‘Always optimistic/even in the darkest times’—read Judy John’s ode to creativity

Ad Age is marking Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2023 with our Honoring Creative Excellence package. (Read the introduction here.) Today, our guest editor Bonnie Wan turns the spotlight to Judy John, global chief creative officer at Edelman. Here, John writes about why she loves creativity. Ad Age Creativity Bookmark our section covering the best in brand creativity every day Read more here Creativity has taken me to places my parents couldn’t have dreamed of when they came on a boat that took a month to get here It’s taken me to places that weren’t in the Encyclopedia Britannica my parents saved up to buy so we could one day do better than them Creativity made me feel smart when my grades didn’t It transported me out of my small town Out of our Chinese restaurant It got me jobs better than the time I was a security guard (even though I was damn good at it) Like the one I have now It’s introduced to me to people I’d read about Took me to stages I’d seen on TV Although my parents didn’t understand it They would claim it was a result of falling down a few flight of stairs onto the street while riding my plastic duck The doctor in emergency said it was a miracle I still think I got creativity from them Creativity asks a lot of questions It wants to know why Creativity is restless It’s curious It’s restlessly curious Creativity is always optimistic even in the darkest times there is no such thing as can’t or no or nyet it believes there is always a way It doesn’t tell me “that idea is stupid” It illustrates a business problem with an actual illustration Creativity can change outcomes It can change minds It can impact societies It can inspire nations It has no ceiling It loves solving problems Which sometimes creates other problems Which it happily solves Creativity sees the potential in everything It can bridge the digital divide for street kids in Jakarta With no access to education or computers Creativity can inspire a client like HP To find a way to teach them how to code through the power of print and paper Creativity can inspire Dove in ThailandTo help change the laws for forced haircuts on girls in school So they don’t have to have their confidence cut Creativity is optimism. It can inspire one or the many. Creativity can change the world. That is why I love creativity Sign up for Ad Age newsletters From influencer marketing to agencies, get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox Click here

‘Always optimistic/even in the darkest times’—read Judy John’s ode to creativity

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