Yenny Orehek

My success is rooted in two things. The first is the way I was raised — my parents instilled in me a mindset of constant growth. It was never about coasting; it was always about challenging yourself and looking ahead to what comes next. The second is the extraordinary leaders I've had the privilege of working with throughout my career — people who believed in me, pushed me, and never wavered in their confidence that I could rise to the occasion.

Three mentors in particular have been profoundly impactful. My former manager, Mike Gross, always had my back. He guided me with transparency, even when the conversations were difficult, and through that built a relationship I deeply value. He has since become not only a trusted friend but a leader I genuinely respect.

Greg Minton gave me my first opportunity in digital advertising and, in many ways, shaped the leader I am today. I am far from perfect, but Greg saw potential in a rough-around-the-edges Account Executive and invested in developing me into someone I'm proud to be. I learned an immense amount from him, and my admiration and respect for him are something I carry with me every day.

And then there is Rich Engberg, who gave me my very first foothold in this industry. Five minutes into my interview, Rich called out the inconsistencies on my resume — the job changes, the lack of a clear path — and was completely direct about what it looked like from the outside. I was caught off guard, but his honesty commanded my respect immediately. After two weeks on the job, he looked at me and said, "Do you want this full-time, or do you want to stay a temp?" When I told him I wanted the job, he didn't sugarcoat it: "This is going to be a sink or swim situation. You're either going to figure it out, or you're going to realize this industry isn't for you. I think you can do it — you're smart, driven, and resourceful."And so I did. That has never left me. Rich was no-nonsense, and when someone like that believes in you, the last thing you want to do is let them down.

These three individuals have had the greatest influence on my career and on the leader I've become. My hope, every day, is to continue making them proud.

Best career advice was from Rich Engberg "This is going to be a sink or swim situation. You're either going to figure it out, or you're going to realize this industry isn't for you."

My advice is simple: learn everything you can. Become a sponge. Even when a subject doesn't immediately excite you, even when a path doesn't seem to lead anywhere obvious — absorb it anyway. Knowledge has a way of surfacing exactly when you need it most, often in ways you never could have anticipated.

And don't be afraid of constructive criticism — seek it out. Actively ask your managers or your peers how you can do better. It takes confidence and humility in equal measure to invite that kind of feedback, but it is one of the most powerful tools for growth available to you. Criticism, when embraced with the right mindset, isn't a setback — it's a roadmap. Let it show you where to improve, where to push harder, and where to evolve. The people who grow the fastest are rarely the ones who wait to be told what they're doing wrong. They're the ones who go looking for it.

I never imagined I would find myself in sales. Honestly, I thought I was too blunt, too direct, too straightforward for it. And yet, here I am — not only succeeding in it, but genuinely loving it. That didn't happen in spite of who I am; it happened because of it. The experiences I collected along the way, even the ones that seemed unrelated or unlikely, all contributed to shaping the professional I've become.

So stay curious. Stay open. Never dismiss an opportunity to grow simply because you can't yet see where it leads. And never stop asking how you can be better. You might just end up exactly where you were always meant to be.

One of the most significant challenges facing our industry today is the persistence of a product-first sales mentality. Whether it's digital advertising, television, direct mail, or radio, too many people in this space are still leading with inventory rather than insight. The reality is that this approach is increasingly outdated, and the shift away from it is becoming impossible to ignore.

For those who have spent decades in the industry, that evolution can be a difficult thing to accept. But the market has spoken — clients no longer simply need someone to sell them a spot or a schedule. They need a partner who takes the time to understand their business, identify their challenges, and build solutions around their goals. The most successful people in this industry are the ones who have made that transition from order-taker to trusted advisor, and that distinction is only going to matter more as time goes on. It's ok to walk away from a deal that doesn't make sense for the client. Too many promises are made that can't be kept.

Honesty and transparency are the foundation of everything I do — professionally and personally. I've always operated that way, even when it wasn't the easiest path. There were likely people early in my career who doubted whether that level of candor would serve me well in sales. But I've never been willing to compromise on it. If I don't genuinely believe I can deliver results for a client, I won't take their investment. That's not just a principle — it's a practice.

Equally important to me is follow-through. My word means everything. If I say I'm going to do something, I do it, no matter how difficult that becomes. It's something I work hard to model for my daughter as well — that keeping your word, especially when it's hard, is one of the most important things you can do.

And when things don't go as planned — because they won't always — you face it, you deal with it, and you keep moving. You can't let setbacks define you or stall you. As a woman in a corporate environment, I've learned that resilience isn't optional. You give yourself a moment to feel it, and then you get back up and keep going. That mindset has carried me through more than I can count, and I wouldn't have it any other way.