Creative Capes

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68 episodes · showing the newest 68

Pentagram's Paula Scher on luck, power, partners, criticism

Nov 12, 2026 1 hr 26 min

We visited Paula Scher at Pentagram’s New York office and talked about luck, power, partners, criticism and why so many designers stop growing. In the episode, you’ll hear: 🟡 How a stranger on a train helped her meet her design hero Seymour Chwast 🟡 What she’d advise designers in their 40s and 50s 🟡 What’s the secret to her best work Ready to create a bigger impact with design? Learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders at Future London Academy: https://fla.wiki/4BWUKU5 00:00 Meet Paula Scher, Pentagram Partner and One of the World's Most Influential Designers 01:34 Inside Pentagram's New York Studio 02:36 Story Behind Pentagram's In-House Kitchen 04:23 How Branding From Graphic Design Differs From Advertising 05:27 The Hidden Story Behind the Citi Logo 07:37 Inside Paula Scher's Typography Book Collection 09:24 Why Paula Scher Leads a Small Design Team 11:13 How Paula Met Her Hero Seymour Chwast 15:30 Typography Has Feeling 17:29 What Makes Some Designers More Successful Than Others 18:52 How a Lost Manuscript Became Paula Scher's Only Children's Book 22:25 How Paula Scher Broke Into the Record Industry 24:48 How One Poster Became the Brand Manual for The Public Theatre 29:10 Where a Creative Leader's Confidence Really Comes From 31:25 Cooking Is an Art 34:31 Is Design Career Success Luck or Hard Work 39:15 How to Win Clients When You Start Your Own Design Studio 43:16 Why Design Communities Are Weaker Than They Used to Be 46:28 Why Owning Your Own Studio Space Builds Confidence 50:04 How Big-Scale Pitches Changed the Design Industry 51:55 What Makes a Visual Identity Last for Decades 53:42 Designing the Iconic Windows Logo 55:31 The Swatch Poster Controversy 58:02 How Paula Scher Handled Public Criticism From Tibor Kalman 01:00:57 How Paula Scher Stays Hands-On as a Senior Creative Leader 01:02:19 The Three Types of Work That Keep Paula Scher Creative 01:04:17 Why Unpaid Projects Give Designers More Creative Control 01:07:04 Why Creative Lea...

Design for Good | Olio Co-Founder Tessa Clarke on food waste, female founders, and measuring social impact

Aug 19, 2026 1 hr 1 min

Most founders wait for the right idea. Tessa Clarke spent years doing exactly that before realising she'd been looking for the wrong thing, she should have been looking for a problem she cared about. Since co-founding Olio in 2015 with Saasha Celestial-One, Tessa has grown the food sharing app to more than 10 million users and an estimated £1.1 billion in social impact, alongside a B2B arm that now redistributes surplus for supermarkets, schools and production companies. Tessa is also a teacher at the Executive Programme at Future London Academy. Learn from her in-person: https://fla.wiki/4wZMcJ5 In this video, you'll learn:▶ Why a two-week WhatsApp group proved the concept before a single line of code was written▶ How Olio's most enthusiastic early users turned out to be the ones with nothing to give, and the third audience she built to close the gap▶ Why Duolingo's streaks would never work for surplus food, and how to test a borrowed mechanic before you copy it▶ How signing one supermarket outgrew everything the consumer app could achieve on its own▶ How to answer a prevention-based question with a promotion-based response, and why female founders get asked them in the first place▶ Why nobody cares about your solution, only whether you understand their problem Chapters:00:00 Meet Tessa Clarke Co-Founder of Olio Solving Food Waste at Scale04:56 Why Tessa Clarke Chose Business Over Charity09:41 Why Purpose-Driven Business Attracts Gen Z Talent14:05 How Olio Started as a WhatsApp Experiment19:05 The Food Waste Heroes Programme That Solved Olio's Supply Problem21:34 How B Corp Status Helped People Understand Olio's Business Model28:37 Why Financial Incentives Backfired for Olio34:44 How Tessa Clarke Raised $50 Million as a Female Founder43:32 What Is Earth Overshoot Day47:00 How Olio Measures Its Social Impact Beyond Profit50:34 Why Olio Pivoted from B2C to B2B56:30 How to Pitch Purpose to Corporate Buyers1:00:25 Tessa Clarke Wants to Replace GDP as Our Success Metric...

Design for Good | Ivo Gormley, GoodGym's Founder on how to design for contribution, not consumption

Jul 27, 2026 1 hr 15 min

Acts of kindness feel good, but they are rarely profitable. Ivo Gormley has spent nearly twenty years proving it's possible while creating an incredible community around helping people.We sat down with him to find out how. Since starting GoodGym in 2007 with a single newspaper run, Ivo has built it into a movement of 25,000+ volunteers across 60+ cities. He's been awarded an OBE and made GoodGym the first-ever charity to win the Sky Zero Footprint Fund Grand Prix. Ivo is also a teacher at the Executive Programme at Future London Academy. Learn from him in-person: https://fla.wiki/3TdVYZlIn this video, you'll learn: ▶ How an £8 suggestion made over a pint became a reliable, recurring source of income ▶ Why he chose to become a charity, not a business, and doesn't regret it ▶ How he built what he needed because no one else did ▶ Why a genuine, acknowledged role in delivering something beats a frictionless experience of receiving it ▶ Why designing for contribution creates more winners than competition 0:00 - Who is Ivo Gormley? GoodGym founder introduction 1:41 - Anthropology, comedy & service design: Ivo's career path 6:03 - The story behind GoodGym: why Ivo started it 9:05 - Quitting his job to go full-time on GoodGym (2013) 12:14 - Group runs & community volunteering: the GoodGym model 14:34 - GoodGym's donation-based business model explained 19:29 - How GoodGym got local councils to invest 24:55 - GoodGym during COVID: volunteering through the pandemic 35:25 - Charity vs social enterprise: why GoodGym chose nonprofit status 44:55 - Design, loneliness & human connection 52:45 - How AI is eroding human identity (the Stack Overflow effect) 1:04:20 - Building a business with AI without losing human connectionSubscribe to our social media channels: Instagram: @futurelondonacademy LinkedIn: Future London Academy futurelondonacademy.co.uk #socialimpact #designforgood #socialimpact #design

Design for Good | Chief Design Officer, Cat Drew, on Turning £1 into £20 Through Design

Jul 16, 2026 1 hr 16 min

How can design create impact at a systems level, across business, government and the planet? Cat Drew has spent a large part of her career answering exactly that question. Chief Design Officer at Design Council, the UK's design body, set up nearly 80 years ago to help rebuild the post-war economy. Cat works at the intersection of design, business, policy and sustainability. Cat is also faculty member of our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4vsrYWRAs In our conversation, we explored how designers can better communicate their value, why sustainability belongs in every designer's toolkit, and what it takes to influence entire systems. What you'll learn: ► How to build design's influence inside a large organisation, and make the business case for it, from Decathlon to Impossible Foods ► Why sustainability and "skills for the planet" now belong in every designer's toolkit ► How design can shape government policy, not just products 👤 Who this episode is for: Chief Design Officers · Design Leaders · Heads of Design · Policy Makers · Sustainability Leads · and anyone curious about design's role in business, government and the planet 00:00 Meet Cat Drew, Chief Design Officer at Design Council 2:04 80 Years of Design Council: From Post-War Product Awards to Design for Planet 6:45 Why Governments and Businesses Still Misunderstand the Word Design 9:39 Design Speaks a Different Language Than Business 12:10 How to Build Design Influence Inside a Large Organisation 14:33 Five Business Arguments for Design, With Case Studies From Decathlon to Impossible Foods 19:04 What Governments Actually Care About: Design Economy vs Design for Policy 23:54 Measuring Impact in the Public Sector From Vulnerable Families to Mental Health Access 29:54 Salford Wetlands: A Design Solution That Solves Five Problems at Once 32:34 Should Designers Even Use the Word "Design"?36:44 Introducing Skills for the Planet and the Weight of Design's Responsibility 45:58 How Can Des...

Why self-limiting beliefs about leadership are the hidden barrier for most design leaders | Julia Whitney, Executive Coach

Jun 10, 2026 1 hr 17 min

How design leaders build influence, navigate conflict, and lead across cultures. In this episode, Ekaterina sits down with Julia Whitney, executive coach and former General Manager and Executive Creative Director at the BBC, where she led a 150-person UX and design team.Julia spent over 20 years as a design leader across the UK and US before turning her experience into a coaching practice that helps design leaders at companies like Condé Nast, AWS, the Financial Times, and IDEO perform at their best.Julia is also a teacher at our Executive programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4fDlOirWhat you'll learn: ► Why self-limiting beliefs about leadership are the hidden barrier for most design leaders ► How to build sponsorship at the next level up — and why empathy is the first step ► How cultural differences shape communication, hierarchy, and trust — and what to do about it ► The four types of workplace conflict and why identifying them early changes everything 👤 Who this episode is for: Design Leaders · Heads of Design · Creative Directors · UX Leaders · People Managers · Anyone going for a senior or C-level role · Anyone who's been passed over for promotion and wants to understand why 00:00:00 Welcome, Julia Whitney, Executive Coach and former Executive Creative Director at BBC 00:02:05 What design leaders most commonly struggle with 00:04:20 Self-limiting beliefs and the leader you think you have to be 00:07:25 How introverts can build influence without performing extroversion 00:12:00 Levels of zoom: how leadership shifts at every career stage 00:17:25 Why candidates get rejected for senior roles — and what to do instead 00:20:00 How to build sponsorship at C-level using empathy 00:27:25 Generational differences at work: what the research actually says 00:36:20 Multi-hyphenate careers and the future of work 00:40:25 Remote vs in-office: why it's more nuanced than you think 00:46:55 The SCARF Model and why people resist change 00:49:30 Leading multicultura...

Ivy Ross, Google's Chief Design Officer on why designers are the most strategic people in the room

Jun 9, 2026 49 min

By 26, Ivy Ross had jewellery in the permanent collections of 12 international museums, including the Smithsonian and V&A. She went on to hold executive roles at Calvin Klein, Swatch, Mattel, Gap, and Disney before arriving at Google, where her hardware design team has since won over 240 global design awards and helped Fast Company name Google the most important design company in the world in 2018. Her book Your Brain on Art, co-authored with neuroscientist Susan Magsamen, became a New York Times bestseller. She is one of the most creatively accomplished people working in business today. Future London Academy spent a day with her in London, during which Ivy has shared And if you are curious about our Executive Programme for Design Leader that Ivy teaches on, you can find more information here: https://fla.wiki/4evyOFI

What it really takes to lead a global creative team | Tim Greenhalgh, Like a Moth, ex Landor & Fitch

Jun 1, 2026 1 hr 16 min

How can designers reach the executive level, and what are their responsibilities and the impact they get to create?To find out, join our Design Executives Series with Tim Greenhalgh, Founder and Creative Director at Like a Moth and former Chief Creative Officer at Landor & Fitch, one of the most iconic creative agencies in the world.Tim is also faculty member of our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/3RTKnxH Over more than 30 years, Tim has led a team of over 1,200 curious minds across 20 countries, creating award-winning brand experiences for clients including Apple, LEGO, and Adidas. During our live interview, Tim will share his mistakes and learnings, along with insights into leading at executive level. What you'll learn ► How to create and maintain high-quality design standards, and motivate the team to "destroy the ordinary" ► The value of design and creativity for business performance ► Tim's journey from creative director to chief creative officer 00:00 Meet Tim Greenhalgh — 40 years leading global creative at Fitch and Landor, now founder of Like a Moth 02:00 What Tim learned from Rodney Fitch about the value of design 05:15 How to justify the value of design to clients 13:00 How to present bold creative ideas so clients say yes 19:25 Why most creative briefs are just agendas and how to fix them 23:35 What nobody tells you about being a chief creative officer 33:10 Dealing with underperformers in creative teams without burning the culture 35:30 Why there's no such thing as a bad project 45:20 How Tim uses sight, insight, foresight to start every creative project 52:40 Destroy Ordinary: the creative framework that united 26 global studios 57:45 The future of craft, ideas and creative leadership 01:06:00 How to sell the value of an idea (not just the design) to business leaders 01:08:45 Has hybrid working destroyed studio culture? 01:12:20 If you could change one thing in the world 👤 Who this episode is for: Design Leaders · Creative...

How to use Play as your Business Strategy | Michelle Lee, IDEO Partner

May 12, 2026 1 hr 22 min

How IDEO uses play to solve real business problems. In this interview, Ekaterina sits down with Michelle Lee, IDEO Partner and Executive Managing Director of IDEO San Francisco. Michelle Lee began her career as an aerospace engineer, working on satellites, wondering why it took so long to launch one. A friend's room full of toys changed everything. What followed was a winding path through the toy industry: an internship at IDEO in 2004, a startup she spun out and left, and a return to lead the Play Lab. Over two decades, she brought over 250 products to market with Hasbro, Mattel, and Sesame Workshop, and today, she is Partner and Executive Managing Director of IDEO's San Francisco studio.In a recent conversation with Future London Academy, Michelle shared what she's learned about creativity, leadership, ambiguity, and why play is one of the most underestimated tools in business. What you'll learn: ► Why play is a serious business tool, not a frivolous one ► How to design a non-linear career by following curiosity rather than chasing titles ► How to move from individual contributor into leadership without losing the craft ► Why clients are partners, not customers, and how generosity builds trust ► How to prove the ROI of design, play, and creativity using IDEO's POWER framework ► How to use AI as a sparring partner without losing your creativity 👤 Who this episode is for: Design Leaders · Product Designers · Heads of Design · Service Designers · Experience Designers · Creative Directors · Agency Founders · Innovation Leads · and anyone curious about creativity, leadership, and business Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and why play matters in business 05:30 How to design a non-linear career by following curiosity 10:30 From individual contributor to leader without losing the craft 17:00 Heart vs dollar sign: balancing creativity and business as a senior professional 20:30 Why clients are partners, not customers 24:30 How to step into senior leadership without going it alo...

AKQA Co-Founder on the Lessons Behind a $550 Million Agency | James Hilton

Apr 22, 2026 1 hr 6 min

Nearly 30 years ago, James Hilton answered an ad in Creative Review, met a stranger named Ajaz Ahmed, and they signed Virgin as their first client. That was the beginning of AKQA. AKQA went on to win Grand Prix Cannes Lions, James was named the UK's number one digital creative director three times, and they were acquired by WPP for around $550 million. He also made the Creativity 50 alongside Jonathan Ive and Lady Gaga. What followed was a design studio, a custom motorcycle brand featured by Netflix and Top Gear, a Chief Creative Officer role at Native, and now a position inside Abbott, helping a 100,000-person healthcare company grow.James invited Future London Academy to his home outside London to chat about his journey. And if you are curious about our Executive Programme for Design Leader that James teaches on, you can find more information here: https://fla.wiki/42jCun4 00:00:00 — Meet James Hilton — The Design Leader Who Built AKQA Into a 6,000-Person Agency 00:01:00 — Selling AKQA for £340M 00:04:00 — What made AKQA succeed: obsession, craft & hiring people smarter than you 00:09:00 — The founder's paradox: staying in the work vs. scaling a creative business 00:11:00 — Building a Culture of Honest Feedback as a Creative Leadership Strategy 00:16:00 — Over-delivering as a growth strategy: how AKQA became a trusted advisor 00:28:00 — Life after AKQA: leaving, fear, and starting over from scratch 00:37:00 — Imposter syndrome, catastrophic thinking & using data to fight anxiety 00:44:00 — Stoicism as a leadership practice: the philosophy that changed everything 00:49:00 — Design with a capital D: transforming organisations at scale (Abbott case study) 00:53:00 — Why design leaders are a business value lever, not a visual service 01:00:00 — AI as a design tool, post-scarcity futures & final advice for design leaders #designleadership #agencyfounder

Sam Bompass, Co-Founder of Bompass & Parr, on Creative Risks, Inspiration and the Business of Wonder

Mar 19, 2026 1 hr 24 min

How Bompas & Parr built a creative agency that stands out.In this interview, Ekaterina sits down Sam Bompass. Nearly 20 years ago, Sam Bompas quit his job in property PR to make jelly. Since then, as co-founder of Bompas & Parr, Sam has cooked on molten lava, built a breathable cloud of gin and tonic, and founded the British Museum of Food. His studio works with governments, global brands like Coca-Cola, Johnnie Walker, and Mercedes, and major cultural institutions including the V&A, the Design Museum, and The Met. In a recent conversation with Future London Academy, he shared his remarkable hard-won wisdom about creativity, leadership, and what it really takes to build something lasting.What you’ll learn► How to turn a creative experiment into a scalable experiential agency► Why systemising ideas strengthens creativity rather than limiting it► How to pitch bold concepts while protecting budgets, feasibility, and client trust► What it takes to lead multidisciplinary teams across food, design, strategy, and making► How to use history and culture as a source of commercially powerful innovation► Why AI will not replace human creativity, and what founders should focus on instead👤 Who this episode is for:Design Leaders · Product Designers · Head of Design · Service Designers · Experience Designers · Brand Designers · Agency founders · Creatives · Creative Directors · and anyone interested in creativity and business Chapters: 00:00 Welcome introduction and the origin of Bompas and Parr06:37 From jelly experiments to building a global experiential agency13:01 Creative risk safety lessons and scaling ambitious ideas18:48 Finding inspiration in London and using history as creative fuel30:22 Systematising ideas from studio archives to client-ready concepts35:43 What makes a strong idea clarity impact, feasibility and business value42:32 Pitching bold work, presenting multiple routes, and winning client trust49:43 Leading multidisciplinary teams culture rituals and hybrid wor...

Cal Thompson, VP of Design on how they use AI at Headspace and why they hire interns

Dec 8, 2025 1 hr 26 min

With so many AI tools flying around, it’s easy for creative teams to feel overwhelmed. Which tools actually matter? And more importantly, what stays uniquely human in design leadership as technology evolves? In this episode of Design Leadership in the Boardroom,Ekaterina sits down with Cal Thompson, VP Design at Headspace and curator of Future London Academy’s Product Design Strategy course. Cal shares how AI is changing the strategic power of design (not replacing it), where these tools genuinely help guiding roadmaps, measuring product signals, prototyping visions, and where they don’t belong at all, especially when it comes to anchoring human stories. Joining as a special guest, Rachel Arredondo , Senior Product Designer at Headspace, offers a practical, grounded view of AI as a thought collaborator. She shows how she uses Claude to expand her reach without outsourcing judgment, and why designers must shape tools just as much as tools shape us. Expect a conversation rooted in empathy, culture, and creative responsibility, plus a clear, usable framework for deciding where AI fits in your design process. What you’ll learn Why design’s strategic influence can grow in an AI-enabled worldWhere AI helps most across the process of guiding roadmap, synthesising measurement signals, prototyping future visions, navigating crowded marketsWhy human observation and interviews can’t be replaced by synthesis toolsHow to build a design culture that fuels collaboration, trust, and imaginationWhat AI means for junior talent, and how leaders should rethink career pathwaysWhy the next “design movement” will be collective, not solo-AI driven Who this episode is for Design Leaders · Product Designers · Head of Design · Head of UX / UX Director · Product Design Lead · UX Design Lead / Design Lead · Design Managers & Senior ICs navigating AI adoption · Solo/In-house designers · Creatives and cross-functional partners (PMs, researchers, engineers) shaping AI-enabled products

Apple’s former design executive on tools, purpose of design and creativity in the age of AI | Charles Migos, intangible.ai

Dec 1, 2025 1 hr 24 min

With so many AI tools flying around, it feels overwhelming for any creative team to choose the ones that will make a difference. This is why last week, we decided to have a conversation with Charles Migos, Chief Product Officer, Founder of Intangible.ai, Design Leaders faculty member and one of the most exciting voices in design today. He is a design executive who has spent 30 years building tools for creatives, working alongside the industry’s brightest minds like Steve Jobs and in companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Unity. What we got is a powerful conversation with Charles about how designers play an important role in the age of AI, from problem-solving and aligning teams to improving collaboration. Timecodes:00:00 Introduction to design and AI with Charles Moberly (ex Apple, Microsoft, Unity)03:04 How the AI shift compares to the internet, Photoshop, and touchscreens06:12 The fundamentals of design that stay the same in the AI era08:23 How to choose AI tools for designers without feeling overwhelmed14:07 How to test and adopt AI tools in a design team16:36 Why creativity still works best as a team sport19:49 What design leaders should focus on in the AI era25:51 Balancing design and engineering cultures at scale32:20 Building Intangible AI and rethinking generative 3D workflows38:46 Copyright, IP, and ethical risks in generative AI45:08 Trust, privacy, and data choices when using AI tools45:26 A realistic look at the future of AI for creatives46:42 How designers can actively shape the future with AI50:19 New opportunities for designers using AI tools well54:09 Practical Figma Make tips for faster high fidelity prototyping01:02:04 Gender bias in AI and what design leaders can do01:22:22 Empathy and pragmatism as core design leadership skills54:09 Practical Figma Make tips Prototyping faster in high fidelity01:02:04 Gender bias in AI How design leaders respond01:22:22 Empathy and pragmatism in design leadership

Jim Prior on Protecting Creativity in Business | Chair at Design Bridge & Partners

Nov 20, 2025 1 hr 24 min

What does it really take to protect creativity inside large organisations, and why do some CEOs champion design while others struggle to? In this episode of Design Leadership in the Boardroom, Jim Prior, former Global CEO at WPP and Chair at Design Bridge & Partners, Superunion shares 25 years of experience leading some of the world’s most influential creative companies. Hosted by Future London Academy, this warm, honest conversation explores how creativity drives business performance, and what every designer should know to influence decision-makers at the highest level. 🎙️ About the guest Jim Prior is a global brand leader and creative business strategist who has spent over two decades as CEO of The Partners, Superunion and Design Bridge & Partners (WPP). He has advised executive boards worldwide on brand transformation, creativity in leadership, and building future-ready organisations. 🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/3LNPYCM 💡 You’ll learn: ► How CEOs think about creativity and business value ► How to pitch creative ideas to leadership teams ► How agencies can help clients sell creativity internally ► Leadership habits, decision-making frameworks & lessons from a CEO ► How AI and automation change the creative landscape — and what designers should do now ⏱ Chapters 00:00 Welcome – Ekaterina & Jim Prior 02:36 How CEOs value creativity and design 07:00 Why big companies struggle with innovation 10:22 How to pitch creative ideas to CEOs and boards 14:40 Selling creativity in the boardroom – tips from a CEO 19:42 Creativity in leadership teams vs the boardroom 22:07 How agencies help clients sell ideas internally 26:25 What makes a creative agency truly valuable 28:30 From knowledge economy → creative economy 31:29 Inside the CEO mindset – decision making 36:32 Making smart decisions with imperfect data 43:25 Time management for creative leaders 47:45 Why CEOs pre...

Christophe Egret on Leading Studio Egret West, Architecture with Soul and Building with Purpose

Nov 8, 2025 1 hr 17 min

In the second episode of Design Leadership in the Boardroom, we’re joined by Christophe Egret — visionary architect, artist, and co-founder of Studio Egret West, to explore how creativity, spirituality, and leadership come together to shape cities and the people who build them. 🎙 Hosted by Future London Academy, this episode dives into architecture with soul, exploring what it means to build meaningful spaces, lead with empathy, and balance creative vision with commercial success. 🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4a3iU3E 💡 What you’ll learn: ► How to keep creativity alive while running a thriving design business ► Ways to lead teams with empathy, purpose, and sou, not just strategy ► Why sketching, storytelling, and intuition still matter in the age of AI ► How to design spaces (and studio cultures) that connect people and purpose ✨ A conversation about imagination, courage, and what it means to build a better world, one soulful design at a time. About Christoph Egret: Christoph is one of the UK’s most respected architects and urban thinkers. As co-founder of Studio Egret West, he has helped redefine placemaking through landmark projects such as Mayfield Park in Manchester, Clapham Library, and the Earl’s Court Masterplan. Known for blending architecture, landscape, and urban design into a seamless practice, Christoph brings a deep sense of spirituality and purpose to his work. Today, through his new platform Soul in the City, he explores how the emotional and spiritual dimensions of urban life can inspire more connected, human-centered cities. 🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4a3iU3E

Neurodiversity coach on ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia & Inclusive Leadership at Work | Emma Wee

Nov 2, 2025 1 hr 16 min

Join us for the first episode of our Design Leadership in the Boardroom series, where we speak with executive leaders across architecture, product, AI, branding and psychology to unpack the strategies, practices and frameworks that help them succeed at the highest level. This time we’re joined by neurodiversity coach Emma Wee to learn how to create environments where neurodivergent talent thrives, and how to lead authentically with your own neurodivergent identity. From ADHD and Autism to Dyslexia and Dyspraxia, Emma shares practical, humane tactics leaders can use today to help every brain do its best work.What you’ll learn how to: ► Navigate ADHD at work ► Leverage dyslexia strengths ► Dismantle autism myths ► Build inclusive teams ► Implement meeting hygiene ► Handle tricky moments 🟡 If you want to become a better design leader, learn more about our Executive Programme for Design Leaders: https://fla.wiki/4oRvYhj Timecodes: 00:00:00 – Intro & why neurodiversity matters in creative leadership 00:01:06 – Meet Emma Wee, Neurodiversity Coach 00:03:50 – Emma’s journey: from theatre design to Neurodiversity coaching 00:06:22 – Masking explained (code-switching, cost, and relief in naming it) 00:16:19 – ADHD 101: attention selection, hyperfocus arcs, RSD, boom-and-bust 00:21:28 – Finishing & focus: define “done,” emotional tags, pick tasks by brain-state 00:31:25 – Dyslexia strengths & tools: pattern spotting, dictation, read-aloud, color contrast 00:40:32 – Autism realities: sensory seesaw, clarity over small talk, change vs. variables 00:45:11 – Leading Neurodiverse teams: briefs, check-ins, inclusive defaults, “Manual of Me” 01:00:12 – Disclosure & safety: when to share (or not), alternatives to get support 01:06:11 – Rapid-fire coaching: brainstorms, missed deadlines, interruptions, feedback clashes 01:15:40 – Closing & big question: one change Emma would make in the world About Guest Emma Wee — Neurodiversity Coach working with organisations from Universal Music...

Philips' Chief Design Officer on how a design prototype became an $800M business opportunity

Jul 17, 2025 1 hr 24 min

Join us for the fifth episode of our Chief Design Officer Series, where we talk to Chief Design Officers from the most forward-thinking companies. This time, we are joined by Sean Carney, former CDO of Philips. At Philips, Sean led a team of 700+ designers and helped generate over $800 million in sales pull-through.Sean shared a powerful case study of how design contributed directly to business transformation and aided a positive change in the world.Watch to learn how to:- Drive real business impact with design- Calculate and communicate ROI on design- Balance creativity with business strategy at the C-level- Build a design team that influences revenue and strategy 00:00 — Welcome to the CDO Series: Why Design Belongs in the Boardroom 00:49 — Meet Sean Carney: Former Chief Design Officer at Philips 02:55 — Sean’s Unplanned Path to Becoming a Chief Design Officer 04:42 — From Solo Creator to Strategic Leader: The Power of Diverse Teams 07:43 — Why Today’s User Research Isn’t Enough: Designing for the Future 10:24 — Philips' Visionary Design Approach 13:24 — 📍 Case Study: How Philips Built the NICU of the Future 20:05 — 📍 Case Study: Embedding Strategic Design into Business Strategy at Philips 35:00 — Tracking the ROI of Design: From Vision to Measurable Business Impact 43:11 — Using Real-Time Data and Predictive Modelling in Hospital Design 44:35 — Designing Capabilities for the Future: Strategic Foresight in Action 45:01 — 📍 Case Study: Smart Toothbrushes and the Rise of Connected Health 48:00 — How Philips Prioritised Innovation Opportunities Across 30+ Units 48:48 — Turning Design Ideas into Strategic Investments with Cross-Functional Teams 53:26 — 📍 Case Study: The Vacuum That Failed — and What It Taught the Business 55:34 — What It Takes to Design in Healthcare: Compliance, Innovation & Risk 55:53 — Building the Case for Prototypes: Value Beyond the Aesthetic 01:01:40 — Bridging Creative Vision and P&L: Design at the Executive Table 01:03:55 — How Design Dr...

CEO EMEA of Ogilvy on How to Justify Investment to a CEO | Patou Nuytemans

May 16, 2025 1 hr 3 min

Learn about our Design Leaders programme 👉 https://fla.wiki/4dm4cVcPatou Nuytemans, CEO EMEA of Ogilvy, one of the world's most iconic creative agencies. Discover how she went from being an "unlikely candidate" from Belgium and rose through the ranks by embracing diverse roles across three continents, pioneering digital transformation, and turning around challenging regions.In this interview, Patou shares her unexpected journey to becoming a CEO, her leadership philosophy, how she drives creative excellence across a global organisation. and how to talk your CEO to justify investment in design. 00:00 – Welcome Patou Nuytemans03:17 – The brave career moves that turned her into a leader 07:53 – Why Patou never chased titles—and what she chased instead 12:31 – “If you don’t communicate your wins, they don’t exist” 18:06 – How creatives should talk to their CEO (and be taken seriously) 22:41 – The structure that keeps 50+ teams aligned (you need this) 30:20 – What actually builds team culture (it’s not what you think) 35:44 – The 5 business metrics Ogilvy tracks 42:54 – “Creativity is a shortcut to big business impact—here’s how to prove it” 50:03 – Want a bigger budget? Say this to your CEO 55:29 – Why junior talent is more valuable than ever (even with AI) 57:49 – “Growth is my religion”: Patou’s personal philosophy on success 1:00:50 – Her wish for the world? More curiosity, more connection Learn about our Design Leaders programme 👉 https://fla.wiki/4dm4cVc#CreativeLeadership #OgilvyCEO #BusinessOfCreativity #DesignLeadership #GlobalTeams #BorderlessCreativity #FutureLondonAcademy #PatouThains #CreativeAgency #LeadershipJourney #WomenInLeadership #AIAndCreativity #TeamCulture #CommunicationSkills #CreativeROI #BrandDifferentiation #ContinuousLearning #GlobalExperience #AwardRecognition #InternationalBusiness

Why Being Wrong Made Me Successful ┃Don Norman

Feb 6, 2025 1 hr 25 min

Don Norman, the legendary designer who coined the term "User Experience" and served as Apple's VP, shares insights from his remarkable career. At 89, he reveals why most designers fail to reach the C-suite, how AI will reshape design (not replace it), and his mission to revolutionise design education. Grab a cup of tea and settle in, this conversation might change everything you do from now on. For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme. Learn more here👉 https://fla.wiki/4hKKZxs #DonNorman #Design #UserExperience #Innovation #FutureLondonAcademy

A Design Leader's Guide to Business Impact at JP Morgan Chase | Chief Design Officer Series

Jan 23, 2025 1 hr 24 min

Janaki Kumar is Chief Design Officer at JPMorgan Chase & Co., a thought leader, innovator, and author who was named a Women of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal in 2016. Janaki is a proven leader in building, coaching and inspiring high performance design teams, leveraging design-thinking, customer empathy, and co-innovation. She is the co-author of Gamification at Work – Designing Engaging Business Software. She was a co-instructor at Stanford’s Graduate School Business LEAD course and inventor on over 20 patents. During our interview, she shared how she became CDO, how to prove your value to C-suite executives and what skills to develop to become CDO. For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme. Learn more 👉 https://fla.wiki/3EaHsKf #leadership #cdo #mba #designleadership#leadership #cdo #mba #designleadership

From School Dropout to Silicon Valley Gaming Legend | Jeri Ellsworth

Dec 18, 2024 1 hr 29 min

Jeri Ellsworth is an inventor, entrepreneur and founder of Tilt Five, the world’s first augmented reality gaming system. During our interview, she shared where her passion brought her to an amazing career plot twists: from building race cars and running computer stores to creating aerospace navigation systems and leading hardware innovation at Valve Corporation. When her first AR startup failed, an unexpected call from Atari's founder helped her bounce back to create Tilt5, launching the largest AR Kickstarter in history. Check out our courses: https://fla.wiki/4giVnw5

What does it mean to be the Chief Design Officer at Zoom

Nov 29, 2024 1 hr 11 min

Chief Design Officer Series: Episode 2 Mark Kawano, Chief Design Officer at Zoom, shared his 25+ years of experience in companies like Apple, Slack, and Adobe and the importance of influencing Design beyond the design organisation. Join us for the third episode of our Chief Design Officer Series, where we talk to Chief Design Officers from the most forward-thinking companies. https://fla.wiki/41fznNE

Travis Isaacs from Cisco on how to become your company's first Chief Design Officer

Nov 20, 2024 1 hr 23 min

Chief Design Officer Series: Episode 2 Travis Isaacs, Chief Design Officer at Webex Collaboration at Cisco, shared his perspective on the unique superpowers designers can bring to the boardroom and the essential skills needed for success in executive roles. Join us for the second episode of our Chief Design Officer Series, where we talk to Chief Design Officers from the most forward-thinking companies. https://fla.wiki/3ALA1rx

What I had to learn when I became a CDO? | Chief Design Officer at citizenM

Nov 1, 2024 1 hr 12 min

Chief Design Officer Series: Episode 1 Claudia Abt, Chief Design Officer at citizenM hotels oversees design and space planning for new hotel developments. She shares her perspective on being a designer at the C-level, what she had to learn when she became a Chief Design Officer and what value she brings to the business through design. Join Future London Academy for the first episode of Chief Design Officer Series, where we talk to Chief Design Officers of the most forward-thinking businesses. https://fla.wiki/4fbtJ3f

Be smart and DON'T grow your agency | Stefan Sagmeister

Nov 1, 2024 31 min

In our new interview, Stefan Sagmeister legendary designer, typographer and co-founder of Sagmeister & Walsh shares thoughts on the evolution of his career, design agencies and creative process. Watch the full interview to hear more about: 👉 Why scaling is not the best way 👉 What is the future of creative industry 👉 How to create purpose-driven work This episode is a must-watch for creative leaders and changemakers seeking inspiration and practical wisdom from one of the industry's greats. 00:00 Stefan Sagmeister: A Design Legend 00:44 Balance Productivity and Creativity 02:45 The Shift from Commercial to Self-Initiated Projects 03:38 Exploring Long-Term Perspectives in Design 06:14 How to work with clients? 12:25 The Evolution of Stefan's Design Career 18:19 Advice for Designers 22:04 Reflections on Running a Design Company 26:16 The Future of the Design Industry and Final Thoughts For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme. Learn more and Apply 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1 #leadership #design #designinspiration #designleadership

Business of Art with Timothy Goodman: How to work with brands like Apple, Nike, Google, or Netflix

Nov 1, 2024 36 min

In this engaging conversation, Timothy Goodman shares his journey from working with top brands like Apple, Nike, Google, Samsung, MoMa, Netflix, YSL, Time, The New Yorker to his passion for public art, personal expression, and tackling societal issues through his work. Learn about his creative process, the balance between commercial and personal projects, and the challenges and risks he has faced along the way. During our interview Timothy shared how to balance commercial and passion work, how he hires team, why he never was a freelancer and why it is important to create artworks for people. Watch the full interview to find out: 👉 How to balance passion and commercial projects 👉 How to create art and design that make impact 👉 How to find the right people for projects 👉 Timothy's unique philosophy behind creating his art TIME CODES 00:00 Who is Timothy Goodman? 01:05 Timothy Goodman on self-Expression 02:21 Evolution of Timothy's Creative Process 03:54 Creative career challenges 06:52 Balancing Personal and Commercial Work 08:36 Creative Team Dynamics and Finding the Right Fit 18:19 Taking Risks and Personal Projects 25:36 Current Work Philosophy 35:08 Final Thoughts For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme. Learn more and Apply 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1 #designleadership #leadership

Veronica Fuerte, Founder of Hey Studio shares her journey of growing as a leader

Nov 1, 2024 31 min

Join us in a conversation with Veronica Fuerte, Creative Directress and Founder of Hey Studio, a Barcelona-based creative agency known for its colourful, playful geometric designs. Hey Studio worked with many clients worldwide, including Google and Apple. During our interview, Veronica shared insights from her 16-year leadership journey why it's important to hire a coach, keep your team small, and how to succeed by working in your own unique style and build confidence as a leader. 💎 00:00 Meet Veronica Fuerte, Founder oh Hey Studio 01:26 Veronica's Early Career Journey and Agency Vision 03:50 Expanding Hey Studio: Side Projects and Merch Store 06:45 Managing Growth and Team Dynamics 11:38 Why to hire a coach? 21:31 Women at Work: Insights and Challenges 23:28 Authenticity and Personal Style 29:40 Final Thoughts #designinspiration #leadership #design

Talia Cotton on starting an agency after leaving Pentagram

Jul 17, 2024 35 min

In this engaging conversation, Talia Cotton shares her journey from working at Pentagram to starting her design studio — Cotton Design. She talks about the challenges of the first year of being an agency founder, the main leadership lessons she learned and insights on building and managing a team. Watch the full interview to find out: 👉 Three things you must do when starting an agency 👉 How and who to hire during the first year 👉 How to build your network and find new clients 👉 What Talia will never ever do with her team 👉 Where she goes for inspiration 00:00 Hello Hello Hello 01:16 Leaving Pentagram and starting a design studio 03:30 What you need to do before starting an agency 05:58 Winning creative work or how to find clients as a creative agency founder 08:06 How to pitch yourself in the creative industry 09:25 Hiring and Building a Team 12:23 Teaching and how it helps to hire design talent 13:10 How to hire talent during the first year 15:30 Two key lessons on hiring from Michael Bierut, partner at Pentagram 17:35 Inside look into how Pentagram works 22:53 The most important thing in the first year of running an agency 25:53 What you need to consider before you take a project 27:04 Things you need to do to get more clients 28:45 Working from Office VS Remote team 29:15 Where to look for inspiration when you are an agency founder 33:49 If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme. Learn more and Apply 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1

How to future-proof your business? | Martin Raymond, Co-Founder of The Future Laboratory

May 2, 2024 1 hr 26 min

This month we had an inspiring conversation with Martin Raymond, Co-Founder of Future Laboratory. He shared his insights into the future and how we can prepare for what awaits us in the coming years. We discussed the skills leaders will need in the future, the role of impact metrics in business and how creatives can succeed in the boardroom.

How to Grow Your Agency from 2 to 100 People | Emily Heyward, Co-Founder of Red Antler

Mar 12, 2024 1 hr 22 min

How do you succeed as a start-up? How do you grow your agency from 20 to 100 people? How can you carve your niche in the market? In our last episode of Agency Growth Stories, Emily Heyward, co-founder of Red Antler – the leading creative agency for startups and new ventures, including Hinge, Prose and AllTrails – shares her insights on these questions and more. Emily was named among the Most Important Entrepreneurs of the Decade, a Top Female Founder and one of the Most Powerful Women of 2019 by Inc. Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine.🔥 Here is what we covered in our chat with this creative legend: 00:00:00 - Intro: Who is Emily Heyward? 00:01:15 - Rapid Fire Questions 00:03:30 - Red Antler: How It All Started 00:14:25 - Defining Your Clients & Revenue as a Start-Up 00:18:53 - Growing Beyond 2 People: InHouse vs. Freelance 00:21:50 - Bringing In Clients in the Early Days 00:26:30 - Hiring & Establishing and Effective Team Structure 00:35:34 - Pricing Projects as an Agency 00:40:15 - What You Need to Change as a Leader to Grow 00:44: 22 - Where is Red Antler now? 00:46:05 - The Future of Small & Mid Agencies 00:47:15 - Opportunities in the Current Market 00:50:27 - Transparency within the Agency 00:52:15 - What Keeps You Going as a Founder? 00:56:24 - How a Project-Based Business Works: Hiring vs. Freelancing 00:59:03 - Helping Clients Understand the Importance of Brand 01:04:28 - Marketing and Community as Part of Your Brand Strategy 01:08:08 - AI in the Creative Industry: Uses and Shortcomings 01:12:00 - Key Things to Define for a Client’s Strategy 01:14:02 - How Do You Keep Key People Without Giving Equity Away? 01:17:50 - Can You Growth Without Expanding Your Services? 01:20:10 - Final Thoughts For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme: https://fla.wiki/3TBeTLq Get more inspiration from us on other channels: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurelondonacademy ➤ Twitter: https://twitter.com/F...

From 0 to the Fastest-Growing Start-Up in Advertising History | Natalie Graeme, Co-Founder of Uncommon

Mar 6, 2024 1 hr 19 min

What is the key to rapid growth? When is it time to expand your team? How should you approach a global expansion? In this episode of Agency Growth Stories, Natalie Graeme, Co-Founder of Uncommon – Europe’s fastest-growing start-up in advertising history, answers these questions and more, as she shares her experience of growing Uncommon from 0 to over 200 employees, working with global brand partners – including ITV, WWF, British Airways and SiriusXM – and creating a memorable brand identity through ingenious PR strategies. Here is what we covered: 00:00:00 - Intro: Who is Natalie Graeme? 00:01:11 - Rapid Fire Question 00:06:11 - Early Days: The Formative Years of Uncommon 00:09:55 - Uncommon’s Studio Model 00:14:35 - Uncommon’s Rapid Growth & Secret to Success 00:23:40 - Uncommon’s Global Expansion &The Strategy Behind It 00:32:23 - Growing Beyond 30 People: When to Hire and How to Structure Your Team 00:44:45 - From 70 to 240 People and How Your Role as a Founder Changes Questions from the Audience: 00:52:20 - What are the Most Common Mistakes of Agency Start-ups in The Early Days? 00:53:50 - How do you Control Quality and Production during Growth in a Joint Venture? 00:54:53 - How do you Manage Client-Side Delays and Keep Things Running? 00:56:20 - How do you Balance Hiring Full-Time Vs. Freelance? 00:58:39 - How did you Secure Funds at the Start? 01:01:53 - How do you Select Clients? 01:03:33 - Do you work with Retainers or on a One-off Project Basis? 01:04:29 - What was Uncommon’s PR Strategy at the Beginning? 01:05:34 - What is the difference between your Studio Model and an Advertising Agency? 01:08:28 - How do you Get New Clients without Word of Mouth? 01:12:13 - How Important is the Agency’s Brand? Final Advice 01:15:08 - What Can You Do to Look After Yourself as a Founder? 01:16:50 - If You Could Change One Thing in the World, What Would It Be? For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme: https://fl...

From £0 to £232M In Revenue | Steve Bell, Group CEO at Team17 & Former Co-Founder at Iris

Mar 6, 2024 1 hr 27 min

How do you grow from 6 to 1000 people? From £0 to £232 in revenue? When is it time to step down as CEO? Steve Bell, former Iris Co-Founder, and now CEO at Team17 Group managed over 1000 employees in 14 offices around the world and oversaw Iris' work with some of the biggest, most creatively driven and technologically advanced global brands. Here is what we covered in the second episode of Agency Growth Stories with Steve: 00:00:00 - Intro: Who is Steve Bell? 00:02:56 - Fire Round Questions 00:11:50 - Iris’ Early Days and Fast Growth 00:16:14 - Culture over Money: Creating Meaningful Equity & Working with the Right Clients at Iris 00:21:35 - Multiple Founder Dynamic and Hierarchies 00:24:50 - Scaling Iris Globally & Tough Wake Up Calls 00:34:00 - Maturing Iris, Outside Investments, Mergers & Acquisitions 00:59:00 - Stepping Down as Founder and Becoming a CEO at Team17 01:04:50 - How Should You Start an Agency in 2024? 01:09:00 - The Future of Creative Consulting Services in the Age of AI 01:11:24 - Determining Who to Work With in the Early Days 01:13:45 - How to Keep & Grow Clients 01:18:25 - Pitching & Winning Business 01:22:18 - Last Words For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme:https://fla.wiki/4byNd0p Find us on: https://www.instagram.com/futurelondonacademy/ https://www.linkedin.com/school/future-london-academy/ https://twitter.com/FLondonAcademy

How to Scale Your Agency from 0 to 50 | Brink’s Co-founder Shares Everything You Need to Know

Mar 1, 2024 1 hr 19 min

How do you design a fail-proof hiring process? How do you balance purpose and profit in the early days? And how do you find your first clients? Get your answer in our first episode of Agency Growth Stories – a series where we talk to the founders of the world's leading agencies about what's on every founder's mind. Our first guest was the wonderful Abi Freeman — Co-Founder of Brink — an international consulting agency which uses Behavioural Innovation to advise on new ways of working to change the world. Here is what we covered: 00:00:00 - Intro: Who is Abi Freeman? 00:02:52 - Fire Round Questions 00:04:54 - Why Abi Co-Founded her Company Brink 00:08:01 - How to Find Your First Clients 00:12:17 - How and When to Grow Your Team 00:20:20 - Services to Keep External Rather than In-House 00:22:05 - How to Hire and Manage an International Distributed Team 00:29:12 - Brink’s Failproof Hiring Process: Hiring for Ways of Being Not Just Doing 00:34:21 - How to Build Intimacy with Your Team 00:39:00 - Purpose Vs. Profit, Finding Balance in the Early Days 00:48:18 - How to Measure the Impact of Your Projects 00:56:32 - Common Blinspots in Founders 00:58:01 - How to Get Clients through Networking 01:04:04 - How to Take the First Step to Start Your Agency 01:06:35 - How to Navigate Procurement Processes 01:14:05 - Behavioural Change and Climate Change 01:17:01 - Last Words For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme: https://fla.wiki/4byNd0p Get more inspiration from us on other channels: https://www.instagram.com/futurelondonacademy/ https://twitter.com/FLondonAcademy https://www.linkedin.com/school/future-london-academy/

AllSaints Founder on How He Scaled His Fashion Business to Millions | Stuart Trevor

Jan 10, 2024 1 hr 30 min

Without any computers or a bank loan, Stuart Trevor launched his first collection at the age of 28, reaping £1.5M. Today, the founder and former CEO of AllSaints has three successful brands under his wing, loved by the likes of Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, and Justin Timberlake.Join us for our third episode of Creative Legends to hear all about how Stuart made it and what fashion was like before Zara. Join us for our third episode of Creative Legends, the series where we talk to creative industry icons, and get inspired to continue growing as a design expert. For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme: ⁠https://fla.wiki/47PS6j8

Facebook’s Former Director of Product Design On How to Stand Out as a Design Leader

Jan 3, 2024 1 hr 22 min

Maria Giudice founded the iconic design agency Hot Studio and sold it to Facebook after an unexpected chat with Mark Zuckerberg. Now, Maria shares the top lessons from her time at the media giant, running her own agency and teaching leaders to embrace creativity for maximum success. Join us for our second episode of Creative Legends, the series where we talk to creative industry icons, and get inspired to continue growing as a design expert. For more leadership insights check our Design Leaders Programme: https://fla.wiki/47PS6j8

John Maeda, Microsoft’s VP of Design And AI Shares His Leadership Secrets

Dec 3, 2023 1 hr 3 min

How can creative leaders thrive? And how does AI come into play? John Maeda is here to answer your pressing questions. In our first episode of Creative Legends, the series where we talk to creative industry icons, we interviewed Microsoft’s VP of Design and AI. He shared his lessons on how to be a great leader, become an excellent communicator and navigate design in the age of AI. 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗝𝗢𝗛𝗡 John Maeda is a world-renowned artist, computer scientist, educator and investor currently serving as VP of Design and Artificial Intelligence at Microsoft. John is a TED speaker, industry influencer and author of books The Laws of Simplicity, Creative Code, and Redesigning Leadership. He was called the “Steve Jobs of academia” by Forbes and named one of the "75 most influential people of the 21st century" by Esquire. For more than a decade, John has worked to integrate technology, education and the arts into a 21st-century synthesis of creativity and innovation. He taught media arts and sciences at MIT for 12 years and served as the Associate Director of Research at MIT Media Lab. He is the first-ever recipient of the White House’s National Design Award for algorithmically-generated visualisations informed by data and AI. For more leadership insights check our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more: https://fla.wiki/3R7M8Dr

R/GA's Global Chief Creative Officer on how to achieve a C-level design role

Dec 22, 2022 1 hr 9 min

In our last episode of this Design Leadership series, we talked to Tiffany Rolfe, Mom & Global Chief Creative Officer at R/GA. Tiffany shared insights on how to stay relevant in an ever-changing industry, fight imposter syndrome, step out of your comfort zone, get to a C-level position as a Creative and the skills you need to become a successful Chief Creative Officer while also being a parent. Tiffany leads a team of over 200 cross-disciplinary designers, thinkers and makers that create work at the intersection of storytelling and technology. R/GA’s clients include Nike, Verizon, Samsung, Airbnb, Slack, ESPN, and Instagram. For more leadership insights check our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1

How to Lead the Advertising Industry with Saatchi & Saatchi's Chief Creative Officer

Dec 21, 2022 1 hr 16 min

In our fourth episode of Design Leadership webinars, we talked to Kate Stanners, Global Chairwoman & Global Chief Creative Officer at Saatchi & Saatchi. She has played a key role in the transformation of the agency post the acquisition of the digital agency Outside Line, successfully combining digital, social and design into the creative offering. She has won numerous awards for clients including Carlsberg, T-Mobile, Pampers, Holsten Pils, Lurpak, Nurofen and Cadbury. She is also part of the committee at the V&A museum and is President of D&AD. Kate shared insights on being one of the first creative women in the Advertising Industry, her journey and tips for getting to the top, the importance of asking for help and coaching, and the skills you need to become a successful Chief Creative Officer and how to get there. For more leadership insights check our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1

Meta’s first Chief Creative Officer on what he learned from working with Barack Obama and on the connection between business and design.

Dec 15, 2022 1 hr 7 min

In our third episode of our Design Leadership webinars, we talked to Josh W Higgins, VP, Executive Creative Director for Atlassian leading multi-disciplined Creative, Design, Ops and Production teams who work across all consumer touch points. Previously, Josh was the Global Chief Creative Officer for Reality Labs at Meta and Design Director for President Obama’s 2012 historic political campaign. Josh shared insights on how design can change the world, how to create the role of CCO at global companies like Meta, how to implement users' feedback and how designers can learn about the influence of business has on their work. For more leadership insights check out our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1 Chapters 00:00 - Welcome to our Design Leadership webinar 02:00 - Josh X Barack Obama: Trust 06:14 - The Value of Design: Design can change the world 10:30 - Josh X Meta: Rebrand, Branding Marketing, Brand Book 15:30 - Dynamics of CCO + CMO: Does your business need both? 19:13 - From Exec Creative Director to First CCO of Meta 23:40 - Creating the role of CCO: How to talk to top management 28:22 - Meta - Oculus Quest: How Design changes Product/Brand Awareness

Global Chief Creative Officer at BCW Global on the main qualities of a design leader

Dec 6, 2022 1 hr 25 min

In our second episode of Design Leadership webinars, we talked to the wonderful Fede Garcia, Global Chief Creative Officer at PR agency BCW Global. Fede shared insights on how to motivate teams to create bold ideas, what is the future of advertising, how cancel culture influenced creativity, what it means to be creative and what are the main qualities of a good leader. For more leadership insights check our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/3wXJox1 Chapters Welcome to our Design Leadership webinar Social Media, Creativity and Impostor syndrome The infinite game Brand marketing: promoting yourself and the brand on Social media Creative career: from Creative Director to Chief Creative Officer What does a Chief Creative Officer do? How to build a creative culture, empower bold ideas and creativity How to prove the value of creativity and design, taking the risk Balancing high-quality work and mental health Self-awareness, happiness, and enjoying life / how to become happy in life Future of advertising: Transmedia storytelling Power of emotions in creativity Q&A - Qualities of a good leader What is the difference between being creative and being a creative Who can become a good leader? Creativity VS Business How to sell ideas and be a confident leader Being a quick learner and having the growth mindset Time management skills and workload prioritisation Is resilience important? Creating a vision

Chief Creative Officer at Mejuri on how to scale brands and design teams

Nov 30, 2022 1 hr 11 min

In this interview, Justine Lançon, CCO at modern jewellery brand Mejuri, will share everything you need to know about being a Chief Creative Officer. What does it mean to be a creative leader? How Mejuri branding was created? What qualities and skills do you need to grow from the creative director to CCO? How to build and hire a design team? For more leadership insights check our Executive Programme For Design Leaders at bauhaus.futurelondonacademy.co.uk

Business Psychologist Sinead Keenan on The Skills Future Business Leaders Need to Have

Sep 29, 2021 57 min

Our fourth guest in our Leadership Series was Sinead Keenan, Business Psychologist at SpencerStuart – a global leadership consultancy firm with 57 offices in over 30 countries. We discussed what are the future skills Business Leaders need to have. Sinead also gave advice on how to find your purpose and how to give and receive feedback. Sinead will also be a teacher on our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more here

Asana On Creative Operations For Agencies

Aug 31, 2021 56 min

We were super inspired speaking to Ariel Ross, a creative operations expert with over 15 years in scaling agency processes. Her expertise lies in developing operational frameworks for creative agencies, making projects run smoothly and keeping teams happy. We chatted about what three qualities every great project manager should have. Also, the biggest mistake every company makes on creative operations that we can learn from. If you want to see their faces, check out this chat on our YouTube 📺 Ariel has also curated all her tools/frameworks into an online course – Creative Ops 👉 https://bit.ly/3gK3hBB

Ragged Edge On 14 Years of Growing from its Mistakes

Aug 2, 2021 52 min

We loved how honest Max Ottignon was in our chat. Max is the Co-founder of Ragged Edge – a fantastic London-based branding agency working with some of the fastest-growing startups such as Mindful Chef, Bulb, to name a few. We discussed mistakes Ragged Edge made throughout the 14 years it has been running. What makes its company culture so special, and what makes a bad haircut. For those who want to see their faces, you can watch this chat on our YouTube Channel 📺

Illo TV on Illustration in Branding and Picking the Right Business Partner

Jul 26, 2021 51 min

We were super inspired by our interview with Ilenia Notarangelo, Co-founder, CEO and Creative Director of Illo TV. The Turin-based creative agency specialises in Illustration and motion design and has created some remarkable work for the likes of Google, Airbnb and Samsung. We talked about how Ilenia started her career from a not-so-creative place. Also, the importance of picking the right business partner, and overcoming the psychological struggles of running your own company. For those who want to see their faces, you can watch this chat on our YouTube Channel 📺

Dixon Baxi on Starting and Running Your Own Branding Agency

Jul 20, 2021 56 min

We learnt so much speaking to Aporva Baxi, founder and ECD of branding agency, DixonBaxi. Aporva has an amazing career working as a creative director across the world and is now running the agency for more than 18 years. We chatted about what it was like to drop the career of a creative director in high demand to start your own agency. And how important it is to always stay creative. If you're a visual listener, watch this conversation on our YouTube Channel 📺

Steve ‘Buzz' Pearce on The Power of Design in Business

Jun 25, 2021 1 hr 1 min

Our final guest in our Leadership Series was the legend that is Buzz Pearce, SVP of Design at checkout.com. Buzz has over 20 years of experience in the design industry, leading teams at Skyscanner, Skype, and Microsoft, to name a few. We discussed how to communicate the value of design to your leadership team. Also, he explained how to build a safe, company culture to give honest feedback. Buzz will also be a teacher on our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more here

Lovework Studio on Why Ugly Logos are a Good Thing

Jun 25, 2021 46 min

Obsessed with branding? Then listen to these great tips from Campbell and Robyn Butler, Co-founders of Lovework Studio. Together they have worked with some of the best brand agencies around. From Wolff Olins, Design Studio, Dragon Rouge and many more. In our chat, they explained why ugly logos are a good thing, and how to present your ideas to clients in an unconventional way. If you're a visual listener, watch this on our YouTube Channel. Campbell and Robyn also curated The Ultimate Course on Brand Design & Strategy, Branding Now. Learn more here.

Guy Duncan, CTO of Tide: How to Reduce Work Stress and Prioritise Your Time as a C-level Executive

May 19, 2021 1 hr 4 min

The third guest in our Leadership Series was Guy Duncan, Chief Technology Officer at Tide – one of the fastest-growing FinTech companies in the UK. Guy has over 20 years of tech leadership, previously as a CTO of BMW and other large organisations like Valtech and PayU. Be prepared to get really practical insights on how to convince your leadership team to launch your idea, how to reduce your work stress and how to prioritise your time as a C-level executive. Guy will also be a teacher on our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more here

Huge Inc. On Why Creative Leaders Make Great Business Leaders

May 6, 2021 51 min

In our second interview in our Leadership Series, we were joined by Fura Johannesdottir, Chief Design Officer of Huge Inc. Fura has over 20 years of experience in the industry, working for brilliant companies like R/GA, Publicis Sapient and loads more. We discussed her approach to design leadership and the best way of talking to business leaders about the power of design. Fura will also be a teacher on our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more here

Zaha Hadid Architects on Bauhaus, Design Leadership and Why Creatives Should Question Everything

Apr 27, 2021 56 min

Our first guest in our new Leadership Series is Bidisha Sinha, Senior Associate at the legendary Zaha Hadid Architects. We chatted about the need for a new Bauhaus, what it was like to work with Architecture pioneer, Zaha Hadid, and the challenges and rewards of being a design leader. Bidisha will also be a teacher on our Executive Programme For Design Leaders. Learn more here