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The Great Meritocracy

USA Today is running an article on the power of the Harvard University brand. Here’s what I find interesting.

According to research from the University of Pennsylvania, the percentage of top executives at Fortune 100 companies who were Ivy League undergrads dropped from 14% to 10% from 1980 to 2001.

I wonder how many Ivy Leaguers we have in the ad ranks. One thing I’ve always enjoyed about this profession is the fact it matters not where you went to school. Sure, if you hope to be an art director someday, a degree from Parsons (an Ivy of the art world) is a great head start. But it’s not a prerequisite.

About David Burn

David Burn is the co-founder, editor, and publisher of Adpulp.com. David joined the ad agency business in 1997 as a copywriter and then worked for seven agencies in five states prior to launching Bonehook in 2010. Today, David is a writer, brand strategist, and leader of creative teams in Austin, TX.

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  1. Danny G says

    In 8 years in the business, I’ve met one Ivy-Leaguer. She’s an Account Supervisor.
    A lot of Harvard grads go on to Hollywood to write sitcoms and other assorted crapola, believe it or not.