How I Became ..‪.‬ Ashley Samuels-McKenzie and Charles Parkinson

Simon Cook is the CEO of the LIONS Division, overseeing LIONS, WARC, Contagious, and Acuity Pricing to promote impactful creative marketing. Over the past decade, Simon has driven the creation of two-thirds of the Lions awards. He has also expanded LIONS' offerings to include year-round intelligence and advisory services, in addition to its renowned Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

A fervent advocate for creative marketing excellence that enhances business performance, Simon also founded the Global Chief Marketing Officers Growth Council. With over 15 years in the branded communications industry, Simon's career includes significant agency-side experience before joining LIONS.

In this week's episode, we explore crucial topics such as discussing racism, navigating life with divorced parents, and the importance of inclusivity.



We discuss:

- The power of creativity

- Journey from Devon to Brixton

- Coping with parental divorce

- Discussing the impact of racism

- Rising from the mailroom to CEO of Cannes Lions

- Tips for climbing the career ladder

- Conquering imposter syndrome

- Receiving an important letter

- Prioritising mental health

- Insights into Cannes Lions 2024



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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unity & Motion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - A London based production company specialising in commercials and branded content

Email: info@weunify.co.uk

This is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UNIFY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast. Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unity & Motion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Credits:
Director: Charles Parkinson
Poet & VO Artist: Ashley Samuels-McKenzie
Editor: Catherine Singh

Anna Priest, the Senior Vice President and Head of Paramount+ for the UK and Ireland, played a pivotal role in the successful launch and rapid growth of the streaming service. Her efforts were instrumental in building the brand and expanding its subscriber base through strategic partnerships with major players like Sky, Three, and Virgin.

 

Before her tenure at Paramount+, Anna held senior marketing positions at A+E Networks, Britbox and Comic Relief. She cut her teeth and learned her craft at the BBC. She is a commercially savvy, results-driven business leader with a knack for launching and scaling products and brands. Her expertise lies in driving significant growth in complex organisations, while also inspiring, motivating, and unifying teams to deliver their best work and advance their careers.

 

In this week’s episode, we delve into Anna's experiences and the pivotal moments that shaped her: dealing with divorced parents, coping with the loss of a close friend, and making impactful changes in her career.

 

We discuss:

- Navigating life with divorced parents

- Moving from London to Blackpool

- Landing her first job opportunity at the BBC

- Meeting a special person at Radio 1

- Contributing to CBeebies, CBBC, BBC Three, and Comic Relief

- Managing burnout

- Advocating for equality in the workplace

- Understanding the significance of ‘treading water’ in your career

- Grieving the loss of a close friend

- Rising to SVP, Head of Paramount+ UK & Ireland

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unity & Motion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - A London based production company specialising in commercials and branded content

Email: info@weunify.co.uk

This is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UNIFY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast. Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unity & Motion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Credits:
Director: Charles Parkinson
Poet & VO Artist: Ashley Samuels-McKenzie
Editor: Catherine Singh



Chapters:

(00:00:00) Intro(00:04:10) Yellowstone recommendation and childhood experiences(00:08:41) Life in the North(00:12:58) Life Changes and Moving Forward(00:17:31) Navigating Relationships and Life Lessons(00:22:12) From Children's TV Presenter to Media Planning(00:26:18) From Media Planning to Marketing(00:30:25) Falling in love and career progression(00:34:34) Balancing Work and Life(00:52:04) Remembering a Dear Friend(01:01:04) Music and Laughter during Difficult Times(01:05:48) Fin

Leigh Thomas, formerly the Vice President of Global Partnerships for Meta in EMEA, has led a senior team providing strategic C-suite support and advice to some of the world’s most sophisticated businesses across industries such as CPG, Autos, Retail, Tech/Telco, and eCommerce. She brings over 20 years of experience from her tenure in creative agencies, including her roles as Managing Director at Saatchi & Saatchi, London, and CEO at DARE, awarded Digital Agency of the Decade.

Beyond her professional achievements, Leigh is deeply committed to gender equality and serves as an enthusiastic executive for WACL (Women in Communications and Marketing London). She also contributes her expertise as an advisor on the board of Pennies, driving forward the digital micro-donation movement in the UK. Recognised as a Campaign A-lister and a BIMA top 100 achiever, Leigh's contributions to the industry are extensive.

Episode 55 of our podcast delves into real-life experiences of apartheid in South Africa, provides guidance for those looking to pivot their career goals, and discusses strategies for creating positive global change.



We discuss:


Experiencing apartheid in South Africa during childhood


Facing a transformative life event at the age of five


Embarking on a ballet career and achieving professional status


Transitioning from ballet to the world of advertising


Insights on meeting a significant other and maintaining a healthy marriage


Climbing the career ladder to become CEO of Dare


Managing parental challenges during a child’s difficult times


Achieving leadership at Meta, one of the world's most renowned companies


Strategies for fostering global equality




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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unity & Motion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - A London based production company specialising in commercials and branded content

Email: info@weunify.co.uk

This is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UNIFY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast. Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unity & Motion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Credits:
Director: Charles Parkinson
Poet & VO Artist: Ashley Samuels-McKenzie
Editor: Catherine Singh

Recorded Live At SXSW 2024 At The British Music Embassy.


We sat down with Co-Producer Adam Strawford and Skepta at SXSW to discuss his debut film Tribal Mark.



Flipping the script on James Bond, Tribal Mark is the first glimpse of a complex Black Secret Service story that Skepta, together with co-director Dwight Okechukwu, have been working on since 2021.



We discuss:

- Embracing Nigerian heritage in the UK

- Bringing Tribal Mark from vision to reality

- Tips for aspiring creatives

- Crafting a superhero for Black actors

- Advocating for diversity on set

- Transforming challenges into creative fuel


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unity & Motion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - A London based production company specialising in commercials and branded content

Email: info@weunify.co.uk

This is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UNIFY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast. Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unity & Motion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Credits:
Director: Charles Parkinson
Poet & VO Artist: Ashley Samuels-McKenzie
Editor: Catherine Singh

COMING SOON...

Recorded Live At SXSW 2024 At The British Music Embassy.



Join us for an exclusive conversation with Co-Producer Adam Strawford and Skepta at SXSW as they delve into their debut film, Tribal Mark.



Tribal Mark offers a fresh take on the spy genre, presenting a captivating narrative set within the Black Secret Service. Skepta, alongside co-director Dwight Okechukwu, has been crafting this visionary project since 2021.



Follow us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@HOWIBECAME__⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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Email: info@weunify.co.uk

This is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UNIFY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast. Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unity & Motion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Credits:
Presenter: Charles Parkinson
Presenter: Poet & VO Artist: Ashley Samuels-McKenzie
Editor: Catherine Singh

Recorded Live At SXSW 2024 At The British Music Embassy.

Frank Turner kickstarted his musical journey as the frontman of post-hardcore outfit Million Dead, later transitioning to a predominantly acoustic solo career after the band's disbandment in 2005.

Throughout his solo career, Frank has launched nine studio albums, with his latest release, "FTHC," hitting the number 1 spot on the UK albums chart in 2022, just a week after its debut.

In the second instalment of a four-part special recorded at SXSW, we explore themes of pursuing one's dreams despite contrary opinions, resisting conformity, and confronting the challenges of addiction.

We discuss:
-Being sent to boarding school at 8 years old
-Securing a scholarship to Eton
-Picking up the guitar at 11 and forming a band
-Drawing inspiration from Joe Strummer and immersing in the Punk scene
-Engaging in band performances and touring
-Embarking on the first tour at the young age of 16
-Going to Cambridge University or never returning home again
-Navigating a journey marked by struggles with addiction
-Transitioning into the realm of Acoustic/Folk music
-Not being confined to one specific box



Chapters:
(00:00:00) The Start of a Folk Album Journey
(00:01:41) Reinventing and Sustaining Success
(00:03:29) Childhood in Hampshire
(00:05:14) Sent Away to Boarding School
(00:06:47) Privatized Education and Elite Schools
(00:08:20) Boarding School Experience and Punk Influence
(00:10:02) Discovering the Punk Scene
(00:11:30) The Class Stratification in the UK Music Industry
(00:12:59) Following My Own Path
(00:14:36) Discovering Iron Maiden
(00:16:08) Discovered Punk Music
(00:17:40) Hardcore Bands and Underground Shows
(00:19:11) Punk and the Straight Edge Movement
(00:20:38) Pursuing a Career in the Music Industry
(00:22:09) Estranged relationship with father
(00:23:53) Beginnings with Drugs
(00:25:26) The North London Music Scene
(00:26:55) Struggling with a Work-Life Balance
(00:28:19) The Nihilistic Period
(00:29:51) My Musical Journey
(00:31:30) Transition to Folk Music
(00:33:06) Following an Artistic Imperative
(00:34:35) Encouraging Artistic Experimentation
(00:36:10) Ambition and Success in the Music Industry
(00:37:35) Frustrating Times and Handling Success
(00:39:00) Doing Things My Way
(00:40:27) A Poem: Finding Inspiration and Filling Empty Rooms

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