Jordan Doucette is the Chief Creative Officer at TAXI Advertising and Design in Toronto. Her work has been recognized by most major award shows, including Cannes, the One Show, the CLIO Awards, and the CASSIES. Most recently, she was chosen as one of the jurors for the 2017 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the annual advertising and communications awards taking place this June.

SDTC: Did you always know you wanted to go into advertising?

JD: Like many people in this industry, I didn’t know copywriting was a career that could be had. I stumbled upon it through a friend I met at Queen’s University. The idea of being able to do something that allowed you to use your creativity every single day to solve business problems had me hooked.

I took the Humber Copywriting Post-Grad program and then worked my way up from writing car headlines and fast food restaurant tray liners to now being the Chief Creative Officer at TAXI. And as we like to say at TAXI, make ‘no’ your bitch and anything can be possible.

Walk us through a typical day, from getting up until heading to bed.

I don’t think there is a typical day in advertising. It’s kind of like one of those surprise grab bags you get at the convenience store: sometimes you get a good one, other times, well, it’s shit. So, expecting the unexpected is always on the agenda.

The one consistent thing about my job is working hard to make sure that the creative teams are set up for success. I see my job as creating the best conditions so others can be their best.

Any personal mantras that you keep in mind on the day-to-day?

“What’s the worst that can happen?” Sometimes I let fear hold me back. Fear of failing. Fear of looking stupid. Fear of disappointing my team or clients or myself. Now when I’m confronted with a moment of fear/worry/anxiety, I ask myself, “What’s the worst that can happen?” And I promise you, the answer is usually a lot less scary than we let our vivid imaginations lead us to believe.

Words of wisdom for other ad-girls just starting out?

Don’t get in your own way. Trust me when I tell you that everyone has days, moments, minutes, weeks of feeling as though they don’t know what they’re doing. That they don’t deserve to be where they are. That any minute someone might find out they’ve been faking it the entire time. Put those thoughts aside and remind yourself:

  • You can only control yourself. Show up. Be present. And work really, really, hard. No matter what your job is, own it and be the best damn ______ there ever was.
  • Know your value. Don’t underestimate yourself or what you bring to the table. As a woman, I’ve done it. And I see other women do it all the time.
  • Say yes. The more things you try and the more people you meet, the more opportunities will open up. As a secret introvert, I have to try hard at this but every ‘yes’ has always been worth it.
  • Optimism. I’m pretty sure it’s the most powerful tool for success. Trying to find the good in every thing, person, crap situation takes work. But it’s so much more rewarding and fruitful than negativity.