Carrie La Ferle

Dr. Carrie La Ferle is a Professor of Ethics & Culture in the Temerlin Advertising Institute at SMU in Dallas, Texas. In 2024 she became a CQ Fellow—one of 20 global leaders advancing research, education, and industry initiatives to expand the reach and impact of cultural intelligence.

Raised in Toronto, Canada, La Ferle began her career at Chiat/Day working on the Nissan account before spending four years in Tokyo. Formally trained as a sociologist, she brings a deep understanding of culture and interpersonal communication to effective messaging. She is also a certified Cultural Intelligence and Unconscious Bias trainer and educator.

With more than 70 publications, La Ferle’s work explores the social, ethical and cultural influences shaping advertising. Her research focuses on how culture enhances message effectiveness, particularly in reaching diverse audiences and meeting the needs of “all and each.” Her global experience spans travel and work across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, including extended time living in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Costa Rica.

La Ferle is a member of the Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility and serves on the Association of National Advertisers Global CMO Growth Council, where she advocates for ethical representation and culturally intelligent marketing as drivers of industry growth. In 2021, she co-authored Preaching and the Thirty-Second Commercial: Lessons from Advertising for the Pulpit. She has received numerous honors, including the American Academy of Advertising’s Rotzoll Career Award for Advertising Ethics & Social Responsibility and the 2024 Dallas Business Journal Women in Business Award. Most recently, she was the invited speaker for the 2026 Jerome Williams Lecture Series at the University of Texas at Austin, an event honoring Dr. Williams’ pioneering work in multicultural marketing.

Through her work, La Ferle is committed to strengthening trust between brands, consumers and society by promoting cultural understanding and ethical practice. She partners with organizations to develop cultural intelligence as a foundation for stronger teams, innovation and more effective communication. La Ferle lives in Dallas with her husband of 28 years, and they have two adult children.