Mentor

Nadine Young is UK CEO of Spark Foundry and one of the media industry's most respected agency leaders. With more than 26 years of experience, Nadine has built an impressive career spanning London and New York, working across strategy, client leadership and agency management. After spending nine years in New York, she returned to the UK and went on to lead PG1 and Starcom, becoming CEO of Starcom in 2020. During her five years leading the agency, Starcom was named Media Week's Agency of the Year, while Nadine herself was twice recognised as number one in Campaign's Top 10 Media Suits. In this episode of Mentor, Nadine reflects on the career decisions, unexpected opportunities and personal experiences that shaped her journey to becoming a CEO. She discusses why she has never followed a rigid career plan, how a desire for new challenges led her to move to New York without ever having visited, and why some of the biggest opportunities in her career came from stepping outside her comfort zone. She also shares an important lesson she learned early on: doing a good job isn't always enough, and sometimes you need to make your ambitions known if you want to progress. Nadine explains why she believes confidence comes after taking action rather than before it, and why people are more likely to regret not taking an opportunity than trying something that doesn't work out. She reflects on the transition from strategy into senior management, the challenges of leading teams of more than 100 people, and why great leadership starts with genuinely caring about the people around you. She also explores the importance of creating a culture where people feel supported, building confidence in others and surrounding yourself with people who bring different skills and perspectives. Along the way, Nadine opens up about the realities of being a CEO, balancing the commercial pressures of running an agency with the needs of its people, and why culture is ultimately what drives performance. She discusses her experience as a single working mother, the challenges of navigating motherhood alongside a demanding leadership career, and why recognising the signs of burnout and protecting your mental health are essential. Whether you're navigating your own career, stepping into a leadership position, managing a team or looking for the confidence to take your next big opportunity, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom on career progression, resilience, mentorship and what it really means to be a great leader. Chapters: 00:00 - Nadine Young: From Media Planner to Agency CEO 01:54 - 26 Years in Media: The Career Pivots That Shaped Her Journey 05:41 - Did Nadine Always Have a Plan? 09:17 - Why Doing a Good Job Isn't Always Enough 10:37 - Moving to New York Without Ever Visiting 12:59 - How Living in New York Changed Her Perspective 16:32 - Building Confidence and Belief in Your Team 19:18 - Taking Career Risks: What's the Worst That Can Happen? 21:01 - The People Who Give You the Confidence to Take the Leap 23:16 - Moving from Strategist to Agency CEO 24:20 - Why Great Leaders Genuinely Care About People 26:09 - Why You Need People Smarter Than You 28:14 - Why Culture Drives Performance 31:16 - The Reality of Being a CEO 33:17 - Knowing When It's Time for a New Challenge 35:11 - Leading Through Lockdown and Joining Spark Foundry 38:45 - The Importance of Mentors and Paying It Forward 40:45 - Being a CEO and a Single Working Mother 43:39 - The Best Career Advice Nadine Has Ever Received 44:23 - What Nadine Would Tell Her Younger Self Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Mellish is Managing Director at Accenture Song, CEO of TMW and a Non-Executive Board Member at YBB. One of the advertising industry's most experienced agency leaders, Chris began his career in the early days of digital before going on to spend around 15 years at Razorfish, ultimately becoming UK CEO. He later founded and led Black Book London before joining TMW Unlimited as CEO in 2019, where he oversaw a significant period of growth and transformation before the business became part of Accenture. In this episode of Mentor, Chris reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership journey, from entering the emerging world of digital marketing to leading agencies through acquisitions, periods of growth and major organisational change. He shares how an unexpected conversation with an early boss first made him realise he had the potential to become a Managing Director, and why recognising potential in others can be one of the most powerful things a leader can do. Chris explains why he believes respect is a more powerful ambition than simply becoming the biggest or most commercially successful business. He reveals how building a culture around respect helped transform TMW, bringing teams together around a shared purpose. He also discusses the realities of leadership pressure, the importance of listening and authenticity, and why great leaders must balance empathy with the confidence to make difficult decisions. Along the way, Chris shares some of his biggest career lessons, including why decision-making should involve triangulating data, gut instinct and experience, the costly mistake of making the wrong senior hire, and why sometimes the best decision a leader can make is to walk away from a difficult client relationship. He also explores the challenges of integrating a business into a much larger organisation, protecting company culture through change, and the importance of building trusted relationships with mentors throughout your career. Whether you're leading a team, navigating a senior leadership role, managing organisational change or building your own career in the creative industries, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom on leadership, decision-making, resilience and what it really takes to earn the respect of the people around you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vivian Mohr is Chief Operating Officer of Bauer Media Group, one of Europe’s largest media businesses, operating across radio, publishing, digital platforms and outdoor advertising. Before joining Bauer, he built his career across consulting, technology and media, including leadership roles at McKinsey, Comparis and major European media organisations. In this episode of Mentor, Vivian reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy, from growing up between Germany and the United States, studying in Dubai and Cambridge, to leading transformation programmes across international businesses. He shares why some of the most important career opportunities are often the ones that feel uncomfortable, and how stepping into roles he felt unprepared for accelerated his growth. Vivian explains why even the best strategies fail without belief, alignment and execution. He reveals the three qualities he believes every leader must balance: clarity, courage and humility. He also discusses the importance of psychological safety, building trust across cultures, bringing people with you through change, and why leadership is less about having all the answers and more about creating an environment where great ideas can emerge. Along the way, he shares lessons learned from McKinsey, the career mistake that taught him the importance of taking people on the journey, and why meeting people where they are is one of the most underrated leadership skills. Whether you're leading a team, navigating a career transition, managing change or aspiring to senior leadership, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom from a leader responsible for helping shape the future of one of Europe’s most influential media companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Howe spent 17 years at Google helping agencies and brands navigate one of the biggest transformations in media history. Before that, he built a successful career across television, media sales and leadership, giving him a front-row seat to decades of industry change. In this episode of Mentor, Mark reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his career, from leaving traditional television for Google at a time when many thought he was making a mistake, to navigating difficult leadership challenges, industry disruption and periods of intense personal pressure. Mark shares why authenticity became his greatest professional asset, how trust is built over decades rather than transactions, and why the best leaders surround themselves with people who are smarter than they are. He also opens up about career-defining setbacks, the importance of resilience, lessons learned from Google’s culture, and the difficult balance between professional success and family life. Along the way, he reveals the story behind escaping Alcatraz three times, the leadership lesson that changed his perspective forever, and why "being the best you can be at what you're best at" remains his guiding principle. Whether you're leading teams, building a business, navigating change or simply looking to make better career decisions, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom from someone who has spent decades at the highest levels of media and technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Judith Salison OBE joins MENTOR to share the lessons, leadership principles and career wisdom gained from more than five decades at the forefront of the advertising and media industry. From becoming one of the first female television sales executives in Britain to co-founding one of the UK's pioneering outdoor advertising businesses, Judith reflects on the determination, resilience and adaptability that shaped her career. She discusses the realities of building confidence in male-dominated environments, the importance of earning trust through expertise, and how a willingness to embrace change helped her navigate an industry undergoing constant transformation. Judith shares the story behind launching Harrison Salison, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the experience of growing and eventually selling the business after more than a decade of success. The conversation explores the role of mentorship throughout a career, why the best mentors are often those willing to challenge your assumptions, and how honest feedback can shape important decisions. Judith also reflects on her long-standing involvement with WACL and NABS, the progress made for women in leadership, and the challenges that still remain around ageism, inclusion and workplace culture. Along the way, she offers practical advice on career fulfilment, knowing when it's time to move on, building meaningful professional relationships and supporting the next generation. Asked what advice she would give her younger self, Judith's answer is simple but powerful: always stand up for yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices