Ogilvy’s Darla Price on learning to follow the uncertainty in your career

Ad Age is marking Women’s History Month 2024 by publishing a series of guest essays from women industry leaders who share their personal journeys and career lessons. Today, Darla Price, president, Ogilvy New York, writes about why you should “trust the journey as much as you trust yourself.” Ad Age Leading Women Luncheon Join us Aug. 7 in New York as we recognize this year’s honorees Buy your ticket today In my family, from a very young age, I was taught that I could do anything I set my mind to. And that with a lot of hard work, I could do anything I wanted in life. Even still, I was also taught that I would sometimes be underestimated as a Black woman. That I’d walk into a room and some might have already decided that I wasn’t good enough, simply because of my brown skin. So, as a young person in the ad business, I had to be certain, all the time. I had to know my stuff better than my counterparts, work harder than the next and know my path, always—every step of the way. But you see, this isn’t just my story. If you’re a person of color, it’s probably a part of your story too. So, while I walked into this industry certain that I wanted to not just be a part of it, but to help change it, I’ve learned to follow the uncertainty of the path to get me there. Read more essays from women advertising leaders As a high school kid, I wanted to be an artist and wasn’t sure about advertising as a major—but I tried it out in college and never looked back. As a young account supervisor, I was so sure I wanted to work at Arnold, but I wasn’t sure about moving to Virginia for my second job in advertising. I chose the client (McDonald’s) over the location and couldn’t have guessed the doors it would open for my career. And even as a bright-eyed employee at Saatchi & Saatchi back in the day, I just knew I wanted to work abroad. But when I was asked to move to Singapore before I even had a passport, I was completely unsure of where this Black girl would get my hair done in Asia, let alone whether I could live there and love it. And yet a few months turned into two years of a magical journey, of both conscience and career. So, if you’re passionately sure about what you want to do in your career, I want you to put more trust in the fact that your path to getting there will often be uncertain. Trust the journey as much as you trust yourself. If you follow the uncertainty, you’ll most certainly find your way. “No one is supposed to understand your calling. It wasn’t a conference call.” —anonymous Ad Age Leading Women Luncheon Join us Aug. 7 in New York as we recognize this year’s honorees Buy your ticket today

Ogilvy’s Darla Price on learning to follow the uncertainty in your career

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