Agency Land

Jye Smith

The lessons nobody teaches you in agency life. Host Jye Smith talks to strategists, creative directors, founders, and the people who've survived the trenches of advertising, PR and communications about what the work actually costs, what it teaches you, and what you carry with you after. New episodes weekly. Produced by You're Good, Get Better and DOUBLESTAR CO.

Episodes

  1. Julian Cole: You Can Find the Answer, But Can You Defend It?

    30 APR

    Julian Cole: You Can Find the Answer, But Can You Defend It?

    Julian Cole grew up in the industry. His parents ran a TV production company and told him two things: start your own agency, and you'll be washed up by 45. He started at Naked, pioneered comms planning in Australia, then moved to New York as a strategy director at BBH despite never having written a brief or worked with a creative team. He spent two years making zero work and wondered if he'd ever be found out. Then he led comms planning for the PlayStation 4 launch, the highest selling console in gaming history, moved to BBDO, built the comms team from four to 17, and won Webby Digital Agency of the Year two years running. Then he walked away at the top of his game. In this conversation he talks about the day BBH lost Google Chrome and 30% of the agency got fired by desk phone, why a junior strategist rewriting his deck was the wake-up call he needed, why great work happens between round 14 and round 15 of creative feedback, and what it actually costs to leave New York for a life in Portugal. He also makes the case that in the age of AI, anyone can find the answer, but the real skill is being able to defend it. Find Julian at https://www.juliancolestrategy.com/ and check out the Strategy Finishing School. Got a question, topic or guest suggestion? yggb@jye.co or visit youregoodgetbetter.com Special thanks to DOUBLESTAR.CO and thanks to PhaseOne and Fat Cat Music for the use of their track Crash & Burn feat. Northlane.

    56 min
  2. Clive Burcham: Your Real 10X Is What You Survive

    30 APR

    Clive Burcham: Your Real 10X Is What You Survive

    Clive Burcham left home at 15, talked his way into a regional TV station, and by 16 was writing, producing and directing his own show. He went on to become the creative director of the Comedy Channel by 25, built the Conscious Organisation into one of Australia's defining social media agencies, sold it to WPP, bought it back for a fraction of the price, survived the GFC, helped set up Nestle's first digital acceleration team across 29 countries, and became a founding partner in Global Citizen, which has redeployed over $50 billion into ending extreme poverty. Then he burnt out, retreated to the countryside, bred Wagyu and homeschooled his kids. In this conversation he talks about why 65% of entrepreneurs have ADHD and what that means for agency life, putting a pirate in a nunnery when he sold to WPP, the moment in India where an obnoxious watch on his wrist made him question everything, and why the relationships you build and the things you survive are worth more than any revenue number. He also makes the case that rush is the enemy of intimacy, busyness is not a badge of honour, and that breakdowns are where every breakthrough begins. Find Clive Burcham on LinkedIn and find Compadres a https://wearecompadres.com/ Got a question, topic or guest suggestion? yggb@jye.co or visit youregoodgetbetter.com Special thanks to DOUBLESTAR.CO and thanks to PhaseOne and Fat Cat Music for the use of their track Crash & Burn feat. Northlane.

    45 min

About

The lessons nobody teaches you in agency life. Host Jye Smith talks to strategists, creative directors, founders, and the people who've survived the trenches of advertising, PR and communications about what the work actually costs, what it teaches you, and what you carry with you after. New episodes weekly. Produced by You're Good, Get Better and DOUBLESTAR CO.