Publicis Media’s Post

As we begin a brand new year - one thing that will perhaps remain unchanged is the economic uncertainty. What will likely change is tech, digitization, and new ways in which consumers engage with brands. Brand versus performance - an age old debate - but as relevant as ever! What do you think? Looking forward to the Adweek Outlook 2024 discussion next week with an amazing panel!

Great insights on the evolution of Strategy in Advertising!

Thank you Festival of Media for an amazing opportunity to be a part of the judging panel for the 2024 awards! After reading countless global entries, scoring them, watching case study videos over six hours, and having a spirited dialogue on brand work, here is what I took away: 1. There is an art to debating with people - It's a conversational sparring match in which intellectual intentions yield respectful disagreements and civil resolutions. 2. Human truths add meaning to lifeless products - Not every product from a brand has a needed purpose in our lives. The products aren't the star of the lifestyle show we all individually star in ("Previously on Being Me") and often need an injection of humanity to make it make sense. 3. Internal bias is a reflection of our absorbed experiences - That voice inside your head, the internal dialogue and debate you have within yourself to be heard, to be right, to be loudest, to be fastest, to be better, to be smarter, CONSTANTLY needs to be checked. Shelving my psychological proclivities in place of the actual definition of the award category being judged and listening to my gut instinct when it comes to inclusivity and marginalized experiences being catapulted into the mainstream via advertising. 4. The global outlook on life > the local lens on life - In other parts of the world, brands show up in a way that replaces or challenges the government. They provide philanthropic solutions for those with no way forward or connect people to possibilities that change the immediate quality of their lives. Thank you Leah Mellard for the coordination throughout the entire process! #wavemaker #awards #media #judge #panel #creative

Cannes Young Lions 🦁 Inspiration and dedication are key ingredients to success in this competition, and participants must truly embody the spirit of creativity and teamwork. See below insights & tips on what it takes from the young media lions competitors. 🇨🇦

Is the Mad Men era really over? I wanted to wait until after Cannes to share my thoughts about this article, and quite honestly, I couldn't think of a better day to share my perspective then on July 4th. How is that the most creative people on the planet who undoubtedly continue to shape global pop culture, left out of the most creative industry in the world. Think about it, Black and Brown consumers created rock and roll, hip hop, jazz, rhythm and blues, Hip Hop, DJ'ing, Streetwear, every meaningful move you watch everyday in sports that makes you say, "Wow, Did you see that!" We delight the world with our flavors, cuisines, and our uncanny way of taking what was considered scraps and turn them into the some of the most flavorful dishes on the planet, and that's just the pop cultural contributions. I can talk about all the creative contributions we've made in science, the arts, and academia, but I want you all to get back to your BBQ's. Let's just assume that most people will agree that the world would be drastically different and not as interesting if it was not for our contributions. So the question I have to ask, is how are the most creative people on the planet not winning more awards at Cannes, or not ECD's, or CCO's for big ad agencies or running 100 million dollar creative consultancies that are driving growth for multi billion dollar brands. The answer is simple answer, one that we continue to run away from because it forces us to determine if we are culpable and guilty of being bias and the perpetuaters of prejudice. And by the way, this goes for both Black people as much as it does for White who are in the key positions to create the necessary paradigm shifts. Ultimately, the responsibility will have to happen at the brand level if we want this to change. Brands must open up the aperture on how we are seen and utilized. We are not just talent or an accessory to your typical understanding of what creative talent is or what you need it to be, sound like, look like to make you feel comfortable. Someone recently asked me what makes a good client, and I told them "Courage"! If this industry is going to change we need more of that! Happy Independence Day!! #equality #courage #diversity #inclusivity #creativity #advertising

🎙 Breaking news. We were just named Ad Age A-List Standout Agency for 2024. 🙌🏼 Some context on the award. There are 13,996 agencies in the US (IBIS World), 25 agencies make the A-list. "It is the most prestigious honor in advertising. The recognition is awarded based on game-changing creativity, bold leadership, and the ability to point the advertising industry in new directions." - from Ad Age. A few highlights and learnings from the award announcement and strategy (this is the 1st time I've been part of a team to win this in my career): ✅ Move the needle for client/brand business outcomes and call out specific annecdotes. The article headline says it beautifully "McKinney Hits the Right Notes for Creativity and Efficacy". And small specific details are key. For example, they mentioned Popeyes leapfrogging KFC to become #2 for market share in the category since we took over the account. And in the case of Little Caesars Ad Age even mentioned a funny anecdote we included from the CEO of Papa John's giving a nod to Little Caesar's hypercharged sales volume on their earnings call. "We don't talk about them a lot because they are not public, but credit card data we have suggests they (Little Caesar's) are doing really well." One of my favorite quotes on this how to call out anecdotes to tell a great story is from Jad Abumrad an epic storyteller from Radiolab fame. He preaches to "Chase the little sh*t". It's the cognitive effect of how paying attention to the smallest of details reframes a story to have a much bigger impact. ✅ Social Impact Matters. If you are going to talk the talk you gotta walk the walk. Ad Age mentioned naming our first female president in our history (grateful to work with Gretchen Easton Walsh), obtaining B-Corp status, and our partnership with VCU Brandcenter in breathing life back into Creative Circus (a storied ad school) with an updated curriculum for a new generation of creatives. None of this is possible without all the blood, sweat, and tears from our McKinney Squad, brand partners, and the community that supports us and our brands. Also, a huge shout out to the agencies who also made the list continuing to push the boundaries with great work. What a phenomenal accomplishment ya'll. I could not be prouder. I've linked to the full article in the comments below 👇🏼 #AdAgeAList #advertising #marketing

HEARTLAND, new research by Richard Huntington, Chair and Chief Strategy Officer, Saatchi & Saatchi 💥 Giving a voice to Britain's middle class - people every marketer should be obsessed with and are often overlooked. I took a tour of the research this week that revealed the nation’s true challenges and concerns, including sentiment around personal finances, outlooks on everyday life, and perceptions of the country’s future ahead of the General Election. Utterly BRILLIANT! Want to know more? Check out the articles in the comments below👇🏿

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Reflecting on the RFK #SuperBowlAd this morning, as both a #marketer and a #history enthusiast. I initially found it to be a stroke of genius, redoing the iconic JFK ad from the 60s (original below). It seemed to pay homage to his family legacy while offering a fresh perspective, akin to a Trump-esque 'Make America Great Again' message, albeit from a different vantage point. However, my perception shifted when I witnessed the backlash on social and the subsequent apology from RFK. It became apparent that while the ad may have resonated with those familiar with the campaign or history buffs like myself, its impact on the family's emotions was unforeseen, especially considering they were blindsided by its release. In the end, the real lesson that will live on in #marketing, #publicrelations, and #advertising textbooks for a different reason. Despite the considerable investment—reportedly $7M for the spot alone—the ROI appears dubious at best. The ad's polarizing reception underscores the importance of thorough audience research and sensitivity, lest the costs outweigh the benefits. What are your thoughts on this commercial and its aftermath? #SuperBowlAds #RFK #AdvertisingStrategy #BrandManagement

Really good article on the conversation that is centered around why the Ad Agency industry has not progressed in Diversity. Brands and companies must give diverse agencies the same opportunities to be able to compete with the big name "traditional" agency. It takes real decision makers to make this change. Thoughts?