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You wouldn't expect one of the biggest champions of creativity in Australia to come out of Scotch College and be part of the Melbourne Establishment. But Russel Howcroft uses his position, platform and access to the C-Suite to passionately advocate for the power of creativity to transform business. It has been a constant across his storied career, from his position as one of Australia's most powerful advertising leaders as CEO of Patts Y&R, to his move into consulting as PWC's first ever Chief Creative Officer and now with the fast-growing Sayers, to becoming a media personality featuring on our screens via Gruen and on our airwaves as co-host of Melbourne's top-rating breakfast show on 3AW. The only thing he is as passionate about as creativity is his beloved Melbourne Demons (naturally). 

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Mark Ritson, the world's most influential marketing professor talks about what he learned about marketing and creativity at LVMH - namely get experts in both and don't let one do the others job.  Mark also talks about the fundamental concept of market orientation, and how he flexed his own strategic muscle to develop his Mini MBA (which of course we put to a focus group). As you'll expect this is a full frontal discussion pushing much of the bullshit associated with marketing to the side.

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Laura wins the 'youngest most awarded creative anywhere in the world' award. She joins us to talk about her time at Grey in Australia, her meteoric rise at Goodby Silverstein, and her Frank plans for what's next in her career.  Hear from Laura as she bigs up the need to be silly, and finding time to talk to people who are not actually in advertising (who'd have thought). You'll find this episode absolutely compelling.

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Professor Sharp, the world's most recognisable (that's both distinctive and differentiated) marketing scientist takes us through his thoughts on creativity in the marketing process, and how he embraces creative thinking when building The Ehrenberg Bass Institute. Byron shares some very sharp views when it comes to pre-testing creative ideas (don't do it) and brand tracking (usually not worth doing either). Perhaps the most surprising element of this episode was just how similar Professor Sharp's outlook was to some of the top 'creatives' we've had on the podcast. Oh and one more thing we get to hear what a focus group thinks of the idea of a focus group!

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False Starts & Comebacks. Justine Armour has come a long way from growing up in Adelaide and not getting into AWARD school the first time she tried. After stints at creative powerhouses Weiden & Kennedy and 72 & Sunny in the US, she is now Chief Creative Officer of Grey New York. Grey is one of the largest and most iconic agencies in America, where Justine oversees Super Bowl spots like Pringles “Stuck on You” and has led a creative resurgence that saw Grey named the “Comeback Agency” by Ad Age in their Agency A-List for 2022.

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Hear why Nils Leonard is one of the world’s top creative talent, and one of the UK's most interesting people. The scale of his ideas is matched only by the force of his personality as he takes us through his unrelenting, take no prisoners approach to creative excellence. If a podcast on creativity ever came with a warning - this would be it.

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Fernando Machado is the world's most creative marketer. He has hundreds of Cannes Lions to his name to prove it and led Burger King to Advertiser of the Year at Cannes and 6 years of business growth. He has since followed his passion for gaming to the CMO role at Activision Blizzard. But what really makes him great at marketing is his background in engineering and lack of genuine football talent for a Brazilian. 

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This episode’s creative genius is Bianca Guimaraes, founding partner and Executive Creative Director of Mischief, an agency that didn’t exist 2 years ago and has been named Agency of the Year by Ad Age. Bianca was recently named Creative of the Year by the same publication on the back of some highly talked about and highly awarded work like “Send Noods” for Kraft Mac n Cheese, “Seltzer Launch” for Miller and “Dictators” for Represent Us. A diverse body of work from the sort of diverse creative leader we need more of in the advertising business.

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Nick Worthington has won more Cannes Lions than just about anyone (seriously), and he knows how to break his creative process down and explain it to others. Nick offers great advice, if you want to be more creative buy a motorbike, pretend to be someone else, and make a knife. Seriously. Also, find out why a focus group hated his favourite ever piece of work 'Levis Drug Store'.

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Allan Johnston, along with his partner Alan Morris are Australia's most successful advertising duo ever. Mojo, as they are better known, transformed how advertising was done in Australia and possibly the world. In this episode we break down the secrets to Jo's success and his approach to creativity. It's a rare interview, and Jo offers wonderful insights into how to connect brands with people through song.

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