Gerety Awards Brings Creative Leaders Together in Los Angeles to Explore Advertising’s Power to Shape Culture
The Gerety Awards will bring Los Angeles’s creative community together on November 12 for an evening celebrating the 2026 Gerety Awards winners, alongside a Gerety Talk exploring advertising’s ability to shape culture through both the work it creates and the workplaces behind it.
Hosted at Deutsch, the panel discussion, “Advertising as a Cultural Force: Creating the Work and Workplaces That Shape Culture,” will bring together leaders from across creativity, strategy and agency management to examine what it means for agencies to lead culture today.
At its best, advertising does more than sell something. It creates language, imagery, ideas and experiences that become part of everyday life. Milton Glaser’s iconic “I ️ NY,” originally created for a tourism campaign, became an enduring symbol of New York itself. Campaigns, characters, taglines, music and visual identities have similarly moved beyond their commercial origins to become cultural reference points.
These examples demonstrate the industry’s ability to reflect culture and help shape it. But what enables work to have that kind of impact, and what responsibilities come with that influence?
The discussion will explore the relationship between the work agencies create for clients and the cultures they build within their own organizations. How can agencies develop ideas that earn a lasting place in people’s lives? What working environments give people the confidence to challenge conventions and create something unexpected? And how can agency leaders ensure that the values expressed in their work are reflected in the experiences of the people making it?
Moderated by Kim Getty, CEO, Deutsch, the panel will feature:
Stephanie Berenson, Head of Strategy, TBWA\Chiat\Day. Bringing a strategic perspective on how brands connect with people, Stephanie will contribute to the conversation about advertising’s role in culture and the thinking behind ideas that resonate beyond a campaign.
Dez Marzette, Partner & Co-Creative Lead, Passerine. Bringing the perspective of a partner and creative leader, Dez will contribute to the discussion about the relationship between creative ambition, agency culture and the work that reaches the world.
Stephanie Thiel, Managing Director, Mother LA. Bringing an agency management perspective, Stephanie will join the conversation about how leadership and workplace culture can support distinctive thinking and meaningful creative work.
Brittany Allen, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Director, North America, 72andSunny. Bringing an inclusion leadership perspective, Brittany will contribute to the discussion about how equitable workplaces and diverse perspectives can shape agency culture and the creative work we put into the world.
The Gerety Live forms part of the Gerety Awards’ ongoing program of international events, bringing creative communities together to celebrate outstanding work and explore the ideas and challenges shaping the future of advertising.
The evening will also celebrate the winners of the 2026 Gerety Awards, recognizing creative excellence from around the world and providing an opportunity for agencies, brands, production companies and creative leaders to connect over drinks.
Together, the celebration and conversation will explore how creativity can influence both what we see in the world and the world we work in.
Event Details
Event: Gerety Awards Los Angeles Winners Cocktail & Gerety Talk
Panel: Advertising as a Cultural Force: Creating the Work and Workplaces That Shape Culture
Moderator: Kim Getty, CEO, Deutsch
Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Venue: Deutsch, 12901 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066
RSVP: https://www.geretyawards.com/los-angeles