Episode Summary

You built a content machine. Now leadership wants magic.

In-house creative teams were designed to move fast and save money—but today’s business leaders want more.
They expect:

• bold brand-building
• cultural relevance
• strategic insight

…from teams still treated like internal vendors.

So what separates in-house teams that thrive from the ones that get quietly downsized?

According to Pete and Juan Carlos, it all comes down to culture.

In this episode, they pull back the curtain on the rituals, truths, and team dynamics that unlock trust, talent, and transformative work.
From unspoken disabilities & superpowers to under-measured impact, this is the playbook for making your team irreplaceable.

Key Takeaways

• You can’t process your way to magic. Culture is the real operating system of creative teams.
• Creative “problems” often signal cultural misalignment—not lack of talent or effort.
• Superpowers and struggles both matter. Great teams make space for the whole human.
• Conversation isn’t overhead. It’s where clarity, courage, and creativity begin.
• When CMOs and creative leaders align, in-house teams stop surviving—and start leading.

Passive Listening to Active Thinking
 Use these prompts to reflect solo—or spark deep conversations with your team:

• What does your team optimize for—volume, speed, or belief?
• Where is your team using process to avoid conversation?
• What’s one unspoken “disability” on your team—and what would it look like to support it?
• Are your current metrics proving value—or hiding it?
• If you left tomorrow, what would be missing: deliverables or culture?

Pete Johnson & Juan Carlos Gutiérrez, Co-Founders at LOVE+RESPECT

Pete and Juan Carlos have led iconic creative teams at LEGO, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Saatchi & Saatchi. Now, through LOVE+RESPECT, they help brands transform their in-house teams into culture-driven, business-moving creative engines. With a mix of radical candor and real-world experience, they bring humanity, honesty, and high performance into the heart of creative operations.

🔗 Links & Resources

Pete Johnson on LinkedIn 
Juan Carlos Gutiérrez on LinkedIn 
LOVE+RESPECT 

Episode Summary

What if creativity wasn’t just something a few people do—but the way your entire company thinks, decides, and works?

In this episode, Ivan Pols argues that the most effective organizations don’t isolate creativity—they operationalize it. As Chief Creative Officer at what3words, Ivan has helped build a culture where story becomes strategy, feedback is infrastructure, and creativity isn’t confined to a team—it’s expressed across the company.

We explore why “creative” is a word that often hurts more than it helps, how to build creative systems rooted in story and shared language, and what it means to protect friction and curiosity in the age of convenience and commoditization.

Key Takeaways

• Creativity isn’t a department. It’s a decision system, a culture engine, and a business advantage.
• The label “creative” often limits people. Real creative work happens when everyone contributes.
• Brand story isn’t just marketing—it’s the internal algorithm that drives decisions and direction.
• Friction isn’t the enemy—done right, it sharpens thinking, focus, and collaboration.
• Creative operations can evolve from asset delivery to cultural architecture.

Passive Listening to Active Thinking
 Use these prompts to reflect solo—or spark deep conversations with your team:

• Are you building a creative team—or a creative company?
• What labels are limiting your team’s ability to think creatively?
• Does your brand story help your people make decisions—or just decorate your decks?
• What creative decisions are being made in your org—without creative input?

Ivan Pols, Chief Creative Officer at what3words | Co-Founder, Truth & Spectacle

Ivan has led global creative work at agencies like Ogilvy and adam&eveDDB, launched viral campaigns like Diamond Shreddies, and now serves as the creative heartbeat of what3words. At the intersection of design, systems thinking, and brand storytelling, Ivan has helped build a company-wide creative culture where everyone—from engineers to finance—is part of the creative process.

🔗 Links & Resources
Ivan Pols on LinkedIn
what3words
Truth & Spectacle

Where would more friction—or better feedback—make the work better?

Episode Summary

Chris Varela didn’t find creative ops. It found him—twice.

The first time, he realized the work he was already doing had a name: solving friction between marketing and creative, protecting his teammates’ time, and building systems that made the entire process more efficient, more effective—and frankly, more fun for everyone involved.

The second time, his company realized it too. After years of Chris operating without a title—quietly translating between functions and elevating how work flowed—Workday came to the conclusion that this wasn’t just helpful. It was a role. A needed one.

In this episode, Chris and Nish explore how creative ops functions often start unofficially—through the instincts, empathy, and persistence of people like Chris. They also dig into how titles unlock collaboration, how AI is helping scale creative ops work, and how others can navigate that same journey of recognition.

This episode is a guide for anyone who suspects they’re doing something important—but unrecognized. And for anyone who wants to help their org see the work more clearly.

Key Takeaways

• You might be doing creative ops already—whether or not your org (or you) knows it yet.
• Often, people recognize the impact before they recognize the role.
• Operating between marketing and creative is messy—but that’s where value is created.
• Getting a title doesn’t change the work. But it does change who asks for your help.
• Chris’s story is a blueprint for turning invisible influence into visible leadership.

Sometimes the first step in creative ops is helping your org recognize the role—by showing the impact you’ve already made.

From Listening to Thinking: Is It Time to Name the Role You’re Already In?

Use these prompts to reflect solo—or open up space with your team:

• Are you doing creative ops work—but calling it something else?
• If your org had to describe your value in one sentence, would they get it right?
• What’s one system or workflow you’ve shaped—even if unofficially?
• Who could benefit if your work was more visible, more named, more understood?
• How could your story help others name their own role—or help your org see what’s missing?

Guest: Chris Varela, PMP | Manager, Marketing and Creative Operations at Workday

Chris Varela didn’t set out to lead creative ops—he just kept solving the right problems. First, he realized he was already doing the work. Then, over time, his organization came to the same conclusion.

In this episode, he joins Nish to unpack the hidden path into creative operations—and what it looks like to help your company understand the role only after you’ve already been living it.

🔗 Links & Resources
Chris Varela on LinkedIn 

Episode Summary
In a galaxy flooded with content, storytelling is no longer a skill—it’s the rebellion.

In this milestone 50th episode, Nish and David Granger frame the conversation through the lens of the original Star Wars trilogy—exploring how brands moved from story-rich origins (A New Hope), through algorithmic obedience and commoditization (The Empire Strikes Back), to a moment of reckoning (Return of the Jedi).

They dive into why storytelling is the last true differentiator in an AI-driven landscape, how CMOs became “chief algorithm officers,” and why creative ops leaders must become the Rebel Alliance—fighting not just for brand expression, but for brand soul.

This episode isn’t just about marketing—it’s about what you choose to stand for.

 
Key Takeaways

• Storytelling isn’t decoration—it’s differentiation. It’s not the packaging. It’s the product.
• Creative commoditization is real—and the Death Star is already fully operational. The question is whether you fight it.
• The most courageous brands aren’t chasing trends—they’re building lore.
• Algorithms reward noise. Storytelling builds meaning. One optimizes for today. The other creates forever fans.
• Red Bull didn’t just sponsor sports. It built a media empire. It didn’t buy attention—it earned identity. That blueprint is still possible.

From Listening to Thining: From Brand Complacency to Creative Rebellion
Use these prompts to reflect solo—or spark bold conversations with your team:

• What stories is your brand telling—accidentally or intentionally?
• Are you feeding the content machine—or creating stories with staying power?
• How has your team grown stronger (or weaker) in its narrative instincts?
• What would your team do differently if storytelling was the mission, not just a deliverable?
• What’s the weirdest, most human thing your brand has ever done?And why did it work?
• What’s your brand’s version of the Rebel Alliance? Who are you trying to awaken?

Guest: David Granger, Content Director & Co-Founder at Arc & Foundry | Former Head of Content at Red Bull Media House, cinch, PMI

David Granger has spent over two decades turning stories into strategy. From his roots in journalism to building Red Bull’s iconic storytelling machine, David now leads Arc & Foundry, a content marketing agency that crafts emotionally resonant brand narratives. In this episode, he joins Nish to map the creative rebellion—past, present, and future.

🔗 Links & Resources
David Granger on LinkedIn
Arc & Foundry

Episode Summary What if the most important system in your organization… is made of people?

In this episode, Matt traces his path from creative ops leader to go-to-market operator—and reveals what never changed: his job has always been creating the conditions for others to succeed.

We explore what it’s like to build trust while scaling, why confusion and surprise are deadly for team performance, and how creative ops skills translate far beyond the creative department.

Whether you're navigating hypergrowth or eyeing a new career path, this episode offers a powerful reminder: the most valuable systems aren’t the ones that run the work—they’re the ones that help people run well together.

 Key Takeaways

• Creative ops isn’t about managing creativity—it’s about enabling performance.
• Confusion and surprise spread fast—and kill clarity if left unchecked.
• Prioritization and trust-building are what make scale sustainable.
• Outputs matter—but outcomes earn you a seat at the table.
• Creative ops skills are highly transferable across sales, growth, and GTM strategy.

Passive Listening to Active Thinking Use these prompts to reflect solo—or spark meaningful conversations with your team:

• What conditions actually help your team do their best work?
• Where are you relying on process—when relationships would solve more?
• How might your creative ops skills translate into a different business function?
• Are you measuring outputs—or impact?
• What early signs of confusion or surprise are you overlooking right now?

Guest: Matt Eonta, Head of Growth & Operations at Scleraworx | Former Head of Creative Project Management at HubSpot 

From agencies to in-house, from creative ops to go-to-market—Matt Eonta has built systems that help people do their best work. At HubSpot, he helped scale creative operations during a period of explosive growth. Today, he brings that same operational clarity to growth strategy and sales enablement at a fast-moving tech services company.

🔗 Links & Resources

 Matt Eonta on LinkedIn

Episode Summary
What if the future of creativity doesn’t depend on better tools—but on better culture?

As AI automates process and scale becomes a commodity, Nicky Russell—Managing Partner at WDC and former COO at Anomaly—argues that creative operations must evolve. The job is no longer just delivery. The job is culture.

In this episode, Nicky shares how creative ops can move from service to strategy—becoming the clutch control between creative ambition and commercial objectives. We explore emotional intelligence, new KPIs, and why building the right environment matters more than ever in an age of automation.

Key Takeaways

• AI can scale output—but only humans can cultivate culture.
• Creative operations is no longer a service function; it’s strategic connective tissue.
• “Clutch control” is the new skillset: knowing when to apply tech, when to apply friction, and how to balance creativity with commercial goals.
• Emotional intelligence is emerging as the most important superpower in creative leadership.
• Future-proofing creativity means optimizing less for outputs—and more for environments where originality can thrive.

Passive Listening to Active Thinking
 Use these prompts to reflect solo—or spark deep conversations with your team:

• If AI is handling the operations, what’s your unique contribution to the creative ecosystem?
• Where are you optimizing for speed—and where should you be designing for friction?
• Are you being treated like a service desk—or trusted as a strategic partner?
• What signals—beyond efficiency—prove the value of your team to leadership?
• What are you doing to build a culture where vulnerability, tension, and originality are not just allowed—but essential?

Guest: Nicky Russell, Managing Partner at WDC | Former COO, Anomaly
Nicky has led creative operations at some of the world’s top agencies and now advises global brands on building modern, human-centered creative ecosystems. She brings deep experience, sharp strategy, and a passion for redefining what creative ops can be.

🔗 Links & Resources
Nicky Russell on LinkedIn        
WDC    

Episode Summary 

What if brand wasn’t a guideline or a campaign—but an operating system?

Eric Alberts is helping reinvent a 190-year-old company by treating brand like a product—complete with documentation, demos, and internal adoption strategies. As Design Director at Wolters Kluwer, he’s drawing on a decade of UX and product design experience to build scalable systems that make brand feel more like infrastructure than identity theater.

In this episode, Eric shares how he's operationalizing brand across a decentralized, 22,000-person org—creating internal education programs, vetting agency partnerships, and empowering teams with self-service tools.

We talk brand architecture, creative ops as connective tissue, and how to evolve brand from aesthetics to an engine for business alignment.

Key Takeaways

• Brand is more than visual identity—it’s infrastructure for business and storytelling.
• Creative ops becomes powerful when it connects internal teams and external partners.
• Documentation, measurement, and system design aren’t just for product teams—they're essential for scaling brand.
• The in-house team can be a Trojan horse for embedding brand strategy—starting with service, growing into influence.
• AI won’t replace creativity, but it can supercharge consistency, scale, and speed—if the system is sound.

Passive Listening to Active Thinking Use these prompts to reflect solo—or spark deep conversations with your team:

1. Are you building brand like a story—or like a system?
2. What would change if your in-house team treated brand like a product with documentation, adoption, and iteration?
3. If your brand were a product, how would you measure adoption?
4. What’s stopping your external agencies from becoming true extensions of your internal brand system?
5. Where is creative ops acting like connective tissue—and where is it still a service desk?

🔗 Links & Resources 

Eric Alberts on LinkedIn 

Wolters Kluwer 

Episode Summary

Creative teams have the potential to shape culture, drive innovation, and steer brand— but most companies still treat them like a service desk.

Emma Sexton has spent over a decade building the one thing most creative leaders don’t have: a roadmap to power.

As founder of the Inside Out® Community and architect of the Inside Out® Pathway, she’s helping in-house leaders move from overlooked execution to boardroom influence.

In this episode, Emma joins us to reframe creative leadership as a business-critical multiplier— and reveal the zones of progression that help leaders claim their seat at the table.

We talk brand ownership, creative ops evolution, the burnout of CMOs, and why organizations that ignore creative leadership might be leaving their most scalable advantage on the table.

Key Takeaways

• Creative leadership is a force multiplier—not a production function.
• The Inside Out® Pathway offers a clear map for in-house teams to grow from executional to visionary.
• Most teams are stuck in the middle—between delivery and strategy—without a language or framework to rise.
• Creative ops isn’t the star—it’s the system that helps leadership scale.
• AI shifts the baseline—creativity’s value now lies in judgment, influence, and strategic decision-making.

Passive Listening to Active Thinking

Use these prompts to reflect solo—or spark deep conversations with your team:

1. What part of your identity or leadership style is keeping your team stuck in their current zone?
2. If no one in your org believes creative work can shape business strategy—what have you done to prove them wrong?
3. Are you spending more time defending creative value… or demonstrating it at the business level?
4. If your team had total permission to lead, not just deliver—what would you stop doing first?
5. Who benefits from you staying small?

🔗 Links & Resources

• Emma Sexton on LinkedIn
• Inside Out® Community
• Download the Inside Out® Pathway

Show Summary

Creative work doesn’t start with a brief—it starts with trust. And when operations and creative build that trust, the results go far beyond delivery.

In this episode, Kyle Wright and Brianne Gallagher—Creative Director and Head of Creative Operations at Wayfair—share how they’ve restructured the relationship between their teams. Instead of chasing speed at the expense of meaning, they’re building systems that protect space for strategy, storytelling, and original thinking.

We talk about what it takes to move from reactive execution to proactive collaboration: the tooling, the prioritization, the upstream conversations—and the mindset shifts underneath it all. What happens when ops stops managing projects and starts enabling vision?

This isn’t just about better workflows. It’s about building the conditions for better ideas.

Key Points + What They Made Me Wonder

• Strategic creative work begins upstream—so why do so many teams still wait for the brief to start thinking?
• “Thinking time” needs to be designed into the system—so how do we defend it without turning it into a productivity metric?
• Concepting works like an internal LLM—it learns from what we feed it—so are we investing enough in our creative inputs?
• The right tools reflect how teams think, not just how they ship—so what assumptions are baked into our current stack?
• Protecting creative headspace requires saying no with purpose—so how might ops lead the charge without becoming the bottleneck?
• Creative and ops teams shouldn’t just align—they should challenge each other—so what kind of trust makes that possible?
• Emotional resonance is a business result—so why don’t more systems measure for it?

About the Guests

Kyle Wright is the Creative Director at Wayfair, where he leads brand and campaign storytelling across channels. With a background in design, experiential, and brand systems, Kyle is focused on protecting space for intuition and human originality inside fast-moving creative ecosystems. Connect on LinkedIn

Brianne Gallagher is Head of Creative Operations at Wayfair, where she’s spent over a decade evolving ops from a delivery function into a strategic partner. She’s focused on building systems that enable great creative work at scale—without sacrificing soul. Connect on LinkedIn

Show Summary

You got the title. Now what?

You’re no longer the one making the work. You’re leading the people who do. And suddenly… Everything that made you successful stops being useful.

No one teaches you how to lead a creative team. There’s no playbook for designing trust. For giving feedback that doesn’t kill morale. For building culture that doesn’t burn people out.

Unless you’ve read Raising Creative Teams— Kevin Frank’s new book, and the episode you’re about to hear.

Kevin led global creative at Apple. He was Executive Creative Director at LinkedIn, where his team won AdAge’s In-House Agency of the Year. But his real education in creative leadership came when he realized: The most creative thing a leader makes… Is the environment.

This conversation is for anyone who’s ever wondered: Am I leading the work—or the conditions that make the work possible?

Key Points & Questions It Planted

• Creative Leadership ≠ More Creativity → When I stop doing the work myself, what am I actually supposed to do instead?
• Systems Create Culture → Are our rituals and norms fueling trust—or just enforcing compliance?
• Feedback Isn’t a Gut Thing—It’s a Designed System → Do our feedback loops scale confidence, or confusion?
• Hiring Sets the Trajectory, Not Just the Talent → Who you hire shapes what the team becomes—so what am I really optimizing for?
• Gratitude Isn’t Soft—It’s Infrastructure → What would change if appreciation was baked into the operating system?
• Creative Systems Need Co-Architects → Kevin doesn’t say this directly, but his framing of leadership raises a bigger question: Are creative leaders building systems alone—or should they be partnering with ops as force multipliers?

About Kevin

Kevin Frank is a creative leader, author, and team coach with three decades of experience building award-winning teams across tech, media, and marketing.

He spent years leading global creative at Apple, then as Executive Creative Director at LinkedIn, built an in-house agency that earned back-to-back AdAge Best Places to Work honors and the title In-House Agency of the Year.

Now, Kevin runs Doing Interesting Stuff—a Paris-based consultancy where he helps creative leaders build better teams, scale trust, and lead with vision. His new book, Raising Creative Teams, distills those lessons into a hands-on guide for anyone navigating the messy, meaningful leap from creative to creative leader.

Connect with Kevin → LinkedIn Profile

Relevant Links

• 📘 Raising Creative Teams → Buy on Amazon
• 🌐 Kevin’s Consultancy: Doing Interesting Stuff
• 💬 Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn

Guest Information

• Name: Amy Strickland
• Title: Instructor, Advanced Creative Operations Program
• Organization: Rutgers
• Expertise:
  • Expert in Creative Ops Leadership, Systems Thinking, and Team Optimization

• Name: Alicia Nicely
• Title: Senior Manager, Creative Operations
• Organization: Kidde Global Solutions
• Expertise:
  • Specialist in Scaling Teams, Data-Driven Decision Making, and Process Development

Episode Summary
The creative operations field is evolving fast—and the professionals who invest in learning won’t just keep up, they’ll lead.

In this episode, Amy Strickland and Alicia Nicely break down how education in creative operations isn’t just valuable—it’s career-changing.

Alicia’s journey is proof. She was already doing creative ops without the title, but after completing the Rutgers Advanced Creative Operations Program, she gained the strategic skills, leadership mindset, and KPI-driven approach to transform her role and scale her team.

Amy, an educator and creative ops strategist, shares why structured learning is essential for professionals looking to advance, and how the right training helps move from execution to strategy.

If you’ve ever wondered whether formal education in creative ops is worth it, this episode will answer that question—and show you exactly how it can accelerate your career.

Key Takeaways

•   You can’t manage the future with yesterday’s skills:
  • Creative operations is shifting from execution to strategic leadership—and professionals who upskill will be the ones who lead that shift.
• Formal education in creative ops isn’t just theory—it’s career acceleration :
  • Alicia applied what she learned immediately at work, using KPI tracking, workflow optimization, and leadership strategies to scale her team and gain executive buy-in.
•  If leadership doesn’t recognize creative ops, you have to advocate for it:
  • Learning how to speak the language of business impact, data, and efficiency is key to positioning creative ops as a must-have, not a nice-to-have.
• Education gives you a framework—so you don’t have to build everything from scratch:
  • Instead of learning through trial and error, structured programs teach proven methods for scaling teams, improving processes, and driving impact.
• The best creative ops leaders never stop learning:
  • AI and automation will optimize workflows, but leadership is the X factor—and the ones who keep learning will be the ones driving the future.. 

Mentioned Resources

• Join the Advanced Creative Operations Silver Certificate Program now: https://comminfo.rutgers.edu/continuing-and-professional-studies/advanced-creative-operations-silver-certificate

Episode Summary
With Air.inc securing $35M in funding, the creative operations world is facing a major inflection point. In this solo episode, Nish Patel explores what this investment means for creative ops leaders, why the concept of a "system of record for creative work" is critical, and how creative professionals can seize this moment to elevate their roles from tactical execution to strategic systems design. This isn’t just about one company—it’s about an industry-wide shift that demands creative ops leaders rethink their approach to scale, speed, and storytelling.

Key Takeaways

•    Creative Ops is at a Turning Point:
  • Air’s funding is a signal that creative ops is being recognized as a strategic function.
  • The industry is shifting from project management toward systematizing creative workflows at scale.
•  The Importance of a System of Record for Creative Work:
  • Other operational functions (RevOps, SalesOps) have CRMs as a central hub—creative ops has lacked one.
  • Air is positioning itself to be the foundational platform for creative operations.
•  Creative Intelligence: A Leap Beyond Project Management:
  • The shift from scattered workflows to structured creative intelligence will enable smarter decision-making.
  • The best creative ops leaders will think in terms of designing systems, not just managing tasks.
• Tech as a Partner in Creativity, Not Just a Tool:
  • The right technology should reduce admin burdens and free up time for creative work.
  • A well-implemented system can enhance both speed and creative quality simultaneously.
• Storytelling is the Competitive Advantage in an AI-Driven Market:
  • With AI and automation increasing content production, the real differentiator will be brand and storytelling.
  • Creative ops leaders must ensure that efficiency doesn’t come at the cost of emotional resonance and impact.
• Should Creative Ops Take a Stronger Role in Tech Evaluation?
  • Nish is considering a series of podcast episodes evaluating creative ops tools.
  • Understanding the "what, why, and how" behind these tools can help leaders make better decisions.

Additional Resources

• Air.inc Website: https://air.inc
• Episode Reference: Shane, CEO of Air, was previously a guest on the Creative Ops Podcast.

Guest Information

• Name: Jason Holzman 
• Title: SVP, Creative, Production, and Brand Strategy  
• Organization: Macy’s 
• Expertise:
  • Creative leadership in retail, media, and advertising
  • Scaling creative teams in high-growth and high-change environments 
  • AI’s role in creative operations  

Episode Summary
The future of creative leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about navigating uncertainty with trust, adaptability, and a new mindset. In this episode, we sit down with Jason Holzman, SVP of Creative, Production, and Brand Strategy at Macy’s, to explore how leaders can shift from control to enablement, balance execution with creativity in the age of AI, and build trust through transparency, empathy, and positivity. Whether you’re a creative ops leader, project manager, or CMO, this conversation is packed with insights on leading through disruption and thriving when the old playbooks no longer work.  

Key Takeaways

•   Leadership in creative ops is no longer about control—it’s about enablement :
  • The best leaders aren’t making every decision; they’re creating the conditions for better decisions to be made.   
•  Trust is the most underrated skill in leadership :
  • Uncertainty isn’t going away, but teams that trust their leaders—and each other—move through change faster and more effectively. 
• AI is shifting the balance between execution and creativity:
  • Leaders must rethink how they measure value, ensuring that efficiency doesn’t come at the cost of originality.
• Transparency, empathy, and positivity aren’t just buzzwords—they’re survival strategies:
  • In times of rapid change, clarity and human connection are what keep creative teams engaged and performing.
• The future of leadership is about designing for change, not just reacting to it:
  • The best teams aren’t waiting for stability—they’re building systems that thrive in uncertainty. 

Guest Information

• Name: Emma Sexton 
• Title: Founder & CEO  
• Organization: Inside Out Community  
• Expertise:
  • Creative leadership & in-house team strategy 
  • Business impact of creativity  
  • Brand storytelling & operations

Episode Summary
This episode started with a thought experiment—a LinkedIn post I wrote about how I would design an in-house creative team from scratch today. No legacy structures, no incremental tweaks—just a blank canvas and a chance to reimagine what’s possible.

That post sparked a conversation that resonated across the industry. Emma Sexton invited me onto her Inside Out podcast to take that idea further, and what followed was a deep, exploratory discussion about the creative team of the future.

How should we design teams not just to survive, but to thrive in an AI-powered, fast-moving world? How do we break free from old models and build something truly new?
This conversation is an invitation to step beyond the known, to break from outdated models, and to explore what’s possible when we treat creativity as a living system, not a fixed structure.

No rules. No assumptions. Just a blank canvas and the courage to ask: What if?

Key Takeaways

•  The in-house agency model is fading fast  :
  • In-house teams that position themselves as “internal agencies” are struggling to stay relevant.
  • The new model requires creatives to be embedded in business strategy, not just production.   
•  AI won’t replace creative teams, but bad strategy will :
  • AI can generate content at scale, but it can’t replace the human ability to tell meaningful stories. 
  • The teams that survive will be the ones that learn how to balance AI-driven efficiency with human creativity. 
• CMOs need to stop treating creativity as an expense:
  • Creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s a competitive advantage.
  • The best brands are the ones using storytelling to create deeper, emotional connections with audiences.  
•  Scaling storytelling is the new creative challenge:
  • AI allows for mass content creation, but how do you make sure it resonates?  
  • The future belongs to creative strategists who know how to scale ideas, not just assets.
•  The next decade of creative leadership will belong to the bold:
  • The most successful creative teams will be the ones that reinvent themselves before they’re forced to.  
  • Now is the time to prove creative value, experiment with AI, and rethink the role of creativity inside organizations.  

Guest Information

• Name: Alexia Adana  
• Title: Director of Creative Technology and Innovation  
• Organization: Edelman  
• Expertise:
  • Creative technology
  • AI-driven storytelling  
  • Democratizing creative tools for underrepresented communities

Episode Summary
How does AI impact creativity—does it empower new forms of artistic expression or dilute human ingenuity? In this episode, we sit down with Alexia Adana, Director of Creative Technology and Innovation at Edelman, to explore the evolving intersection of AI and creativity. From democratizing creative tools to redefining artistic workflows, Alexia shares insights into AI as both a collaborator and a challenge to human storytelling.

Key Takeaways

•  AI as a Creative Partner :
  • AI can expand human creativity by serving as a brainstorming and ideation tool rather than replacing original thought.  
•  The Risk of Creative Homogenization :
  • Overreliance on AI-generated content can lead to a loss of originality and distinctive artistic voices. 
• The Role of Intentionality:
  • Creatives must be mindful of when and how they use AI to enhance, rather than dilute, their unique perspectives.
•  Democratizing Creative Access:
  • AI lowers barriers to entry for storytelling, allowing emerging artists—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—to create at a higher level.
• AI as a Thought Partner, Not an Easy Button:
  • The best use of AI is as a "creative therapist"—helping creatives refine ideas, expand perspectives, and push boundaries rather than simply generating output.  

Guest Information

• Name: Julia Arenson
• Title: Head of Creative Operations
• Organization: Specsavers
• Expertise:
  • Transforming in-house agencies from production hubs to strategic creative powerhouses
  • Integrating creative operations into brand strategy and business impact
  • Navigating the cultural shift from agency to in-house leadership

Episode Summary

Julia Arenson, Head of Creative Operations at Specsavers, shares how their in-house agency evolved from a production-focused team to a strategic force behind one of the UK’s most iconic brands. We explore her journey from agency life to leading creative ops at Specsavers, the critical role of creative operations in brand success, and how AI is reshaping the creative landscape.

Key Takeaways

• Creative Ops as a Brand Superpower:
  • Creative operations are more than project management; they’re the connective tissue linking brand strategy, storytelling, and business impact.
• Culture Shock: Agency vs. In-House:
  • Julia shares the surprising cultural differences between agency life and in-house roles, including a memorable moment when flickering lights signaled a healthier work-life balance.
• Data-Driven Creativity:
  • Specsavers uses data to optimize creative processes without stifling innovation, blending performance metrics with strategic storytelling.
• AI’s Role in Creative Ops:
  • Julia discusses how AI is reshaping creative work, from automating tasks to challenging the uniqueness of brand identity in an AI-driven world.
• Onboarding for Success:
  • A robust onboarding process at Specsavers helps new team members deeply understand the brand, ensuring alignment with business goals and fostering collaboration.
• Balancing Efficiency and Creativity:
  • The Specsavers team uses frameworks that allow for both consistent brand storytelling and creative flexibility across markets.
• Future-Proofing Creative Teams:
  • Embracing continuous learning, strategic thinking, and AI integration are key to staying ahead in the evolving creative landscape.
• Empowering Teams Through Systems:
  • Effective creative operations create an environment where teams thrive, ensuring people are connected to the brand’s purpose and set up for success.

Guest Information

• Name: Patrick Burgoyne
• Title: Co-founder
• Organization: In-House Agency Leaders Club
• Expertise:
  • Leadership in creative and advertising industries
  • Founder of platforms fostering collaboration among creative leaders
  • Extensive experience shaping creative ecosystems

Episode Summary

In this episode of Creative Ops, Patrick Burgoyne unpacks the transformative power of in-house agencies. From his “four buckets” framework to AI-driven innovation, Patrick offers actionable insights into how in-house teams can evolve from production studios to lead agencies. Join us as we explore strategies to leverage creative operations for maximum impact and business alignment.

Key Takeaways

• The Four Buckets Framework:
  • Understand the roadmap for evolving in-house teams: production studio, creative studio, creative agency, and lead agency.
• The Role of AI:
  • Learn how AI is disrupting traditional workflows, creating efficiencies, and challenging team structures.
• Building Trust Through Transparency:
  • Foster trust by creating safe spaces for open discussion and collaboration.
• Aligning with Business KPIs:
  • Strengthen creative ops' strategic value by aligning with measurable organizational goals.
• Embedding Creativity in Teams:
  • Drive innovation by embedding creative professionals into multidisciplinary teams across the organization.
• Strategic Partnerships and Leadership:
  • Identify allies within your organization to champion in-house capabilities and expand your team's scope.
• Reflection Questions:
  • Explore prompts designed to challenge your thinking and inspire meaningful team discussions.

Guest Information

• Name: Jarrod Gingras
• Title: Managing Director & Analyst
• Organization: Real Story Group
• Expertise:
  • Marketing and workplace technology evaluation
  • Aligning technology with strategic goals
  • Digital content and customer data platforms

Episode Summary

In this episode, Jarrod Gingras shares his expertise on navigating the seismic shifts AI brings to creative operations and tech stacks. He breaks down how AI demands clean data, aligned content, and strategic decisions, and explains why refactoring your tech stack might be essential for staying competitive. This conversation is packed with actionable insights for leaders and teams navigating this critical inflection point in creative operations.

Key Takeaways

• Refactoring vs. Staying the Course:
  • AI has introduced foundational changes to creative operations, making tech stack alignment essential.
• Content, Data, and Decisions:
  • These three elements form the backbone of successful AI adoption. Clean data and aligned content are non-negotiable.
• Human in the Loop:
  • AI workflows require human oversight to ensure meaningful and relevant outcomes.
• Breaking Down Silos:
  • Collaboration between content and data teams is critical for creating impactful AI-driven solutions.
• Future-Proofing Your Tech Stack:
  • Assess your systems for scalability, data fluidity, and integration with AI tools.
• Personalization at Scale:
  • AI enables always-on workflows but requires a foundational shift in how content and data are managed.
• Actionable Frameworks:
  • Jarrod outlines practical steps for leaders to assess and update their tech stacks strategically.
• The Existential Question:
  • To refactor or not to refactor? The answer depends on your current system’s readiness for AI integration.

This episode explores the potential role of AI in disrupting offshore production and accelerating in-house innovation. Penri Jones shares his bold perspectives on the evolution of workflows, modular storytelling, and why creativity remains the ultimate differentiator in an AI-driven world.

Key Takeaways

• The Economic Disruption:
  • AI is fundamentally reshaping the business model of creative production.
  • Offshore production may face obsolescence as in-house operations leverage AI to scale and innovate.
• From Linear to Modular Workflows:
  • Brands must move from traditional workflows to modular, AI-enabled storytelling.
  • This approach enables hyper-personalized content and one-to-one consumer connections.
• Creative’s True Differentiator:
  • Creativity—not technology—remains the ultimate edge in the AI era.
  • Leaders must balance automation with imaginative, human-driven work.
• Leadership in Transition:
  • Leaders must ask critical questions about how AI integrates into their teams.
  • Identifying opportunities for upskilling and workflow innovation is key.
• Future-Proofing with AI:
  • Build adaptable teams ready to embrace AI-driven change.
  • Engage in proactive discussions about the ethical and practical implications of AI in creative work.

Reflection Questions Segment

Stick around after the interview for Nish’s Reflection Questions segment. Here, Nish shares his insights and poses thought-provoking questions sparked by the conversation with his guest. It’s an invitation to shift gears—from listening mode to thinking mode—and ultimately into action mode, serving as a launchpad for bold possibilities of what creative operations is and can become.

Get to Know Penri

• LinkedIn  
• Website  
• Newsletter 

Episode Summary

In this solo episode, Nish explores how AI is transforming creative operations by shifting from traditional role scarcity to role abundance. He highlights how creative leaders can spin up AI-driven “roles” like Creative Brief Coach or Chief Storytelling Officer out of thin air, without budget constraints. Nish shares practical frameworks and examples to help listeners reorient their thinking around AI’s infinite capabilities in speed, scale, and knowledge—setting the stage for a transformational 2025.

Timeline

 • [00:01] - Intro: AI and your 2025 planning

 • [02:15] - Creative brief coach: Solving the briefing challenge with AI

 • [04:33] - Chief storytelling officer: Keeping ideas tied to the big narrative

 • [06:58] - AI roles: The rise of project prioritization advisors

 • [09:25] - New laws of work: Infinite scale, speed, and negligible costs

 • [11:51] - Example: Creating “Alex,” the AI workshop advisor

 • [14:11] - The mindset shift: Roles you’d create with “unlimited HR budget”

 • [16:33] - Personal productivity and team-level AI use cases

 • [19:00] - How to start leading AI transformation in 2025

Key Takeaways

 • 1. Rethink Work Scarcity with AI:

 • Scale, speed, time, and knowledge are no longer scarce; AI enables infinite capacity at negligible cost.

 • AI allows creative leaders to spin up roles like Creative Brief Coach without additional budget.

 • 2. Create Strategic AI Advisors for Your Team:

 • Use AI to develop tools like project prioritization advisors and storytelling coaches.

 • These AI-driven “roles” fill knowledge gaps, reduce inefficiencies, and improve creative output.

 • 3. Practical AI Examples:

 • A Creative Brief Coach can improve the quality of submitted briefs by referencing past campaigns and data.

 • A Chief Storytelling Officer helps maintain brand narrative alignment throughout creative production.

 • 4. Mindset Matters: The New Laws of Work:

 • Leaders must reorient their thinking: With AI, infinite possibilities exist to innovate systems and roles.

 • Ask yourself: What roles would you create with unlimited HR budget?

 • 5. AI as a Collaborative Partner:

 • AI isn’t about replacing people but about creating new roles that enhance productivity and creativity.

 • Teams benefit by offloading repetitive tasks to AI tools, freeing human capacity for strategic work.

 • 6. Start Small, Scale Fast:

 • Build a “personal productivity use case” with AI tools as a first step.

 • Expand to team-level AI advisors for more complex workflows like prioritization and brainstorming.

 • 7. AI Workshops and Implementation:

 • Nish introduces workshops to help creative operations leaders navigate AI’s potential.

 • These workshops focus on understanding AI’s fundamentals and building immediate, actionable AI strategies.