The Lead Creative

Mongezi Mtati
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The Lead Creative podcast hosts a series of conversations with great minds behind some of the leading brands, businesses, organisations and top ideas that we all love. From advertising thought leaders, forward-thinking brand leaders, innovative digital marketing minds to content creators - the podcast gives into what makes the world engage with some of the top brands. Founded and hosted by Mongezi Mtati, the podcast shares analysis, trends, and strategic intelligence.

  1. Marketing Leadership In Complex African Markets: Lindy-Lou Alexander, CEO of WPP Open X Africa

    FEB 5

    Marketing Leadership In Complex African Markets: Lindy-Lou Alexander, CEO of WPP Open X Africa

    Lindy-Lou Alexander, CEO of WPP OpenX Africa, shares how global brands like Coca-Cola stay relevant across Africa’s diverse markets. Working with The Coca-Cola Company in 54 African countries, Lindy-Lou operates at the intersection of marketing, advertising, creativity, data and technology. She reflects on her career across Tiger Brands, Diageo, Vodacom and Standard Bank, and explains why marketers must actively represent consumers inside organisations, especially when budgets tighten and choice increases. ___________________________ Buy us coffee here to help us grow. ___________________________ Produced in collaboration with our partners, Soweto Media. ___________________________ The Lead Creative Podcast is available on: AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow us on: LinkedInFacebookXInstagramSend us mail! Support the show ___________________________ Follow us for more on: YouTubeLinkedInInstagramSend us mail! Make a donation to Threads for Ikasi, a foundation that provides school uniforms, dignity packs and other essentials to children in townships, rural areas and under-resourced communities. To support them, go to: https://threadsforikasi.org  Support the show Buy us coffee here to help us grow. Follow us for more on: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    1h 1m
  2. How KFC Thailand Builds A Culture of Brave Advertising, Marketing and Creative Work

    JAN 21

    How KFC Thailand Builds A Culture of Brave Advertising, Marketing and Creative Work

    A conversation with Suhayl Limbada, CMO of KFC Thailand, on mirroring culture, earning creative bravery and building global work that resonates locally. From Let There Be Cake to Cannes Lions wins, this episode completes the 360 story after our earlier conversation with Saf Sindhi of Bananas. More Marketing, Advertising and Brand Building Insights: Culture must be earned, not extractedBrave work needs trust, not egoHeritage brands win when they remember who they areRisk creates relevance when rooted in truthBuy us coffee here to help us grow. ___________________________ The Lead Creative Podcast is available on: AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow us on: LinkedInFacebookXInstagramSend us mail! Support the show ___________________________ Follow us for more on: YouTubeLinkedInInstagramSend us mail! Make a donation to Threads for Ikasi, a foundation that provides school uniforms, dignity packs and other essentials to children in townships, rural areas and under-resourced communities. To support them, go to: https://threadsforikasi.org  Support the show Buy us coffee here to help us grow. Follow us for more on: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    1h 5m
  3. Building a Loved Challenger Brand That Encourages People To Buy Less Not More

    JAN 15

    Building a Loved Challenger Brand That Encourages People To Buy Less Not More

    What does it take to build a challenger brand with integrity in a market dominated by global players? In this episode of The Lead Creative, Mongezi Mtati talks to the founder and CEO of Desert Salt, Samantha Skyring, about growing with intention, encouraging customers to buy less, and why attention to detail matters more than scale.  The conversation explores storytelling, founder-led brand trust, social media as a tool for connection, and how long-term thinking creates brands that last.  ___________________________ Buy us coffee here to help us grow. ___________________________ The Lead Creative Podcast is available on: AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow us on: LinkedInFacebookXInstagramSend us mail! Support the show ___________________________ Follow us for more on: YouTubeLinkedInInstagramSend us mail! Make a donation to Threads for Ikasi, a foundation that provides school uniforms, dignity packs and other essentials to children in townships, rural areas and under-resourced communities. To support them, go to: https://threadsforikasi.org  Support the show Buy us coffee here to help us grow. Follow us for more on: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    54 min
  4. Creativity, Marketing Effectiveness and the Cost of Short-Termism: Effie Awards Trends

    12/22/2025

    Creativity, Marketing Effectiveness and the Cost of Short-Termism: Effie Awards Trends

    Marketing effectiveness is under pressure as short-term metrics continue to shape decision-making. Recorded at the Effie Awards South Africa as part of The Lead Creative Effies Series, this conversation with Gillian Rightford, Effie Awards South Africa Lead and ACA Executive Director, revisits the long-term cost of short-term thinking, now viewed through award-winning work.  Conversation highlights  Why long-term brand building is back in focus Why vanity metrics carry less weight in judging The limits of AI in creative effectiveness Why playing safe is a brand riskProduced in collaboration with our partners, Soweto Media. ___________________________ Buy us coffee here to help us grow. ___________________________ The Lead Creative Podcast is available on: AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow us on: LinkedInFacebookXInstagramSend us mail! Support the show ___________________________ Follow us for more on: YouTubeLinkedInInstagramSend us mail! Support the show Buy us coffee here to help us grow. Follow us for more on: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    12 min
  5. Building Loved Brands in an Age of Data and AI

    12/17/2025

    Building Loved Brands in an Age of Data and AI

    What separates effective marketing from short-term noise? Recorded at the Effie Awards South Africa, this conversation with Thami Majola, Executive Head of Brands and Communications at Vodacom, unpacks advertising effectiveness through a brand and business lens.  Thami shares insights on data-driven marketing, customer understanding, AI and the discipline required to build trusted, loved brands.  Produced in collaboration with our partners, Soweto Media. ___________________________ Buy us coffee here to help us grow. ___________________________ The Lead Creative Podcast is available on: AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow us on: LinkedInFacebookXInstagramSend us mail! Support the show ___________________________ Follow us for more on: YouTubeLinkedInInstagramSend us mail! Support the show Buy us coffee here to help us grow. Follow us for more on: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    14 min
  6. The Secret Behind Vaseline’s Advertising and Consumer Success

    12/11/2025

    The Secret Behind Vaseline’s Advertising and Consumer Success

    Simple work is often the hardest to make. In this episode, Kenosi Matsebatlela, Head of Marketing for Vaseline, and Tumi Moutlana, Creative Director at VML, share how trust shaped the Mntana Ka Gogo piece.  We explore why the idea resonated, how cultural memory works in advertising and why clarity outperforms complexity. They share how instinct, chemistry and timing help teams create work that feels familiar and honest.  ___________________________ Buy us coffee here to keep us fuelled. ___________________________ The Lead Creative Podcast is available on: AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow us on: LinkedInFacebookXInstagramSend us mail! Support the show ___________________________ Follow us for more on: YouTubeLinkedInInstagramSend us mail! Make a donation to Threads for Ikasi, a foundation that provides school uniforms, dignity packs and other essentials to children in townships, rural areas and under-resourced communities. To support them, go to: https://threadsforikasi.org  Support the show Buy us coffee here to help us grow. Follow us for more on: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    1 hr
  7. Most Advertising Is Afraid to Succeed: Chasing Trends Hurts Brands

    12/04/2025

    Most Advertising Is Afraid to Succeed: Chasing Trends Hurts Brands

    Advertising faces a growing challenge: too much work is created to avoid failure rather than pursue meaningful success. In this episode, creative consultant and Number 10 founder Ahmed Tilly breaks down why this mindset persists and how brands can move beyond it. Ahmed’s work includes Nando’s campaigns across 14 countries and the launches of Virgin Money, 1LifeDirect and Mazda. As Effie Awards South Africa Co-Chair (2024 & 2025) and Loeries Jury President, he offers clear insight into what makes work effective. Midway through our conversation, he recalled an insight he shared two years ago: trends are diluting creativity.  “Trends are the opposite of creativity. If you’re not different, you’re dead.” Conversation highlights True creativity requires resisting trends, not chasing themDistinctiveness drives real effectivenessTrend-chasing weakens creativityEffies work requires rigour and originalityMany marketing issues are rooted in strategyThank you to the Effie Awards South Africa team and Soweto Media. ___________________________ Buy us coffee here to help us grow. ___________________________ The Lead Creative Podcast is available on: AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow us on: LinkedInFacebookXInstagramSend us mail! Support the show ___________________________ Follow us for more on: YouTubeLinkedInInstagramSend us mail! Make a donation to Threads for Ikasi, a foundation that provides school uniforms, dignity packs and other essentials to children in townships, rural areas and under-resourced communities. To support them, go to: https://threadsforikasi.org  Support the show Buy us coffee here to help us grow. Follow us for more on: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    27 min
  8. From Chappies to Cadbury: How Mondelez Builds Heritage Brands That Lead Culture

    11/25/2025

    From Chappies to Cadbury: How Mondelez Builds Heritage Brands That Lead Culture

    How do heritage brands stay relevant in a world full of choice? At the Effie Awards South Africa, we sat down with Arpan Sur, CMO of the Sub-Saharan Africa Business Unit at Mondelez, to discuss marketing effectiveness, cultural leadership, and what makes brands like Chappies and Cadbury endure. Arpan shares why “marketing should lead culture”, how brands build rituals, and why effective work must deliver his “trifecta” of consumer impact, business outcomes, and fame. As an Effie Awards South Africa juror, he explains the rigorous judging process and what trends stood out this year. Highlights:  Why Chappies became a cultural category cue.The rise of “value as effectiveness” in inflationary markets.Why clear, focused briefs deliver stronger work.Thank you to the Effies for the platform. Produced in collaboration with our partners, Soweto Media. ___________________________ Buy us coffee here to help us grow. ___________________________ The Lead Creative Podcast is available on: AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow us on: LinkedInFacebookXInstagramSend us mail! Support the show ___________________________ Follow us for more on: YouTubeLinkedInInstagramSend us mail! Support the show Buy us coffee here to help us grow. Follow us for more on: YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    18 min
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About

The Lead Creative podcast hosts a series of conversations with great minds behind some of the leading brands, businesses, organisations and top ideas that we all love. From advertising thought leaders, forward-thinking brand leaders, innovative digital marketing minds to content creators - the podcast gives into what makes the world engage with some of the top brands. Founded and hosted by Mongezi Mtati, the podcast shares analysis, trends, and strategic intelligence.

Information

  • Creator
    Mongezi Mtati
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    107
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Lead Creative
  • Show Website
    The Lead Creative