The Overthinkers

Business leaders often struggle to embrace complexity, and certainly have a fear of uncertainty. In this episode, Steve McCrone tells us more about how embracing those could be turned into strategic advantage.

Is paid advertising the mark of unremarkable brands? Or is it an essential step to grow into a big brand?

Words and opinion play an important part in strategy, and it's not uncommon to see strategists writing, recording or presenting their thinking. Many famed strategists are regular contributors, and would qualify as thought leaders. But does that mean thought leadership is part of the job description?

Some accounts are infamous for making it hard to attract or retain talent. In many instances, broken relationships between those and their agencies can lead to job dissatisfaction, burn out etc. Does this mean clients have a responsibility to play in talent retention - and thus should they be held accountable for it?

We've all heard the statement: "we launched without spending on marketing!". And yet you have plenty of marketing activities - just no paid advertising. Marketers equating marketing with advertising media spend is unnerving. But where does it come from, and how can we put an end to this?

We're getting close to raise cycles, so this week we're discussing our recommendations to better get the promotion you think you deserve!

Economics are rarely part of the marketing curriculum. And yet economics inevitably play a role in how the markets we operate in behave. Does that mean marketers should be well tuned to economics (macro or micro)? And if yes, what kind of sources can they tap into to familiarise themselves with economic dynamics?

Access to employee salaries, review of profits, constant pitching, threats to lose an account, looking down on agency staff... There is a long list of realities that seem to have placed agencies at the bottom of the marketing food chain. And in the process, have we lost what made our voices heard?

CMOs are supposed to be at the top of our industry... but are they always? This week we're joined by Seth Matlins, Managing Director at Forbes CMO Network, to discuss whether CMOs have been pushed out of the top leadership of companies - and if they have, how can they reclaim a seat at the big decision making table? Seth's unique perspective as an ex-marketer himself and now interacting daily with CMOs as part of Forbes' CMO Network gave us a lot to think about and provides inspiration for marketers of all levels.

Brace yourselves! Recessions are rarely good news for marketers. So what to expect as an industry and personally? And should it really be that way, or are there means to "make the most" of a recession?