What is the number one quality you look for in talent?
Taste. Amongst other things of course, but for a creative person it’s taste. It’s one of those things you can’t teach. It’s such an amazing thing when you find someone that can process the world in their own unique way and then creatively articulate that point of view with a level of clarity and panache. Particularly within the confines of an ad brief because brands are typically unimaginative and conservative. So yeah, taste coupled with a little grit, kindness, and a sense of responsibility is the kind of talent I’d want to pay well and hold onto forever.
What is something the industry isn’t paying attention to that they should?
Where’s the beef? I was recently in a conversation with a friend who posed the question, “Over the past several years, where does the creative work that’s won gold and grand prix at our industries top award shows rank in the canon of great advertising?”. It was a question that sparked a serious and ongoing conversation amongst us. We both agreed that there is amazing thinking and impeccable craft on display at these shows.
As an industry it’s clear that we’re mastering the art of the case study but how much of the work, if any, will be cited as exemplary within the industry and/or more broadly in culture. So we jokingly framed the conversation, Where’s the beef? Where’s the work that represents the best of our industry’s ability to take bold creative swings while also resonating culturally? Where’s Sony Balls? Where’s Epic Split? Where’s Honda Cog? Where’s Think Different? Where’s Find Your Greatness? And on and on and on.
I love this business and I know year over year we are celebrating and awarding the very best but I think it’s worth paying attention to the fact that the biggest brands in the world don’t seem to be doing bold and famous nearly as often. That hurts the value placed on creativity for our entire industry in my opinion.
What is the very best career advice you’ve ever received?
Chase the work, not the money. The work will take care of everything else.
