From Redundancy to Resilience: How Advertising Talent Can Rebuild Their Edge

Advertising is being restructured in real time.  Teams are shrinking, roles are shifting, and efficiency is the new mandate.  According to a recent analysis, this trend isn’t a failure; it’s shape-shifting.  But for everyone let go, it’s a moment of reckoning.

Over the past 18 months, waves of layoffs and restructures have shaken the global advertising industry.  From holding company consolidations to AI-fuelled automations, no corner of the industry feels immune.  

At True North ECL, our observation is that redundancy isn’t an ending, it’s a powerful reset.  If approached with intention, it can become a leadership development moment that accelerates clarity, reinvention, and self-authorship.

According to a 2024 Adweek survey, 27% of global ad professionals have experienced redundancy or role restructures.  What’s more interesting: of those who engaged in structured reflection or coaching during their downtime, 72% reported increased job satisfaction in their next role.

So, how do you shift from setback to strategy?

1. Acknowledge the Loss

   Redundancy is a form of grief: loss of income, security, psychological safety, identity, and belonging. Emotional honesty is not weakness; it’s the gateway to resilience. Before updating your LinkedIn, check in with yourself.

2. recalibrate your compass

   Ask: What do I actually want now? What impact do I want to make? What am I no longer willing to tolerate? This is the time to move from reactive job hunting to proactive self-authorship.

3. Close the gap

   Upskilling isn’t just tactical, it’s psychological. LinkedIn Learning data shows those who invest in learning post-layoff re-enter the workforce 50% faster. Learn the language of AI. Dive into leadership. Get certified in something that stretches you.

4. Tell your story powerfully

   Don't bury your redundancy on your CV. Make it a proof point of growth. Show how you used it to reset, to clarify, to evolve.

5. Build your Tribe

   Isolation slows progress. Whether it's a coach, a mastermind group, or a former boss turned thinking partner, resilience is built in relationship, not solitude.

Redundancy may shake your confidence, but it can also sharpen your edge, if you let it.  It’s not just about bouncing back.  It’s about bouncing forward, with greater clarity, deeper self-awareness, and a more intentional vision for the impact you want to make.  In an industry built on reinvention, your ability to reframe this moment will be one of your most valuable assets.  Whether you lead teams, craft brands, or build strategy, your next chapter isn’t waiting to be handed to you.  It’s waiting to be authored by you.  Start writing it.

Redundancy doesn't define your value.  How you respond to it does.