Fearless Creative Leadership

"The Focused Leader".    Marcel Marcondes is the U.S. Chief Marketing Officer for Anheuser-Busch. He wants to make a difference. He’s clear about what that looks like. And he’s deliberate about bringing others into that journey.

"The Pioneer".  This is my conversation with Trey Laird - the founder of Laird + Partners. His company works with many of the world’s most iconic fashion, beauty, and luxury, brands. Trey is a pioneer. And, as you’ll hear, he steps in to possibility.

"The Creative Leader". My guest in this episode is one of the most famous leaders the creative industries have ever known.  He’s also one of the most controversial and most polarizing.  Sir Martin Sorrell has been called many things in the 34 years since he founded WPP. Some people have described him to me as the most supportive and insightful leader they’ve ever worked for.  Others have been much less charitable. Much less. I wanted to try to gain some insight into the complexities of a leader who drives so much opinion. To better understand how he sees himself.  What I learned surprised me.

"The Creative Leader". A 15 minute edited highlight of our full-length conversation. My guest in this episode is one of the most famous leaders the creative industries have ever known.  He’s also one of the most controversial and most polarizing. Sir Martin Sorrell has been called many things in the 34 years since he founded WPP. Some people have described him to me as the most supportive and insightful leader they’ve ever worked for. Others have been much less charitable. Much less. I wanted to try to gain some insight into the complexities of a leader who drives so much opinion. To better understand how he sees himself. What I learned surprised me.

"The Partners - Revisited". This is the 100th episode of ‘Fearless Creative Leadership’. So what stands out 100 episodes in?  What makes fearless creative leaders successful? If you’ve listened to even a few of these conversations you’ll know there are many themes. But, two show up over and over again. The best leaders are hopeful. And the best leaders listen.  And that’s a real change in how the role of leadership has been defined for the last fifty years.   In this episode, I sit down with my guests from Episode 1 - Justin Stefano and Philippe von Borries, the founders of Refinery29 - about what they've learned in the two years since our first conversation.  Note: We talk about Zappos management structure and philosophy. It's called Holocracy. 

"The People Leader." Emmanuel Andre is the Chief Talent Officer of Publicis Groupe. They own iconic companies such as Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Fallon, and Leo Burnett. Collectively, Publicis employs 80,000 people and are working to change themselves from being a traditional holding company to a unifying platform. Emmanuel is pragmatic, philosophical and an artist. His decisions affect the lives of many people every day. This episode is called, “The People Leader."

"The People Leader."  A 15 minute edited highlight of our full-length conversation. Emmanuel Andre is the Chief Talent Officer of Publicis Groupe. They own iconic companies such as Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Fallon, and Leo Burnett. Collectively, Publicis employs 80,000 people and are working to change themselves from being a traditional holding company to a unifying platform. Emmanuel is pragmatic, philosophical and an artist. His decisions affect the lives of many people every day. This episode is called, “The People Leader."

"The Believer". Ruth Browne is the CEO of the Ronald McDonald House in New York. And she is surrounded by death. This Ronald McDonald House on the upper east side of Manhattan, is built to accommodate 95 families living there at any one time. And the reason that the overwhelming majority of those families are there? They have a child who is being treated for cancer. As Ruth describes it, “our primary mission is cancer.” Leading this kind of organization, in which the outcome of the work is life and death, it would be easy to be afraid. Of your own judgement. Of the consequences of decisions. Of the accuracy of the information on which you based the decisions. And the talent of the staff on whom you depend to carry out those decisions. And yet, Ruth Browne is not afraid. She makes decisions quickly. And laughs easily. This episode is called, “The Believer”.

"The Believer". A 15 minute edited highlight of our full-length conversation. Ruth Browne is the CEO of the Ronald McDonald House in New York. And she is surrounded by death. This Ronald McDonald House on the upper east side of Manhattan, is built to accommodate 95 families living there at any one time. And the reason that the overwhelming majority of those families are there? They have a child who is being treated for cancer. As Ruth describes it, “our primary mission is cancer.” Leading this kind of organization, in which the outcome of the work is life and death, it would be easy to be afraid. Of your own judgement. Of the consequences of decisions. Of the accuracy of the information on which you based the decisions. And the talent of the staff on whom you depend to carry out those decisions. And yet, Ruth Browne is not afraid. She makes decisions quickly. And laughs easily. This episode is called, “The Believer”.

"The Courageous Conversationalist".  Pam Kaufman is the President of Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products. Her job is to lead worldwide licensing and merchandising for Viacom Media Networks and Paramount Pictures. Pam’s job is to expand the relationships that Viacom and Nickelodeon have with their audiences. And she does that by building personal relationships in every part of her work. She also believes in telling the people that work for her what they need to know to get better - and doing that in real time. From a leadership perspective, that makes her rare. This episode is called, “The Courageous Conversationalist”.