Fearless, driven and always uncommon. This is Nils Leonard - in the making.

Nils has over 20 years of industry experience under his belt and stints at some of the industry’s most recognised agencies. Eight years into founding Uncommon Creative Studios, he’s an expert in building brands the real world is happy exists. So what’s he chasing now?

For Episode 6 of ‘In The Making’, Nils talks to LIONS CEO Simon Cook about the work that made him, moves him, and will mark what comes next….

Hear stories from the CEO who lights the rule book on fire in the sixth instalment of The LIONS Podcast | In The Making.

Follow for more episodes the minute they drop or listen on:

Apple | Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts – search "The LIONS Podcast".

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Emotion in creativity is an unfair advantage.

At least according to Richard Brim – whose consistently Lion-winning career has seen him produce laughs, tears and everything in between for the likes of Marmite, Shelter and John Lewis.

For Episode 5 of ‘In The Making’, Richard and Simon Cook take a trip down memory lane – lifting the lid on the work that made him, the work that’s yet to come, and even the now-iconic Christmas work that very nearly didn’t get made.

Hear Richard’s story in the fifth episode The LIONS Podcast | In The Making.

Subscribe for more episodes the minute they drop.

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The 72nd edition of the Cannes Lions Festival is happening 16–20 June 2025. Be part of it. Find out more and get your pass at canneslions.com/festival

When the industry zigs, Cindy Gallop zags. In an advertising career spanning more than 30 years, she’s consistently proven that different is better – working her way up the ladder with industry legends, before expanding an empire and creating a legacy of her own.

In this episode, Cindy takes LIONS CEO Simon Cook through the work that’s helped her inspire millions, innovate the meaning of product and purpose, and invent an industry for the future. You’ll get to hear about the 5 pieces that have shaped her career so far, and how the project she’s working on today could reinvent the industry as a whole.

Joining us at Cannes Lions 2024? Don’t miss Cindy’s talk on Friday 21 June where she’ll reveal ‘How to Change Advertising for the Better, Fast’.

LIONS is the home of creativity – and everyone in the making. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for more inspiration from all corners of marketing and creativity.

Marketing needs mavericks. That’s why ‘larger than life’ Harjot Singh has been at the top of his game for so long – from Account Executive to Global Chief Strategy Officer, from Asia to North America and back again. Twice.

In this episode, Harjot sits with LIONS CEO Simon Cook to break down the stories of his Award-winning career, offer advice from his present, and look ahead to his future. You’ll get to know the 5 pieces of work that helped Harjot make history and cement his industry reputation as a true maverick in the making.

LIONS is the home of creativity – and everyone in the making. Be part of it: Join us 17–21 June at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and follow LIONS on Instagram and LinkedIn for more inspiration from all corners of marketing and creativity.

What does it take to make it as an outsider? 

From discovering creativity as a first-generation immigrant in South West England, to making work so powerfully simple it could transcend both regional and demographic barriers – there is no one better to ask than self-proclaimed “happy outsider”, Chaka Sobhani. 

Chaka takes a seat with Simon Cook to break down the 5 pieces of work that have defined her career thus far, and how the urge to forge connections set her on a course to win multiple Lions – and make history. 

In The Making | The LIONS Podcast delves into the past, the present, and the future of some of the most Lion-awarded creative minds across the globe. Hosted by Simon Cook, Chief Executive, LIONS.

In the first episode of In The Making, we speak to Anselmo Ramos, Co-Founder of GUT. The agency made history at Cannes Lions this year, when it won Independent Network of the Year, Independent Agency of the Year AND Agency of the Year. In 2023, GUT took home an impressive haul of 35 Lions, including three Grands Prix.  

We talk meltdowns, manifestation and mindset or, more specifically, how to develop a winning mindset for Lions and for life. We also find out why Anselmo decided to sell a majority stake of GUT to global tech and digital consultancy Globant.

Each episode, we ask our guests to select five pieces of work that define their career.

Anselmo's Five Pieces of Work:

The work that made you want to be a creative: all work from the Brazilian ad men such as Washington Olivetto, Fabio Fernandes and Marcello Serpa. Also Telecel "Sheperd", Young & Rubicam Lisbon, 1995

The work you wished you’d made: Tango “Orange Man”, HHCL, 1992

The work that almost didn't get made: Dove “Real Beauty Sketches”, Ogilvy Brazil, 2013

Your best work: Stella Artois “Artois Probability”, GUT, 2023

The work that's 'in the making': Anselmo wants to write a book, or two, about advertising, sharing what he knows about the industry. 

Links: 

Check out what's happening at Cannes Lions here: www.canneslions.com

For more information about Anselmo go to www.gut.agency

In The Making is hosted by Simon Cook, the Chief Executive of LIONS which runs Cannes Lions, the International Festival of Creativity.

Here he delves into the most inspirational, sharpest and most Lion awarded minds in the creative marketing industry. He wants to understand what inspires them, how their backgrounds have shaped their career, hear about the breakthroughs, the blunders and everything in between.

Each episode he asks his guests to choose five pieces of work that help them bring their story to life, from the early influences, to the work they wish they’d made, to the work that’s still, very much, in the making.