Subject To Approval

In this episode, Steve explores a deceptively simple question with far-reaching consequences. Why have we stopped talking to each other at work, and what is it costing us? At a time when we are more digitally connected than ever, many teams are avoiding live human conversation in favour of messages, emails and documents. What feels safer and more efficient on the surface is, in practice, slowing d...

In this episode, Steve takes us into one of the most overlooked commercial levers for agencies working across APAC: cultural competence. Not as a conversation about DE&I or values frameworks, but as a pragmatic, commercial muscle that directly impacts pitches, client relationships, campaign performance and bottom line outcomes. Steve shares a real story from a Southeast Asia boardroom where br...

In this episode of Subject to Approval , host Steven Mcginnes explores one of the biggest transitions many agency professionals face, the leap from being a talented individual contributor to becoming an effective team leader. It’s a shift that happens often, but rarely easily. As Steven explains, excelling at your craft doesn’t automatically prepare you for the realities of leadership. The skills,...

In this episode of Subject to Approval, host Becca Maxwell explores one of the most common challenges agency leaders face: how do we motivate younger talent? The conversation takes a fresh look at motivation, moving away from the traditional “carrot and stick” approach and drawing on insights from Daniel H. Pink’s book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us . Becca explains why money...

In this episode, Steven McGinnes dives into one of the most overlooked yet decisive factors in professional and business success: Communication . From emails to presentations, meetings to public speaking, the ability to convey ideas clearly and confidently is often the difference between stalled growth and real progress. As Steven puts it—if you can’t communicate, you can’t compete. But if you can...

In this solo episode of Subject to Approval , Rebecca Maxwell shares one of the most practical frameworks for agency leaders and teams navigating uncertain times — the Circle of Control and Circle of Concern . The reality is that our industry is changing. Budgets shift, stakeholders move on, AI reshapes how we work. It’s natural to feel stretched or unsettled. What matters is how we respond. This...

In this solo episode of Subject to Approval , Steve takes the mic to tackle one of the biggest questions in business: how do you actually grow revenue? Instead of talking about abstract ideas like mindset or coaching, he cuts straight to the core and lays out the only five levers available to any business that wants to increase revenue . These aren’t gimmicks or trendy hacks—they’re timeless, func...

In this solo episode, Steve shines a light on scope creep—the silent killer of profitability in agencies. Too many teams unknowingly give away time, ideas, and resources, only to see margins vanish. But scope creep isn’t inevitable—if you understand where it comes from and how to stop it. Drawing on his experience turning a million-dollar loss into a million-dollar profit (without cutting staff or...

Welcome to our podcast Subject to Approval, where we cut through the noise and explore the realities of today’s agency and business world. No fluff, no jargon—just fearless conversations. In this insightful episode, Rebecca and Steve tackle a critical issue in the agency landscape: the vanishing act of strategists from agency networks—and the consequences of their absence. As quality declines and...

In this podcast episode of Subject to Approval, we dive into a common and frustrating refrain heard across agencies: "You used to give us extra stuff. Now you just give us what we ask for." We unpack what clients really mean when they say agencies aren’t being “proactive” anymore—and why this perception exists even when teams are going above and beyond. The episode tackles emotional reactivity, in...

In this episode, we dive headfirst into one of the hottest (and most misunderstood) topics in today’s agency world: Growth . It’s the pressure point many leaders are wrestling with, but the conversation around it is often outdated, oversimplified, or just plain wrong. Together, we unpack: Why growth can’t sit in a silo anymore The old “hunter vs. gardener” mindset (and why it’s time to evolve) How...

Welcome to Subject to Approval , the podcast where we dive into the chaos, challenges, and curveballs of today’s business and agency world — straight-talking conversations about what’s breaking and what’s working right now. In this episode, your hosts Becca and Steve unpack one of the most pressing topics affecting agencies across the globe: the juniorisation of talent . What does it mean when mor...