The A-List Podcast

WARNING: This episode of The A-List Podcast may make you want to pick up and move to Saigon.

Listen in as our host, Freelance Creative and Adhouse Professor Tom Christmann, talks to Alan Cerutti, CEO and co-founder of Happiness Saigon, a creative agency in Vietnam.

Alan's origin story has it all: Trojan Horses in Brussels. Cars hanging from billboards in Christchurch. A girlfriend moving to Hong Kong. And a trip to Vietnam that was supposed to last three months turning into five years and counting at this hot creative shop.

It also has plenty of advice for young people who are thinking of getting into this crazy business we call advertising. (Work for an agency that intimidates you.) And plenty of inspiration for veterans who still love this business.

But if it makes you hop a flight to Saigon, that's on you. :)

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The A-List podcast is brought to you by Adhouse Advertising School. Whether you’re in Vietnam or Hong Kong or Christchurch or Knokke-Heist, you can take a zoom class with a working, A-list teacher at http://www.adhousenyc.com. You get ten live zoom classes for just six hundred dollars. (Or 14 million Vietnamese Dong.)

Episode 2 of season 4 of The A-List Podcast is here! Tom talks to Strawberry Frog ECD Tyler DeAngelo, who learned his dogged determination on the ski slopes of northern Maine before getting a job offer at Leo Burnett, Bratislava. You know what? We should let Tyler tell the story.

Tom and Tyler also talk about the effects of COVID-19 on the industry and, if you listen to the end, you'll hear a rarity: an alternate theme song for The A-List created by Duotone Audio Group. (Thanks Ross.)

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And, as always, the A-List is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School. Classes start week of May 25th on Zoom, so you could totally take a class from anywhere. Even Bratislava! Head to adhousenyc.com to sign up.

The A-List Podcast is back with a check-in with a second conversation with Greg DiNoto, founder of DiNoto, Inc. With a long history of driving relationship and commerce for some of the world's most sophisticated marketers, Greg believes in brands. And in this episode, we discuss how brands can win during a pandemic (and anytime really) by practicing Utility and Humility. Enjoy.

In addition to founding DiNoto Inc. and co-founding DiNoto Lee with partner, Esther Lee, Greg also served as Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Deutsch, Inc. where he helped the agency achieve two-time agency- of-the-year status from Advertising Age and Shoot Magazine. Recognition for Greg's work includes One Show Gold, Cannes Lions, AICP, MOMA, FWAs, The Art Director's Club, Communication Arts, Lurzer's Archive, The Andys, The Addys, The Webbys, 4A's Advertising Excellence Award, and Adweek Creative All-Stars.

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The A-List is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School. At Adhouse, you get ten two-and-a-half hour sessions with a working advertising professional for just six hundred bucks. Dip your toe in the water and build your first book with freelance creative director Paul Fix. Learn UnProfessional Advertising from George Tannenbaum, former copy chief of Ogilvy New York. Or learn to be a more strategic creative with strategic innovations expert Liz Grandillo. There’s six classes to choose from. Even one taught by A-List host Tom Christmann. Zoom classes start week of May 25th. There’s only 14 people to a class and they’re filling up fast. Apply NOW at Adhousenyc.com

On this week’s episode of The A-List Podcast, host and DiMassimo Goldstein CCO, Tom Christmann is joined by BBDO’s Matt Low and Mani Schlisser

Matt is a Senior Copywriter (and resident sneaker enthusiast) at BBDO Worldwide where he has worked since being an intern for nearly five years. Matt is a graduate of Syracuse University and in his nascent career as a copywriter has received numerous accolades and nominations by bodies such as: The New York Festivals Advertising Awards, The Webbys, and his recognition earned him a feature in AdWeek.

Mani has recently taken on a role as a Senior Planner at BBDO (congratulations Mani!) having previously worked as a planner at mcgarrybowen, as well as a strategist at Laundry Service and Edelman. A graduate of Indiana University at Bloomington, he’s into all things tech media and business and has become a frequent contributor to the digital publication, Medium.

We are glad to have these two on for our second episode of our special “Dean’s List” edition of the A-List Podcast. On the Dean's List we interview rising, young professionals who are building their legacies in the 21st-century advertising world. This is an interesting episode as we dive into a lot of great conversation and discussion about advertising in today’s world.

Tune in to this week’s episode of the A-List here:

Show Notes:

[0:00-2:39] Intro.

[2:42-5:31] Matt and Mani talk a bit about their roles at mcgarrybowen and BBDO.

[5:32-9:00] Matt and Mani on their shared upbringing and experiences pre-advertising.

[9:26-13:21] Mani on discovering brand strategy and creative planning.

[13:44-16:06] Matt on full time creative and tips for interns learning to excel in the workplace.

[16:09-19:51] Finding inspiration from agencies' work and setting Google alerts to stay at the cutting edge.

[19:52-24:52] Matt and Mani's perspectives on industry changes and shifts.

[25:00-27:50] Moms, millennials, and the importance of communication in the modern age.

[28:00-32:28] Combatting instant gratification and developing skills outside of work.

[32:30-38:10] Finding connections and inspiration from the world around us by unplugging here and there.

[38:17-41:29] Discussing the modern workflow of an ad agency.

[41:30-51:40] Matt and Mani's goals for their future in the industry.

[54:09-58:17] Outro.

[0:00-2:01] Intro.

[2:31-5:31] Alex and Ivan talk about their upbringing in Georgia, Haiti and Tuscon, Arizona!

[5:32-8:22] Alex talks high school influences and his discovery of anthropology at Howard.

[8:27-11:00] Ivan discusses early inspiration in the performing arts and discovering PR and advertising.

[11:01-13:04] Alex discusses Howard University and the value of HBCUs.

[13:10-15:58] Ivan discusses life after college and being inspired to jump into copywriting.

[16:00-21:07] Alex's switch into advertising.

[21:14-27:43] Ivan's experience in ad school and moving to NYC.

[27:52-34:56] Alex's work at 72andSunny and developing diversity initiatives.

[35:30-40:20] Ivan's take on diversity and agency culture.

[41:30-46:18] Alex and Ivan's thoughts about the future of representation in advertising.

[48:30-51:13] Outro.

[0:00-2:06] Intro

[3:01-7:55] Growing up in Little Falls, New Jersey

[10:52-14:00] Discovering photography in school and creative writing.

[14:01- 18:35] Transitioning to advertising and becoming an intern at Mullen

[20:17-26:36] Building his book, ‘finding the fire’, and becoming an art director.

[28:12-31:30] Emerging as a creative and moving on to Fallon, in Minneapolis.

[32:18-34:01] Tips for young people who relocate to new cities

[34:30- 38:20] Being stubborn and pushing to make great ads.

[40:14-44:00] On the rise of digital storytelling

[45:00-50:33] Leaving Fallon for BBDO and meeting Tom!

[54:24 -1:00:23] Leaving BBDO and evading complacency

[1:01:12- 1:06:55] Moving to BBH and the challenges of being a senior level creative.

[1:07:00-1:10:30] Outro

[0:00-3:00] Intro.

[3:01-7:25] Mark talks about growing up in NJ and his early upbringing.

[7:26-9:29] Mark’s imagination and first forays into creativity as a profession.

[9:29-13:46] Mark’s super-dark childhood short story and learning how to express himself.

[13:47-16:11] Wayne Dyer’s ‘Erroneous Zones’ as a Marketing inspiration.

[16:13 -20:23] SUNY Fredonia, majoring in music, and discovering the library.

[21:17-24:45] Transferring to Cornell and Industrial and Labor Relations.

[24:54-27:44] How he made the switch to communications and ultimately deciding on Advertising as a career path.

[25:00-32:30] BBDO Direct and Mark’s first job working on brand accounts in advertising.

[32:31-40:20] Mark discusses his first creative experiences as a copywriter and being challenged for the first time.

[40:42-49:00] Being laid off, freelancing, and getting copywriter positions.

[49:15-55:59] Mark on his rise through the ranks and deciding to start his very own agency.

[56:00-57:37] Outro.

Show Notes:

[0:00-2:33] - Intro

[2:34 - 7:40] How to pronounce ‘Oregon’ and Steve’s upbringing in Portland.

[7:41- 9:52] Steve’s early inspirations and first exposure to art through his family.

[9:52- 14:17] Learning design fundamentals in school and discovering graphic design in college.

[14:18 - 17:33] Steve’s first design job as an illustrator and standing out in class.

[17:34 - 21:00] for the love of drawing.

[21:01 - 26:50] University of Oregon and developing a unique style at the Daily Emerald.

[26:51 - 30:17] Deciding on commercial art and getting notable exposure for designing.

[30:18 - 34:15] Starting a design career in advertising and advice to young artists

[34:16 - 37:10] Turning a local radio station into a design opportunity.

[37:11 - 46:33] Being picked up by Nike and working as a creative director.

[46:34: 53:59] Starting Sandstrom Partners and discovering a design niche

[54:00 - 1:03:40] Problem solving and favorite challenging projects

[1:05:55 - 1:07:22] Outro

[0:00 – 1:56] Intro

[1:57 – 4:27] Growing up in non-starstudded Ohio and discovering his drawing talents.

[4:28 – 7:20] Serendipitously stumbling on the book “Aim High for a Career in Graphic Design / Art by S. Neil Fujita” at age 14 and starting art as a vocational trade.

[7:21 – 12:10] The benefits of social ineptitude and the nerve to push yourself creatively.

[12:10 – 17:57] The curse of ‘knowing the rules.’

[17:58 – 26:16] For the love of rules and parameters.

[26:17 – 28:16] Helvetica and 70’s font style at the University of Cincinnati

[28:17 – 33:35] The magnetic pull to New York City and working with mastermind Massimo Vignelli.

[33:36 – 36:10] The healthy side of a workaholic.

[36:11 – 38:16] Wisdom gained from 10 years with Vignelli and the importance of compelling ideas.

[38:17 – 43:08] Leaving Vignelli to become a partner at Pentagram in 1990.

[43:09 – 48: ] Working on the top-secret Hillary Clinton campaign logo.

[52:49 – 54:59] Outro

[0:00 – 2:22] Intro

[2:23 – 7:50] Writing 200 headlines with Tom McElligott and growing up in Minnesota

[7:51– 18:14] The natural ease of writing copy and early advertising experiences

[18:15 – 25:50] Moving from advertising to HR

[25:51 – 31:25] How to make interviews safer spaces

[31:26 – 37:42] Embracing Millennials and dealing with hard clients

[37:43 – 50:10] Breaking down barriers with other people and being inclusive

[50:11 – 58:17] First steps in helping a company hire

[58:18 – 1:00:07] Outro