Shows
The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipThe ICON Series: Barbara BatesIn this conversation, Aarti Shah and Bill Coletti connect with Barbara Bates, a seasoned agency leader and founder and former CEO of Eastwick Communications. They cover the evolution of agency leadership, the importance of personal branding, and the value of building relationships within the industry. They explore the challenges of retirement, the significance of shared values among partners, and the necessity of adapting to industry changes. The discussion emphasizes the importance of community engagement and celebrating small wins to foster a positive agency culture and maintain motivation.2025-05-1858 minThe Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipThe ICON Series: Susan ButenhoffIn this new series, Aarti and Bill sit down with Susan Butenhoff, trailblazing agency founder of Access Communications. The discussion delves into the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship, the importance of mentorship, and the evolving landscape of agency models. Susan reflects on her experiences, the sacrifices made for success, and the joy she finds in her work today. The conversation emphasizes the need for agency owners to adapt to changing market dynamics while maintaining a focus on culture and personal fulfillment.2025-05-181h 01The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipDelegation and Make Yourself Available as a Mentor | Monique FarmerIn this episode of the Heart and Science of Creative Leadership podcast, host Bill Coletti speaks with Monique Farmer, owner of Avant Solutions, about her journey in public relations, the importance of clear communication, and the evolution of leadership. Monique shares insights on client education, the significance of specialization in PR, and the challenges of delegation. She also discusses her experience with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program and the importance of women supporting each other in leadership roles.Avant Solutions: https://www.avantsolutions.org/team/2025-02-2859 minThe Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipStructure Breeds Creativity and Taking Clients from Boring to Brave | Lori JonesIn this episode of the Heart and Science of Creative Leadership podcast, host Bill Coletti speaks with Lori Jones, the principal and owner of Avocet Communications. They discuss the journey of Avocet, which began in the basement of Lori's childhood home, and how her father's entrepreneurial spirit influenced her path. The conversation delves into the importance of operational readiness, the agency's culture of bravery, and the significance of having systems in place to foster creativity. Lori shares insights on client relationships, the challenges of niching, and the need for boldness in marketing strategies.2025-02-281h 04The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipLetting People Go and Facing Hard Topics | Ken LuceIn this episode, Bill Coletti speaks with Ken Luce, president of LDWW, about his entrepreneurial journey, self-care in leadership, balancing business priorities, and fostering strong company culture. They discuss client service, recruitment strategies, and evolving agency-client relationships. They delve into team dynamics, mental health awareness, and leadership challenges, sharing thoughts on employee management and creating supportive workplaces. The conversation also explores AI, DEI, and the importance of adaptability in a changing landscape.LDWW - https://ldww.co/team/#inline_7232025-01-141h 09The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipRisk Taking and Lifestyle Integration | Bill and AartiIn this special episode of the Heart and Science of Creative Leadership podcast, hosts Bill Coletti and Aarti discuss their personal and professional journeys, exploring their backgrounds in public relations and politics. They reflect on their experiences, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the importance of autonomy in the workplace. The conversation highlights the intersection of their careers and the lessons learned along the way, providing insights into their leadership styles and the values that drive their work. In this conversation, They discuss the significance of leadership in client relationships, emphasizing the importance of coachability and investability when selecting clients...2024-11-2247 minThe Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipDigital Campaigns and Innovation Sustainability | Andrew Bleeker
In this episode of the Heart and Science of Creative Leadership podcast, Bill and Aarti sit down with Andrew Bleeker, President and founder of Bully Pulpit Media. They explore the evolution of digital campaigning, the benefits of political campaign experience in agency work, the complexities of acquisitions, and the challenge and strategy of maintaining innovation in a competitive landscape.
https://www.bpigroup.com/andrew-bleeker2024-11-221h 04The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipUnlocking Sustainable Growth and Building a Resilient Agency | Michael YoungAarti and Bill, with guest Michael Young of Millwright Holdings, discuss the critical role of transparency in business, particularly in leadership and team dynamics. They explore the balance of confidentiality, the implications of AI, with key insights on sustainable growth and agency resilience.
https://www.millwrightholdings.com/
"Transparency has to go both ways."2024-11-221h 22The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipReflections: Asking Good Questions, Time Affluence, and MoreBill and Aarti reflect on recurring themes in recent episodes, discussing the power of great questions, time affluence, and leading teams well in the search for work-life balance.
They also touch on DEI and the challenges faced by small entrepreneurs in building diverse teams. They highlight the financial benefits of having a diverse workforce and the need for companies to unlearn proximity bias in service of results.
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Happier Hour by Cassie Holmes - https://www.cassiemholmes.com/happierhour2024-08-2651 minThe Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipThriving in Turbulent Times and the Human Edge | Kathleen Gratehouse
Bill and Aarti are joined by Kathleen Gratehouse, founder of Highwire, discussing her journey in tech PR and the growth of her agency. Kathleen shares about the early days of Highwire, the challenges and benefits to starting an agency in an economic downturn, and their decision to secure outside capital investment. She highlights the importance of choosing the right business partners and the value of a strong company culture. The conversation also touches on the topics of employee compensation and retention, diversity and inclusion, and managing burnout.
"There's nothing that gives yo...2024-08-261h 25The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipMulticultural Markets and the Importance of Sponsorship | Armando AzarlozaAarti and Bill speak with Armando Azarloza, principal and co-founder of the AXIS agency, about the direction of multicultural marketing and the blurring of lines between multicultural and general markets. As the market evolves, he believes that being in culture, rather than just language, is crucial for effective communication. He also articulates the concept of sponsorship versus mentorship culture within their firm, and emphasizes the importance of having sponsors who actively advocate and champion for individuals' career trajectories.
"I think that at the end of the day, we see ourselves as champions or as ad...2024-08-261h 31The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipUnconventional Paths and Creative Problem Solving | Vijay ChatthaBill and Aarti hear from Vijay Chattha, founder of VSC, as he shares his unconventional journey to becoming an agency owner and discusses his problem-solving approach to PR. His key insights on hiring PR outsiders, innovation, DEI, team culture in the remote work era, and connection in the age of AI are insightful and inspiring.
"We're just problem solvers. What's the problem today and what are we going to use in this toolkit to solve it?"
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VSC - https://vsc.co/vijay-chattha/
2024-08-261h 24The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipTactics to Strategy and Psychological Safety | Bob FeldmanAarti and Bill sit down with Bob Feldman, co-founder of FHS Capital Partners and previous executive for ICF Next, DreamWorks Animation, GCI Group, Ketchum and Burson-Marsteller.
Bob articulates his journey from big agencies to entrepreneurship, sharing wisdom on moving from tactics to strategy in your agency, lifestyle vs. performance businesses, the significance of talent in professional service firms, and the importance of psychological safety in the workplace.
"A big part of defining a successful strategy is what you're not going to do."
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FHS Capital Partners...2024-08-261h 15The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipReflections: Lifestyle vs. Performance, Transparency and MoreBill and Aarti reflect on the key themes and lessons from their conversations with entrepreneurs. They explore a core question that every entrepreneur must answer: am I building a lifestyle or performance growth business? They also discuss the importance — and challenges — of transparency and how to operationalize culture and values. 2024-05-2334 minThe Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipBusiness Partnerships and Managing Distributed Networks | Bob FinlaysonBill and Aarti talk to Bob Finlayson, who co-founded Bold Marketing in 2020 after a decades long career working with brands like IBM, Salesforce and Microsoft in agency leadership roles. In this conversation, Bob talks about how he collaborates and compromises with his business partner — and how they have found creative solutions to bringing on senior talent as a boutique agency. The conversation also covers how they foster culture with a distributed network and some musings on our AI-bound future.
"When you have a partner, one of the advantages is that you don't see everything alik...2024-05-231h 10The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipTransparency and Working with Family | Joshua ReynoldsIn this episode, Bill and Aarti talk to Josh Reynolds who founded Rob Roy Consulting in 2017 and, before that, held several leadership positions at WPP agencies and marketing roles at startups. Josh shares insights on instilling culture within a family business and the challenges that come with it. He also reframes communications and public relations as the business of persuasion — and how that opens new channels for growth. They also discuss the balance between growth and lifestyle agencies and how to help talent thrive in boutique environments.
"I wouldn't wait until you're in your fifth decade to st...2024-05-231h 16The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipBuilding a Legacy and the End of Hourly Billing | Jeff HuntBill and Aarti are joined by Jeff Hunt, former CEO of GCI Health and now a founding partner of Legend Labs. He talks about his journey from leading one of the biggest PR firms to becoming an entrepreneur. The conversation also covers: why leaders must move away from hourly billing, how to incentivize an ambitious workforce, and the tricky game of transparency when running a small firm.
"There's value in starting a career in a structured environment before becoming an entrepreneur."
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Legend Labs - https://legendlabs.c...2024-05-231h 11The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipCore Values and Asking for the Business | Tracy WilliamsBill and Aarti are joined by Tracy Williams who founded Olmstead Williams Public Relations in 2008. Her success formula includes outright asking for business and speaking candidly about budgets with clients and prospects. She describes building her business on six core values that guide decision-making for the entire agency. The conversation also covers servant leadership, retaining top talent, and challenges with succession planning when no immediate heir is apparent.
"It's leading with a servant's heart. And that means that I'm never telling them what to do. I'm trying to ask them what they think they should do and h...2024-05-221h 14The Heart and Science of Creative LeadershipTrailerWelcome to The Heart and Science of Creative Leadership, the podcast where we delve into the journeys of agency founders, exploring their methods, milestones, and mistakes. Hosted by Aarti Shah, a marketing and brand consultant for creative agencies, and Bill Coletti, an agency owner and leadership advisor, each episode offers intimate conversations with successful leaders in the creative industry.
Are you running or aspiring to run a creative professional services firm? This podcast is designed for you. We tackle real issues related to leadership, growth, and competition in today's dynamic landscape. Our guests share how they've overcome...2024-05-2101 min