The Nowhere Office

My Working Life: Rory Sutherland

Feb 24, 2025
Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman of Ogilvy, shares insights from his extensive advertising career, blending behavioral science with marketing strategies. He discusses the challenges of AI adoption and the importance of curiosity in creativity. Rory explores the evolution of fame in advertising, using Febreze as a case study to illustrate consumer behavior. He critiques GDP as a measure of success and emphasizes the need for economic reform to support younger generations. Lastly, he highlights the relationship between geopolitics and value creation, advocating for a psychology-based approach.
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INSIGHT

Curiosity Is The Core Skill

  • Rory Sutherland argues curiosity is essential to effective advertising and creativity.
  • He compares advertising creativity to monetising ADHD and being an extensive browser across fields.
ANECDOTE

Joining Ogilvy Felt Like A Proving Ground

  • Rory recounts joining Ogilvy & Mather Direct as a graduate and finding it livelier than Cambridge.
  • He credits senior mentors and the direct marketing culture for shaping his career path.
INSIGHT

Direct Marketing Taught Interactivity

  • Direct marketing used addressable media and databases to test and measure customer responses granularly.
  • Rory highlights its advantage for understanding interactive advertising ahead of the internet.
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