Fearless Creative Leadership

Edited highlights of our full conversation. What makes great happen? Robert Brunner was the Director of Industrial Design for Apple, a Partner at Pentagram and the Chief Designer of Beats by Dr. Dre, before becoming the Founder of  Ammunition . They describe themselves as a design studio dedicated to bringing products and services that matter to market. He was named one of Fast Company's "Most Cre...

How do your people know you're here for them? Yves Briantais is the VP of Marketing Asia-Pacific for Colgate-Palmolive . We recorded this interview at the end of a long week at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. There are a number of areas that I could have focused on for this introduction. But the one I want to highlight is an issue that I hear about from so many leaders today. Where they l...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. How do your people know you're here for them? Yves Briantais is the VP of Marketing Asia-Pacific for Colgate-Palmolive . We recorded this interview at the end of a long week at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. There are a number of areas that I could have focused on for this introduction. But the one I want to highlight is an issue that I hear ab...

How much of your real self are you showing? DJ Jackson is the Vice President of Brand at  EA Sports . They're a division of Electronic Arts and one of the world's largest developers and publishers of sports video games. Their slogan, "If it's in the game, it's in the game," has become a reference point for judging the authenticity of their games. Leading a business that exists in the digital world...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. How much of your real self are you showing? DJ Jackson is the Vice President of Brand at EA Sports . They're a division of Electronic Arts and one of the world's largest developers and publishers of sports video games. Their slogan, "If it's in the game, it's in the game," has become a reference point for judging the authenticity of their games. Leading...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. How much of your real self are you showing? DJ Jackson is the Vice President of Brand at  EA Sports . They're a division of Electronic Arts and one of the world's largest developers and publishers of sports video games. Their slogan, "If it's in the game, it's in the game," has become a reference point for judging the authenticity of their games. Leading...

Who is helping you be you? Liz Taylor is the Global Chief Creative Officer at Ogilvy . Everyone has a story. Liz's story, as you'll hear, has a traumatic beginning. She grew up with an abusive father in a home in which there was always a loaded gun. The police were called often. She and her mother and brother and sister would sometimes have to leave in the middle of the night. That kind of start t...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. Who is helping you be you? Liz Taylor is the Global Chief Creative Officer at  Ogilvy . Everyone has a story. Liz's story, as you'll hear, has a traumatic beginning. She grew up with an abusive father in a home in which there was always a loaded gun. The police were called often. She and her mother and brother and sister would sometimes have to leave in...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. Who is helping you be you? Liz Taylor is the Global Chief Creative Officer at Ogilvy . Everyone has a story. Liz's story, as you'll hear, has a traumatic beginning. She grew up with an abusive father in a home in which there was always a loaded gun. The police were called often. She and her mother and brother and sister would sometimes have to leave in t...

How does your leadership make people feel? Ajaz Ahmed is the Founder and CEO of AKQA . They describe themselves as an ideas and innovation company. AKQA employs 6,500 people around the world and receives about 80,000 job applications a year. The most creative and innovative companies in the world thrive when they build environments that their people trust and cultures that absorb new blood of ever...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. How does your leadership make people feel? Ajaz Ahmed is the Founder and CEO of AKQA . They describe themselves as an ideas and innovation company. AKQA employs 6,500 people around the world and receives about 80,000 job applications a year. The most creative and innovative companies in the world thrive when they build environments that their people trus...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. How does your leadership make people feel? Ajaz Ahmed is the Founder and CEO of  AKQA . They describe themselves as an ideas and innovation company. AKQA employs 6,500 people around the world and receives about 80,000 job applications a year. The most creative and innovative companies in the world thrive when they build environments that their people tru...

Do your weaknesses shape you or stop you? James Townsend is the Global CEO of Stagwell Brand X Performance Network and the Global CEO at Assembly . We recorded this conversation in the lobby of the Majestic Hotel during the Cannes Lions Festival. In a week known for its energy, James's own energy stands out. So does his self awareness. The art of leadership is becoming more nuanced every day. Ther...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. Do your weaknesses shape you or stop you? James Townsend is the Global CEO of Stagwell Brand X Performance Network and the Global CEO at Assembly . We recorded this conversation in the lobby of the Majestic Hotel during the Cannes Lions Festival. In a week known for its energy, James's own energy stands out. So does his self awareness. The art of leaders...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. Do your weaknesses shape you or stop you? James Townsend is the Global CEO of Stagwell Brand X Performance Network and the Global CEO at Assembly . We recorded this conversation in the lobby of the Majestic Hotel during the Cannes Lions Festival. In a week known for its energy, James's own energy stands out. So does his self awareness. The art of leaders...

What do you need to know and when do you need to know it? Sir Martin Sorrell first appeared on the show in 2019, and in that conversation, I was struck by his pride in building companies that provide the livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of people. Sir Martin is a polarizing figure. But he is, of course, much more human than his public persona has shown over the years. He is, also, I find, inc...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. What do you need to know and when do you need to know it? Sir Martin Sorrell first appeared on the show in 2019, and in that conversation, I was struck by his pride in building companies that provide the livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of people. Sir Martin is a polarizing figure. But he is, of course, much more human than his public persona has sh...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. What do you need to know and when do you need to know it? Sir Martin Sorrell first appeared on the show in 2019, and in that conversation, I was struck by his pride in building companies that provide the livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of people. Sir Martin is a polarizing figure. But he is, of course, much more human than his public persona has sh...

If you died today, what would you regret? Jon Cook is the Global Chief Executive Officer of VML , the world's largest advertising agency. Jon died last October. As you'll hear, the fact he is still here to have this conversation required a set of circumstances so improbable that they would have strained the credibility of your favorite episodic drama. But the fact he is still here, gives him, and...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. If you died today, what would you regret? Jon Cook is the Global Chief Executive Officer of VML , the world's largest advertising agency. Jon died last October. As you'll hear, the fact he is still here to have this conversation required a set of circumstances so improbable that they would have strained the credibility of your favorite episodic drama. Bu...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. If you died today, what would you regret? Jon Cook is the Global Chief Executive Officer of VML , the world's largest advertising agency. Jon died last October. As you'll hear, the fact he is still here to have this conversation required a set of circumstances so improbable that they would have strained the credibility of your favorite episodic drama. Bu...

How fast are you going? Andréa Mallard is the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer of Pinterest . I interviewed Andréa at Cannes, in the lobby of the Majestic Hotel. Her energy struck me, the moment she arrived. Her perspectives about her life and her leadership have stayed with me, long after we said goodbye. Leadership is a forcing function for the forces of physics. Which direction are you...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. How fast are you going? Andréa Mallard is the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer of Pinterest . I interviewed Andréa at Cannes, in the lobby of the Majestic Hotel. Her energy struck me, the moment she arrived. Her perspectives about her life and her leadership have stayed with me, long after we said goodbye. Leadership is a forcing function for the...

Edited highlights of our full conversation. How fast are you going? Andréa Mallard is the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer of Pinterest . I interviewed Andréa at Cannes, in the lobby of the Majestic Hotel. Her energy struck me, the moment she arrived. Her perspectives about her life and her leadership have stayed with me, long after we said goodbye. Leadership is a forcing function for the...

How do you feel? Tim Mapes is the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for  Delta Airlines .  Delta employs over 90,000 people and puts 4,000 flights into the air every day. As Tim points out, a Delta plane is in the air every second. It is a high-pressure, highly visible job. Behind that job, is a person.  Early in our conversation, it became obvious that Tim is very willing to look at hims...