The Amber Moment

Steve is the former CEO of YouGov and VP of Facebook/Meta, heading up their operations in Northern Europe. Here he talks about having parents who were entrepreneurial and intellectual; dyslexia; getting a call from "the Robin Williams" of the media planning world; the transition from strategist to leader (and getting it wrong initially); the debate about Facebook as an editor/censor; 29 elections in a year at YouGov; a hatred of repetition; and crying at the movies.

The second part of my chat with actor and Global Head of Facilities Andrew. Here, he talks about a tendency to focus on what's NOT working; being a team of one; "not confusing access with merit"; authenticity and unflinching curiosity; being comfortable with not knowing what's coming next...and Kurt Cobain.

Andrew is the Global Facilities Director at wealth management firm AlTi Tiedemann Global. He's also an actor (of course!). In this first part of our conversation, he talks about having to "show up to the dinner table"; trying to sabotage his own education; a life-changing moment on stage; wanting to make his parents proud "even when they're not watching"; and a tendency never to say no.

Annie is the founder of the County Cricket Matters magazine. She's also a writer, journalist and commentator. Here, she talks about how cricket "seeps into your bones"; being banned from playing because she was a girl; falling in love with Somerset County Cricket Club; "learning how to say yes"; a watershed moment in Barbados; launching a magazine over a common cause; sexism in cricket; the power of community; and becoming a published author.

Sara is the founder of Pearl Metrics. She 's built econometric models for some of the world's most famous brands including VW, Coca-Cola, Sky, IKEA and Virgin. Here, she talks about having parents who were gregarious and mathematical; telling the story of data to audiences who don't always understand numbers; experiencing a somewhat toxic work culture; making a career decision that was conducive to having small children; becoming "one of the most famous people" in her client's business; and good, old-fashioned hard work.If you want to hear about someone who's absolutely committed to doing the right thing, you need to listen to Sara.

Aatif is a cricket commentator on the BBC's Test Match Special. He's also an award-winning actor, writer and stand-up. Here he talks about growing up in Wembley; discovering the Pakistan cricket team were "his guys"; an unexpected first gig at an Indian dance showcase; finding his voice as a performer; being "over the moon" at being locked in a stadium; achieving a boyhood TV presenting dream; and striving to leave a legacy as a "nice guy".

The second half of my chat with author and radio advertising legend Paul. Here he talks about a lucrative career move that didn't quite work; the happiest time of his ad career as THE radio guy at the agency; the terror of a two-book deal; having a "memory like a stalker"; writing as a mechanical process; bad business language; and "full-time job syndrome".

Paul is a novelist and the greatest exponent of radio advertising the world has known. In this first part of our chat, he talks about trying to get his latest book away; being "born in black and white"; realising he was a genius at five (and “becoming thicker and thicker” thereafter); winning a national writing competition; getting into adland via a bit of chutzpah and the Yellow Pages; and the brief that would change everything.

The second part of my conversation with Oban International CEO Sarah. Here she talks about setting up her own company with a working model ahead of its time; the importance of shared values; the transition from non-exec chair to CEO; and the part that cultural differences play in buying behaviours around the world.

Sarah is the CEO of Oban International. In this first part of two, she talks about her early years in Harlow; the joy of "Topic" at school; switching from teaching to media planning; learning "the Ogilvy way"; an influential mentor and colleague; and discovering that not all work cultures are alike.

Philippa is the co-founder of PLH Research and co-author of Inside Her Pretty Little Head and Brandsplaining. Here, she talks about "larky" school days; fulfilling the scripted role of "the good girl"; the lack of understanding of female audiences in advertising; work for the Conservative Party and Tesco; the magic of partnership and "the power of pairs"; celebrating "quiet virtues"; and taking on "difficult projects for nice people".

The second part of my chat with football writer Jonathan Wilson. Here, Jonathan talks about reading as a superpower; alternative definitions of talent; the challenges facing journalism and newspapers; the thirst for long-form content; the "camaraderie of the pack"; and a man with an alarming facial tattoo.

Our latest Jonathan is a renowned football journalist and author. Here, he talks about his formative days in Sunderland and the inevitability of leaving; teaching in an Indian monastery; reading MOST of Dickens; catching the back end of the "old-school atmosphere" of sports journalism at the News of the World; subbing Richie Benaud (!); his early trips to the Africa Cup of Nations; writing for the FT; his first book deal; and an unfortunate accidental disguise on a bus...

Jonathan talks about the "loud and visceral" experience of launching an agency; winning a huge financial client (and later suing them); securing an incredible deal to sell his company; the relationship between capital and innovation; the joy of writing and music; and mentoring the next generation.

Jonathan is the founder of And Rising, a creative studio and investor in new consumer brands. In this first part of our conversation, he talks about the entrepreneurial influence of his mum's nail salon; his foray into the music industry as a teenager; getting the advertising bug and knowing from day one that he wanted his own agency; a carefully plotted career; and the creation of a new company.

Jo is the co-founder of the people transformation consultancy BirdSoup. Hear her talk about quick maths in a bakery during childhood; male-dominated environments; the digital industry before it became sophisticated; assumptions that bosses make about working mums; "DEI roulette"; new ideas and intuition as a superpower; "the Golden Rule" and reciprocity; girls' and women's football; and swearing at work...

Rebecca is the COO at Poppy's, a company that takes a fresh approach to funerals. Here, she talks about being an "organiser of everything"; working on the Labour Party account in the run-up to the 2001 election; the challenges facing working mums in advertising; the superpower of having a great radar ; finding joy as a "specialist generalist"; and maintaining the values of ethical businesses as they grow.The podcast Rebecca recommends is Where There's A Will, There's A Wake.

We rejoin Glen in South Africa with the "smell of jacaranda and ambition" in his nostrils. Hear about an early Unilever ultimatum; the best networking braai imaginable; the incredible fortitude of a business partner; hiring waiting staff to work in advertising; being "a good client person" and the gift of building teams globally; disdain for "corner office jockeys"; and a possible future advising the church...

Glen is Omnicom Advertising's CEO for Europe. Hear about his early life, from his grandfather's workshop to setting up a furniture company at the age of 17.  A life-changing game of Scrabble. A buttock-clenching interview involving small change. Formative years in advertising and influential bosses who actually had TIME. And the benefits of working on unpopular pieces of business.

Jon is a former Head of Foreign Exchange at Deutsche Bank. Here he talks about the early discovery of a competitive streak; philosophy; decision-making and AI as a "fallible expert"; how both sides should win in a trade; delegation and automation; a desire to "be brave and be kind"; and being good at writing emails...