Love, Hate, Create

Grace Francis is the global chief creative and design officer at WongDoody, a creative experience agency with studios in the US, Europe and Asia. Previously Grace held roles at Droga5 and Grey. They guest lecture at University of the Arts London and Hyper Island.In this episode, we explore how seeing an Evian ad about saving a local lido inspired their to start a career in advertising and having to mask their working class background to achieve success. We also dive into their experiences of building allyship with marginalised people in the industry, commercial creativity as a force for good and the need to draw firmer boundaries between work and home. Where to find Grace: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graciefrancis/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amibka Pai is the Chief Strategy Officer at Mekanism (Chicago), mom of two, writing about the intersection of motherhood, mental health, equity, and business. In this episode, we explore Ambika’s experience creating breakthrough work on Frida Mom Breastcare, which involved getting lactating breasts on TV by working with NBC to rethink their policies. She also sheds light on being on the receiving end of sexism and racism in the industry. Ambika dives into her love for the restless, curious people that advertising attracts, which leads to friendships that transcend far beyond work. Her hate for the work culture and do-or-die mentality of advertising. And her urge to create systems that prioritise holistic wellness of the advertising workforce. Where to find Ambika:Corner Office Breakdowns newsletterLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambikagpai/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kwame is a creative executive and entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling, design, innovation and purpose. Co-Founder at Kin, a creative company designed to advance social change through culture for brands including Mailchimp, Uber, Delta Air Lines and Ben & Jerry's.In this episode, we explore the highs and lows of Kwame’s entrepreneurial journey, as well as his operating principles for creating a more diverse and equitable creative sector. We also dive into how the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter Movement drove a shift in priorities for his agency, Kin. He also shares his view on purpose, community and why brands have to stand for more than just selling products. Where to find Kwame:Agency: https://www.workwithkin.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kthayford/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.