How does the power of asking good questions shape one’s approach to creativity and problem-solving?

On this week’s episode, we welcome John C Jay, the Creative Chairman at Uniqlo, to hear about his humble beginnings as an Asian immigrant to the United States, how he found his way to pursue creativity as his calling, and the philosophies behind his creativity in work and life. He emphasizes that all problems exist within context and how this ties in with the importance of asking good questions. He also talks about how he overcame lack of experience throughout his career, and the mentality that he has to continue to thrive to this day.

John C Jay serves as President of Global Creative for Uniqlo and its parent company, Fast Retailing, living and working in Tokyo, Portland, and NYC. Jay has a diverse creative career across disciplines and cultures. He started in journalism, then lifestyle/ fashion marketing as Creative Director for Bloomingdales, followed by 21 years at the iconic creative agency Wieden + Kennedy. There, Jay was a partner and Global Creative Director. During this time, Jay opened the agency's offices in Tokyo and Shanghai. Living in Tokyo, Jay launched Uniqlo's first brand campaign in 1999. Years later, Jay joined Uniqlo's Founder and Chairman, Tadashi Yanai, in 2014 to help the brand evolve into a truly global brand of leadership and influence. Jay was inducted into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame and named as one of the top ten "Most influential art directors in the past 50 Years" by Graphic Design USA magazine.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro
00:02:34 Is creativity nature or nurture?
00:05:03 Knowing nothing drives curiosity
00:06:48 Critical thinking is elusive
00:07:50 Business problems exist in context
00:08:40 The question is not what is the answer, but what is the question
00:13:35 Remake portfolios for each life opportunity
00:15:02 Unlearning and Relearning to stay relevant
00:18:24 John C Jay’s secret weapon to outshine the smarter, richer, and more talented
00:18:54 Three takeaways

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