Most of us walk into advertising careers with very little training in soft skills. Considering how important these can be in corporate environment, what should we be taught early on, but aren't?

This week we take a listener question from Ashwin, who as a creative asked us if it was possible to switch careers to strategy. In this episode we discuss our own journeys (Rachel coming from creative, Shann from account), the requirements to make the switch, but also the limits one has to consider. And if you are able to combine skills, it may be a good idea to make that your superpower?

This week we have a special (and longer) episode with two of our favorite people, Mark Pollard and Tom Goodwin, discussing our respective experiences as introverts in an industry where collaboration is essential.

This week we discussed what in our eyes defines good talents, often looking for traits that make them interesting both as a strategist but also as a person. But the onus is also on us to not only find them, but more importantly attract them. With the explosion of professional social networks it's become increasingly easy to spot some of the more visible ones, but what can we do ourselves to burst our bubble and go find the amazing talents that might not always the most visible to us?

Personalisation has become the name of the game in most marketing boardrooms, often discussed as the inevitable future paradigm of our industry. But as with every shiny new toys, it's never a bad idea to ask ourselves how far can we go, but also how far should we go?

Today we're joined by the awesome Mark Pollard, guru of Sweathead and inspiration to many strategists in our industry, to discuss the age old question whether strategists should come up with creative ideas themselves. In it, we explore what is an idea, why strategy is inherently creative, but also the boundaries we should keep in mind when engaging with creatives and their responsibility to carry the project through the finish line.

Agencies are often said to have lost some of their edge, stuck between forever pitches and increasingly powerful media partners. In their effort to avoid hurting anybody, it can sometimes be difficult for them to express sharp opinions publicly, and by extension difficult for their employees - especially the contrarian ones. Is it possible for them to retain that edge and can we, as employees, play a role in retaining it?

Plenty of successful advertising professionals do not have academic marketing training. But while studying it is clearly not compulsory in order do well, are there good reasons to get a college degree for it? Rachel and Shann discuss their own experience and whether it's right to consider academic studies as dispensable.

The lack of fulfilment at work is one of the most common complaints we hear from strategists. Reflecting on our own experience as well as many of the stories (and recommendations) we have heard over the years, we ask ourselves what steps one can take when fulfilment becomes a source of intense dissatisfaction. And yes, whether it can really be achieved...

As the new year begins, many of you will be thinking about life changes, so we're starting with a light topic for those of you that are thinking of moving to (or away from!) New York. Armed with experiences spanning across multiple countries and states, Rachel and Shann give you their honest opinion on whether the city that never sleeps is a good place to be as a marketing strategist. It's also a good opportunity to discuss the differences in strategic practice across different countries. Happy New Year!