Lead Human with Jack Myers and Tim Spengler

What does it look like to lead at the very top of tech and media—and still put humans first?In this episode of Lead Human, hosts Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Carolyn Everson, former global ads leader at Facebook (Meta) and current board member at companies like The Coca‑Cola Company and The Walt Disney Company.Carolyn shares why no one will remember the revenue she oversaw—but they will remember whether she cared about people. She talks about the pulse survey that forced her to change her leadership, the risks that shaped her career (including getting fired by fax after turning down every “safe” job), and why “not knowing is the new knowing” in the age of AI. You’ll hear stories about Pets.com, Viacom, Microsoft, Facebook, Instacart, and her current “portfolio” life on boards and with entrepreneurs. Along the way, she gets real about missing small family moments, rebuilding her identity after leaving Facebook “blue,” navigating office politics, and why she still believes in hope and reinvention even as AI disrupts white-collar work.If you’re leading a team—or trying to lead your own life—this conversation is a masterclass in caring leadership, culture, and courage.Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad), in association with Acast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Lead Human, Tim Spengler and Jack Myers talk with Will Ferguson – a marketing leader, and Ethics Commissioner for the town of Fairfield, Connecticut – about how service, values, and accountability function the boardroom.Will shares what he's learned about building teams inside huge systems, why he went back for his MBA a decade after undergrad, and how he thinks about talent and education in today’s tech-driven world. They also dig into:What “purpose-driven values” look like inside data- and AI-obsessed companiesHow he approaches ethics in local government and in business decisionsWhy the name “Razorfish” is a surprisingly good metaphor for modern leadershipIf you care about leadership, service, or keeping your values intact in a world of dashboards and algorithms, this conversation is a grounded, human perspective you’ll want to hear.Lead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler, in association with Acast, and produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really take to grow from assistant media planner to global CEO—and now Global Chief Client Officer—inside one of the world’s biggest media groups?In this episode of Lead Human, hosts Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Adam Gerhart to talk about leadership, AI, and staying human in a career defined by constant change.Adam shares how he spent 20+ years inside one company—starting as an assistant planner and eventually becoming global CEO of Mindshare—by following three simple principles: be curious, raise your hand, and take real risks. He talks about moving to London with “two duffel bags” having never left the U.S., what he learned from parents who modeled lifelong learning and resilience, and the Mark Twain quote that helped him discover his personal “why.”They dig into:Why the real skill in the age of AI isn’t prediction, it’s preparationHow to deal with disingenuous bosses, back-stabbing colleagues, and tricky team membersWhy clients today want two things above all: simplicity and assuranceHow to break down silos and lead in service of others, not the other way aroundThe best mentoring advice Adam ever got: don’t take it personally—do your job and your career will manage itselfCreditsLead Human is hosted by Jack Myers & Tim Spengler.Produced by Wondir Studios (Desta Wondirad).In association with Acast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you do when your company keeps changing CEOs, the industry swings from “big ideas” to pure programmatic and back again, and now AI is reshaping creative work?In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Jennifer Rogers, EVP of Consumer & Corporate Marketing at TelevisaUnivision, to talk about thriving through constant change and leading teams in the age of data and AI.Jennifer shares how she’s survived five or six CEOs and multiple bosses by aligning quickly with new strategic goals instead of resisting, and why she sees change as an opportunity rather than a threat. She explains what makes the U.S. Hispanic audience a “dream” for marketers, how emotional connection and culture give TelevisaUnivision its edge, and why the industry is swinging back from cheap impressions to content, context, and real engagement.She also tells the story of how a semester abroad in Spain unexpectedly led to a career in Spanish-language media, how she thinks about staying 16 years at one company versus moving around, the kind of leaders she wants to emulate, and her philosophy on using AI as a complement to human creativity—not a replacement. As she puts it: if the job can be done by AI, the real question is, “What’s the job it can’t?”New episodes of Lead Human every week. In a world of machines and dashboards, the real competitive advantage is still a human one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can you learn about leadership from Michael Jackson, Magic Johnson, Marlon Brando — and your own family?In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler talk with Aaron Walton, co-founder of Walton Isaacson and longtime partner of Earvin “Magic” Johnson, about what it really means to lead with precision, empathy, and service.Aaron shares:What he learned spending 18 months on the road with Michael Jackson, watching him rehearse “Billie Jean” for more than an hour until every detail was perfectHow Magic Johnson changed the way he thinks about investing in diverse communities and using his influence to open doorsThe moment a client said “we’re colorblind here,” and why he replied, “when is being blind a good thing?” — plus what Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha expect from brands nowHow losing his mother forced him to rethink being “busy,” start monthly family Zooms, and rediscover the value of rest and doing nothingWhy he believes arts education is a necessity, not a luxury, and how his board work with organizations like Alonzo King LINES Ballet and Young Audiences New York keeps him groundedThe way his agency uses “Kaizen” sessions after big projects to ask what worked, what didn’t, and how to do it better next timeIf you care about leadership, culture, or building brands that actually reflect the world we live in, Aaron’s stories are a masterclass in leading human — on stage, in the boardroom, and at home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really take to lead a modern marketing organization without burning out or losing yourself?In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Lauren Weinberg – former CMO of Peloton, global CMO of Square, and longtime marketing leader – to talk about grit, energy, and choosing work that actually fills you up, not empties you out. Lauren shares how she thinks about the fork in the road between entrepreneurship and big-company leadership, why relationships are everything inside large organizations, and how she tries to lead with listening, not ego.She unpacks her idea of “energy vampires” at work and in life, how COVID forced her to reset her priorities as a mom of two teenage boys, and why she now sets unapologetic boundaries around the moments she refuses to miss. Lauren also explains why she avoids the old “brand vs performance” fight and instead talks about creating and capturing demand, including how she partners with CFOs to get on the same page about timelines, metrics, and risk.From leading Peloton’s marketing through a turnaround, to learning from Jack Dorsey’s blend of confidence and humility, to her own AI learning journey, Lauren offers a grounded, practical playbook for anyone trying to grow a career, a team, and a life at the same time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to lead tens of thousands of people without burning out or becoming a robot?In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Dave Penski, Global CEO of Connected Media, Publicis Groupe, to talk about leadership at massive scale, three-part happiness at work, and why “winning at work means nothing if you lose at home.”Dave breaks down how he thinks about his career in thirds (pay, the work itself, and how it fits your life), why he refuses to sacrifice his family for more travel, and how his job didn’t really change from leading 1,000 people to overseeing 65,000—so long as the right 12–15 leaders are in the right seats.He shares the inside story of the COVID decision not to lay off thousands of people, how that became a long-term advantage, and the simple culture mantra he uses to run a giant organization: “No silos. No solos. No bozos.”Dave also explains his “Take Four” mentoring program for diverse talent, why he answers every hard question in town halls, and what he thinks leaders owe the people who bet their careers on them.If you’re a manager, executive, or ambitious human trying to grow without losing yourself, this conversation is a masterclass in leading big while staying human.New episodes of Lead Human every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the happiest person actually wins?In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler talk with Evan Shapiro – producer, professor, and “media cartographer” – about how to navigate a media world where every kid with an iPhone is your competition.Evan opens up about:Growing up resisting control and why he’s always in a “constant search for change”How he uses real data (earnings reports, not just headlines) to speak truth to powerWhy traditional media mistook a rising bubble for brilliance – and what happens when it popsHow we went from limited competition to “infinite competition” overnightWhy he tells young people to work at small companies first if they actually want to learnHis simple philosophy: “the happiest person wins,” and how that changes how you build a life and careerWhat it really means to be a creator today: “a writer writes, a creator creates” – every day, like a jobAlong the way, Jack and Tim dig into what leaders can steal from Evan’s approach: using facts instead of fear, representing the audience inside broken systems, and building a career that isn’t just successful on paper, but livable.If you’re a leader, creator, or ambitious human trying to make sense of a collapsing old model and a chaotic new one, this episode is part warning, part playbook, and very human. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a world obsessed with data, dashboards, and AI, Lead Human asks: what does it really mean to lead as a human being right now?Media ecologist Jack Myers and industry leader Tim Spengler talk with CEOs, creators, founders, veterans, and culture builders about how they actually lead through disruption. They dig into navigating AI without losing your soul, building teams and cultures people want to stay in, making hard calls when the data is messy but the stakes are human, and living your values on diversity, equity, and inclusion.No performative hot takes—just candid conversations and practical ideas you can use with your team next week.New video episodes every Wednesday. In an age of machines, the real competitive advantage is still a human one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.