PODCAST · business
Grow Op
by APG Canada
In the advertising business, you never stop growing - even if you’re a seasoned strategist or aspiring to be one.Grow Op gives strategic thinkers and creative tinkerers opportunities to grow.Each week, Michelle Lee will talk to planners, creatives, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry legends on everything from working with creatives, to overcoming imposter syndrome, to staying curious, to winning pitches, to being a better client whisperer, to becoming a CSO, to storytelling, to cult brands, to purpose brands and much much more.
Episodes
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Seneca Outsiders Get In with Dunc Urquhart
Dunc Urquhart has billed themself as "the ultimate diversity hire," and for good reason. They have a Metis and Caribbean background, was raised in a Muslim and Christian household, studied English Lit (w/ a minor in cultural studies) and started a Masters of Divinity at UofT before graduating…
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Seneca Outsiders Get In with Rica Cabanog
On the second episode of our Outsiders Get In series, hear how Rica Cabanog has thrived by routinely pushing herself outside her comfort zone. Prior to joining Per Se Brand Experience as a Creative Intern, she spent 15 years client side marketing at Nestle. And since moving to Canada from the...
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Seneca Outsiders Get In with Kyrie Jamir
Seneca's students come from many different countries and many different walks of life. They bring an outsider's perspective to advertising...and the industry benefits from it. Over the next few weeks, we will be exploring how the outsider status of Seneca's CAB students and recent grads, have…
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APG Canada at 10 with McCann and Kids Help Phone
For the last few weeks we have been talking to industry thought leaders on how strategic planning in Canada has changed over the last 10 years and what might be in store for the next. In our final episode in this series, we are talking to Emily MacLaurin-King,VP GAD and Josh Hansen, VP Strategy…
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How to Leverage Adventure with Matt Foulk
Helen Keller once said, “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” Matt Foulk’s 9-5 is CSO of Jolly Good but when he’s not working, he can be most often found on his bike (or one of several). Matt is the Founder of Ghost Gravel (an adventure cycling company that creates and supports...
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How to Build a Culture of Effectiveness with Ian Westworth
There is rarely a week that goes by where I don't see an article or report or study on effectiveness. And for obvious reasons. Advertising is "commercial art" and so obviously should be expected to deliver. And while there is much more data to show that this commercial art is doing something,...
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How to use reading to power your planning with Jeff George
"Reading fuels a sense of curiosity about the world, which I think helped drive me forward in my career and in the work that I do now with my foundation." Bill Gates is many things: visionary computer programmer, co-founder of Microsoft, American billionaire, philanthropist....and also a prolific...
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Canada VS with Ron Smrczek and Christopher Andrews
Shortly after I joined TAXI, I remember being asked to fly to Amsterdam to work on the launch of Axe Hair in Europe. I couldn't believe my luck! While there, I worked alongside Ron Smrczek and Chris Andrews who were heading up the TAXI Amsterdam office at the time. Since then, Ron and Chris led…
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Canada VS with Lucia Thomaz
Lucia Thomaz is a brand strategist based in Montreal and originally from Brazil. Several years ago, Lucia was persuaded to leave Sao Paolo, where she worked at agencies such as FCB, DDB and Fabrica, to chase love and has since settled into life in Canada. Given her background, we thought he'd…
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Canada VS with Graham Lang, TAXI
Graham Lang, CCO at TAXI, has enjoyed a storied career in advertising so far having worked at agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi London and Y&R South Africa, prior to moving to Canada in 2018. Given his background, we thought he'd have an interesting perspective on our question: What makes strategic...
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Canada VS with Rafik Belmesk, Dentsu
Rafik Belmesk is CSO at Dentsu and early in his career, he lived and worked abroad in Singapore at Ogilvy. Get his perspective on what makes strategic planning in Canada different and what a Canadian style of strategic planning may have to offer the industry.
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Canada VS with Erin Brittain, Publicis
Back in 2017, Erin Brittain, Group Strategy Director at Publicis, moved to London for some adventure. While there, she deepened her brand planning expertise and after a couple years abroad, she came back to Canada. On this week's episode, of GrowOp, we get her take on how strategic planning in...
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APG Canada at 10 with UM
We've almost completed our APG Canada at 10 series. In episode #9, Richard Fofana, EVP Strategy at UM shares his reflections on how strategic planning in Canada has changed over the last 10 years and what might be in store for the next.
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Canada VS with Katee Hui, Public
Katee was born and raised in Hamilton but early in her career she moved to London. After more than 10 years in the UK with a focus on purpose, social impact and sustainability strategy, she returned to Toronto and is now Senior Director, Client Strategy at Public. Get Katee's perspective on how...
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Canada VS with Daniel Cameron, Cossette
"What makes strategic planning in Canada different from the rest of the world and what might a Canadian style of strategic planning have to offer the industry." Could the answer be empathy? Have a listen to Daniel Cameron, VP Strategy at Cossette, and get his perspective on why he thinks Canadian...
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Canada VS with Tim Hopkins, The & Partnership
This week, we are taking a short break from our APG Canada at 10 series with the launch of the first episode of our Canada VS series, a continuation of the event we hosted last month at Publicis. Have a listen to our conversation with Tim Hopkins, National Strategy Lead at The & Partnership. Tim...
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APG Canada at 10 with Full Punch
This week, we're shifting our gaze (and ears!) to the West coast to hear what Jack Dayan, Partner and Head of Strategy at Full Punch, has to say about the last 10 years of strategic planning in Canada and what might be in store for the next 10.
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APG Canada at 10 with Wunderman Thompson
Umar Ghumman is the Chief Experience Officer at WT. Get his perspective on how strategy in Canada has changed over the last 10 years and what might be in store for the next.
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APG Canada at 10 with AIP Connect
If anyone might have a perspective on how strategic planning has changed in the last 10 years and what might be in store for the next, then surely two of the best headhunters in Canada surely would. This week, have a listen to what Ni Kalman, Founder, and Cheryl Munroe, VP Client Service &...
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APG Canada at 10 with Mark Tomblin
Mark Tomblin arrived in Canada from the UK one cold, snowy evening back in 2010. Since then, he has chaired the APG and headed up strategy departments at TAXI and Juniper Park\TBWA. Get his perspective on how strategic planning has changed in Canada over the last 10 years and what might be in…
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APG Canada at 10 with The Garden
Eight years ago, Shari Walczak and Shane Ogilvie started the Garden, at a time when few agencies were founded by a strategy creative pairing. Over the last 10 years, they’ve seen a lot change, especially in strategic planning, and they’ve changed right along with it. Find out what they think…
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APG Canada at 10 with No Fixed Address
To consider how the digital landscape has changed in the last 10 years and then try and predict what might be coming in the next 10 years is undeniably wild, so we thought we’d go there. So this week, find out what Priyanaka Goswami, EVP, Head of Experience + Connections, has to say about how...
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APG Canada at 10 with Sid Lee
Next up: Elana Gorbatyuk, Global CSO and Partner, at Sid Lee. Find out what Elana has to say about what’s changed in planning in Canada over the last 10 years and what might be in store for the next.
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APG Canada at 10 with Cossette
This week on the show and actually for the next 10 weeks, we will be celebrating 10 years of the APG. With APG Canada at 10, we will be releasing 10 new episodes to explore how strategy in Canada has changed over the last 10 years and what might be in store for the next. In the series, we will be...
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How to be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable, Amanda Jones (AJ)
Fake it till you make it has been the winning formula for many a strategist. To do that well you need to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Amanda Jones (AJ), CSO at McCann has lived in the UK, Romania and now Canada so it seems she’s gotten pretty used to being not being used to being where she...
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How to be a Planning Expat in the Country that Created Planning with Michael Kates
A few months ago we interviewed Justine Feron, a Canadian strategist who gave us the ins and outs of working as a planner in the US. Today, we're going a bit further afield. Have you ever wondered what it's like to work as a strategist in the UK? Find out from Michael Kates, Senior Strategist at...
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How Tough Love Fuels Agile Strategy
Many of us have gotten or had to give tough love over the course of our career but few of us have managed to turn it into our own business venture. Today we’re talking to Lindsay Waugh, James Fisher and Julie Sheldon of the newly formed strategy collective, Tough Love on How Tough Love Fuels…
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How to Leverage a Psychedelic Experience with Emily Squirrell
Acceptance of psychedelics is growing which can importantly have positive impacts on our industry so this week we’ve decided to revisit one of our top episodes from last year’s GrowOp Summer School, How to Leverage a Psychedelic Experience with Emily Squirrell, VP Head of Strategy at Gene.
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How to be a Sneakerhead, Jon Crowley
If you haven’t ever been on a Zoom call with Jon Crowley, I highly recommend it. It’s literally like being transported to a sneaker shop and the kicks on display, so I’m told, are only a small glimpse into Jon’s entire collection. I find fringe and not so fringe (given sneakers are a $73BN global...
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How to Build Culturally Iconic Brands, Chuck Welch
Coca-Cola. Nike. Apple these are all brands that have massive cultural equity and resonance with consumers. But what is their secret? How do they do it? Do yourself a favour and take a listen to Chuck Welch, Founder and CSO at Rupture Studio on How to Build Culturally Iconic Brands - one of our…
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How to Leverage the Herd with Mark Earls
While we like to think of ourselves as individuals, rarely influenced by the actions of others, the truth is many of our actions are swayed by the group. No one knows this better than award winning UK strategist and Herdmeister, Mark Earls. This week we’ve decided to revisit one of our top…
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How to Work as a Strategist in the US with Justine Feron
Lots of strategists dream of working in bigger markets and often times that means spending some time in New York or further afield in London. It’s definitely a worthwhile experience: bigger budgets, bigger teams, etc. So this week, we are fortunate enough to get some tips on getting your foot in...
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How to Overcome Burnout, Chantaie Allick
While it was only 6 weeks ago that we had a well deserved winter break, I’m sure at this point, it feels like a distant memory. So this week we’ve decided to revisit an important episode from last year’s GrowOp Summer School. Take a listen to Chantaie Allick’s top tips on how to overcome burnout.
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How to Break in as an Expat, Fahim Khan (rerun)
Canada is set to bring in 1.5M immigrants by 2025. And already, about one in four Canadians have come here as an immigrant. This is promising news for our industry as we continue to work towards greater diversity and inclusion including increased understanding of the culturally diverse consumers…
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How to Leverage Mystery, Jonah Lehrer (re-run)
To wrap up our deep dive into storytelling, this week, we’ve decided to re-run one of our top episodes from last year’s GrowOp Summer School. Polish your skills in mastering this art form by listening to our interview with author of Mystery: A Seduction, a Strategy, a Solution with Jonah Lehrer.
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How to be a Better Storyteller, Paul Feldwick (re-run)
Last week, we explored the importance of storytelling. This week, we thought we’d continue this theme but from the perspective of yet another masterful storyteller. If you haven’t yet had a chance to listen to one of our top episodes from last year’s GrowOp Summer School, then take the time today...
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How to Master Storytelling with Mike Monello (rerun)
If you’re anything like me, you spent a good chunk of your winter holiday binging on Netflix shows. We are blessed with a constant onslaught of truly immersive and downright addictive storytelling and since we work in a media that most would much rather avoid, being really good at telling stories...
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How to be Interesting, John Griffiths (rerun)
Doesn’t everyone want to be thought of as interesting? Afterall, it is interesting that often sparks our best ideas and so for many strategists chasing what’s interesting is a much loved pastime. So take some time to listen to one of our top episodes from last year’s GrowOp Summer School and find...
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How to Make Luck Happen, Andy Nairn (rerun)
It’s the start of a new year so it feels like we should be talking about how to make luck happen. Luckily enough, we have the perfect person to tell us just how to do that. Take a listen to one of our top episodes from last year’s GrowOp Summer School and find out how to make 2023 work in your...
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How to Slow Down with Carl Honore (rerun)
Just in time for the holidays, this week we’re re-running one of our top episodes from GrowOp Summer School: How to Slow Down with Carl Honore.
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How to Thrive at an Independent Agency, Zach Klein (rerun)
This week, we’re re-running one of our top episodes from GrowOp Summer School. Find out from one of the best in the industry how thrive at an independent agency.
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How to Start your Own Agency, Jason Last (re-run)
This week, we’re re-running one of our top episodes from GrowOp Summer School. Find out from one of the best in the industry how to venture out on your own.
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How to Build your Personal Brand, Henry Wong
It’s no secret that as branding professionals we are shockingly bad at branding ourselves. So this week on the show, I decided to talk to Henry Wong, author of Telling Your Story, Building Your Brand, to share his 5 tips on Personal Branding.
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How to Pitch, Tom Kenny
Pitching is the lifeblood of our industry. And there are certainly some agencies that seem to have it more dialed in than others. So I decided to tap one of the best in the business to share his top 5 tips on how to pitch. Tom Kenny, is the newly appointed CSO at Courage and in this conversation…
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How to Ensure Diversity is at the Heart of Every Brief, Jessica Borges
Many advertisers and agencies have made important progress when it comes to diversity and inclusion, yet there is still more that can be done. Specifically, ensuring that the conversation doesn’t start downstream during casting but rather much further upstream during the strategy phase is just…
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How to Overcome Beautiful Constraints with Mark Barden
The concept of challenger brands is one that many strategists refer to time and time again. It’s a concept rich with tension and white space - all the good things we love. But so, interestingly enough, are constraints.. Constraints can in fact be beautiful, according to Mark Barden, partner at…
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How to Uncover your Strategic Superpower, Elliott Altilia
Sometimes, when you’re just starting out as a strategist, it’s hard to figure out what your style is going to be and as much as our job is to undercover a brand’s superpower, it can be hard to locate our own - especially the ones that will make us stand out from what other strategists do. So…
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How to Make Things Better Add up in Advertising, Becky McOwen Banks
Breaking glass ceilings and advocating for things to better add up in advertising has been an important focus for this week’s guest: Becky McOwen Banks, former ECD at Vayner London and contributing author of Eat your Greens. And yet, while there may be more women in leadership positions in...
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How to Switch from Agency to Client Side, Gareth Kay
Gareth Kay, CMO at Twill, is a well known name in strategy circles. Over the years, he’s led planning at a number of the best agencies in the world from Goodby Silverstein to Modernista. He is a highly sought after speaker and one of the most refreshing voices in marketing. Having recently made…
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How to Adopt a More Collaborative Mindset, Mo Bofill and Colin Carroll
I’ve never come across a single agency that doesn’t say they’re collaborative. Of course they’re collaborative, who isn’t? So we all know it’s important but how easy is it to collaborate these days, especially when more often than not now we’re not even in the same room as those we are working...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
In the advertising business, you never stop growing - even if you’re a seasoned strategist or aspiring to be one.Grow Op gives strategic thinkers and creative tinkerers opportunities to grow.Each week, Michelle Lee will talk to planners, creatives, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry legends on everything from working with creatives, to overcoming imposter syndrome, to staying curious, to winning pitches, to being a better client whisperer, to becoming a CSO, to storytelling, to cult brands, to purpose brands and much much more.
HOSTED BY
APG Canada
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Grow Op have?
Grow Op currently has 110 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Grow Op about?
In the advertising business, you never stop growing - even if you’re a seasoned strategist or aspiring to be one.Grow Op gives strategic thinkers and creative tinkerers opportunities to grow.Each week, Michelle Lee will talk to planners, creatives, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry legends...
How often does Grow Op release new episodes?
Grow Op publishes regularly with 110 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Grow Op?
You can listen to Grow Op on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Grow Op?
Grow Op is created and hosted by APG Canada.
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