Fearless Creative Leadership

Pamela Culpepper, Erin Gallagher, and Caroline Dettman are the three founders of Have Her Back Consulting. They describe themselves as a culture consultancy working with companies to tackle equity for all. When I interviewed Caroline in January - in what now seems like an almost unimaginably different world - we talked extensively about the steps that businesses and society needed to take to creat...

Justin Gignac is the Co-Founder of Working Not Working - a curated community of 80,000 of the best creatives in the world. Most businesses today are led and staffed by predominantly white people. Very, very few companies reflect society. Leaders are suddenly galvanized to fix this problem, publishing staffing numbers and pledging to hire diverse talent.   I believe them when they say it. I believe...

This episode is part of Season 2 - which we've sub-titled, "Leading In The Time Of Virus". Today, leadership requires that you meet the challenges of two viruses - COVID-19 and racism. In this environment, unlocking creative thinking has never been more valuable or essential. John Couch is the VP of Product Design at Hulu  and author of "The Art of Creative Rebellion: How to champion creativity, c...

This episode is part of Season 2 - which we've sub-titled, "Leading In The Time Of Virus."  Since the outbreak of COVID-19, this podcast has been focused on how leaders are adapting to a global health pandemic.  But the death of George Floyd has finally and fully exposed what millions of people already knew. Another virus has already infected our society. Racism. It's been here for centuries. It a...

This episode is part of Season 2 - which we've sub-titled, "Leading In The Time Of Virus".  In these conversations we discover how some of the world's most innovative and creative leaders are adapting their leadership to our new reality.  These people are among the world's best problem solvers.  Carl Johnson is one of the founding partners and the Executive Chairman of Anomaly .  It was recorded j...

This episode is part of Season 2 - which we've sub-titled, "Leading In The Time Of Virus". In these conversations we discover how some of the world's most innovative and creative leaders are adapting their leadership to our new reality. These people are among the world's best problem solvers. This conversation with Adam Tucker of  Ogilvy and WPP  was recorded just before the events in Minneapolis...

Lisa Clunie and Jaime Robinson are the Co-Founders of JOAN Creative - a 4 year-old independent creative company.  I knew Lisa and Jaime before they knew each other. When they finally met, they each asked me to work with them to decide if they would be good partners for each other.  As you'll hear, their chemistry was obvious immediately. If you've listened to the podcast much, you'll know I'm an a...

This episode is part of Season 2 - which we've sub-titled, "Leading In The Time Of Virus". In these conversations we discover how some of the world's most innovative and creative leaders are adapting their leadership to our new reality. These people are among the world's best problem solvers.  Gina Hadley is the Co-Founder of The Second Shift . In their words, they are on a mission to connect empo...

Simon Cook is the Managing Director of Cannes Lions . The focus of the Lions is to explore, provoke and celebrate the power of creativity and innovation in the business world.  The annual Cannes Lions festival is formed by 20,000+ people coming together every June in the south of France and all that goes with that. Except this year. When for the first time in almost 70 years, there will be no phys...

This episode is our eleventh of Season 2 - which we've sub-titled, "Leading In The Time Of Virus". In these conversations we discover how some of the world's most innovative and creative leaders are adapting their leadership to our new reality. These people are among the world's best problem solvers.  John Boiler, Glenn Cole, Matt Jarvis and Evin Shutt are the leaders of 72andSunny . Partnerships...

This episode marks the three year anniversary of Fearless. When we started this podcast in 2017, none of could have forecast the state of the world three years later. One thing has become obvious - creative and innovative thinking has become even more critical as we start to build a new future. And leaders who can unlock creativity and innovation will be the most valuable and sought after resource...

This episode is our ninth of Season 2 - which we've sub-titled, "Leading In The Time Of Virus". In these conversations we discover how some of the world's most innovative and creative leaders are adapting their leadership to our new reality. These people are among the world's best problem solvers.  Emma Cookson is a partner at You & Mr Jones, which describes itself as the 'world's first Brandtech...

This episode is our eighth of Season 2 - which we've sub-titled, "Leading In The Time Of Virus". In these conversations we discover how some of the world's most innovative and creative leaders are adapting their leadership to our new reality.  These people are among the world's best problem solvers.  Greg Hahn was, until recently, the Creative Vice Chairman of BBDO Worldwide , and the Chief Creati...

This episode is our seventh of Season 2 - which we've sub-titled, "Leading In The Time Of Virus". These are shorter, focused conversations in which we discover how some of the world's most innovative and creative leaders are adapting their leadership to our new reality.  These people are among the world's best problem solvers.  David Lee is the Chief Creative Officer of Squarespace . David talked...

This episode is our sixth of Season 2, which we've sub-titled, "Leading In The Time Of Virus". These are shorter, focused conversations in which we discover how some of the world's most innovative and creative leaders are adapting their leadership to our new reality.  These people are among the world's best problem solvers.  Jonathan Mildenhall is the Founder of TwentyFirstCenturyBrand and the for...

This episode is our fifth of Season 2, which we've sub-titled, "Leading In the Time of Virus". These are shorter, focused conversations in which we discover how some of the world's most innovative and creative leaders are adapting their leadership to our new reality.  These people are among the world's best problem solvers.  Susan Credle is the Global Chief Creative Officer of FCB . Susan is not o...

This episode is our fourth of Season 2, which we've sub-titled, "Leading In the Time of Virus". These are shorter, focused conversations in which we discover how some of the world's most innovative and creative leaders are adapting their leadership to our new reality.   These people are among the world's best problem solvers.   Brad Hiranaga is the Chief Brand Officer for North America of  General...

This episode is our third of Season 2 - shorter, focused conversations in which we discover how some of the world's most innovative and creative leaders are adapting their leadership to our new reality.   These people are among the world's best problem solvers.   Nils Leonard is the Co-Founder of  Uncommon - and one of the most thoughtful and original leaders I know. Nils describes the role of lea...

This episode is our second of Season 2, which we've sub-titled, "Leading In the Time of Virus". These are shorter, focused conversations in which we discover how some of the world's most innovative and creative leaders are adapting their leadership to our new reality.  These people are among the world's best problem solvers.  Mindy Grossman is the CEO of WW - formerly Weight Watchers. Mindy is one...

With this episode, we're launching Season 2 - which we've sub-titled, "Leading In the Time of Virus". These are shorter, focused conversations in which we discover how some of the world's most innovative and creative leaders are adapting their leadership to our new reality.  These people are among the world's best problem solvers. And that's exactly what we need right now. Karim Bartoletti is livi...

"The Questioning Leader".   Madeleine has been the Director of The MCA Chicago for 12 years. She thinks about art and its role in society four-dimensionally.   She thinks about museums the same way. In the last two weeks, some of our conversation will feel like it is from another era. Because it is. But regardless of how much we flatten the curve or don't, a new society will form out of the one we...

"The Questioning Leader". 15 minute edited highlight of our full conversation. I recorded this episode just over 2 week ago. Before the world changed. It's a conversation with Madeleine Grynsztejn - the Pritzker Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago . Over the last few days, I've thought a lot about whether to publish this episode because so much of what we talked about seems at fi...

"The Blessed Leader". Cecile Richards is the co-founder of Supermajority , which describes itself as a new home for women's activism that is fighting for gender equality. Before that, she spent 12 years as the President of Planned Parenthood, a that provides to 2.5 million women annually. Public service and activism are part of Cecile's DNA.  Her mother — Ann Richards — shattered conventional wisd...

"The Blessed Leader". 15 minute edited highlight of our full conversation. Cecile Richards is the co-founder of Supermajority , which describes itself as a new home for women's activism that is fighting for gender equality. Before that, she spent 12 years as the President of Planned Parenthood, a that provides to 2.5 million women annually. Public service and activism are part of Cecile's DNA.  He...

"The 'How Do I Spend My Time' Leader".  Anne Devereux-Mills is the founder of Parlay House , which describes itself as a modern salon for women. Their mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment in which women can have authentic conversations and build meaningful relationships. Anne has been the CEO of multiple companies. She's also a wife, a mother and a four-time cancer survivor.