On Strategy Showcase Live from Toronto: Rise of the Independents
13 snips
Mar 9, 2025 Featuring Sean McDonald, a strategy leader at Rethink, Heather Segal, CSO at Zulu Alpha Kilo, Tom Kenny from Courage, and Jay Chaney of Broken Heart Love Affair, the discussion dives into the rise of independent agencies. They explore the power of storytelling in advertising, the unique culture within indie firms, and the strategic identity that drives innovation. Insights on fostering strong client relationships, the evolution of agency dynamics, and the future of advertising highlight the creative potential found in independence.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Canadian Strategy
- Canadian strategy is immature because Canada is a spillover market for U.S. brands.
- Strategists often execute existing campaigns, limiting their development of original strategies.
Scrappy Strategists
- Canadian strategists are scrappy due to limited budgets, fostering ingenuity.
- This scrappiness, focusing on impactful ideas within constraints, is a key strength.
Leaving Taxi
- Sean McDonald left Taxi, a creatively strong agency, after its acquisition by WPP.
- He felt big networks treat human capital disposably, prioritizing revenue over agency vision.