Grow Op

Oct 20 2023

Grow Op Podcast artwork

In the advertising business, you never stop growing - even if you’re a seasoned strategist or aspiring to be one. Grow Op gives strategic thinkers and creative tinkerers opportunities to grow. Each week, Michelle Lee will talk to planners, creatives, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry legends on everything from working with creatives, to overcoming imposter syndrome, to staying curious, to winning pitches, to being a better client whisperer, to becoming a CSO, to storytelling, to cult brands, to purpose brands and much much more.

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APG Canada at 10 with McCann and Kids Help Phone

Oct 20 2023 40 mins

For the last few weeks we have been talking to industry thought leaders on how strategic planning in Canada has changed over the last 10 years and what might be in store for the next. In our final episode in this series, we are talking to Emily MacLaurin-King,VP GAD and Josh Hansen, VP Strategy at McCann and Rebeca Stutley, SVP Storytelling and Communications at Kids Help Phone, a

How to Leverage Adventure with Matt Foulk

Oct 12 2023 36 mins

Helen Keller once said, “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” Matt Foulk’s 9-5 is CSO of Jolly Good but when he’s not working, he can be most often found on his bike (or one of several). Matt is the Founder of Ghost Gravel (an adventure cycling company that creates and supports extraordinary adventures 'off the beaten track') and unsurprisingly a huge s

How to Build a Culture of Effectiveness with Ian Westworth

Sep 30 2023 38 mins

There is rarely a week that goes by where I don't see an article or report or study on effectiveness. And for obvious reasons. Advertising is "commercial art" and so obviously should be expected to deliver. And while there is much more data to show that this commercial art is doing something, understanding what it is doing and the resulting implications is something t

How to use reading to power your planning with Jeff George

Sep 19 2023 32 mins

"Reading fuels a sense of curiosity about the world, which I think helped drive me forward in my career and in the work that I do now with my foundation." Bill Gates is many things: visionary computer programmer, co-founder of Microsoft, American billionaire, philanthropist....and also a prolific reader. Gates, who has been known to read 50 books a year, credits some of

Canada VS with Ron Smrczek and Christopher Andrews

Sep 05 2023 39 mins

Shortly after I joined TAXI, I remember being asked to fly to Amsterdam to work on the launch of Axe Hair in Europe. I couldn't believe my luck! While there, I worked alongside Ron Smrczek and Chris Andrews who were heading up the TAXI Amsterdam office at the time. Since then, Ron and Chris led had a storied career venturing throughout Europe and the US. And they are currently

Canada VS with Lucia Thomaz

Aug 21 2023 47 mins

Lucia Thomaz is a brand strategist based in Montreal and originally from Brazil. Several years ago, Lucia was persuaded to leave Sao Paolo, where she worked at agencies such as FCB, DDB and Fabrica, to chase love and has since settled into life in Canada. Given her background, we thought he'd have an interesting perspective on our question: What makes strategic planning in Cana

Canada VS with Graham Lang, TAXI

Aug 14 2023 25 mins

Graham Lang, CCO at TAXI, has enjoyed a storied career in advertising so far having worked at agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi London and Y&R South Africa, prior to moving to Canada in 2018. Given his background, we thought he'd have an interesting perspective on our question: What makes strategic planning in Canada different and what might a Canadian style of strategic

Canada VS with Rafik Belmesk, Dentsu

Aug 08 2023 27 mins

Rafik Belmesk is CSO at Dentsu and early in his career, he lived and worked abroad in Singapore at Ogilvy. Get his perspective on what makes strategic planning in Canada different and what a Canadian style of strategic planning may have to offer the industry.

Canada VS with Erin Brittain, Publicis

Jul 24 2023 24 mins

Back in 2017, Erin Brittain, Group Strategy Director at Publicis, moved to London for some adventure. While there, she deepened her brand planning expertise and after a couple years abroad, she came back to Canada. On this week's episode, of GrowOp, we get her take on how strategic planning in Canada is different from the rest of the world and what a Canadian style of strategic

APG Canada at 10 with UM

Jul 10 2023 37 mins

We've almost completed our APG Canada at 10 series. In episode #9, Richard Fofana, EVP Strategy at UM shares his reflections on how strategic planning in Canada has changed over the last 10 years and what might be in store for the next.