Shannon Miller Headed to Courage as Executive Director of Development

Adweek's Shannon Miller, managing editor of creativity, creator economy and DEI, is departing the company and moving to independent Toronto-based creative agency Courage to take the role of executive director of development, a new position at the agency. In her new role, Miller will be responsible for helping Courage communicate its vision both internally and externally, from press to new business, as the agency continues its growth in North America. “My main goal and mission is to help the agency tell its story both within and outside of the work it produces,” Miller told Adweek. “My biggest job will be to enhance all of that through comms and branding and help the world see them as the natural storytellers that they are.” Courage was founded in 2022 by former partners at celebrated Canadian agency Rethink, Dhaval Bhatt and Joel Holtby. The agency is backed by No Fixed Address, along with co-founders Dave Lafond and Serge Rancourt, and it is the latest addition to the North American independent marketing collective that also includes New York creative agency Mischief @ No Fixed Address. The agency already counts CIBC, KFC Canada and Nescafe Canada as clients. Rethink Leaders to Launch a New Shop With No Fixed Address, Inc "From our very first call, we knew that Shannon would be a great fit at Courage,” Bhatt said in a statement. “Not only does she have an incredible resume and a finger placed firmly on the pulse of the industry, her positivity and get-it-done attitude is absolutely infectious." This is Miller’s first time working at an agency, but at Courage she saw an opportunity to learn from some of the best creative minds in the industry who have a passion for the work. “For a while, it was fashionable to be self-deprecating about working in advertising. We're slowly getting over that as an industry, but getting to know Dhaval Bhatt, (president and partner) Niki Sahni, Joel Holtby and (CSO and partner) Tom Kenny has really driven home what it means to thoroughly love what you do and what this industry has to offer,” said Miller. Miller came to Adweek as creative and inclusion editor in 2021 from the A.V. Club, where she was news editor. She quickly established herself as a valuable asset to the Adweek team as a journalist, editor and host of the popular Yeah, That’s Probably An Ad podcast and the founder of the Off Madison podcast and platform, telling the stories of the industry disruptors who redefined advertising and put DEI on the map. She also had an ease as a moderator and host, interviewing celebrities and executives alike while giving the audience plenty of insight. Prior to Adweek, Miller was a freelance entertainment and cultural criticism writer, as well as the CEO and editor in chief of the Nerds of Prey podcast. Miller said she initially came to Adweek because she was ready to explore other facets of journalism and creativity. “Working at Adweek has allowed me to build a credible platform and spotlight the changemakers who are pushing this industry forward. I got to figuratively and quite literally travel outside of my comfort zone and relearn who I was as a writer, editor, interviewer and knowable figure in this space. I couldn't be more grateful for that,” said Miller. She leaves Adweek with these parting thoughts: “It's hard not to develop a little bit of imposter syndrome as an Adweek writer because you are amongst some of the best journalists this business has to offer. I got to count myself amongst some of the most brilliant talents in the field and call them colleagues. Now they are my friends, and that's something I won't ever take for granted,” said Miller.