Claim OwnershipLet's Bring It In: Discussions with In-House Creative Leaders
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© Greg Christensen
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Conversations with brand leaders who are doing great creative in-house.
A production of Barnes Creative Bank.
barnescreativebank.com
A production of Barnes Creative Bank.
barnescreativebank.com
32 Episodes
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In this conversation, Richie Gleason, the Executive Creative Director at Blue Mercury, shares insights into the luxury beauty marketplace, his journey through the creative industry, and the challenges of remote work. He discusses the importance of building a strong creative culture, the decision-making process behind in-house versus agency work, and the complexities of rebranding a marketplace that features multiple luxury brands.
From film school to flushable fame, Andy Andersen’s career path is anything but ordinary. Now VP of Creative at DUDE Wipes, Andy joins Let’s Bring It In to talk about how humor, speed, and scrappy creative instincts have helped turn a start-up into a household name. We dive into the brand’s bold voice, the role of social and influencer marketing, and what it takes to build an in-house creative team that can move fast. And funny.
Jim Bosiljevac, former ECD of Yahoo! and now Associate Professor at the University of Texas, has just launched a new course on Domestika called Developing Advertising Campaigns from Pitch to Brief. He shares the process of taking ideas from the spark of inspiration all the way to a fully formed campaign. Check out the course here: www.domestika.org/courses/5274/bosiljevac
In this episode Jamie Reilly, Group Creative Director at Atlassian and former VP of Global Creative at Vans, talks about what it takes to build and sustain brand love, how to lead creative teams through major shifts, and why the lessons from sports and lifestyle brands translate surprisingly well into the world of software. It’s a conversation about culture, leadership, and finding creativity in unexpected places.
Bill Girouard leads Copper Giants, the in-house agency behind Liberty Mutual’s wildly recognizable campaigns — from “Liberty Biberty” to the wax-statue super saver. In this episode, we talk about how his team built that kind of cultural impact, why Copper Giants is rewriting the playbook for in-house agencies, and what it takes to earn trust, drive great work, and stay creatively sharp inside a Fortune 100 brand.
What do Super Bowl logos, pop culture deep dives, and the National Women’s Soccer League have in common? Madison Raisch.In this episode, Madison talks about her creative journey, from crafting iconic event identities at the NFL to becoming the first-ever Creative Director at the NWSL. We get into what it means to bring bold, expressive design into a fast-growing sports league, how she thinks about storytelling through brand identity, and the surprising moment that made her rethink her entire career path (hint: it involves Castaway).
Kyle McCarthy, CCO at Lowe’s and former ECD at Patagonia, joins Let’s Bring It In to talk about building bold brands from the inside. From unifying Patagonia’s “tribes” to launching the “Lowe’s Knows” platform, Kyle shares lessons on storytelling, in-house creativity, and why even mulch can spark a breakthrough idea.
“Don’t pet the fluffy cows.” That viral warning about bison safety is just one example of how Matt Turner, a longtime park ranger turned social media manager, has helped the National Park Service find a strong voice online. In this episode, Matt shares how he went from handing out brochures to running a national account, why humor and humanity matter, and what every brand can learn from blending storytelling with public service.
Jason Johnson shares his path from Disney host to leading creative at Qualtrics. He dives into the evolution of Qualtrics’ in-house creative team, the challenges of maintaining brand consistency worldwide, and why in-house roles can offer unmatched creative variety. Plus his best advice for creatives eyeing the in-house world.
The new Utah Mammoth logo is more than just a design—it's a story of community, symbolism, and bold creative choices. In this episode, Chris Ryan George and Ben Barnes discuss how they crafted a brand that resonates with fans and honors Utah's identity. Check out nhl.com/utah for more info.
DW Brotherton, Group Art Director at Disney’s Yellow Shoes, shares how he’s navigated a career that’s part careful planning, part seizing the moment—and often, just rolling with the unexpected. We talk about the thrill and responsibility of working with Disney’s iconic IP, what makes in-house agencies today so powerful, and how he knows whether he's just making noise—or creating magic.
Andrew Dickson and Aaron James are the creative minds behind Mt. Freelance. Between them, they’ve worked with top agencies like Wieden+Kennedy, BBDO, and Camp Grizzly as well as directly for powerhouse brands like Ikea, Patagonia, Nike, and MasterClass. They share hard-earned wisdom on landing more work, charging what you're worth, and building a thriving creative career. Whether you’re a freelancer or an in-house creative, this episode is packed with insights to help you navigate the ever-evolving creative landscape.
Brett Bolin’s path to retail wasn’t a straight line—it was shaped by family decisions that ultimately led her to fall in love with the retail industry. As VP of Creative at Floor & Decor, she shares what makes in-house creative work so rewarding, from being part of a product’s journey to seamlessly integrating her teams with agency partners. Brett also reflects on the game-changing moments in her career, the power of raising your hand, and why leadership starts early for art directors on set. Plus, a look back at launching Floor & Decor’s first NYC store in Liberty Brooklyn.
Head of the Creative Lab at Spotify, Kay Hsu talks about curiosity, entrepreneurship, and diversity. And by the end of the episode, you'll be googling "Ice Festival Harbin China."
A few weeks ago, some of the industry's best creative minds gathered in Scottsdale, Arizona, for The One Club Creative Leaders Retreat. Among them was Mollie Wilkie, Senior Global Creative Director at Hasbro, who took the stage to share her insights. In this episode, Mollie breaks down the key lessons from her presentation, what she took away from the event, and how creative leaders can drive impact in an evolving industry.
Julia Melle, Director of Brand and Content at Southwest Airlines, shares what she’s learned stepping from the agency world into a brand she already knew (and loved). We talk about the power of influencers, why customers trust them more than brands, the difference between balance andfinding windows, and the rigor of truly taking care of your people. Plus, why she and her team are just getting started.
Ginny Golden is the Executive Creative Director at YETI, AdAge's 2024 In-house Agency of the Year. In this episode, she talks about gaining trust as a leader, the difference between execution-led and idea-led cultures, and why the Camino tote is her go-to YETI product. She also generously shares her experiences integrating family planning into her career. And how a sabbatical led to six months backpacking in Asia and working in a dive shop in Bali. Grab your 30 oz. Rambler and tune in.
Michael Lentz is an Art Director and Creative Lead at NASA. On his studio wall are the following framed albums:U2 - The Unforgetable FireEurythmics - Sweet DreamsThe Police - Ghost in the MachineDavid Bowie - Diamond Dogs, 1. Outside, Black Star, Heroes, and LowLaurie Anderson - Home of the BraveThe Cure - Standing on the BeachSiouxsie & the Banshees - Tinderbox, and Peep ShowLove and Rockets - Earth Sun MoonBauhause - The Sky’s Gone OutHe also has framed movie posters of Tron, Blade Runner, and Excalibur.
Creator of BMW Films. Former ECD of Fallon. Partner of a Civil War-era mill that makes blankets. And current ECD of Best Buy. Bruce Bildsten is a really interesting guy. Hear what he has to say about Best Buy's new production facility, how marketing people jump around within their discipline, and how Dan Wieden created the Titanium Lion. We also talk a bit about skiing.
Duo on Ice. Crafting a sword from Valyrian steel. And a Super Bowl commercial with an owl coming out of another owl’s butt. These are just a few of the efforts that make Duolingo more than another language learning app. James Kuczynski, Creative Director of Brand and Marketing tells us all about them.
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