The Overthinkers

A lot of people have a bit more free time, or at least the chance to think about other things to do on the side. This week, we discuss why we think the fact the internet is already filled with opinions doesn't mean you shouldn't be more vocal about yours - especially if you're a strategist! And we take this as a chance to share a little bit more about our story and how we decided to record this po...

This week we bring special guest and digital transformation expert Ana Milicevic to discuss whether ad agencies may or may not be the place to look for digital transformation services. During this extended episode, we also touched on what kind of businesses were harder to transform, if we could see some big differences in capabilities across regions, and even whether it was still right to talk abo...

Rob Campbell recently made the provocation that he "would rather understand the culture of a category than know the behaviours of the category". This week, Rachel and Shann discussed how much they agreed (or disagreed) with that statement. Is there really such a hierarchy in the kind of insight we use? Are creative and media planners impacted the same? And is the role of planning meant to be so ce...

A few weeks into the crisis, brands have started responding en force. While marketers are all walking a fine line, are they going too far, or landing on the so obvious they become trite and undifferentiated? And are they cutting budgets with a machete when they should be cutting with a scalpel?

There's hardly anything more satisfying than bitching about awards - and Cannes in particular. But as Cannes is being cancelled and the industry is now being given what so many wished for, are there reasons to lament the absence of our top award show for the year?

This week we step a little bit outside of the COVID19 grind, with Rachel and Shann discussing how a strategy team can improve its relationship with other specialists, from account to creative. They talk about the importance of empathy to understand others' perspective, the fine line between providing direction and directing others, and some advice on how to handle issues when things get personal.

This week we are joined by special guest Rosie Yakob, co-founder of Genius Steals, to talk about the likely impact of the COVID crisis on our industry and our jobs. A chance to think of the coming months and beyond, from new ways of working to the stressful reckoning of a slowdown, and even some hopes for a bright future.

A week into confinement in New York, Rachel and Shann discuss how their job as advertising strategists has been impacted so far, between client questions, big brand problems to answer and personal realities of working from home. This was also the first recording from a distance, so please excuse us for some of the sound mishaps, and the slight delay in getting this episode live. Take care and stay...

Most of us walk into advertising careers with very little training in soft skills. Considering how important these can be in corporate environment, what should we be taught early on, but aren't?

This week we take a listener question from Ashwin, who as a creative asked us if it was possible to switch careers to strategy. In this episode we discuss our own journeys (Rachel coming from creative, Shann from account), the requirements to make the switch, but also the limits one has to consider. And if you are able to combine skills, it may be a good idea to make that your superpower?

This week we have a special (and longer) episode with two of our favorite people, Mark Pollard and Tom Goodwin, discussing our respective experiences as introverts in an industry where collaboration is essential.

This week we discussed what in our eyes defines good talents, often looking for traits that make them interesting both as a strategist but also as a person. But the onus is also on us to not only find them, but more importantly attract them. With the explosion of professional social networks it's become increasingly easy to spot some of the more visible ones, but what can we do ourselves to burst...

Personalisation has become the name of the game in most marketing boardrooms, often discussed as the inevitable future paradigm of our industry. But as with every shiny new toys, it's never a bad idea to ask ourselves how far can we go, but also how far should we go?

Today we're joined by the awesome Mark Pollard, guru of Sweathead and inspiration to many strategists in our industry, to discuss the age old question whether strategists should come up with creative ideas themselves. In it, we explore what is an idea, why strategy is inherently creative, but also the boundaries we should keep in mind when engaging with creatives and their responsibility to carry...

Agencies are often said to have lost some of their edge, stuck between forever pitches and increasingly powerful media partners. In their effort to avoid hurting anybody, it can sometimes be difficult for them to express sharp opinions publicly, and by extension difficult for their employees - especially the contrarian ones. Is it possible for them to retain that edge and can we, as employees, pla...

Plenty of successful advertising professionals do not have academic marketing training. But while studying it is clearly not compulsory in order do well, are there good reasons to get a college degree for it? Rachel and Shann discuss their own experience and whether it's right to consider academic studies as dispensable.

The lack of fulfilment at work is one of the most common complaints we hear from strategists. Reflecting on our own experience as well as many of the stories (and recommendations) we have heard over the years, we ask ourselves what steps one can take when fulfilment becomes a source of intense dissatisfaction. And yes, whether it can really be achieved...

As the new year begins, many of you will be thinking about life changes, so we're starting with a light topic for those of you that are thinking of moving to (or away from!) New York. Armed with experiences spanning across multiple countries and states, Rachel and Shann give you their honest opinion on whether the city that never sleeps is a good place to be as a marketing strategist. It's also a...

With Nike recently pulling out, some brands are asking themselves (again) whether Amazon is the right place for them. Despite the e-commerce giant's prowess, the reality is that it's not always easy to deliver the desired experience, and Amazon themselves tend to compete directly with the very brands they want to attract. So, friend or foe?

A lot of advertisers are being celebrated for their unorthodox stunts, whether Burger King going after McDonald's, or very recently Aviation Gin laughing in Peloton's face. Is this something we should celebrate, or are we just judging within our own ad bubble?

Some planners like to trust their instinct and look for validations, others tend to trust the data first and then look for strategies to build on it. And since it's not really a dichotomy, many do a bit of both depending on the situation. This week, we explore the value in each approach and whether there might be different leanings towards validation or inspiration depending on different types of...

t's notorious there aren't a lot of people over the age of 45 in advertising agencies outside of management. Why is this the case? Is it really an inevitable ageist truth? Aren't we missing out as an industry? Rachel and Shann discuss their experience and point of view, well aware that their own clock might be ticking.

This week we're discussing a listener question, and explore what's next in your career as a strategist if your goal isn't necessarily to become head of department, and what other professional lives there could be for you out there.

This week Rachel and Shann discuss one of the most heated (but also hated) topics in marketing circles: the need (or lack thereof) for a brand to serve a higher purpose. And while the answer might not be as black and white as some would hope, this episode explores the potential, but also the limits, of what many marketers have taken for a new paradigm.

This week we discuss what it takes to grow into your career as a strategist, a question asked by one of our listeners, Meghan Sheperd. We cover the different stages of your career, the importance of thinking horizontally, and share some of our experiences growing up as strategists ourselves.