Women's History Month Series

Beth Ann Kaminkow is CEO of Dentsu Americas and Chief Global Client Officer of Dentsu. Before that, she served as Global Chief Commerce Officer at WPP and CEO New York at VML. She was also the first female CEO at Tracy Lock in its 100-year history. Recently, she was named one of Ad Age's Leaders to Watch in 2026.

What I love about this conversation is how Beth Ann talks about the "little girl version" of herself.

She didn't dream of being a ballerina. Instead, she dreamed of working. She'd line up her stuffed animals and give speeches. She'd play cashier, receptionist, leader. In other words, work ethic wasn't something she learned. It was hardwired. At the same time, she was obsessed with Diane von Furstenberg and Mary Tyler Moore. To her, they represented women who owned their femininity, their confidence, and their desire to work hard.

We also talked about navigating a male-dominated industry. Early on, Beth Ann recognized that business performance was the language that opened doors. So naturally, she made sure that was always part of her narrative. But here's what stuck with me. She never stopped caring about culture and people.

Beyond that, she's honest that things haven't changed as much as we'd like to think. Certain themes are cyclical. Others remain ever-present.

We then got into energy management. For Beth Ann, it comes down to non-negotiables. Running. Sleep. Eating well. As a result, she leaves parties early. She turns down great invitations. She has FOMO sometimes. Still, she knows herself. She can't burn the candle at both ends the way some people can. And because of that, she protects what she needs to show up for others.

Her advice is clear: be a serious person if you want to be taken seriously. But at the same time, don't take yourself so seriously. That's her North Star.

Finally, for women specifically, ambition is in short supply. If you feel it inside yourself, keep that flame burning. And most importantly, find the people who ignite it further.

Connect with Beth Ann:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-ann-kaminkow-b714042/

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