In this episode of The Bad Podcast, An Advertising Podcast, we get inside the mind of Tom Suharto, Global Strategy Lead at Forsman & Bodenfors. From cutting his teeth in research to leading strategy on a global scale, Tom's career path is anything but linear—unless you count the 400-page data reports he once sifted through. We talk cultural codes, creative instincts, and why trusting your gut is the real killer app.

Our Favorite Stories

• Tom's journey from working in research to leading global strategy at Forsman & Bodenfors.
• Immersing himself in Mongolian drinking culture for a vodka brand campaign.
• The "Find Your Greatness" campaign for Nike during the Olympics and how it resonated differently in China.

Big Moments from Doing the Work

• Navigating cultural dynamics while working across Shanghai, Portland, and New York.
• Transitioning from data-driven research to trusting creative instincts in strategy.
• Leading Forsman's strategy community and curating global project teams.

Career Advice We'll Live With

• The value of getting out of your comfort zone and working abroad to gain cultural insight.
• Trusting your gut and learning to write creatively, not just accurately.
• Using AI as a tool for idea generation, but layering human instincts and creativity on top.

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