Merc Heredia-Ferran is a dedicated and constantly learning student of strategy. Currently working at 72andSunny in the data strategy department and teaching at University of Illinois, Merc’s goal is to help democratize and break the barriers that are currently in place when trying to enter the world of advertising.

A first generation American and 3rd generation professor, Merc is always looking to find ways to create inclusive programming in their courses and through networking opportunities. After receiving a Masters in Advertising and Brand Responsibility and a slew of internships, Merc went straight to work at both 72andSunny and Chicago Portfolio School before landing at UofI.

You can find Merc working on just about every brand at 72andSunny from Zillow, Wingstop and Adobe to countless new business pitches. Their work tries to focus on how to create more inclusive and socially responsible audiences for campaigns.

Outside of work you’ll find them on the rugby pitch, watching any sport that’s on TV, going to a local food festival or reposting jobs that pop up on their feed to help out current and former students.

Merc dreams of one day creating free resources that will enable students to learn more about advertising in small increments without the cost barrier currently in place. And if there’s one thing that people know about Merc, it’s that when they dream of something, they do everything in their power to achieve it.