St. John’s University honors Bob Greenberg at annual Ad Legends Series event
St. John’s University honored advertising and marketing leader Bob Greenberg on April 23 during the fourth annual Ad Legends Series at its Queens campus.
The event recognized Greenberg, Founder and former Chairman of R/GA, for his impact on brands such as IBM, Nike, Samsung, and others over a four-decade career. The university aims to inspire students by showcasing industry pioneers who have shaped the field.
Greenberg spoke before an audience of about 100 students, faculty, and administrators in a conversation with Rick Boyko, former Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy North America. He discussed his company’s approach to innovation: “When things would come into view that could change the business, I always viewed the metaphor as holding my nose and jumping off a cliff,” Greenberg said. “I would always do that, and it worked most of the time.”
The Ad Legends Series is sponsored by Nancy Deckinger of the Dr. E. Lawrence Deckinger Family Foundation and has previously honored Ralph Ammirati and Martin Puris; Jerry Della Femina; and Tiffany Rolfe. During this year’s program, two students received awards for their achievements in advertising and public relations: Sharmayne Crockett was presented with the Excellence in Advertising award while Giovanna Ventimiglia received the Public Relations Award of Distinction.
Greenberg also addressed challenges facing future leaders in creative industries: “Technology impacts everything,” he explained. “And I think that risk-averse people will have bigger problems in the future than what they face in dealing with clients, budgets, and schedules.” He described how adapting to technological shifts led him to restructure R/GA every nine years.
St. John’s University supports initiatives through its centers focused on multicultural efforts both locally and globally according to its official website. The university features campuses in Queens and Manhattan as well as international sites in Rome, Paris, and Limerick according to its official website. It is affiliated with the Vincentian Community according to its official website.
The institution offers more than 100 undergraduate majors across six schools according to its official website and operates as a Catholic Vincentian institution dedicated to liberal arts education according to its official website. Rev. Brian J. Shanley served as president of St. John’s University per the official website.
Reflecting on his personal journey overcoming dyslexia—and how it influenced his career—Greenberg said during a documentary shown at the event: “Dyslexia gives you the ability to previsualize data in a way that is useful in… pattern recognition.” He concluded by urging young professionals not just to adapt but remain passionate: “I do not think you can do what we and others do if you are not emotional about it,” he said.
