Why Staying Human Matters in Creative Careers: Emy Franke Reed

In this week’s episode of Out of Scope, I sit down with Emy Franke Reed for a thoughtful, generous conversation about building a creative career that doesn’t follow a straight line. We talk about Emy’s path into advertising, including her decision to take a role as a recruiting apprentice simply to get her foot in the door — and how humility, curiosity, and doing the job well ultimately led her into creative. Emy shares what it was like learning by sitting in rooms she wasn’t technically invited into, the mentors who made space for her along the way, and why paying it forward is a responsibility, not a bonus. We also dig into imposter syndrome, running inclusive brainstorms, staying “raw” early in your career, and how to keep your humanity intact in an industry that often rewards polish over honesty. It’s a conversation about patience, perspective, and remembering that behind every title is a person still figuring things out. Want to reach out? Email me at [email protected] If you think you’d be a great fit for the show — or you know someone with a story worth sharing — I’d love to hear from you. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, please take a moment to leave a review. It really does help more people find the show. Thanks so much for listening!