How I Became ...

Karina Wilsher, Partner and Global CEO of Anomaly, spearheads key client initiatives, fortifies the agency's global presence and propels the company's ongoing evolution as an industry trailblazer. Karina, who ascended from Partner and CEO of Anomaly's London office to Partner and Global CEO in 2019, offers an exclusive look into her distinctive approach to leading six global offices. I...

Gihan Hyde, the accomplished CEO & Founder of CommUnique, one of the UK’s most renowned ESG Strategy and Communications Advisory Firms. Communique is B.Corp certified making it the first Black, Arab, female-founded organisation to be certified in the world. Gihan is the recipient of the UK’s “CEO of the Year” award for the work she is doing with the sustainability specialists who are from unde...

David McQueen, a committed speaker (as seen on TED), executive coach, and advisor to multi-national organisations, he is deeply passionate about leadership. He has accumulated more than three decades of experience in the field. Having transitioned from an accounting background to the tech industry, he effectively applies his commercial expertise. Fifteen years ago, he founded his consultancy, Q Sq...

Explore the most memorable moments and highlights from season one of How I Became. From the most heart-warming scenes to the exhilarating twists and turns, this retrospective journey through season one is sure to showcase the extraordinary elements that contributed to the moments that shaped the essence of season one. Chapters: 00:00:00-Dino Myers-Lamptey 00:05:31-Raj Kumar 00:09:09-Paul Bainsfair...

Explore the most memorable moments and highlights from season one of How I Became. From the most heart-warming scenes to the exhilarating twists and turns, this retrospective journey through season one is sure to showcase the extraordinary elements that contributed to the moments that shaped the essence of season one. Chapters: 00:00:00-Ibrahim Kamara 00:05:14-Julian Douglas 00:08:58-Rowan Manning...

Explore the most memorable moments and highlights from season one of How I Became. From the most heart-warming scenes to the exhilarating twists and turns, this retrospective journey through season one is sure to showcase the extraordinary elements that contributed to the moments that shaped the essence of season one. Chapters: 00:00:00-Shannie Mears 00:23:45-Beth Freedman 00:33:10-Craig Spence 00...

James Denton-Clark, the CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi, boasts over 25 years of expertise in the advertising industry, demonstrating a remarkable history of guiding teams to execute award-winning campaigns. Throughout his career, he has spearheaded transformative client partnerships, fostering brand growth and talent development. As a creative luminary, James spent the last 12 years at Karmarama, st...

Olivier Robert-Murphy, originally from Toulouse, financed his education by chauffeuring celebrities around Paris. After serving as an officer in the French Air Force, he commenced his professional journey at Procter & Gamble. Initially entering the entertainment sector at PolyGram Video, he eventually rose to the position of VP of Marketing at Universal Pictures International Video in London....

Jamelia Donaldson, the visionary behind TreasureTress, serves as its founder and CEO, steering the ship since its inception in 2015. TreasureTress stands out as a monthly product subscription service catering to girls and women with kinky-curly hair. With a robust online community and a thriving offline presence, the brand has successfully demonstrated the harmonious intersection of natural hair a...

Stef Reid MBE, the celebrated British Paralympic long jumper and sprinter, is renowned for her athletic prowess and inspirational journey. Her remarkable tale of resilience and determination in the face of adversity has propelled her into a sought-after speaker, captivating audiences with talks on mindset, overcoming challenges, and embracing change. Stef's early passion for sports, particular...

Vanessa, the Founder & CEO of Girls Talk, a globally recognised organisation, spearheads the development of innovative products and services connecting over 56,000 women with businesses in over 37 countries. The organisation achieves this through digital products, bespoke programs, and events, with a mission to democratise access to opportunities in traditionally male-dominated sectors, empowe...

Elfried is widely acknowledged as the driving force behind Gymshark's triumph on social media, playing a pivotal role in propelling the brand's fitness community from 1.5 million to 20 million in just seven years. As the current CEO and Co-Founder of the Butterfly 3ffect, Elfried is dedicated to leveraging his expertise to support emerging brands in achieving success. Growing up in DR Cong...

Josh Krichefski, recognised in the advertising industry for his advocacy of mental health and cultural change, assumed the role of GroupM CEO for EMEA and the U.K. in early 2023. Krichefski's association with GroupM dates back to 2011 when he initially joined MediaCom as the Chief Operating Officer for EMEA. Over the years, he has played a pivotal role in the agency's expansion, modernisat...

Neil Henderson, now the CEO of St. Luke’s has achieved remarkable success, garnering nominations for Agency of the Year in 3 of the past 4 years and consistently securing a spot on Campaign's Best Places to Work winners list for 5 consecutive years. Neil is an elected member of the IPA Council, holding the esteemed title of IPA Fellow. Additionally, he serves as a BAFTA juror. Neil's journ...

Gautham Narayanan, a seasoned veteran with over two decades of experience, has embarked on an exhilarating journey of brand transformation that spans continents, dazzling the world with compelling ideas and an illustrious client portfolio. For the better part of his illustrious career, Gau was the driving force at BBDO, serving as the regional director for BBDO Africa and the managing director of...

Prepare to embark on an enthralling journey with a special episode of "How I Became," recorded amid the electric atmosphere of the Festival of Marketing. Our star guest, Karen Blackett OBE, commands the stage as the UK President of WPP, a Non-Executive Director of Diageo and Creative UK. In this episode, we peel back the layers of Karen's remarkable life and reveal the first thrillin...

At the age of four, Taban Shoresh and her family found themselves imprisoned, facing a harrowing ordeal at the hands of Saddam Hussein's soldiers. Today, Taban stands as the driving force behind The Lotus Flower, a charitable organisation she founded. The mission of this organisation is to empower women, girls, children, and other community members affected by conflict and displacement, equipp...

For the past two decades, Harjot Singh’s unwavering zeal to excel in comprehending people, brands, and cultures from both creative and commercial angles has propelled him on a remarkable global journey. With an extensive footprint spanning six countries across three continents, he has cultivated, delivered, and moulded strategic solutions for some of the planet's most successful brands. In 202...

In 2014, Nishma Patel Robb became a part of Google's team, where her influence has been instrumental in shaping numerous cherished programs, events, and campaigns in the UK. She's been at the forefront, contributing to the creation of iconic Google Doodles, showcasing the practicality of Google's products in daily life, aiding business growth through free digital skills training and me...

November of 2015 marked the momentous occasion when Bill stepped into the role of CEO at the prestigious Droga5 London office.  In April 2022, Bill was appointed as the Managing Director, Accenture Song UK&I. This move brought about a more expansive role for him, encompassing added responsibilities. His new position involves the supervision of all creative agencies under Accenture Song situate...

With more than 29 years of marketing expertise, Gav Thompson boasts an impressive career within the advertising world. From working on the infamous Guinness Surfer Ad to playing a significant role in co-founding the mobile operator, giffgaff, he has held key positions such as Global Chief Marketing Officer at Paddy Power, as well as Chief Customer Officer at Boden. Additionally, Gav served as the...

Founder, speaker, author, artist and taxidermist, for over 20 years, Laura has become an inspiring figure who has made a huge impact in the digital and creative industry. As a leader in the digital industry, Laura has become the ultimate award-winning creative with a long history of pioneering commercial work. Laura is now President & Chief Creative Officer at Grey London, where she is revolut...

Xavier Rees is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful campaigning leaders in the industry. Since joining Havas in 2016, Rees has spearheaded a remarkable transformation of its reputation and business performance – leading his agencies to major new accounts including Asda, Volkswagen Group UK, and the Department for Education. Now UK Group CEO of Havas Creative Network, his i...

Raised in the predominantly white and middle-class area of Pinner, Trevor was one of the few black students in his school. Trevor embraced this difference and saw it as an advantage. He became head boy at school and felt that being ‘different’ meant being unique and he thrived in his school environment and early life.  In 1998, Trevor began his career at Ipsos in the post room, eventually becoming...

In 2004, Laura joined OMD UK as a fresh-faced graduate, determined to make her mark on the industry. After years of hard work and dedication, she became the agency's first-ever female CEO in December 2020, a remarkable 16-year journey. The unique brand of leadership that Laura has displayed has enabled her to make remarkable progress and achieve incredible business success. After attending Lee...