On Valentine’s Day, agency couples share what it’s like being married in the industry

In an industry inundated with conversations about account moves, mergers and AI, at its core, advertising remains a relationship-driven industry. While these industry relationships typically fall within the realm of co-workers, bosses, clients and friends, many people have also found their significant others in the business. For Valentine’s Day, Ad Age spoke with seven agency couples about their experiences working in the same industry and how they balance their personal and professional lives. Also read: How brands are celebrating Valentine’s Day Pitching against each other The agency business is a small world. Suzanne Powers, who last year started her own agency, Powers Creativity, is married to Steve Williams, global president, client integration officer at GroupM—and their wedding six years ago was officiated by Jeff Benjamin, now global chief creative officer at Tombras. Powers recalled one instance during the height of the pandemic when she learned she and her husband were vying for the same account. “We were sitting in the living room, and I was writing a response to an RFP, and I was typing furiously, because it was a very dense RFP, and I hear him typing furiously, across the room from me,” said Powers, who held a senior global role with McCann at the time. “I just had this moment where I was like, ‘Gosh, we’ve both been really quiet, and we’ve both been hammering at our keyboards.’ I just looked at him, and go ‘Are you filling in the RFP for this big government pitch? And he’s like, ‘Yeah.’ And I‘m like, ‘Yeah, you need to go to a different room.’” All the executives interviewed said they generally have a rule to not speak about pitches that they are both involved with. Lindsay Harris, chief purpose officer at Tombras, and Jason Harris, founder and CEO of Mekanism, said the two agencies have pitched against each other multiple times. While they don’t share strategies and concepts, there was an instance when both shops were in the finals and they both were trying to subtly figure out from one another if there had been a final decision from the client. Ultimately, it turned out neither agency won the business. Even Jason Harris’ sons, Jett and Cole, joined in on the action. “They’re obsessed with their dad, but they also love to give him a hard time,” Lindsay Harris said of her stepsons. “So when they knew we were pitching against each other, they kept saying that they were rooting for me.” (Since then, the Harrises welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Sky.) “Sometimes we’re envious of the other, it’s human nature to be a little jealous if he wins a big account or if we win a big account, or if we do really kick-ass creative, or vice versa,” Lindsay Harris said. “Even though there might be a little jealousy, we always champion each other, because we feel that’s obviously the most important thing.” Embracing differences and finding common ground Stacey Wade, founder, CEO and executive creative director of Louisville, Kentucky-based agency Nimbus, brought on his wife Dawn Wade to help lead the agency as managing partner and chief strategy officer some 10 years into the agency’s existence. Stacey Wade said his wife has been crucial to the agency’s growth and the situation has made them both better communicators. However, the first three years working together came with challenges because of their different approaches to the agency at the time. “I think my ego was very close to messing up the direction of the agency by not allowing Dawn to do what she does best,” Stacey Wade said. “Putting my ego to the side allowed us to really put together some really good work. It was difficult at first because very few creatives like to be challenged … and Dawn is one of those people that asks a lot of questions and challenges the creative.” The Wades said it’s important to embrace each other’s differences and find common ground in certain areas. “From a personal and business perspective, success is our love language,” Dawn Wade said. “More than anything, we both have a thirst and a hunger for life and achieving more, not just financially, but in health and experiences like travel.” Boundaries that work Some of the couples interviewed said they make it a point to create personal and professional boundaries. Jason Harris said that he and his wife have a “no-poaching” rule, meaning the two agreed to not actively attempt to hire an employee from one another’s agencies. The couples who work at different agencies said they make it a point to limit work-related conversations at home. However, the couples who lead agencies together take an opposite approach. Christy Hiler, CEO and owner of Lexington, Kentucky agency Cornett and Whit Hiler, executive creative director at Cornett, go on a 45-minute walk every night, which often turns into conversations about work or their four kids. Dawn Wade said it’s rare that a dinner conversation doesn’t turn into a work conversation for the Wades. Christy Hiler said the full transparency and blending of their lives works for her and her husband, but she also understands that it may not be for everyone. What makes it work for them is the shared vision they have for the company and their complementary differences. “We both are aligned on what we want to do and accomplish in this business,” Christy Hiler said. “We both really want to create the best work and be one of the best agencies.” Benefits of being in the same industry All the couples agreed that the biggest benefit of being married to someone in the same industry is that they are tolerant of long work hours and client emergencies. Ryan Ford, the former president and chief creative officer of Cashmere, said having a significant other who understands the industry makes it easier to take on extra responsibilities when work gets busy. Ford’s wife, Renee Airo-Ford, works at creative marketing agency Concept Arts as VP, brands. She recently gave birth to their second child, a son named Styles Ford. Ad Age Small Agency Awards Showcase your agency’s creativity, business success and commitment to a thriving workplace. Enter today “She’ll give the leniency, even though it’s going to be way harder on her with two kids running around. She’ll be like ‘No, you need to go out of town and go to that meeting,’” Ford said. “Ryan has a good articulation of where he feels like his strengths are, and it’s helped me realize there are no rules,” said Airo-Ford about the idea of launching a brand practice within her agency. “He has helped me be supercharged and not hesitate in my career.” Cheerleaders and inspiration Katie Walley-Wiegert, head of brand communications and marketing at Colle McVoy, said she sometimes asks her husband Taylor Wiegert, executive VP, head of strategy at Curiosity, for advice with her writing. It’s a rapport they were able to develop while working at The Martin Agency together a few years ago. They also find comfort in working in the same industry while having a young child. “This industry is extremely unforgiving to time scarcity, and it can be really hard,” Walley-Wiegert said. “I have personally really struggled with it.” “Taylor has reminded me that I am enough and that I do everything that I can do in a day. And I don’t think that we hear that in our workplaces enough. It’s great to have a partner who really knows this industry, and who is cheering me on in a healthy way.” Another benefit is making friends together in the industry and leaning on them for support or inspiration. Christena Pyle, chief equity officer at Dentsu Americas, is pregnant with her first child with her wife Rosemary Kalonaros, global director, growth and experience at Omnicom. Pyle said she drew inspiration from Anomaly LA’s CEO and partner Khara Wagner, who also has children with her wife. “I remember seeing that visual of her [and her family] and it made it feel more possible for me one day,” said Pyle. “Hopefully Rosemary and I can be a model for other same-sex couples wanting to start a family.” Ad Age Best Places to Work 2025 50 companies doing a standout job See the full list here

On Valentine’s Day, agency couples share what it’s like being married in the industry

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