Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Libby Bartley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Libby, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I studied advertising and copywriting at the University of Oregon, and soon jumped into the agency world after graduating. I’ve always had a heart for storytelling, so this career path felt aligned to my passions and interests, but I was forutnate early on in my career to be surrounded by brilliant writers and creative thinkers who could push the boundaries for outstanding work. From college professors to copy directors, having mentors and role models who exemplified a high caliber of work played a huge role in shaping my skillset and informing the kind of writer that I would become. When reflecting on the work I’m most proud of, it’s easy to look at the final output and see how different influences helped to inspire what I created.
I think being in good company as a budding professional is so crucial to the path you’ll walk. When you’re evaluating job opportunities in your early 20s, it’s common for several factors to persuade your willingness to accept a role: salary, size of agency, specific responsibilities, etc. A piece of advice I would give to my younger self is to have high standards of your superior. In some of my past roles, I worked under the guidance of individuals who didn’t embody the type of writer or creative that I aspired to be, so I find that to be really important. If you’re not working alongside talent that can push you and make you better, you’re missing out on an opportunity to sharpen your best and most creative self.
Libby, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Over the last decade, I’ve forged a career for myself as a copywriter, brand strategist, and occasional content creator. Storytelling has always been the heart of my passion, and using this medium to connect brands and consumers is where I find my creative adrenaline.
I’ve long specialized in working under the CPG (consumer product goods) umbrella, and have learned that I’m particularly passionate about the beauty category. My experience spans from world-renowned agencies to Procter & Gamble to working with a luxury copywriting studio to produce copy for Bobbi Brown, Makeup by Mario, FEKKAI, Laura Mercier, and many more.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
There is nothing more gratifying than seeing your creative work living out in the world. To walk into Sephora and purchase a product we named, or to be flipping through Elle Magazine and see an ad for a campaign that we developed copy for—these moments are truly the most rewarding. It fills my cup to play a part in this line of work.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
In college, I had a professor who would consistently reiterate a powerful reminder: “Get coffee with people and make connections.” It’s a piece of advice that has been formative to the foundation of my career. The evolution of my professional journey has thrived thanks to my network—and I feel enormously grateful to have fostered a community among my creative colleagues that is collaborative, and that has afforded us all impactful opportunities. I very much believe that there is always enough work to go around, so investing in my network has proved to have a meaningful payoff.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.libbybartley.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lib_bart/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libbybartley/
Image Credits
Folchi Creative, @folchicreative