Thursday Nov 23, 2023
Unlocking Inspirational Leadership With Marla Kaplowitz of the 4A’s
Marla Kaplowitz is the President and CEO of the 4A's (American Association of Advertising Agencies). She was previously the CEO of MEC North America, CEO of Wavemaker USA, and held senior leadership positions at other major media and advertising agencies. Kaplowitz has been recognized as one of the most influential women in media and marketing. She was named a "Woman to Watch" by Advertising Age and one of the "Most Powerful Women in Media" by Hollywood Reporter.
In this interview, Kaplowitz shares insights from her over 30 years of experience in the advertising industry. She provides advice for young leaders on developing their leadership style, dealing with challenging business situations, and managing teams. Kaplowitz emphasizes the importance of focusing on company culture and people first. She talks about understanding what motivates each individual, having empathy, and helping alleviate stress for employees. Kaplowitz also discusses owning mistakes quickly, bringing in the right talent, and having conviction when turning around struggling businesses.
The interview offers an inside look at leading advertising agencies through volatility and change. Kaplowitz's stories and advice are valuable for young marketers, CMOs, entrepreneurs and managers looking to develop leadership abilities, evolve company culture, and navigate business transformations. Her emphasis on people, curiosity and intuition makes this a compelling listen for anyone interested in inspirational leadership.
OUTLINE:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:00:46) Kaplowitz's background and entry into advertising
(00:03:16) Rising through the ranks at media agencies
(00:06:58) Developing a leadership style
(00:11:24) Focusing on company culture and people
(00:15:55) Turning around struggling businesses
(00:20:05) Dealing with challenging situations
(00:23:03) Maintaining a positive attitude
(00:25:29) Work-life integration and self-care
(00:30:44) Making tough talent decisions
(00:32:10) Empowering employees
(00:34:08) Communication styles and leadership
(00:36:58) Parallels between leadership and parenting
(00:38:52) Transitioning to leading the 4A's
(00:42:19) Inspiring remote teams
(00:42:33) Differentiating as a service provider
(00:43:06) Attracting talent to the ad industry
(00:44:13) Traits of great client service people
(00:45:19) Brand building vs. performance marketing
EPISODE LINKS:
4A's (American Association of Advertising Agencies): https://www.aaaa.org/
MEC: https://www.mecmarketinggroup.com/
GroupM: https://www.groupm.com/
Marla’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/meknyc?lang=en
Ogilvy on Advertising (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Ogilvy-Advertising-David/dp/039472903X
Fast Company article on Inspiring Happiness course at MEC: https://www.fastcompany.com/1682068/how-one-company-taught-its-employees-how-to-be-happier-and-what-happened-next
Executive coach Helen Mumford Soul: https://www.mumfordsole.com/
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
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