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← Back to IdeasDream Differently: Inside Ogilvy's Groundbreaking 30for30 Leadership Program

For almost a decade, Ogilvy has been evolving our approach to what inspiring, impactful, and transformative leadership looks like with the 30for30 program. Founded in 2016, 30for30 is a talent development and retention program created to help build a pipeline of women leaders within Ogilvy. The program's innovative approach involves selecting 30 high performing women and pairing them with 30 sponsors, aimed at recognizing and empowering the next generation of women leaders within the organization.
Over the years, 30for30 has distinguished itself as a powerful investment for advancing and retaining top talent in the company and the industry at large. In the past five years, we’ve seen impressive trends emerge across Ogilvy’s global regions that speak to the undeniable impact of the power of the program: APAC saw a 46% increase in top talent retention, while EMEA experienced a 47% boost. LATAM recorded a notable 67% increase, and North America (NA) experienced a striking 72% retention rate amongst participants. Globally, approximately one-third of participants earned a promotion, either during or following the completion of their program year.
At the heart of 30for30 is a holistic, culturally fluent approach to leadership development and investment. The program goes beyond traditional professional development training by equipping participants to deepen their self-awareness as a leader, challenge self-limiting beliefs, and create a diverse, intentional professional network with fellow participants, coaches, sponsors, alumni, and more. This strategy is championed by Ogilvy's Global Inclusion team – Tope Ajala, Bukky Ojeifo, and Chrissy Ramkarran – along with the dedicated regional teams working fearlessly to power 30for30 in their local markets. In the words of one EMEA alumna, “This has been the highlight of my 20+ year career. I’ve worked across two different industries, journalism and now PR, and never have I participated in a training programme quite like it.”
As we look ahead to 2025, 30for30 alumni are exploring what it means to Dream Differently. The “Dream Differently” theme is about giving oneself the opportunity to revisit and re-envision professional and personal aspirations with a renewed perspective, purpose, and possibility. Through a multifaceted approach—discovery, reflection, education, action, and momentum—alumna will dream with more depth, openness, and creativity than ever before.
“I believe that being a woman is actually a competitive advantage. There is a magic, there is a power in it,” Leslie Berland, Verizon CMO, shared in an inspiring fireside chat with alumni across regions back in January. When asked why programs like 30for30 matter, Berland reflected on the power of community, opportunity, and the need for more women leaders. “We, as women, both need extra support and also...the opportunity to very much make an impact that is unique.”
Over the year, we’ll share updates across Ogilvy channels on how alumni are dreaming differently, both as individuals and a collective force. If you want to join us in pursuing a professional opportunity that allows you to dream differently and to actively shape the future of the advertising industry, take a look at our career page.
Special thanks to the leaders that inspire the teams that power 30for30 around the world:
APAC
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Sue Olivier – Chief People Officer, Asia
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Eleanor Tsang - Regional Training Executive
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Karen Ooi - Business Development & Knowledge Manager
EMEA
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Patou Nuytemans – Chief Executive Officer, EMEA
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Elaine Grell – Chief People Officer, EMEA
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Laura Ellis – Head of People, EMEA
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Léonie Boyle - Learning & Development Business Partner, EMEA
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Pablo Requejo - Learning and Development Business Partner EMEA
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Justine Lottering - Executive Assistant to the CEO, EMEA
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Samantha Trigg - Head of Coaching & Team Development, EMEA
LATAM
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Lorena Pascual - Chief People Officer, LATAM
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Dolores Whittingslow - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader, LATAM
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Camila Camargosilva - Diversity & Inclusion Specialist, LATAM
North America
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Erika Sheridan - Senior Director, People Experience, Learning & Development, NA
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Sari Lewis - Senior Director, People Projects & Communications, NA
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Ayannah Johnson - Senior Director for Inclusion & Strategic Ops, NA
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Elizabeth Rene - Program Manager, Strategic Inclusion & Operations, NA