Soul & Science : #84: From Creative to CEO | Rob Schwartz, Executive Coach, on Leading with Vision (Part 1)

SHOW NOTES

How do you turn creative vision into leadership success—and inspire a team to grow through disruption?

This week, Jason dives into the Soul & Science of Creative Leadership with Rob Schwartz, Executive Coach and former CEO of TBWA\Chiat\Day. Rob’s journey from copywriter to CEO is a masterclass in creative transformation. Using his philosophy of “Clarify, Simplify, Unify, Amplify,” Rob revitalized TBWA\Chiat\Day New York and led iconic brands like Nissan, Visa, and McDonald's to global success.

Rob shares how his bias towards action and deep listening skills shaped his leadership style, allowing him to innovate in times of disruption and inspire teams to reach their full potential. He also opens up about his transition from CEO to Executive Coach, offering powerful insights on nurturing human potential and coaching the next generation of creative leaders.

What’s Inside:
  • How Rob’s philosophy of “Clarify, Simplify, Unify, Amplify” reshaped TBWA\Chiat\Day New York.
  • The importance of listening and having a bias toward action in creative leadership.
  • Why understanding the economics of an agency is crucial for moving from CCO to CEO.
  • The lessons he learned guiding teams through industry disruptions and global crises.
Memorable Moments:
  • "Business is a creative act. Being CEO was the most creative thing I ever did."
  • "Listening isn’t just about hearing words—it’s about understanding culture, trends, and human needs."
  • "Great leaders adapt and grow with the times, just like great brands."
Brought to you by Mekanism.
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Soul & Science
Does marketing live in the heart, or in the head? Should you trust your instinct, or your integers? If the answer is both, should you lead with one more than the other? As a creative agency, Mekanism has been asking these questions of ourselves and our clients for over 10 years. Join co-founder and CEO of award-winning creative agency Mekanism, Jason Harris, on his quest to answer these questions with the world’s leading marketers from the brands we’ve all come to love. Named CEO of the Year by The Drum Magazine, Jason will draw from his experience during these easily digestible 20-minute episodes to explore the Soul of these famous brands and the Science of staying relevant, exploring how they’ve become culture defining emblems in our modern world.
Brought to you by Mekanism

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