Rosie Arnold, Ex-Deputy ECD at BBH, on Creative Leadership, The Artist’s Eye And Life After Advertising

In this episode of the emPOWER Breakfast Podcast, Athene Parker is joined by Rosie Arnold, former Deputy Executive Creative Director at BBH, for a witty, wise and deeply inspiring conversation about creative leadership, longevity, menopause, reinvention and finding identity beyond advertising.Rosie is a multi award-winning Art Director whose extraordinary career began with a placement at BBH before she had even finished university, going on to spend 33 years at one of the world’s most respected advertising agencies. During her career she became known not only for her exceptional creative work, but also for her courage in speaking openly about issues often left unspoken within the industry.As President of D&AD during its 50th year, Rosie created the iconic White Pencil, celebrating work that creates positive social impact and “good in the world.” She is also a recipient of the D&AD Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her enormous contribution to creativity, leadership and advertising culture.In this wonderfully vibrant conversation, Rosie reflects on leadership, motherhood, menopause and the changing landscape of the creative industries, including her now-famous habit of deliberately saying the word “menopause” in boardroom meetings long before workplace conversations around women’s health became more common. Rosie also talks about a period of caring and loss of her beloved Husband Pete.Athene and Rosie discuss:Creative leadership and longevity in advertisingWomen in creative industriesMenopause and workplace cultureSpeaking up and challenging stigmaReinvention and life after advertisingCreativity, identity and confidenceMotherhood and balancing career with family lifeAuthentic leadership and social impactNow a prolific painter of clouds, Rosie reflects on creativity beyond career titles and the freedom of embracing new chapters later in life.This is a thoughtful, funny and empowering conversation about leadership, courage, creativity and the importance of continuing to evolve.The chat is woven around a trip down a musical memory lane. Sit back, relax and enjoy. 🎧✨Tracks:Raggle Taggle Gypsy – Christy MooreIf I Were a Bell – Jean SimmonsBring Me Sunshine – Morecambe & WiseMove Over Darling – Doris DayLucky Lucky Me – Evelyn KnightThe emPOWER Breakfast – Rosie Arnold Spotify PlaylistRosie’s Recommendations:Poem:The Peace of Wild Things – Wendell BerryWhen despair for the world grows in meand I wake in the night at the least soundin fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,I go and lie down where the wood drakerests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.I come into the peace of wild thingswho do not tax their lives with forethoughtof grief. I come into the presence of still water.And I feel above me the day-blind starswaiting with their light. For a timeI rest in the grace of the world, and am free.Book:Healing After Loss – Martha Whitmore Hickman“It helped me feel connected to everyone who has ever lost someone they love. Now I give it to anyone I know who's grieving.”Listening:“I found reading hard after Pete died, but audiobooks helped me escape. I'm slowly returning to reading again.”Art:Joseph Cornell – “His magical boxes, half-game, half-mystery, still captivate me.”Biographies:“I love reading about overlooked or misunderstood women in history – Lee Miller, Catherine the Great…”Podcasts:The Curious History of the Home – “Everyday objects, with extraordinary stories. Fascinating.”And finally:“My son Leo is an artist I deeply admire. He’s represented by Annet Gelink in Amsterdam.”Rosie Arnold, BBH, Deputy Executive Creative Director, women in advertising, creative leadership, menopause in the workplace, D&AD White Pencil, advertising industry, women in creative industries, authentic leadership, career longevity, life after advertising, reinvention, female leadership, creativity and identity, empowerment podcast, women in leadership, workplace culture, social impact, emotional intelligence Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.