“Do not punish your team for suggesting doors that would violate existing doors. Look for opportunities to be collaborative and creative.”
This simple advice from podcaster Jonathan Fields, which he shared in a session at Brandweek last week in Atlanta, was not just a helpful tip for every leader in the room; it was symbolic of the entire three-day event, which felt like a real re-set of the industry’s tone.
The session, called “Navigating Uncertainty,” was a funny, informative, and deeply human presentation on how to help your team stay optimistic and inventive in difficult times. This was a theme present throughout the conference.
I was fortunate to speak at Brandweek this year. Usually, my schedule requires me to zoom in and zoom out of events. This year, I intentionally carved off a bit of space to stay, listen, observe, and meet after my session. Something told me that I’d find something worth bringing home here.
The truth is, I found something pretty rare in our industry these days: unbridled optimism. At the end of Brandweek, I felt not just better prepared for the future; I felt even more excited to greet the coming years with the energy of an innovator’s spirit.
The shifting sands of AI, consolidation, and cultural uncertainty have left all of us feeling a little jumpy. (That might be the understatement of the year.) But while Brandweek acknowledged those shifts, it made them feel more like doors opening than doors closing.
I felt creativity in every conversation, every encounter, every talk I attended. It was the best kind of creativity—explosive, curious, the kind that looks at what is, and then, with a mischievous smile, proposes what could be.
Pumping up ATL
I was surprised to find that one of my favorite sessions was a shameless pump up show for Atlanta.
Featuring Jason Ippen from Georgia Pacific, Alex Ames from Coca-Cola, Tonya O’Connel from IHG, and moderated by Paul Carpenter of AMA Atlanta, the session focused on the power of Atlanta’s creativity. Here was a panel of four, high-level marketers arguing why the city they loved was well on its way to being the next breakout.
