About this episode

Andre Gray discusses the evolving landscape of advertising and how not knowing everything can be an advantage for newcomers in the industry.

What does it actually take to break into advertising in 2026? Andre Gray, Chief Activation Officer and Head of Culture & Entertainment at Havas Lynx New York, joins the Breaking and Entering Advertising podcast to unpack why the old playbook is dead, why most agencies are behind, and why not knowing everything might be your biggest edge. From growing up in San Francisco to sleeping on a couch in Paris chasing a career in advertising, Andre shares the real story of how he broke in and what he’s learned as a creative leader navigating an industry that’s changing in real time. This conversation dives into the gap between culture and corporate marketing, why we no longer live on the same internet, and why emerging media is often more “true” than legacy platforms. Andre also breaks down: Why advertising won’t exist the same way in the next few years The difference between objective truth and what agencies sell How young talent can win in a system that hasn’t caught up The two skills that matter most when breaking in today Why relatability and trust beat resumes every time More from Breaking and Entering Media:💼 Follow on LinkedIn⁠…

People in this episode

Guest: Andre Gray

Topics covered

• advertising industry
• cultural marketing
• emerging media
• career development
• creative leadership

Keywords

• advertising
• career
• cultural marketing
• emerging media
• creative leadership
• trust
• relatability

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Havas Lynx New York

Places: San Francisco, Paris

More episodes of Breaking and Entering Advertising Podcast

• The Designer Who Makes the Future Feel Inevitable | Brian Collins (COLLINS) · April 22, 2026 · 40 min
• #539| 100+ Cannes Lions Later: The Truth About Great Advertising | Rick Brim · April 15, 2026 · 38 min
• #538: Inside Canva’s Creative System | Ted Markovic, Global Head of Advertising & Creative Ops at Canva · April 8, 2026 · 30 min
• Jaime Robinson, CCO of JOAN, on Creativity, Advice for Advertising's Next Generation · April 3, 2026 · 29 min
• #537 - Daniel Portrait | How Kamp Grizzly Lands Apple, Adidas & Uber Eats Work · April 1, 2026 · 30 min
• #536 Rony Castor (BarkleyOKRP) on How Long It Takes to Break Through After Breaking In · March 25, 2026 · 30 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Breaking and Entering Advertising Podcast podcast page.