Awaiting Approval

In this engaging conversation, Jane Cook, a seasoned Product Experience Design Leader with experience at Visa Europe and Hasbro, shares her creative journey from designing Barbie dolls to leading teams in diverse industries. She discusses the importance of mentorship over mere pixels, and how traditional practices like scribbling on walls fuel her creativity. The dialogue covers the evolution of design operations, the significance of inclusivity, and the pressures of leadership. Jane emphasizes a people-first approach and the need to nurture creativity within a demanding system.

Bill Snebold – Creative Director & Entertainment Industry Specialist (Former design leader at Paramount Pictures and Disney; clients include Disney, The CW Network, and PBS)From specifying typographic details for actor resumés in a Hollywood attic to designing marketing materials for Titanic and Mission: Impossible, Bill Snebold has been at the forefront of media innovation.In this episode, Bill traces a career that began with X‑Acto knives and paste‑up boards and evolved into award‑winning digital campaigns, websites, and packaging for some of Hollywood’s biggest franchises. He reveals how an insatiable curiosity led him to pioneer design in Flash, the early web, iPhone apps, and now AI - while keeping storytelling and client goals as his true north.Join us for behind‑the‑scenes lessons on leaping from analog to digital, designing under pressure, giving clients what they really want, and accepting that even the brightest ideas sometimes end up on the cutting‑room floor.You can connect with Bill on LinkedIn hereThis is Awaiting Approval. A podcast about the messy, human side of creative leadership.Hosted by Adam Jennings - a creative leader with three decades of experience leading teams and projects for global brands including Microsoft, Salesforce, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Ancestry, Dolby, BBC and many more - this show features honest, unscripted conversations with the leaders shaping design, storytelling, and innovation today.These are the conversations you don’t hear in keynotes. The ones about imposter syndrome, trust, failure, confidence, and finding your voice as a leader.Whether you’re just stepping into creative leadership or you’ve been at it for years, Awaiting Approval is your place to feel seen, challenged, and encouraged.Awaiting Approval is a Cordial Fox production.Hosted by Adam JenningsProduced by Adam Jennings & Jasmin Egner© Cordial Fox Limited, 2025.Ready to level up your leadership with real, honest support?Join the next cohort of Supercharged Creative Leaders - my flagship four-week programme for creative leaders who want clarity, confidence, and a community that gets it.✅ Small groups (just 6 per cohort)✅ Weekly live sessions with me and your cohort✅ Async access to me and your cohort via a private Slack community✅ Invitation to join my alumni community once you’ve completed the programme.Previous attendees have gone on to win major pitches, land new roles, get promoted and step into leadership with more purpose and presence.🚀 Learn more and apply here Get full access to Grow With Adam Jennings at growwithadamjennings.substack.com/subscribe

Rashmi Lopez, a dynamic Creative Director and Founder, has navigated diverse industries from gaming to healthcare. She candidly shares her journey through multiple layoffs and emphasizes the importance of community over titles. Rashmi champions messy creativity, advocating for sketchbooks that embrace spontaneity. She dives into the significance of designing with purpose, the balance between creativity and business, and how we're redefining leadership in the age of AI, encouraging a hopeful return to storytelling and connection.

Dave Zaboski, a former Disney animator behind classics like The Lion King, shares his artistic journey and insights on creative leadership. He discusses the importance of emotional intelligence and collaboration, inspired by Disney’s 'plussing' concept. Zaboski emphasizes that genuine care fosters successful creative outcomes and warns against the perils of AI overshadowing human intention in art. He reflects on leaving Disney for a deeper calling, highlighting how personal values influence creative paths and relationships.

Laura Baker - Managing Director at Fearless (Founding member of FIFTY, ex-industrial designer)From Post-It notes in the dark to leading one of the most respected design consultancies in the UK, Laura Baker’s path into leadership was anything but planned.In this episode, Laura shares how an unexpected client decision thrust her into leadership, how a gut-punch moment around burnout reshaped how she leads, and why she believes legacy is about leaving things better than you found them. We talk about building trust, reframing value when you’re no longer “doing the work,” and the quiet power of step-by-step leadership. Laura also offers a thoughtful take on where the creative industry is heading, why she’s not scared of AI, and the real skills designers should be doubling down on right now.You can connect with Laura on LinkedIn hereThis is Awaiting Approval. A podcast about the messy, human side of creative leadership.Hosted by Adam Jennings - a creative director with three decades of experience leading teams and projects for global brands including Microsoft, Salesforce, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Ancestry, Dolby, BBC and many more - this show features honest, unscripted conversations with the leaders shaping design, storytelling, and innovation today.These are the conversations you don’t hear in keynotes. The ones about imposter syndrome, trust, failure, confidence, and finding your voice as a leader.Whether you’re just stepping into creative leadership or you’ve been at it for years, Awaiting Approval is your place to feel seen, challenged, and encouraged.Awaiting Approval is a Cordial Fox production.Hosted by Adam JenningsProduced by Adam Jennings & Jasmin Egner© Cordial Fox Limited, 2025.Ready to level up your leadership with real, honest support?Join the next cohort of Supercharged Creative Leaders - my flagship four-week programme for creative leaders who want clarity, confidence, and a community that gets it.✅ Small groups (just 6 per cohort)✅ Weekly live sessions with me and your cohort✅ Async access to me and your cohort via a private Slack community✅ Invitation to join my alumni community once you’ve completed the programme.Previous attendees have gone on to win major pitches, land new roles, get promoted and step into leadership with more purpose and presence.🚀 Learn more and apply here Get full access to Grow With Adam Jennings at growwithadamjennings.substack.com/subscribe

Stan Reimgen, co-founder of Big and Big Future, specializes in sustainable innovation, with a background at Commerzbank and Zalando. He shares his transformative journey from business to design, emphasizing the importance of creativity in tackling climate issues. The conversation highlights the need for experimentation in leadership and aligning personal values with work, especially in sustainability. Stan also reflects on the challenges of parenthood and the impact of AI on design, calling for a balance between technology and creative artistry.

Charmaine Wyland, a user-focused design leader with experience at major brands like Gumtree and Expedia, shares her unconventional career path and insights on creative leadership. She discusses the importance of tactile creativity through traditional writing methods and drawing inspiration from the real world. Charmaine offers valuable lessons on navigating leadership changes and aligning with company culture during transformations. Her passion for team dynamics and empathy in the workplace highlights how leaders can thrive in a rapidly changing creative environment.

In this engaging discussion, Kevin Frank, a creative leader with three decades of experience at iconic brands like Apple and LinkedIn, shares his insights on leadership in the creative field. He emphasizes that relationships matter more than awards and reveals how a pivotal moment at Apple reshaped his creative direction. Kevin also discusses his new book, 'Raising Creative Teams,' highlighting the importance of helping others shine in a supportive culture. Additionally, he reflects on the balance between creativity and perfectionism through personal anecdotes.

For the last 30 years, I’ve led creative teams across every discipline.One thing’s always been true - the most interesting conversations happen with creative people.So I started recording them.Awaiting Approval is a podcast about the messy, human side of creative leadership.And Season One is packed with the kinds of guests I wish I’d had access to when I was starting out.From Apple, Microsoft, Paramount, LinkedIn, and more - these are raw, honest, unscripted conversations about leading with creativity, integrity, and courage.💥 Season One guests include:Kevin Frank | Laura Baker | Dave Zaboski | Kevin Parry | Rashmi Lopez | Roger Rohatgi | Stan Reimgen | Lou Maxon | Bill Snebold | Jane Cook | Charmaine Wyland | Dr Chris Arnold | Jason Giles👇 Watch the trailer🔔 Follow the podcast🎧 First episode drops this weekI’m proud of this line-up - and so grateful to every guest for showing up with honesty, humour and heart. And a special thank you to my partner Jasmin for all her work and support. Get full access to Grow With Adam Jennings at growwithadamjennings.substack.com/subscribe

This is a new podcast where I sit down with seasoned leaders from across the creative industries to talk honestly about the work, the lessons, and the leadership moments that shaped them.The episodes are real, unfiltered, and always end with the same simple question.How each guest interprets that question? That’s up to them!And you’ll need to subscribe to find out what the question is.This trailer gives you a taste of what’s to come.I hope you’ll subscribe and join me.- Adam Get full access to Grow With Adam Jennings at growwithadamjennings.substack.com/subscribe