How One Bring Your Kid To Work Day Sparked a Lifetime of Intention

When I was about 16, my dad, Paul, took me to work for what used to be an annual thing through school in Canada— Bring Your Kid to Work Day. At the time, Dad was working at a large investment broker in Toronto. He no doubt thought I'd be bored to tears sitting at a trading desk, so after the early morning drive (6:00 a.m.—"the early bird gets the worm") and a quick stop at his desk, we took a brisk walk to the office of the advertising agency of record. In addition to being a client—and an intuitive marketer himself—Dad was friends with the agency owner. He had set up that I would "work" at the agency for the morning, and then we'd have lunch.

While I can't recall the agency's name or the gentleman who was the owner, the experience made a life-long impression. First, I was terrified when Mr. Owner sat me down with some markers and a large piece of paper and instructed me to write my own epitaph. "What will you have done in your life, what have you accomplished, and what will you have been known for?" he asked. And while he went on with his day, I sat there with my paper grave marker. I wish I had kept whatever it is I wrote—I'm guessing it was likely trite and what I thought the adults would have wanted to read. But the exercise—reflecting on what I want to achieve in life—has stayed with me. In fact, I've had a little card on our fridge for years that says, "Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly, it is your masterpiece after all" — Nathan W. Morris.

After that first assignment, I was introduced to the art director, who handed me yet more markers and paper and gave me a real-life creative briefing. The task: an old trust company was going through a brand refresh because of a recent acquisition—they needed a new logo that was modern yet inspired trust. After messing about with some different comic-book-inspired drawings, I thought about Roman columns—but simplified with clean lines. In blue. It was my one moment in life of creative visual success—the logo was used in the client presentation (with some finessing by a graphic designer) and ultimately chosen as the new logo. That experience was quite a confidence booster for a teen girl. And it gave me insight into the world of advertising agencies. I didn't know it then, but I would start my business career in advertising and marketing agencies.

I don't know if Bring Your Kid to Work days still happen—especially in a post-pandemic world—but I hope they do. And if they don't, perhaps there are other ways we can give young adults a glimpse into a world outside of school—be it in an office, at a trade, out in the field, or in a kitchen. It may be an experience that sticks.

Editor’s note: National Take Your Child to Work Day is observed on the fourth Thursday of every April. Since its inception in 1993, the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work program has engaged over 40 million individuals across 4 million workplaces worldwide. You can learn more about it on the official website, Take Your Daughters And Sons To Work Foundation.