S T U D I O 1 2 : Meet the 2019 Brand Genius Class

Meet the 2019 Brand Genius Class

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First Things First

November 04, 2019

By Jameson Fleming

Presented by

Chrissy Teigen May Just Be Adweek's Most Unexpected 2019 Brand Visionary

Bono. Arianna Huffington. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Anna Wintour. Serena Williams. Those branding titans make up the last five Brand Genius Visionaries as icons with global brands. Chrissy Teigen joins that exclusive group as an author, entrepreneur, model and TV personality. Adweek will honor Teigen and the rest of the Brand Genius class during a gala at Brandweek, which began last night in Palm Springs, Calif. Between her candor and clapbacks, Teigen continues to grow a massive cultural following—to the tune of 26 million Instagram followers—even as she's drawn the ire of the president. Teigen has multiple TV projects in the works, has produced two cookbooks (side note: her Dutch Baby pancake recipe revolutionized my breakfast game) and has created a line of cookware that's sold at Target.

Adweek's 10 Brand Genius Honorees Don't Know the Meaning of 'Status Quo'

A note from Adweek's features editor, Kristina Feliciano: The 10 marketing executives on this year's list see opportunities where others see obstacles. They help their brands stand out by uniting behind a common purpose. And they never lose sight of who they're really working for—namely, their customers. But there is one thing these Brand Genius honorees don't know: the meaning of the term status quo.

Grammy-Winning Producer Swizz Beatz on Disrupting the Art World and Building a Powerful Brand

Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, the cover star for Brandweek, spoke with Adweek's executive editor Stephanie Paterik about creating a platform that allows artists to thrive. His business, the Dean Collection, develops new ways to connect creators with the next generation of art lovers through affordable art shows and an app brings the art market straight to your phone.

One of the Best Holiday Ads in Years Just Kicked Off Christmas Season

A few brands have already released their holiday ads—including Target and Cost Plus—but Argos, a U.K. catalog retailer, delivered one of the most brilliant Christmas ads in recent memory. Created by agency The&Partnership, the long-form spot is essentially a music video for 1985's "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds. This spot follows the story of a dad's Christmas dream, which becomes even more special once it's shared with his daughter.

Best of the Rest: Today's Top News and Insights

Why One Ikea Location Suddenly Has Quotes Around Its Name

It marks a collaboration with Louis Vuitton's Virgil Abloh.

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Advice for Your 22-Year-Old Self

Matt Fischer, CEO, Curiosity

1. Shut up and start listening. Your real education starts today.
2. In the not so distant future there will be this thing called "the internet." Pay attention, it will change your life in many ways.
3. In 20 years, you're going to argue with the CEO of your agency about creative integrity. You'll live to regret it.
4. Always put your client's best interest first. If you take care of them, they will take care of you.
5. Someday you're going to have the opportunity to risk it all to start your own agency. Do it! It will be the best decision you'll ever make.

Selena Pizarro, svp, director of video production, RPA
1. Stick with that editorial internship instead of going back into production. The money will come eventually.
2. Join some union in your industry so that you can be taken care of for the long haul. Producers on the agency side don't get a pension or healthcare benefits after they retire.
3. Go to film school and become a female director—the current climate is ripe for talented female creatives right now.
4. Take more than 4 months maternity leave for your second child. That first year of your child's life will never be given back to you and it is more important than anything else. Your career can be nurtured when you are ready, but your baby comes first.
5. Take more risks financially and buy that piece of land that your dad told you to buy in Canada!!!

Target's Rick Gomez and Viacom's Pam Kaufman on Pushing D&I Forward Through Pushback

Exceptional moments of diversity and inclusion for all are driven by committed leaders like Rick Gomez, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer of Target and Pam Kaufman, President of Viacom/Nickelodeon Global Consumer Products, who have championed inclusion for their teams, with their partners and, most importantly, for the consumers they serve.