Do you know yourself well enough to love yourself? In this episode of Fearless Creative Leadership, Charles Day speaks with Ndidi Oteh, CEO of Accenture Song — the $20 billion digital, creative, and technology transformation arm of global consulting firm Accenture. Named successor to founder David Droga, Ndidi brings to the role a lifelong creative sensibility, a deeply rooted leadership philosophy, and a belief that nothing great is ever accomplished alone. She traces her relationship with creativity back to childhood — to a four-year-old girl in St. Louis who knew exactly what she wanted to wear and why — and reflects on how growing up as the eldest of seven, with significant family responsibility from a young age, quietly shaped her instinct for leadership. Ndidi discusses what it means to lead as an introvert, how a five-point personal ethos (developed over 20 years) guides her decisions daily, and why she approaches her role not with fear, but with a profound sense of honor. She and Charles also explore the evolving definition of creativity in business, the myth of the leadership playbook, what it takes to build cultures that don't just tolerate mistakes but learn from them, and why Ndidi believes the most powerful legacy a leader can build is one that gets better after they're gone. This is a rich, grounded conversation about servant leadership, self-knowledge, and what it truly means to make things better for the people around you. 00:00 — Opening Question: Do You Know Yourself Well Enough to Love Yourself? The question that frames everything. 03:57 — Guest Introduction: Ndidi Oteh, CEO of Accenture Song Stepping into a $20 billion role and what it demands of a leader. 04:10 — Creativity's Early Roots A four-year-old with a vision, growing up one of seven in St. Louis. 07:39 — Nature vs. Nurture Where does the instinct to make things better come from? 09:54 — Creativity as Culture Music, food, sports, and what brings people together. 11:12 — Self-Expression Through Making Sewing, jewelry, and learning the difference between appreciation and practice. 13:37 — Do You Think of Yourself as Creative? On being a creative thinker versus a creative — and why both matter. 14:08 — Redefining Creativity in Business Is the word too narrow, or do we need to educate people about what it really means? 18:19 — Was Leadership Always Part of the Plan? On introversion, responsibility, and learning to lead without being the loudest voice in the room. 21:14 — The Weight and Honor of Leadership Why Ndidi doesn't find the role terrifying — she finds it inspiring. 23:33 — Putting the Role On Every Morning Early rising, journaling, movement, and the centering practice that starts every day. 29:16 — A Conscious Leadership Ethos Five principles, 20 years in the making, that guide every decision. 34:41 — Spirituality and Intentional Leadership The faith practice behind her grounded, forward-looking style. 35:44 — Distributing Intention Through an Organization Knowing what you stand for — and making sure your team does too. 38:07 — Who Thrives Working for Ndidi? On surrounding yourself with people smarter than you, and the non-negotiable of treating people well. 40:44 — The Conditions That Unlock Creativity Creating the right environment — not putting creatives in a corner. 43:52 — The End of the Leadership Playbook Why the checklist never really worked, and what today's leaders actually need. 46:32 — Imposter Syndrome On never feeling alone going into a room, and where real confidence comes from. 50:24 — The Founder Transition Taking over from David Droga and building a legacy that belongs to everyone. 57:07 — Defining Success Learning every day, creating space for others, and driving value for clients. 58:49 — What She Wants to Leave Behind Great leadership creates infrastructure that excels even when you're gone. 01:00:07 — Advice to Her Younger Self Work a little less. Have more fun. Say "I love you" more. 01:01:50 — What Else Do You Want to Find Out About Yourself? Why Ndidi's answer turns outward, not inward. 01:02:21 — Hope for the Future Human ingenuity, connection over separation, and believing the arc bends toward good.
Do you know what you're doing — and why you're doing it? In this episode of Fearless Creative Leadership, Charles Day speaks with Erin Riley, CEO of TBWA, about leadership in an industry undergoing profound change. As consolidation reshapes the advertising landscape and creativity faces new pressures from data and AI, Erin reflects on the qualities leaders need most today: self-awareness, integrity, and the courage to make decisions when certainty doesn't exist. She shares how storytelling shaped her leadership style, why creative cultures depend on vulnerability and trust, and what it means to protect the "soul" of an organization while integrating new teams and histories. Erin also discusses imposter syndrome, the hidden power of micro-behaviors, and the tension leaders must balance between empathy and decisiveness. This is a thoughtful conversation about honorable leadership, creative courage, and the responsibility of guiding people and ideas through uncertain times. 00:00 — Opening Question: Do You Know What You're Doing? Leadership without a clear playbook. 03:43 — Creativity, Storytelling, and Family Influence Growing up in a culture of conversation and narrative. 08:30 — Storytelling as Leadership How leaders use narrative to inspire belief. 10:25 — External Processing and Leadership Style Thinking through conversation and collaborative decision-making. 12:50 — The Power of Micro-Behaviors How small leadership actions shape culture. 14:30 — Overcoming Self-Doubt Confidence through action and team support. 21:20 — Entrepreneurship and Leadership Risk Why starting a business still holds appeal. 27:40 — The Reality of Leadership Responsibility, complexity, and the myth of autonomy. 30:00 — Balancing Empathy and Excellence Making difficult decisions while protecting the organization. 35:40 — Creativity and Commercial Success Why great creativity is the best business strategy. 40:20 — Integrating Agency Cultures Navigating mergers while preserving identity. 46:30 — Custodianship of Bill Bernbach's Legacy Honoring advertising history while evolving forward. 52:10 — Advice to Her 20-Year-Old Self Trust your instincts and enjoy the journey.
Does someone else have to lose for you to win? In this episode of Fearless Creative Leadership, Charles Day speaks with Amy Martin-Ziegenfuss, Chief Marketing Officer of Carnival Cruise Line, about redefining success — and rejecting the zero-sum mindset that often drives ambition. Amy reflects on her journey from a small-town theater kid to leading one of the world's most recognized travel brands. She shares how creativity fuels business strategy, why leadership is about creating emotional safety, and how brands must balance long-term vision with real-time responsiveness in a volatile world. They explore imposter syndrome, the power of preparation in earning a seat at the table, and why the best leaders see winning as collective, not competitive. This is a conversation about impact, humility, courage, and the evolution from racing others to rising together. 00:00 — Opening Question: Is Winning Zero-Sum? Reframing leadership beyond competition. 02:53 — Early Creativity & Storytelling Books, theater, and the foundations of expression. 08:15 — From Literature to Marketing Discovering consumer behavior and business impact. 12:20 — Earning a Seat at the Table Preparation, sponsorship, and strategic credibility. 19:50 — Asking for Help as Leadership Strength Building influence through curiosity. 22:30 — Defining Creativity in Business Strategy as the unlock for innovation. 27:10 — Creating Emotional Safety Supporting fragile ideas in high-stakes environments. 33:00 — Leading a Global Brand Balancing long-term planning with rapid response. 38:30 — Imposter Syndrome & Personal Boards Why no leader should navigate alone. 44:40 — Moving Beyond the Race From guarded ambition to collective success. 45:50 — What Are You Hopeful For? Impact, legacy, and rising together.
What does courage actually look like in leadership? In this episode of Fearless Creative Leadership, Charles Day speaks with Rocky Novak and Brad Surcey, co-CEOs of Zeus Jones, about partnership, independence, and leading through uncertainty — both inside business and outside it. They discuss why independent companies can invest ahead of clients, how curiosity and optimism shape hiring, and why great creative cultures run on principles rather than rules. But this conversation goes far beyond business. As events unfold around them in Minneapolis, Rocky and Brad share how leadership changes when your responsibility shifts from performance to protection — caring for people first, then the company, then the community. This is a candid discussion about partnership, resilience, and humanity. It reveals how courage shows up in everyday decisions: investing before certainty, standing by your values, and supporting others when there's no playbook. 00:00 — Opening: Courage and Partnership Leadership and the role of courage in creative companies. 01:20 — Investing Ahead of Clients Why independence enables experimentation and learning. 03:25 — Leadership During Crisis Prioritizing employee safety and emotional wellbeing. 05:20 — Creativity Origins Rocky's dance background and Brad's early design influences. 12:30 — The Value of Independence Speed, decision-making, and long-term thinking. 19:45 — Continuous Evolution Why agencies must constantly reinvent themselves. 24:15 — Building a Culture of Risk Making investment a real budget line item. 27:05 — Client Partnerships vs Vendor Relationships Solving problems together rather than presenting solutions. 30:30 — Hiring for Curiosity and Optimism The qualities that sustain creative environments. 34:50 — Principles, Not Rules How culture becomes structure. 41:20 — Leading Through Social Upheaval Supporting people during uncertainty and fear. 47:30 — Creativity Serving Community Using communication to help local businesses. 53:40 — Supporting Each Other as Leaders The role of partnership in resilience. 56:00 — Hope for the Future Nuance, empathy, and rebuilding connection.
How much freedom do you give your people? In this episode of Fearless Creative Leadership, Charles Day speaks with Cat van der Werff, Executive Creative Director of Canva, about the paradox at the heart of modern leadership: setting clear standards while letting go of control. As Canva has grown from hundreds to thousands of employees, Cat's own evolution as a leader has mirrored that scale. A self-described perfectionist, she discovered that perfection can quietly suffocate creativity — and that excellence is only possible when leaders trust others to find their own way. They explore creativity as a human birthright, why empowering everyone to design elevates professional designers, how AI can expand imagination rather than replace it, and what it takes to build cultures rooted in trust, playfulness, and shared ownership. This is a thoughtful, deeply human conversation about freedom, responsibility, and what it really means to unlock creative potential at scale. 00:00 — Opening Question: Freedom & Leadership How much autonomy leaders truly give their people. 01:20 — Introducing Cat van der Werff & Canva Creativity, scale, and empowering the world to design. 03:10 — Creativity at an Early Age Drawing, observation, and imagination as instinct. 06:45 — Craft, Photography, and Self-Care Why leaders need creative practices of their own. 08:40 — Why Business, Not Fine Art Problem-solving, briefs, and applied creativity. 10:00 — Becoming a Leader From individual contributor to leading through others. 11:35 — Creativity as an Organizational Act Why org design and team structure are creative work. 14:30 — Vision, Scale, and Big Goals Operating from the future to guide growth. 17:10 — Creativity, Belonging, and Self-Actualization Why empowering creativity meets a fundamental human need. 21:35 — If Everyone Can Design, What's the Designer's Role? How democratization elevates strategic creativity. 24:15 — Building Empowered Cultures Small teams, trust, and shipping fast. 26:25 — Letting Go of Perfection Why perfectionism is selfish — and excellence is shared. 31:55 — Trust, Brand Integrity, and Boundaries How leaders intervene without controlling. 35:05 — Casting the Right People Playfulness, humility, and continual learning. 37:00 — AI, Imagination, and Confidence Why technology can't replace human creativity. 42:15 — Parenting, Creativity, and Presence Teaching creativity through doing, not instruction. 45:30 — Leading at Scale The tension between outward visibility and internal connection. 50:35 — Advice to Her 20-Year-Old Self Fun, creativity, and releasing pressure. 52:20 — Hope for the Future The coming "imagination era."