Embracing Happy Accidents: A Memorable Lesson from INNOCEAN's Chief Strategy Officer

Interning at INNOCEAN advertising agency as an art director has been an inspiring journey filled with creative challenges and incredible learning opportunities. Recently, I had the privilege of attending an intern executive lunch where we met Chief Strategy Officer, Cindy Scott. Little did we know that this encounter would leave such a big impact on our perspectives and ignite a new sense of appreciation for life’s unexpected twists and turns.

As we sat down for the intern executive lunch, we eagerly awaited insights from Cindy Scott, a respected figure in the advertising industry. She began by sharing her fascinating life journey building her success as one of the only women around her in a male-dominated industry. much to our surprise, her career was shaped by what she referred to as “a series of happy accidents.”

Cindy emphasized that life rarely follows a linear path. Often, our journey is marked by unforeseen events, fortuitous encounters, and unexpected opportunities. She described how her career in advertising had been influenced by unplanned turns that ultimately led to remarkable accomplishments. She never said no and always took advantage of opportunities that were presented to her. All she had to do was work hard and the rest slowly fell into place.

I think that this point of view is one that many young students entering the workforce need to hear. There is so much noise telling us that we are never doing enough. This truly is an impactful statement that made me take a step back and allow myself to appreciate how far I’ve come while looking forward to what’s to the future, Challenges and all.