Successful Woman, Talented Manager
She’s creative. She’s wise. She’s unafraid to embrace change. She can make or break ages-old relationships.
This is Nina Abnee, the Chicago Ad Woman of the Year for 2010.
This is Nina Abnee, the Chicago Ad Woman of the Year for 2010.
From lobbying about women’s issues to advertising cars and food to managing stubborn clients – Nina has done it all. She recounts her life story like casually describing a regular day, almost as if she’s unaware of the greatness of each and every one of her adventures and accomplishments.
“I don’t particularly like the limelight,” she admits with a shy smile. “I kind of like to be a little bit of a behind-the-scenes person – I don’t think that makes me less successful, it’s just kind of who I am.”
What Nina also is, is successful. She’s chalked up her successful career to three essential qualities: being passionate, prioritizing her career, and listening well. As the Executive Vice-President of Account Management worked with clients like Kellogg’s and McDonald’s, and as she directed advertisements on all platforms of technology, these three things have constantly come through for her over her decades of experience. With her innovative advertising for Allstate on Facebook, smartphones, and billboards, Nina has earned herself a big name in the field.
“I don’t particularly like the limelight,” she admits with a shy smile. “I kind of like to be a little bit of a behind-the-scenes person – I don’t think that makes me less successful, it’s just kind of who I am.”
What Nina also is, is successful. She’s chalked up her successful career to three essential qualities: being passionate, prioritizing her career, and listening well. As the Executive Vice-President of Account Management worked with clients like Kellogg’s and McDonald’s, and as she directed advertisements on all platforms of technology, these three things have constantly come through for her over her decades of experience. With her innovative advertising for Allstate on Facebook, smartphones, and billboards, Nina has earned herself a big name in the field.
Besides being talented at what she does, Nina is a talented woman. So whether or not she realizes it, this modest businesswoman has a treasure trove of advice for other young women aspiring to a fruitful future.
Help Other Women
“Probably the best thing that I did that I would be most proud of is that I worked very closely with a woman at the ACLU to get a law passed that ended discrimination against women in pregnancy.”
- After studying history and women at Duke University, Nina joined the National women’s Political Caucus
- She helped the ACLU fight discrimination against pregnant women
- Helping other women really drives the message home that the movement for women’s rights has not ended
- Of course, helping other women get their rights helps you
"You've Gotta Be In It To Win It!"
“Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In…I feel like I could have written it. But instead of saying ‘lean in’ I would’ve said, ‘You’ve gotta be in it to win it!’”
- Nina sees some women as just working on things half-heartedly, because their priorities are elsewhere – so prioritize what’s important to you and then go after them
- “I often say to young women, ‘Are you looking for a job or are you looking for a career?’ And I can tell the difference. I can tell the difference from women or men…I don’t see a lot of men who are not in it to win it if they want to be in this business.”
Surround Yourself With Female-Friendly Company
“My friend who I had worked with on the pregnancy discrimination law now lived in Chicago working for the ACLU – so I came and visited her and I’m like, ‘You know, I think I want to apply for a job at Leo Burnett.’”
- It was that friend that helped Nina apply for the job
- It was also through another friend’s ex-husband that Nina first thought of working with Leo Burnett
- Networking with other women means helping other women, which – once again – helps you in the end
- Hang out with other women or with men who are not chauvinistic
- Nina’s parents raised her and her brothers with equal treatment, and her father advocated for women’s rights in the workforce
- Being surrounded by female-friendly people shapes you to be open-minded and confident
Some Final Gems of Advice
“When I was growing up, there weren’t a lot of women in my position. Everyone kept saying that ‘It’ll just be a matter of time, it’ll just be a matter of time.’ But it’s not just a matter of time. It’s not about how much time women have had in the business – it’s about women really making the effort and being a part of it."
Tweets
Nina Abnee was Chicago’s Ad Woman of the Year (2010)! #femaleleaders #chicago
Nina Abnee…from advocate for women’s rights to successful businesswoman @NationalNOW
Nina Abnee’s #adviceforsuccess: communication is key in every relationship, business or personal.
Nina Abnee…from advocate for women’s rights to successful businesswoman @NationalNOW
Nina Abnee’s #adviceforsuccess: communication is key in every relationship, business or personal.