Standing Out, Standing Strong

My next guest on Standing Out, Standing Strong is Joyce Chen! Joyce's coaching is a masterful mix of deep empathy and inclusive challenge. She doesn't just shift perspectives, she dismantles outdated patterns, revealing the unconscious stories that hold leaders back. Her work is about more than leadership – it's about self liberation. She helps clients navigate uncertainty, step int...

My guest today is redefining what a modern production company can be. Ana de Diego is the founder of Spark & Riot, a female-led production company and film & television studio built on the idea that great work happens when talent meets purpose. With a background in socially-driven storytelling and a portfolio that spans global brands and long-form projects, she's built a company that...

Today I'm joined by Sharlene George, founding partner at The Sweet Shop, which has grown from its roots in New Zealand to a global production company. Sharlene started out as a producer, and has built an incredible career, shaping stories and supporting directors, and more recently moving into longer form work and branded entertainment. What I love about her work is the focus on storytelling...

Today's guest is someone I've known for over twenty years, and someone who's always stood out. We first worked together at JWT, and even then Christine Jones had a very clear voice. She knew what she thought, she said it, and she didn't wait for permission. Since then she's built an extraordinary career, from global creative leadership roles at Ogilvy and Ridley Scott Crea...

Today I'm joined by Margo Mars, founder of Lief, a London-based studio built around authentic storytelling and championing diverse voices. Margo has a rare mix of creative instinct and real leadership, and recently she's taken that a step further with the launch of Lief Entertainment Company, exploring how brand-backed work can support premium, auteur-led storytelling. What I love about...

Today on Standing Out, Standing Strong I'm joined by Kerry Furrh and Olivia Mitchell, the directing duo known as Tusk. They met at USC, call themselves "a two-headed monster," and have built up a bold career across film, commercials and music videos, all with a style that's playful, precise, and unapologetically theirs. Most recently, they returned to Tribeca with their queer l...

Today on Standing Out, Standing Strong, I'm joined by  Ali Brown, president and partner at the award winning PRETTYBIRD, and founder of Ventureland. She's helped shape some of the most creative voices in our industry, across both LA and London. Ali is one of the most respected producers in our business, and after this conversation, you'll understand why. Join me for a cuppa tea with...

Today's guest on Standing Out, Standing Strong is a director whose work feels honest, grounded, and quietly powerful. Fiona McGee is an Australian filmmaker who's built an impressive career across comedy, drama, and documentary, picking up serious awards along the way. But it's never been about the accolades, it's always been about the work. In this conversation, we talk about...

Hello and welcome to Standing Out, Standing Strong! Today I'm Joined by Rochelle Palmer, co-founder of Untold Studios, the worlds first cloud-based creative studio, built to unlock talent wherever it exists. What fascinates me isn't just the technology, it's the courage and the decision to build something independent , future-facing and unapologetically craft obsessed. Recently I&ap...

This week on Standing Out, Standing Strong, I'm joined by Jess Coulter, director at O Positive, one of the most distinctive comedic voices working today. This year marks the 4th Super Bowl spot that Jess has directed, a milestone that very few directors reach, and even fewer women. Her work combines sharp comedy with emotional intelligence, and her journey into directing is anything but tradi...

Today on Standing Out, Standing Strong, I'm joined by Stephanie Thiel from Mirimar, a company I had the absolute pleasure of working with recently, and one that genuinely stood out for its culture, collaboration, and humanity. Steph plays a key role at Mirimar, and what really struck me is how intentional they are about the way they work, not just the work they make. This conversation is less...

Welcome to Season 2! This week on Standing Out Standing Strong, I'm joined by someone who is not only an extraordinary filmmaker, but a genuinely wonderful human: Georgi Banks-Davies! Georgie knew she wanted to make films from the moment she walked out of a cinema at 4 years old, and she's followed that instinct ever since, from her BAFTA winning TV debut I Hate Suzie, to Paper Girls, to...

My guest today is someone who's been designing her own path since she was a teenager, and is now helping a whole new generation do the same. Calypso Rose is a British entrepreneur and founder of OffScript, a summit and platform helping young people and their parents navigate a future of non-linear careers, entrepreneurship, and AI.  Calypso describes herself as an accidental entrepreneur. At...

For today's episode, I'm talking to Donna Lamar, an award-winning creative and production leader with more than twenty years of experience shaping culture for some of the worlds biggest brands. She's now a Senior Creative Leader at Spotify, working where music, entertainment and marketing meet. Before that, she helped lead the Twitter re-brand as Global Executive Creative Director,...

I'm excited to welcome a very special guest this week: the fabulous Lalita Koehler. Lali's career is anything but traditional. She started out in tech at Yahoo, and found her way into advertising almost by accident. But from that unexpected beginning, she went on to lead production at agencies like Martin Agency, Omelette, Saatchi & Saatchi, the Publicis Group, and most recently she...

Today on Standing Out, Standing Strong, I'm joined by Kati Haberstock, Director of Production Operations at Erich and Kallman. Kati brings a rare mix of technical savvy, empathy, and curiosity to everything she does. We talk about leadership, motherhood, and what it means to stay human and adaptable in an era of constant change.  So grab a cup of tea, and join me for a conversation with Kati...

I'm excited to welcome a very special guest this week - the one and only Lora Schulson. Lora is redefining what it means to make creative work in a world driven by innovation. As Global Chief Production Officer at 72 and Sunny NY, she helps some of the worlds biggest brands bring culture shaping ideas to life. With more than two decades of experience, she fuses artistry with strategy, and tec...

Today's guest is one of the mostly quietly brilliant editors working today. Charlie Harvey is humble, focused, and deeply respected in the industry. She works with care, patience, and genuine collaboration. Charlie's edited everything from Superbowl spots to emotional, award winning campaigns. Our conversation is thoughtful,  honest, and full of insight about storytelling, leadership, mo...

Today's guest is the one and only Kirsten Rutherford, a globally experienced creative leader and part of the leadership team at TBWA. With nearly three decades in the industry across three continents, Kirsten's work has been awarded by all the major festivals, and even sits in the MOMA's permanent collection. Beyond the accolades, Kirsten is known for her mentorship, her trademark k...

This week I'm excited to introduce a strong voice from the brand side - Claire Randall. She is one of those rare people who built something extraordinary and stayed grounded throughout. Claire began her career as a TV producer at Satchi & Satchi London, and nearly 3 decades ago took a huge leap and founded Claire Randall Consulting. What started as a bespoke service for one global adverti...

Today's guest is fearless, resilient, and one of the hardest working people in the business - the one and only Sophie Gold. She has a brilliant eye for talent, an intuitive gift for client service, and a tenacity that's helped her carve out something truly special in a fiercely competitive industry. With a mix of bold taste and business savvy, she's built Eleanor Films into one of t...

For this week's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with my dear friend Clare Donald. She's sharp, empathic,  and one of the most grounded people I've had the pleasure of working with. After a hugely successful career across production and operations, most recently as head of production at Publicis, she took a sabbatical in 2024 to pursue a long held passion for humanitarian wor...

In this episode of Standing Out, Standing Strong, I continue my wonderful conversation with Lisa Gunning. If you haven't listened to Part 1 , I encourage you to listen to it first to get context.  Lisa is an incredible storyteller and the kind of creative who never waits around, she builds the next chapter herself. From her early days editing commercials and feature films to directing major p...

In this episode of Standing Out, Standing Strong, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Lisa Gunning — an incredible storyteller and the kind of creative who never waits around, she builds the next chapter herself. From her early days editing commercials and feature films to directing major projects like the outstanding Netflix series Black Doves, Lisa’s career is all about instinct, re...

This week we are thrilled to have Linda Knight on the podcast. She's just been named CCO at FlyteVu, an award winning agency working at the intersection of tech and entertainment. Before that, she led Observatory, as CCO and then President, creating some of the most visionary work in advertising. I love Linda's creative spirit and positive energy, she's such an inspiration and a fan...