Lisa Bucklin and Ellen Moore, both vice presidents and account leaders at marketing firm Carton Donofrio Partners, have distinct but complementary styles. Just how do they do it?
Q How did you become involved with Carton Donofrio Partners?
A Bucklin: I was part of the agency selection team at Armstrong World Industries. We were selecting a new agency, and Carton Donofrio Partners was one of the contenders. CDP seemed to be having more fun with the work than I was. So, I sent Chuck Donofrio, the CEO, an e-mail saying that I might want to jump to the other side of the fence.
Moore: I was a client with W.L. Gore & Associates. I had gone to college to study advertising because I wanted to work in an agency. Chuck Donofrio, the CEO, and I talked several times about me joining the agency. I called Chuck one day and said, “My husband and I are going to backpack around the world for a year.” He said, “Perfect! Call me when you get back.” So I did.
Q Do you often divide projects?
A Bucklin: We typically have ongoing relationships with most of our clients, so we decide who will work on what right from the start, mostly based on who has the most experience in the business category. However, we do bounce ideas off each other and collaborate on how to solve problems, hiring, personnel development, agency promotion, etc.
Q What are your strengths individually? Together?
A Bucklin: We are both strong-willed, independent women. While our careers are important to us, we also have the perspective that allows us to not make mountains out of molehills. We both say “OK, so how do we fix this?” I think our staff and our clients appreciate that. Together we can be very creative, often from different sides. Ellen has had more consumer business experience, and I?ve had more business-to-business, so we complement each other well.
Moore: Lisa?s really good at process and clarifying the black and white of a situation. I?m better at the gray and a little more “we?ll figure it out as we go.” I think we?re both strong people developers.
Q What do you attribute to the fluidity of your working together?
A Bucklin: Self-confidence and a strong work ethic. We were both successful before we came to CDP, so we never felt we had to compete with one another.
Moore: One word: respect. I wouldn?t always do something the way Lisa would do it nor would she do it as I would. But I respect her and vice versa.
