Joan Gugliotta
General Manager, Integrated Marketing
What got you into this business in the first place?
I thought it would be exciting and fast paced.
Who was a big influence in your career?
A.P. Duffy; the supervisor at my first advertising agency. She was a renaissance
woman. She expected the best from herself and people around her. She was highly
motivated and interested in the business and life in general. She had a strong set of
ethics. As a result of working with her I was taught well.
What was "your finest moment," the thing you're most proud of?
When my parents got sick; I moved back home to take care of my father, then my
mother when they needed me most. I am also proud of having no regrets in my life so
far.
What was your most embarrassing moment in this business?
Well, when I first started in the business as a 20 year old intern; I was invited to my
first meeting. I walked in, saw it was in progress and sat down quietly. A few minutes
later the man presenting asked me what meeting I thought I was attending. When I
told him, he informed me, in front of the 10 people that were in the meeting that I was
in the wrong one.
Is there a great client story you'd care to share?
When I was presenting to the [very reserved] President of WNYW I got so excited about
this holographic bus shelter concept I was recommending, I jumped up, took the
lampshade off her lamp to show her how cool the image would be. She looked at me
with a sort of a frozen, shocked and a little horrified look on her face until she got up,
walked over to the shade less lamp and saw how unique it was. The campaign using
this technology won an AdWeek Creative Media Award.
What attracted you to Parham Santana?
The quality of their work.
Do you have a method for coming up with ideas and solutions for clients?
If a person is interested and motivated and likes what hey do, then there are no limita-
tions.
If there were a formula, it would be interest + motivation = creativity.
What makes a great brand?
One consumers can relate to and grow to trust and on some level be a part of their
lives.
What driving career goals do you still have?
To create new ways to generate revenue for not-for-profit foundations- I have a few
ideas..
What talent do you wish you had?
I wish I could sing well.
If you had to live on a desert island, what would you miss most?
Well I saw that Tom Hanks movie and he seemed to have really missed ice cubes.
Seriously, people- it would be human interaction.
Is there any food that helps you think more creatively?
Good food ;)
What's your favorite sports team?
Croton Harmon Tigers- both my daughters are on the Field Hockey
and Lacrosse teams. Go Tigers!
What frustrates you the most?
People who continually make excuses.
What's your point of view about politics?
That it should be kept to oneself.
Tell us about your pets?
Pets= family members. They are all rescue animals; Jessie is an Australian
Cattle Dog/Retriever mix, Alvin (he's cute as a chipmunk) and Benvolio (thinks
he is a dog) are our cats, and we have 2 tortoises who are well, not too pretty
so we named them Maybelline and Beyonce, so that they would feel glamorous.
What was growing up like for you?
Wonderful, I remember as a child I had everything I wanted so I spent my
allowance each month "adopting" a child from the Christian Children's Fund.
What's your favorite TV program? And your least favorite?
Favorite: Any action adventure or crime show. Least favorite: Reality TV; it
makes rudeness and disrespect acceptable under the guise of entertainment.
What do you do for a good time when you're not working?
Hanging out with my girls, friends, cooking, reading (Stephen King) hiking.
What was college like for you?
College was a busy time; I worked hard and studied harder; I paid for and
attended St. John'ssimultaneously. I was able to graduate in 3 years with
honors. It was an invaluable life lesson to learn early on.
What are your favorite Internet sites?
Google, shopping sites, Slate.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I am a bit impatient.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Waking up at 5am and spending some time with myself, without rushing around.
What is your most treasured possession?
My dad brought a WWII knife back from Germany. He gardened with it;
specifically he'd use it to uproot dandelions. When I was a child I asked
him why he gardened with this "valuable" souvenir. Being a man of few
words, he looked up at me said "sweetie, this is the only thing this knife
should be used for," and quietly went back to gardening. It's been my dandelion
tool for 20 years and recently my youngest daughter asked me about that
"odd knife" I use to pull dandelions with.
What is your motto?
The only limits a person has are the ones they give themselves.
What is your current state of mind?
I have a "why not" vs. "why bother" attitude
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Faith; the blind kind that gets in the way of being human and humane.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Well, at home I have been known to quadruple task.
