do their inspiring stories, insights and achievements. These are the ones who have drawn people to this great industry for decades.