Ad exec Mary Austen is featured in this week's profile of the powerful

Ad exec Mary Austen is featured in this week's profile of the powerful

Mary Stengel Austen leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets. She's "amiable," says the male. After pondering the matter for a moment, you may come up with more adjectives to characterise her, such as clever, realistic, energetic, tough-minded, determined, eloquent, strategic, and focused. As a result, you'll always remember her as friendly because that's who she is.

Managing five children and running Tierney Communications, one of the major ad firms in the region, may be the reason she's so erratic and temperamental. Affables are wonderful things, and they can even be required.

After graduating from Lafayette College, she was hired as a sales representative for an ageing copier firm. Spiro's previous Spiro agency was the only place she could find a position that challenged, engaged, and motivated her once she realised she wasn't cut out for the direct sales role. She clearly enjoyed what she did, and she still enjoys what she does as president and CEO of Tierney and its 135 workers after a few additional steps ahead.

Despite her enthusiasm for the advertising industry, Mary is certain that success will only be achieved by individuals and organisations capable of grasping the concept of "time for new reality." So she's acknowledging and respecting the ever-increasing pace of change in that manner. She is of the opinion that agencies need to be more responsive to market and technological shifts as well as shifting employee expectations. She hopes that Tierney is aware of and responsive to clients' shifting perspectives on their own needs.

As a result of the increasing constraints on customers, she is concerned about the long-term viability of the agency's business model. It's not a new idea that strong client connections are essential for advertising companies. However, the demands of time and the bottom line make it more difficult to cultivate these kinds of partnerships. She claims that the secret to a successful customer connection is the same now as it was 10 years ago. Keeping in mind that "it's not about you, it's about your customer" might help. It is a good piece of advice.

Whenever she's asked, she has some counsel for her clients as well. To sum up Mary Stengel Austen's "knowledge," you just need to say a few words. As a result, she would advise them to be cautious while describing their company strategy and marketing goals to the agency. She urged them to have realistic expectations regarding their advertising and marketing initiatives. There should be open communication between the agency and the client, as well as an agreed-upon approach to image, brand, and sales. Furthermore, she is well aware that customers are subject to their own set of constraints, which necessitates the need to discard well-crafted plans.

She's learned the same lesson over and over again, whether it's at home, at school, or at work. She has learnt the value of multitasking. She attributes her success as a professional and a mother to her ability to "juggle." She says kids and customers have taught her to prioritise and keep her mind on the task at hand. "Both customers and children need to feel as though they are the most important thing in your universe." So far, so good for Mary, Tierney, and her family in each of these unique circumstances, as well.

Predictably, she has a wide range of aspirations for her own professional future. Her family comes first when she envisions her future self in 10 years. Then she speaks about continuing to love her profession, continuing to learn and develop, and continuing to do the things she is greatest at doing. Managing excellent people comes naturally to her, and she plans to keep doing so. She also wants as much strategic participation as possible, both in her own business and in the business of her clients.

An intriguing instance is provided by her. A customer's situation is something she intends to help solve by "slowing things down while others feel driven to rush things." She seems to be cool, and she appears to believe that being calm and wise is preferable to being frenetic and impulsive without a clear strategy.

Mary Stengel Austen is much more than a busy, successful Tierney executive and a busy, effective family lady. She is much more. The Please Touch Museum, Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital, Maternity Care Coalition, Philadelphia Ad Club, Lafayette College Advisory Council, and the Pennsylvania Economy League are among the numerous boards on which she serves.