Got a question for The NABS Podcast? The Media Lad is loved throughout adland for his funny takes on the industry as well as his insights into where we're doing brilliantly, and where we can work together to make things better. He champions those underrepresented in the industry and in his own life has come through tough times to be a practical and positive force for good. You'll never know his real name, but you'll be inspired by what he has to say. Key takeaways Positive thinking and...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? Caregiving in adland: Ben Waters' devoted double life Ben Waters is a producer at Mother and a caregiver for his partner. He also founded and runs the caregivers’ support group at Mother, which meets regularly for support and chats in an informal setting. Ben is absolutely brilliant and down-to-earth and talks about caregiving in such a relatable way, acknowledging that it took him too long to seek support – but he’s so glad that he did. He’s made us...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? Gen Kobayashi is UK group chief strategy officer at M+C Saatchi. Gen also knows the pain of bereavement first-hand, as he sadly lost his sister-in-law to cancer. Gen is a key industry voice on grief and bereavement. In this beautiful conversation he shares the profound impact of loss on his family. Gen explores what true support looks like, and shares why grief made him take a proper break from work for the first time ever. Both Gen and Louise have experie...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? How to manage your team's mental wellness - and your own, with Sue Todd, CEO, NABS Sue Todd is the CEO of NABS, the industry's charity, helping everybody to move forward. She's not just in charge of adland's mental wellness; she's also responsible for the mental wellness of the NABS team. To mark Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 May), Sue comes onto the NABS podcast for the first time to talk about community, meditation, the menopause and more. Key take...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? How to make a big impact without burnout, with Bianca Best Bianca Best knows about burnout - she experienced it, and has now written a book on how to avoid burnout while making an impact at work. Bianca is an adland powerhouse, a solo mum of four (five if you include her dog), a coach and a speaker, so she certainly knows about fulfilling your potential without damaging your mental wellness. Having got to the burnout point some years ago, Bianca knows how ...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? TW: premature birth; miscarriage How we created a dads' community at work, with Ben Irons and Joe Dolan of Microsoft Advertising Ben Irons and Joe Dolan are advertising leaders, coaches and working dads. Together they run Dads at Microsoft, a group that supports dads - and mums - across the world in the company. The group's listening circles are where parents come together for advice and support seasoned with good humour, which makes sense because Ben and ...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? tw: suicide Emma Flaxman is senior commercial comms lead at Channel 4 and a mental wellness influencer in adland, having led on mental health for the likes of PHD and Omnicom Group UK. Emma is superbly open about her own challenges, especially where they relate to becoming a single parent. She blogs about her experiences on her blog. In this brilliant conversation, Emma talks about spotting burnout in yourself and in your team as well as what life looks li...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? tw: alcohol addiction, depression Natalie Bell is CEO, MG OMD and one of the industry's most prolific leaders, with a string of accolades to show for it. With her focus on people and mental wellness, she's well-placed to talk about leading with empathy. Natalie also has a moving story to tell: that of living with her mother's alcohol addiction, and how this has affected her. This is a thought-provoking and heartfelt discussion, which also delves into...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? James Fox is the outgoing CEO of Havas. First and foremost though, in his own words, he's a dad, and in this conversation he talks about the truth of being a working parent and a leader in adland with refreshing honesty and perspective. It shouldn't be unusual for an adland leader to say that it's OK and natural for parents to put their children first, but it is, and in this conversation James talks about how he manages the parenting/working combination. J...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? Trevor Robinson OBE is the co-founder of Quiet Storm, which he runs with his wife Rania (also a NABS Podcast guest) and Create not Hate, which works with young talent from underrepresented groups. Trevor is the brains and creativity behind the legendary Tango advert in the 90s, having adopted a fearless attitude cultivated as a young creative, on the dole, trying to get into the adland industry. He's passionate about creativity and diversity and is refresh...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? Rania Robinson is CEO of Quiet Storm Advertising, co-founder of Create not Hate and a former president of WACL. She's also a naturally early riser, using her body-clock attuned 5am starts as valuable me-time to support her mental wellness. Rania realises 5am isn't a time for everyone, and in this easygoing chat Rania shares her tips for sustaining self-support, as well as the importance of sharing values in business and relationships - she runs Quiet Storm...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? Jade is executive creative director at Huge, a design and innovation company based in London and New York. A graduate of St. Martin's, Jade describes herself as a creative adventurer. She's worked on brands from Sony to Starbucks and also runs Creative Adventures, where she supports founders and entrepreneurs. Jade is also helping to drive forward NABS' Art Auction - submit your piece by 9 September and help to raise funds with your creativity nabs.org.uk/...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? Josh Krichefski is CEO of GroupM, EMEA and UK and president of the IPA. This industry influencer is also a huge advocate for mental wellness in our industry, and at the IPA has introduced the People First Promise to promote mental health awareness and support across adland. Has your organisation signed up to it yet? Josh talks about his own struggles - anxiety and insomnia - as well as how to get involved with the People First Promise. He's very clear, dow...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? Trigger Warning: sexual assault, sexual abuse, domestic violence, rape, alcoholism, cyberbullying Matt Foster, director of DE&I at Ogilvy UK, has an outstanding track record of campaigning and changemaking, particularly in the LGBTQ+ space. We invited Matt to be our guest to discuss this work, as well as our NABS/Ogilvy Health collaboration around microaggressions. We have a fascinating discussion about all of this. As well as the above, Matt recently ...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? This week's NABS Podcast guest is Julian Douglas, global CEO at VCCP and a vocal advocate for mental wellness in the advertising industry. The instigator of the Pitch Positive Pledge during his tenure as IPA president, Julian is a changemaker with a down-to-earth approach to mental wellness, as well as a huge enthusiasm for the ad industry. Julian also loves to learn and might inspire you to enrol on a free NABS course. Julian talks to host Louise Scodie...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? Ally Owen is the rapid-fire and inspirational founder of Brixton Finishing School, the free course that develops underrepresented talent for adland. Ally shares her experiences of being an ADHD, working-class, single mum in adland to help elevate others and create a more inclusive industry, with our host Louise Scodie. Ally is fun, intuitive and self-aware, describing her optimum schedule as 'that of a three-year-old toddler'. And with a host of industry ...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? Iain Preston is a neurodiverse creative industry leader and DEI advocate. Full of energy and wisdom, Ian shares his lived experience of ADHD with our host Louise Scodie, openly discussing the challenges as well as the benefits it brings to his brain. He also shares his thoughts on how ADHDers benefit adland and how team members and leaders can best support those who live with ADHD. Iain also loves his dog Rocky, who helpfully stayed quiet for us du...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? Aimee Luther is managing director of the Liberty Guild. The Liberty Guild is an invitation-only curated association of the finest communication practitioners in the world. The business aims to give creatives and strategists a better work-life balance and more ownership over their careers. Aimee is a huge believer in kindness as a leadership style, and she makes sure this is a top-lived value throughout her professional and voluntary work. Aimee...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? tw: suicide Chloe Davies is a creative global inclusion and belonging consultant and founder of It Takes a Village, a network for Black women in advertising, marketing and media. Chloe is a proud Black bisexual woman as well as being a mother of two and an outstandingly prolific campaigner and activist. Chloe volunteers for UK Black Pride, the London Queer Fashion Show and was recently named one of Campaign magazine's 40 over 40. Chloe fits an impre...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast? tw: domestic violence Reeha Alder is the founder of Mighty You, an executive coaching and training consultancy focusing on helping individuals, teams and organisations to create spaces that help them to be their best authentic selves. Reeha takes a holistic approach to creating authentic environments using a combination of breath work, DEI and wellbeing training and skills training for managers and leaders. As well as being an advocate for authentici...