We take a look back at one of our favorite episodes from last year this week. When Joél Leon, Creative Director, T Brand Studio at New York Times Advertising, joined us in episode 601, he brought plenty of wisdom and some mic drop moments.

Full Episode Details 

If you want your creative team to make magic, then you’ve got to foster a healthy environment for them to thrive in. As Creative Director, Joél believes there needs to be more “harmony” within the creative process. And part of that is by building the right environment and leadership.

In this episode, we hear Joél’s take on what it means to be a great creative director and why it’s important to trust your team and give them safe spaces to flourish creatively. Joél takes us through some examples of his favorite campaigns he’s worked on and how his team defines success. He explores why it’s necessary to practice what you preach, especially when joining conversations about social issues.

In This Episode:

• 1:39 - Joél explains his role within T Brand Studio
• 4:54 - How Joél’s team works alongside the newsroom and editorial teams
• 6:35 - Joél shares some details of campaigns his team has worked on
• 7:51 - How Joél leads his team to deliver the very best content
• 12:00 - Joél’s methods for managing expectations and working with brands
• 15:07 - How leaders can create a healthy work environment
• 16:50 - How to protect the interests of your team while keeping clients happy
• 20:07 - Joél shares some of his favorite campaigns to work on
• 23:42 - How Joél prefers to think about failure and success
• 26:45 - Finding a harmony between creativity and social issues
• 30:50 - Why listening is the most active form of communication
• 31:20 - Joél announces his publishing deal and book
• 33:03 - Joél’s top tip for those wanting to become a social pro
  

Resources 

• Connect with Joél on LinkedIn
• Follow Joél on X
• Follow Joél on Instagram

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