Trust Builders: Dana Blanco

Meet Dana! a member of the IAE Trust Builders community.

Dana Blanco serves as Director of Product & Digital Learning at Havas Group, where she brings a values-driven lens to innovation and leadership development. Through her work, she helps leaders clarify ethical priorities, strengthen transparent communication, and build lasting trust with stakeholders.

Dana is a Certified Ethical Advertising Executive (CEAE) and holds the AI Integrity Shield certification, reflecting her commitment to responsible marketing practices that are not only effective — but accountable and future-focused.

How has IAE's certifications impacted you, your career, and your approach to ethical advertising?

Incorporating both the IAE Certification and the Privacy Shield certification into Havas University, our proprietary online learning platform for Havas Group, has been an ideal opportunity to expand our catalog with content that is truly fundamental to the development of the advertising industry in these challenging times. Having the possibility to obtain a certification from a body like the Institute of Advertising Ethics is a source of pride for learners who want to demonstrate their commitment to acting as responsible, thoughtful communicators in today’s complex media landscape.

This commitment has been clearly reflected in the results shared by Dr. Anna McAlister and Andrew Susman, confirming that Havas had been the top performing agency in the certification process, an outcome that brought a great sense of achievement to our teams. It reinforces that ethics learning strengthens talent engagement and deepens client trust, fostering a more trustworthy advertising ecosystem. The impact we’ve seen connects our ethics training to both a stronger internal culture and greater confidence in the work we deliver, while positioning Havas as a constructive and responsible voice across the industry.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned from the certification(s)?

One of the most valuable lessons from the certifications has been realizing how important it is to help our teams understand the responsible use of AI, both in how we create with it and in how we interpret the content it produces. The AI Privacy Shield has been especially useful because it gives people a clear foundation for why transparency, good data practices, and human centered decisions matter so much today. It also reminds us that protecting consumer trust starts with protecting our own processes and making sure every AI related interaction we support is handled with integrity, clarity, and accountability.

Why is ethics important for advertising?

Ethics is important in advertising because it helps us connect and communicate at a genuinely human level, establishing the foundation for shared trust. An ethical approach ensures that communication is not simply a message being pushed out, but a two way channel where there is a real effort to listen, understand, and empathize with the audiences we serve.

At its core, ethical practice means engaging people with respect, transparency, and an awareness of the impact our work can have on society. It strengthens the relationship between brands and consumers while also reinforcing trust within our own teams. In this way, ethics becomes both a strategic advantage and a cultural anchor — one that supports better work, stronger client partnerships, and a healthier advertising ecosystem overall.

What are some of the biggest ethical challenges you see in advertising today and how do you think these challenges can be overcome?

One of the biggest ethical challenges in advertising today is navigating an environment where information is increasingly difficult to verify. With the rise of misleading content, deepfakes, and AI generated messages, it is more important than ever to approach our work with a critical and discerning eye. Consumers cannot always trust what they see or hear, which is why transparency and authenticity now play a pivotal role in how we communicate.

Can you share a time when you encountered an ethical dilemma? What were the outcomes?

An ethical dilemma came from realizing how unfair the world can feel when you see social injustice and inequality up close. In my youth I knew I couldn’t solve challenges that large, but as an adult it has shaped a lifelong commitment to learning and development, helping make knowledge a bit more accessible to diverse audiences around the world. In my own small way, I hope this contributes to creating opportunities and fostering greater equity.

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