“Stay humble,” Tiffany R. Warren from ADCOLOR

Meet Tiffany R. Warren, Founder and President of ADCOLOR and the Executive VP, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for Sony Music Group. Her mission is to champion diversity and inclusion in creative industries. When Tiffany came up, studying greats who paved the way, her mind jumped to a question that launched her career: “Who’s got next?” In both of her roles, she furthers DE&I in creative industries, providing opportunities for career growth to professionals of color and elevating their contributions.

Tiffany joined Jocelyn Hudak, Director, Content and Digital Marketing and Sophie Anderson, Associate Director, Podcast Sales Marketing for a Pass the Mic interview at Advertising Week New York. Give their inspiring conversation a listen.

With her wisdom and insight, it’s no wonder that Tiffany has been a force for change in the industry for 25+ years. Here are some highlights to savor and absorb.

Find someone to keep you humble.

Highlight: “You need someone in your life to keep you humble. And I always tell people, having that grounding and having that reminder that this is all amazing, but, at the same time, the source of who you are is this has been the through line in everything that I've done in my career.” - Tiffany R. Warren

Lessons are earned.

Highlight: “I didn't know what I didn't know, and I was trainable in the sense that I soaked in information. I did not approach any situation like I had it together or I knew. In fact, 80% of the time, I didn't know what I was doing. And a lot of the lessons that I've got in my career through ADCOLOR and through the roles that I've had have been hard earned. And then there's some that I just listen to my elders.” – Tiffany R. Warren

Lean into adversity.

Highlight: “Over time, you get more awareness and you grow, but that hard earned awareness and that hard earned wisdom is what gives you the staying power. Skipping those steps—don't do that. Lean into and go through those hard times that you have in your career.” - Tiffany R. Warren

Stay guided under pressure.

Highlight: “I would say guided under pressure, a newer term. Because calm gives this impression maybe that there's no forward movement or something. So, I'll say that I stay guided under pressure.” - Tiffany R. Warren

Embrace the five stages of nerve.

Highlight: “When you're in your tens or your teens, you're finding your nerve: your first boyfriend, your first day, all this stuff. In your twenties, you are seeing your nerve. You're utilizing your nerve. In your thirties, that's when people say, ‘You have some nerve. Tiffany has some nerve to launch an award show and have another job. Who does that?’ And then in your forties, which I'm enjoying the last year of, is when you literally have one nerve left, and everyone sits on that one nerve: your family, work, everything. And then in your fifties you give zero Fs because you have no nerves left.” - Tiffany R. Warren 

Tiffany motivates us to stay true to ourselves while embracing where we are on our personal and professional journeys. Are you ready for more great advice as you move through life? Check out more Pass the Mic content.