Meet Aaron, Breaking and Entering Network Spotlight

1. Your name?

Aaron Jolly

2. What college are you attending?

University of Mississippi

3. What is your major and minor?

Integrated Marketing Communications with a minor in General Business

4. Expected graduation date?

May 2024

5. What role will you break into within advertising?

Brand Strategist, hopefully.

6. Dream agency?

Saarchi & Saatchi or Mischief

7. What do you do within the Breaking and Entering Network?

I work on web layouts, as well as hosting the Advertising Inside Out podcast on the side.

8. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. Where did you grow up, and how did you become interested in advertising?

I grew up in a small town near Jonesboro, Arkansas. I fell in love with content creation at a young age. Every content creator needs to know what their audience is looking for. When I came to the University of Mississippi, I chased that idea a little further and fell in love with consumer behavior and brand strategy.

9. What made you decide to pursue a degree in advertising, and how did you choose your university/program?

I actually started as a Forensic Chemistry major with a minor in Intelligence Security Studies (think FBI, CIA). Then, I realized that just wasn’t for me. I slid over into the Integrated Marketing Communications program on a whim because of my aforementioned interest in being a creator and understanding advertising.

10. What do you think are the most important skills for success in the advertising industry, and how are you working to develop those skills.

I’ve found that a “Yes, and…” attitude and adaptability goes incredibly far. Being open to learning new skills and quickly getting tuned in to your new ventures is a skill in and of itself. If I was to give advice on a hard skill, I’d say that you should never under estimate the usefulness of knowledge in the Adobe Creative Suite.

11. What are your thoughts on the current state of the advertising industry, and where do you see it heading in the future?

I feel that the industry is in this inbetween, where most agencies are doing “what works”, some are pushing the envelope tenfold, and others are sitting back to see what comes of generative A.I. tools. Once the dust settles and the industry decides where those tools fit into the mix, I think we’ll see some incredible work being done.

12. How do you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in advertising, and what resources do you rely on for industry news and insights?

On top of following AdAge, Adweek, and other industry publishers, I make sure to connect or follow people on LinkedIn who have interesting commentary on emerging topics in the industry.

13. Can you share any advice for other students who are interested in pursuing a career in advertising?

Find a way to align your interests with your work. By creating a podcast on the industry, I’m making content and building a network within the advertising industry. That won’t look the same for everyone, but it’s a great start. Just do the thing.