The Imposterous

Greg Hahn, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Mischief@No Fixed Address, shares insights from his impressive career, previously leading BBDO NY to multiple accolades. He dives into the importance of building authentic relationships over transactional networking. Hahn discusses fostering trust in client relations through collaboration and bold ideas, like a unique pizza promotion. He also tackles the challenges of imposter syndrome and advocates for a playful, mischievous approach to advertising, exemplified by an innovative Super Bowl campaign.

Sir John Hegarty, awarded a Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to advertising and Creative industries, Founder, Creative Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) and The Garage Soho, now adds to his title, ‘The Imposterous First Birthday Edition Season Two Finale and Episode 50 Guest’. It’s a lot. Welcome to the big time  SJH.John Hegarty has been central to the global advertising scene over six decades working with brands such as Levi's, Audi, Boddingtons, Lynx, British Airways and Johnnie Walker. He was a founding partner of Saatchi and Saatchi in 1970.  He founded Bartle Bogle Hegarty in 1982 with John Bartle and Nigel Bogle. The Agency now has offices in London, New York, Singapore, Stockholm, Shanghai, Mumbai and Los Angeles. John’s creative awards are numerous. He has been given the D&AD President's Award for outstanding achievement and in 2014 was admitted to the US AAF Hall of Fame. John was knighted in 2007 and was the recipient of the first Lion of St Mark award at the Cannes Festival of Creativity in 2011. John wrote his first book ‘Hegarty on Advertising – Turning Intelligence into Magic’ in 2011 and his book "Hegarty on Creativity - there are no rules" was published in 2014. In 2014 John Co-founded The Garage Soho, an early stage investor company that believes in building brands, not just businesses. John has just launched a new online 8-week course, entitled The Business of Creativity, aimed to equip people with tangible tools to help win through the application of creativity.

Dan Nelken is a Creative’s Creative. Saying this exposes the fact we haven’t read Dan’s book, ‘A Self-Help Guide for Copywriters’. If we had we would have written something far more original and spent a lot less time sweating the unavoidable mediocrity of it. Anyway, Dan Nelken is an active advertising creative who works on the world's biggest brands and up-and-coming start-ups. His work has appeared in award shows nationally, internationally, and on his mother's fridge. He's spent many years winging the creative process and is now dedicating his life to understanding it, so he can help creative companies and creative people think faster and healthier (and that includes himself). His weekly newsletter hits 6000 Creatives’ inboxes and is saving a bunch of us from feeling totally lost for words and confidence. His online learning course, ‘Writing Under Pressure’ is proving the difference between - ‘the client wants more options and the client can’t pick a favourite’ - Matt Cascarino CCO, FARM.Early in this episode we meet Alan - a 6 year old pant’s wetter and the ding-dong voice in Dan Nelken’s head. According to Imposterous illustrator Camilo Suarez (@brostalobo) this is what Alan looks like.theimposterous.com/dan_nelken

Here we are, back with the second installment of SAW IT. AM IT. A series of conversations hosted by Shannon Crowe featuring some of the brilliant creative leaders Shannon met at Cannes Lions SEE IT BE IT program in 2017. Today’s guest is Lizi Hamer.The Drum named Lizi as one of the world's most creative women, Cannes Lions selected her in the top 15 female creative directors globally, she co-Authored Creative Super Powers, Co-founded SisuGirls, and continues to build the SheSays Community. Lizi earns attention through her StoryHunting techniques, a powerful network of collaborators, novel thinking and a belief that creativity can change the world.From carting half a tonne of prawns into the desert to re-launch a beer and designing the first Lego character with ears to challenging masculinity in Australia and getting 500,000 people in Asia to touch music, Lizi’s creativity is as contagious as it is impactful.Her campaigns have brought a blind man’s world to life, changed law, and won awards for impact, storytelling, and craft, leading Lizi to be labeled as one of the most creative Women in the World. 

Welcome to the first episode of SAW IT. AM IT. A series of conversations hosted by Shannon Crowe featuring some of the wonderful creative leaders Shannon met at Cannes Lions SEE IT BE IT program in 2017. Today’s guest is Maria Milusheva.Maria is Creative Director & Partner at Noble Graphics. Working in advertising since 2005 (17 years and counting!) Maria joins us on The Imposterous as she prepares to head off on maternity leave. We’re so thankful to be talking to Maria today. For the past 12 years Maria has been developing ideas for some of the biggest beer brands. Her favorite business idea is turning a small local brand into No1 beer in Bulgaria, all without a single shot of male friendship or anyone saying ‘cheers’. Quite a feat huh!Zooming in from Bulgaria, one of the oldest countries in Europe and the only European country that hasn't changed its name since the year it was established, Maria reminds us Bulgaria ranks first in the world in terms of women's participation in the communication and information technology sector. BUT when it comes to personal life, no official statistics are being gathered and released in Bulgaria about violence against women. One of the many contradictions and challenges that keeps Maria fighting the good fight for women in advertising and all the women of Bulgaria.

In his uniquely brilliant laconic style, a way of speaking and thinking that we’ve quickly come to love here at The Imposterous Alvin says, “It feels like forever, but I am still new at this job. I've been ECD for some years now and I feel I need another 200 more to fully understand what the heck I am doing. I like the work, can't say I love the job. Been working on an array of Brands from Telco to Paint, from Insurance to Cable TV. I’ve had experience doing work for Banks, Tourism, Milk, Herbal Medicine, Automobile, and must I list it all here? Also started a social collective called Kita Kawan Mah to play a role in addressing the rise of racism in this country by promoting inter-racial friendship and dialogue. Apart from that, there is also a Project I See, an annual event where we harness the power of the arts community to help the public understand obscure, misunderstood or abused communities like the migrant, refugee and indigenous peoples. We started this in 2013. In all the work that I try to do, stripping away all the rocket science, I try to speak to the heart. I've never really believed in Brands speaking to Target Market. It's always heart to heart. Or person to person. Communication is personal. And while I believe in all that, I have to admit it's hardly ever easy to get to that level. We've had our hits and misses. More misses than hits to be honest. But still, it's a good place to start. And if we're consistent in this pursuit, we'll get there one day. While I am alive, hopefully.”

Anouk Jans creates creative concepts, brand identities, campaigns, social media strategies and digital content to help define, establish and build international love brands that shape culture. Driven by a pioneering spirit, Anouk gives brands an opportunity to rethink marketing by creating dynamic campaigns for today’s audience, with stories about purpose, values and human nature. At The Imposterous Head Office Anouk Jans’ name has featured at pretty much every all-staff meeting and we’ve been in a particular hurry to talk to her since the launch of Kill Your Darlings - A documentary about the world of modern advertising and the talent defining it. A story seen through the wide-open eyes of Anouk, a young Creative Director looking for answers, positive change and a brighter future for herself and everyone that loves the business of creativity. The documentary  stars and follows the youngest Creative Director in Germany as she ponders her future in the industry and travels the world interviewing industry legends such as Scott Galloway, Cindy Gallop, Fernando Machado, Rob Reilly, and many more. As Anouk puts it, “When I first started in this industry, I didn’t question anything – not the structures, not the hierarchies, or the working hours. However, as the years passed, I saw the creatives around me suffer and become cynical about the industry, including myself.” It was incredible to talk to Anouk and to produce this episode, it’s a conversation we’re sure will stay with us for a long time to come.  

David Smith is a creative thinker of international standing. Founded Blood UTD in 2016 - an agency that began life with a focus on doing the best work in the space of sport and fitness. But has since evolved to focus on good companies - by good, we mean companies that are focused on generating profit in a manner that is fair and sustainable. This is not about strident wokeness or ardent moralising, but rather the belief that profit and decency don't need to be divergent forces, that there is a path forward where you can make money without messing things up. Joining David on this episode of The Imposterous is Regina Stoombergin and Julia Spencer aka M.I.A aka Mums in Ads. MIA who is still the most exclusive club in advertising! But the good news is they want you! All you need to do is1. Be a mum2. Be in the industry and3. Find the bloody time to squeeze one more thing in.Mums In Ads will be on the rooftop at the Corner Hotel in Richmond on Thursday 29 September from 6pm. So if you’re in Melbourne, an Adland mum of whatever sort (hey, we don’t discriminate), join them for a drink. 

You know it’s a good day when Natalie Lam joins us on The Imposterous. Natalie is Chief Creative Officer, Publicis Groupe Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. She’s responsible for overseeing the creative output of more than 60 agency brands including Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, Publicis, Razorfish, Sapient, Digitas with integrated creative, data, media and tech offerings in some of the world’s most dynamic markets. With her roots in design, a strong digital background and being a hopeless romantic for big ideas, Natalie advocates for strategic creative work that brings optimism, joy and beauty to the world, in truly media-agnostic ways to help build the world’s biggest brands. Her 20+ year career included senior creative leadership positions in Google’s Art, Copy and Code, R/GA, Ogilvy and McCann World Group in NYC, with a break from advertising to start an electronic music and DJ school, The Foxgrove, that was featured in Rolling Stone. Natalie was selected for AdWeek’s Creative 100 ranking in 2022, as an “agency leader defining a new era.” Her work for global innovative brands such as Nike+, Spotify and Mercedes-Benz won top global awards including a Cannes Grand Prix, D&AD Black Pencil, and ADC Black Cube.  She is a frequent jury president and judge at global and regional awards shows such as Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, ADC, LIA, and Spikes. How we managed to convince Natalie to join us on The Imposterous remains a mystery. We’re very glad she did though!

Much loved Australian television and radio host, and passionate mental fitness advocate Gus Worland founded Gotcha4Life in 2017, following the success of the ABC series Man Up and losing a very close friend and life mentor to suicide, as he realised he had the ability and networks to make a real difference. Gus simply does not accept the alarming statistics surrounding suicide in Australia and that eight people take their life every day. Gotcha4Life believes in the power of prevention through connection and champions the idea of proactively building mental fitness and the resilience required to deal better with the challenges that life throws at us. Gus is a big believer in starting meaningful conversations by developing better social and emotional connections with mates, families, colleagues and community.To drive real change, Gotcha4Life funds educational workshops and innovative training programs throughout Australia that build mental fitness in individuals, organisations and communities to activate strong, open and binding relationships.