Enough Is Enough: Why I Left The Boys Club
Jun 9, 2025
Jun 9, 2025
Jun 9, 2025
Jun 9, 2025
Sarah Quackenbush is one of Coven’s founders—and while she’s never been known for being quiet, she did grow tired of staying silent.
I recently found myself talking with a former colleague at an industry event—an incredibly talented woman—who was recounting the latest instance of inappropriate behavior from someone we both used to work with. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard about him. It wasn’t the 20th. These stories have been whispered behind closed doors for the duration of my career. And after 25 years in advertising, I can say this with certainty: the biggest unspoken campaign inside most agencies isn’t for the client. It’s the one designed to silence women.
I started in this business when “creative genius” was the armor that shielded too many men from consequences. I stayed because I believed in the power of ideas—to shape culture, to inspire action. But over the years, I’ve come to face a darker truth: the culture inside agencies is too often toxic. Especially for women.
The Numbers Paint A Grim Picture
According to a 2021 study by TIME’S UP Advertising, more than 25% of women in the industry have experienced sexual harassment, and 72% said they didn’t report it. Why? Fear of retaliation, fear of being labeled “difficult,” and, most painfully, the reality that many agencies protect perpetrators over victims.
This isn’t ancient history. It's still happening. And it's not just about lewd comments or inappropriate advances. It’s about power. It’s about senior creatives who make inappropriate comments to their subordinates, or executives who brush off HR complaints because "he brings in big clients."
Management Knows—And Still Looks Away
I’ve been in leadership meetings where someone’s behavior was discussed, and the response was, “Let’s move him off that account for now,” or, “She’s probably overreacting.” I’ve watched talented women leave in frustration or fear, while men with repeated complaints against them stayed—and got promoted.
Why? Because agency leadership often prioritizes the bottom line over basic decency. Because some clients love working with the “edgy genius,” even if everyone on the team knows he makes interns cry. Because saying, “We’re addressing it internally,” is easier than saying, “We fired someone who crossed the line.”
When agencies protect predators, they send a clear message:
Your creative contributions matter less than his reputation.
Your safety is negotiable.
Your voice is expendable.
Ownership Was The Only Answer
After decades of trying to work within a broken system, Jess and I made a choice. We left. And we started our own agency—led by women, grounded in radical transparency, and committed to safety.
We’re not perfect, but we are intentional. We don’t whisper about misconduct behind closed doors—we confront it. We believe psychological safety is the foundation for creative freedom. And guess what? Our work is more effective than it’s ever been.
In many ways, I’m trying to make up for all the times I stayed silent. I let myself down. I carry the guilt of not doing more to protect the young women I worked with when I sensed they were struggling.
This Industry Needs A Reckoning
To every agency leader reading this: Protecting your “star creative” at the expense of your team’s safety is cowardice. The culture you protect now will become the brand reputation you lose later. Clients are watching. Talent is leaving. And the next generation won’t tolerate the bullsh*t we were told to accept.
And to the women in this industry who are still enduring in silence: I see you. I’ve been you. You deserve better.
It’s time we demand it.
—A Woman Who Finally Walked Away
Sarah Quackenbush is one of Coven’s founders—and while she’s never been known for being quiet, she did grow tired of staying silent.
I recently found myself talking with a former colleague at an industry event—an incredibly talented woman—who was recounting the latest instance of inappropriate behavior from someone we both used to work with. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard about him. It wasn’t the 20th. These stories have been whispered behind closed doors for the duration of my career. And after 25 years in advertising, I can say this with certainty: the biggest unspoken campaign inside most agencies isn’t for the client. It’s the one designed to silence women.
I started in this business when “creative genius” was the armor that shielded too many men from consequences. I stayed because I believed in the power of ideas—to shape culture, to inspire action. But over the years, I’ve come to face a darker truth: the culture inside agencies is too often toxic. Especially for women.
The Numbers Paint A Grim Picture
According to a 2021 study by TIME’S UP Advertising, more than 25% of women in the industry have experienced sexual harassment, and 72% said they didn’t report it. Why? Fear of retaliation, fear of being labeled “difficult,” and, most painfully, the reality that many agencies protect perpetrators over victims.
This isn’t ancient history. It's still happening. And it's not just about lewd comments or inappropriate advances. It’s about power. It’s about senior creatives who make inappropriate comments to their subordinates, or executives who brush off HR complaints because "he brings in big clients."
Management Knows—And Still Looks Away
I’ve been in leadership meetings where someone’s behavior was discussed, and the response was, “Let’s move him off that account for now,” or, “She’s probably overreacting.” I’ve watched talented women leave in frustration or fear, while men with repeated complaints against them stayed—and got promoted.
Why? Because agency leadership often prioritizes the bottom line over basic decency. Because some clients love working with the “edgy genius,” even if everyone on the team knows he makes interns cry. Because saying, “We’re addressing it internally,” is easier than saying, “We fired someone who crossed the line.”
When agencies protect predators, they send a clear message:
Your creative contributions matter less than his reputation.
Your safety is negotiable.
Your voice is expendable.
Ownership Was The Only Answer
After decades of trying to work within a broken system, Jess and I made a choice. We left. And we started our own agency—led by women, grounded in radical transparency, and committed to safety.
We’re not perfect, but we are intentional. We don’t whisper about misconduct behind closed doors—we confront it. We believe psychological safety is the foundation for creative freedom. And guess what? Our work is more effective than it’s ever been.
In many ways, I’m trying to make up for all the times I stayed silent. I let myself down. I carry the guilt of not doing more to protect the young women I worked with when I sensed they were struggling.
This Industry Needs A Reckoning
To every agency leader reading this: Protecting your “star creative” at the expense of your team’s safety is cowardice. The culture you protect now will become the brand reputation you lose later. Clients are watching. Talent is leaving. And the next generation won’t tolerate the bullsh*t we were told to accept.
And to the women in this industry who are still enduring in silence: I see you. I’ve been you. You deserve better.
It’s time we demand it.
—A Woman Who Finally Walked Away
Sarah Quackenbush is one of Coven’s founders—and while she’s never been known for being quiet, she did grow tired of staying silent.
I recently found myself talking with a former colleague at an industry event—an incredibly talented woman—who was recounting the latest instance of inappropriate behavior from someone we both used to work with. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard about him. It wasn’t the 20th. These stories have been whispered behind closed doors for the duration of my career. And after 25 years in advertising, I can say this with certainty: the biggest unspoken campaign inside most agencies isn’t for the client. It’s the one designed to silence women.
I started in this business when “creative genius” was the armor that shielded too many men from consequences. I stayed because I believed in the power of ideas—to shape culture, to inspire action. But over the years, I’ve come to face a darker truth: the culture inside agencies is too often toxic. Especially for women.
The Numbers Paint A Grim Picture
According to a 2021 study by TIME’S UP Advertising, more than 25% of women in the industry have experienced sexual harassment, and 72% said they didn’t report it. Why? Fear of retaliation, fear of being labeled “difficult,” and, most painfully, the reality that many agencies protect perpetrators over victims.
This isn’t ancient history. It's still happening. And it's not just about lewd comments or inappropriate advances. It’s about power. It’s about senior creatives who make inappropriate comments to their subordinates, or executives who brush off HR complaints because "he brings in big clients."
Management Knows—And Still Looks Away
I’ve been in leadership meetings where someone’s behavior was discussed, and the response was, “Let’s move him off that account for now,” or, “She’s probably overreacting.” I’ve watched talented women leave in frustration or fear, while men with repeated complaints against them stayed—and got promoted.
Why? Because agency leadership often prioritizes the bottom line over basic decency. Because some clients love working with the “edgy genius,” even if everyone on the team knows he makes interns cry. Because saying, “We’re addressing it internally,” is easier than saying, “We fired someone who crossed the line.”
When agencies protect predators, they send a clear message:
Your creative contributions matter less than his reputation.
Your safety is negotiable.
Your voice is expendable.
Ownership Was The Only Answer
After decades of trying to work within a broken system, Jess and I made a choice. We left. And we started our own agency—led by women, grounded in radical transparency, and committed to safety.
We’re not perfect, but we are intentional. We don’t whisper about misconduct behind closed doors—we confront it. We believe psychological safety is the foundation for creative freedom. And guess what? Our work is more effective than it’s ever been.
In many ways, I’m trying to make up for all the times I stayed silent. I let myself down. I carry the guilt of not doing more to protect the young women I worked with when I sensed they were struggling.
This Industry Needs A Reckoning
To every agency leader reading this: Protecting your “star creative” at the expense of your team’s safety is cowardice. The culture you protect now will become the brand reputation you lose later. Clients are watching. Talent is leaving. And the next generation won’t tolerate the bullsh*t we were told to accept.
And to the women in this industry who are still enduring in silence: I see you. I’ve been you. You deserve better.
It’s time we demand it.
—A Woman Who Finally Walked Away
Sarah Quackenbush is one of Coven’s founders—and while she’s never been known for being quiet, she did grow tired of staying silent.
I recently found myself talking with a former colleague at an industry event—an incredibly talented woman—who was recounting the latest instance of inappropriate behavior from someone we both used to work with. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard about him. It wasn’t the 20th. These stories have been whispered behind closed doors for the duration of my career. And after 25 years in advertising, I can say this with certainty: the biggest unspoken campaign inside most agencies isn’t for the client. It’s the one designed to silence women.
I started in this business when “creative genius” was the armor that shielded too many men from consequences. I stayed because I believed in the power of ideas—to shape culture, to inspire action. But over the years, I’ve come to face a darker truth: the culture inside agencies is too often toxic. Especially for women.
The Numbers Paint A Grim Picture
According to a 2021 study by TIME’S UP Advertising, more than 25% of women in the industry have experienced sexual harassment, and 72% said they didn’t report it. Why? Fear of retaliation, fear of being labeled “difficult,” and, most painfully, the reality that many agencies protect perpetrators over victims.
This isn’t ancient history. It's still happening. And it's not just about lewd comments or inappropriate advances. It’s about power. It’s about senior creatives who make inappropriate comments to their subordinates, or executives who brush off HR complaints because "he brings in big clients."
Management Knows—And Still Looks Away
I’ve been in leadership meetings where someone’s behavior was discussed, and the response was, “Let’s move him off that account for now,” or, “She’s probably overreacting.” I’ve watched talented women leave in frustration or fear, while men with repeated complaints against them stayed—and got promoted.
Why? Because agency leadership often prioritizes the bottom line over basic decency. Because some clients love working with the “edgy genius,” even if everyone on the team knows he makes interns cry. Because saying, “We’re addressing it internally,” is easier than saying, “We fired someone who crossed the line.”
When agencies protect predators, they send a clear message:
Your creative contributions matter less than his reputation.
Your safety is negotiable.
Your voice is expendable.
Ownership Was The Only Answer
After decades of trying to work within a broken system, Jess and I made a choice. We left. And we started our own agency—led by women, grounded in radical transparency, and committed to safety.
We’re not perfect, but we are intentional. We don’t whisper about misconduct behind closed doors—we confront it. We believe psychological safety is the foundation for creative freedom. And guess what? Our work is more effective than it’s ever been.
In many ways, I’m trying to make up for all the times I stayed silent. I let myself down. I carry the guilt of not doing more to protect the young women I worked with when I sensed they were struggling.
This Industry Needs A Reckoning
To every agency leader reading this: Protecting your “star creative” at the expense of your team’s safety is cowardice. The culture you protect now will become the brand reputation you lose later. Clients are watching. Talent is leaving. And the next generation won’t tolerate the bullsh*t we were told to accept.
And to the women in this industry who are still enduring in silence: I see you. I’ve been you. You deserve better.
It’s time we demand it.
—A Woman Who Finally Walked Away
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