167. 10 Years of Koto: James Greenfield on Leadership, Growth & Grit

For the final episode of Season Nine, we're joined by James Greenfield, founder and CEO of Koto, the global brand agency celebrating its 10th anniversary.

James reflects on a decade of building one of the most talked-about studios in the industry, from humble beginnings and "recycling problems" to global offices, high-profile clients like Amazon, and a team that now numbers over 180.

We explore how Koto evolved from a scrappy underdog into a creative heavyweight and how James has managed to maintain a startup mentality, champion a people-first culture, and fiercely protect creative standards as the business scaled. He also shares why independence is having a moment, how AI is creating a flood of "automated slop", and why great creativity matters more than ever.

Elsewhere, we touch on the emotional moments behind launching Koto, the leadership lessons learned, and how staying close to the team (and away from perfectionism) keeps the company grounded. There's also time for thoughts on social media fatigue, what makes a strong agency-client relationship, and why—despite a love of good work—he's only raised his voice three times in a decade.

We wrap with some honest wisdom: whether you're running a studio or thinking about starting one, James offers no-nonsense advice on what it really takes.

This season is proudly sponsored by the School of Communication Arts.