Nancy Vonk and Janet Kestin

Topics

Presentations

Lessons in Persuasion From the World’s Best Ads

Social Responsibility and Business – Dove as a Leading Case Study

What It’s Going to Take for Mom to Break the Glass Ceiling

Summary Profile

CO-CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICERS, Ogilvy & Mather Toronto

This globally acclaimed creative director duo (Dove Evolution, Diamond Shreddies) have thrived in one of the least female-friendly professions by breaking the rules. These Mad Women have surprising and inspiring lessons to share on the positive impact motherhood has on leadership skills, mentoring, taking risks and powerful communications.

In their counter-intuitive universe, advertising can do more than sell, women with kids can be powerful leaders and summer interns can have ideas that rock the world. Powerful ideas and surprising creative solutions are the currency of their business and their lives.

Imagine more than 300 million people choosing to view your company’s advertising. That’s just a sample of what Toronto-based Kestin and Vonk did with their striking "Campaign for Real Beauty" for Dove.

In 2007, their "Onslaught" ad was named to year-end top-10 lists in Time, Newsweek, the Wall St. Journal and more. Kestin and Vonk’s "Evolution" was the first ad in history to win two Grand Prix awards, considered the Oscars of advertising. It was also featured on Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Entertainment Tonight. In Canada, the video helped fuel double-digit growth in sales of Dove beauty products, making the Canadian market the global leader for the brand.

The campaign has since become a global effort for societal change, to encourage communication and discussion worldwide, and questioning the idea of beauty and truth.

Their recent work with the tongue-in-cheek product launch of Diamond Shreddies engages consumers in a fun way, and won a Grand Clio in 2008. Kraft Canada experienced an 18% increase in baseline sales of Shreddies within the first month of rolling out the program nationally, versus the previous year.

Vonk and Kestin discuss how their partnership and their experience as mothers and mentors have provided surprising advantages in a business that, like most, was created by men for men. Plus, they will share stories of breaking countless business rules that have turned into exceptional business outcomes and a reasonably balanced life.

Client Testimonials

"Nancy and Janet approach subjects with passionate points of view, backed by knowledge from their experiences. They command the attention of an audience and move them to discussion. Not surprisingly, they scored some of the highest reviews of all the speakers in the program."

Director, VCU Brandcenter