Independent Creative Leader. Raiser of Brands. Chief Aunty of Young Creatives. Founder of Open Chair
And we're here! Welcome to The Loeries Creative Week! 2-6 October. It's going to be a big one. Not too late to join in on getting a glimpse of the best creative work in Africa and the Middle East. #Loeries2023
Independent Creative Leader. Raiser of Brands. Chief Aunty of Young Creatives. Founder of Open Chair
Arundhati Roy said, "Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." I believe that a new world of advertising and marketing is possible - one in which we can ALL do better. I am the Founder of Open Chair - an initiative aimed at creating more face time with young women and senior industry leaders. The aim was, and continues to be, to uplift and inspire the young women of our industry, so that they may stay, go on to take up empty seats at the heads of boardroom tables, and have sterling, memorable careers. Last week we launched the revival of Open Chair, with an army of powerful and caring women - Melina McDonald Lorraine Smit Nkgabiseng Motau Roanna Williams and Fran Luckin. And now we have an added objective - to help make this industry safer for ALL our people. Introducing #OnMyWatch - a Code for our entire industry. Read it below. We will be sharing more info on how to adopt it, but in the mean time, please join us at Open Chair
Introducing #OnMyWatch Many corporates and holding companies have a Code of Conduct. The problem is that it is consumed in private; it is read, not felt, not believed, and it doesn’t feel like like it’s part of our everyday lived experiences. This is the first of its kind that we have created - a Code for the entire industry to own, adopt and live by. Read it and let it live in your hearts and minds. We are here to educate and help each other to know what is harmful behaviour. We are doing this because, quite simply, we would like this industry to be better – for you and I to be better. If you would like a high-res copy to put up in your offices, please drop us an email at thewomen@openchair.tv. We will be sharing more details soon, on how to adopt this code.
Independent Creative Leader. Raiser of Brands. Chief Aunty of Young Creatives. Founder of Open Chair
Paul 'Nobby' Davies on the power of Craft
The Creative Elder | Coach | Mentor | Confidant | Storyteller | Curator | Collaborator | Artist | Consultant
Why paying attention pays. So, pay attention. Craft. A word that is fast becoming obsolete. Technology has helped creatives do things so much faster, but not better. I was taught to pay attention to everything I created. Every single part of it. If you don’t pay attention, then you don’t care. If you don't care, then why should anyone else pay attention. We are in the business of getting attention. Be it a Press Ad, TikTok, Painting, Song or Film. If they don’t get attention then they disappear, gone. Make it your mission to learn your craft. What and who is the best in your field. - Study it - Practice it - Copy it Understanding your craft will reap rewards. Of course, generating the idea will always be a buzz. But if the execution of that idea is poor, you lose impact and attention. Learning your craft is about consistency, showing up every day. Your skills are honed by practice, improving your work exponentially. Over time becoming a master of your craft. And a by-product of that process is creative joy. Isn't it worth paying a little bit more attention? “Craft is part of the creative process”. Gavin Bryars Composer Want to know how I can help you with your craft? DM me for details. The Creative Elder Empowering creators to flourish #thecreativeelder #creativitycoaching #creativitymatters
Independent Creative Leader. Raiser of Brands. Chief Aunty of Young Creatives. Founder of Open Chair
If there are some parts of what you do that you don’t love, that’s okay but if it’s all parts…then you might need a new path. Meet Paul 'Nobby' Davies - The Creative Elder and also Path Navigator.
The Creative Elder | Coach | Mentor | Confidant | Storyteller | Curator | Collaborator | Artist | Consultant
What do you do when you hate what you do? How I helped a creative director find another path. I had a client come to me with a major problem. “I fu@k!n& hate what I do!” It transpired that he hated the sector that he worked in. • It was full of vacuous, needy people. • It wasn't nourishing his creative soul. • It no longer aligned with his values. We got to work. We talked about his creative life. I asked him some powerful self-reflective questions. He then went away and had a very deep think. He came back with a most profound answer. A beautifully written & art directed 110-page book about his reawakening and rediscovery. It included the following: • Stories, thoughts, and observations about his journey. • Stunning photographs he had shot. • Illustrated with his own etchings, monotype collages and paintings. His response moved me so much that I had tears well up in me, this was magical. So, what did this process achieve for my client, this is what he had to say. “You have helped me work through layers of confusion and uncertainty and evolve towards clarity and understanding…of a recessed and forgotten creative focus and resource. You helped me remember a passion, and an emotional resonance and set me on a path to reframe my skill set.” Would like to go deep into your creative life, then please DM me? The Creative Elder Empowering creators to flourish #thecreativeelder #creativitycoaching #creativitymatters Image - Richard Midgley
Independent Creative Leader. Raiser of Brands. Chief Aunty of Young Creatives. Founder of Open Chair
Always a fantastic experience. Always in good company. #Bookmarks2024 #BMA2024 #BenchmarkingExcellence #DigitalExcellence
Independent Creative Leader. Raiser of Brands. Chief Aunty of Young Creatives. Founder of Open Chair
We are in such good hands!
The Creative Circle has named TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris\Jhb's Carl Willoughby as the new chairperson with Ogilvy’s Kabelo Moshapalo as his deputy.
Independent Creative Leader. Raiser of Brands. Chief Aunty of Young Creatives. Founder of Open Chair
I like to think it’s my 7-step face-care routine that keeps me young. But I think it’s advertising. And the fact that we’re always surrounded by Croc-wearing, English-reinventing, earth-hugging young people. It’s what I love about what we do. But we are a little obsessed with youth, don’t you think? Maybe sometimes we seem to forget to look to the ones who came before. I’d like to spend a moment giving props to the older folks. Most of the older people I know in this industry are actually pretty young at heart. In a boardroom when there’s a complex conversation, I always find myself turning to the more seasoned individuals in the room. I like the Grey Hair in our industry. And I think we should lean on them more often. Within the space of a few weeks, we’ve lost 3 legends – Andy Rice, Kevin Aspoas and Rob Schroder. And it made me very sad. It also made me think that we should consciously make more space for the people who’ve seen it all. I want to hear the stories now, not when you’re gone. I want to learn from you. And I want you to be here. Because you make this industry more diverse, richer and fuller. And…because you’re not done yet.
Independent Creative Leader. Raiser of Brands. Chief Aunty of Young Creatives. Founder of Open Chair
Think of one of your all-time favourite ads. It was probably Rob Schroder that made the music or the jingle. I woke up to this very sad news today that Rob is gone. 💔 Just a few weeks ago I sent him a message to congratulate him on 45 years of Rob Roy. He replied, “Fortunately I have reversed the ageing process.” Well, for those who knew him, you would know of his boundless energy - the way his eyes lit up no matter how big or small the job. And how he always had the gift of making you feel seen. I will miss you Rob, and your strange vegan snacks. You showed us nothing but kindness and your sheer genius.
Today a legend passed away, thankyou for all you did for us. Sleep well Boss.
Independent Creative Leader. Raiser of Brands. Chief Aunty of Young Creatives. Founder of Open Chair
Hello The One Club for Creativity Next Creative Leaders winners from South Africa - Sands Mathura and Lauren Mitchell. Super proud of these women! I've judged Next Creative Leaders before and it's such a tough competition with the most astounding creativity from around the world. It's a portfolio competition but it's more than that - it's about creatives who are making their mark on the world and have a point of view on leadership. Shout out Sandhya and Lauren! Thank you for flying our flag out there in the middle of global brilliance! 🙌🏾 🙌🏾 🙌🏾
Independent Creative Leader. Raiser of Brands. Chief Aunty of Young Creatives. Founder of Open Chair
This one goes out to ALL the peeps - my colleagues, friends, marketers, partners, schools and agencies who made it onto The Loeries 2023 Rankings list. This is no small feat. Yes, it’s about an order of excellence but it’s more than that - it’s a culmination of all that gigantic effort - the lost nights, the missed occasions, unpopular choices, feverish nightmares, bathroom tears, side-splitting hilarity, unexpected bonding at 2am on the side of the road, the undying protection of the creative baby, the unrelenting pursuit to make the idea even better, and of course, a tribute to the entire village it takes to keep that beautiful idea beautiful, and alive and kicking. We can have moments of cynicism in this industry - but let’s just take a moment to celebrate the ones who made it! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🥂🍾🥂🍾💛🖤💛🖤 Check out the rankings here - https://www.loeries.com/
Independent Creative Leader. Raiser of Brands. Chief Aunty of Young Creatives. Founder of Open Chair
2023 was the year I turned my advertising career upside-down and looked at it in a new way. Here’s what I learnt: 1. It’s easier to love this industry when you bring it back down to the two things that matter most – the people and the work. 2. Trust – you’re never too old or too long in the game to remind yourself to back yourself, to shower your creative spuds with daily belief. 3. We sometimes forget old-school things like proper introductions, offering a glass of water, and being able to say what you said on email to the face. I don’t think it’s old school really, I just think it’s the way business should be. 4. Relationships built over time are golden. Your reputation will get you far but the people in your corner will help you fly. 5. It’s easier to honour your true self when you’re not answering to many ungodly gods. But if you’re not true to yourself, it will haunt you till you are. 6. That old Wieden & Kennedy adage of "Fail harder" is right. But the lessons feel even more ‘lessony’ when you’re failing on your own dime. 7. Gratitude. Quite simply…gratitude.
