In this episode I’m interviewing another amazing GameChanger: John Follis. It's so great to talk to a fellow Marketeer about the craft (because that's what's Marketing is!), his experiences in NYC and his current contribution to the world.
Anyone who’s worked on Mad Ave a week has a story. John spent 3 decades there — first, getting fired. Then, getting famous. Selected one of Mad Ave’s “12 Best” by The NY Ad Club John has been an ADWEEK columnist and featured speaker at venues including The World Business Academy and Yale. His agency, Follis DeVito Verdi, was one of New York’s most awarded.
John also has the unique honor of being acknowledged at both The White House and The UN for his effective public service work. He’s also been fired 4 times and been told he has no talent. John: "I began on Madison Ave with the top agencies in the US on accounts like VW, Pizza Hut and Coke. That led to the co-founding of my own agency, Follis&Verdi, which became one of the most awarded creative agencies in the country. As the media and marketing landscape changed, so did my business.
In '04, I created one of the first online consultancies, "Follis Marketing Therapy", which enabled business owners across the US to work with me directly on their marketing and creative issues.
In '06, I hosted and produced the first marketing podcast; "The Marketing Show with John Follis" which continued for 7 years.
In 2013, to meet the demand for the exploding digital video market, we added "Big Idea Video" which offers businesses a variety of high-impact web video content including animated "explainer videos". Currently, that work is featured on Vimeo, LinkedIn, and 4 YouTube Channels."
Additional career highlights include:
• Being selected one of "New York's 12 Best" by The New York Ad Club.
• Being honored at The White House for a national public service campaign that I spearheaded.
• Receiving the first ever United Nations Public Service Award at The UN.
• Being invited to speak at venues including The World Business Academy and Yale University.
• Winning over 3 dozen major ad awards including Clio Awards.
• Having my successful ad work featured in a Prentice-Hall marketing textbook.
• Having my successful ad work taught as a case study in The Harvard Business Review.
• Being invited to write for ADWEEK and Small Biz Trends.
• Being published in a pop-culture anthology with internationally known writers including Stephen King.
• Writing, directing and producing a film that won a Hollywood International Documentary Film award. . . .
Listen to his inspiring story and valuable tips and tricks to challenge yourself to look at Marketing differently. Every single day we have a choice on how we show up in our lives and our business.
How do you make the right choices and how can you create a sustainable approach and strategies for yourself?
Listen to our interview and get inspired!
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnfollis/
* Ad Child Abuse: https://myrtescheffer-my.sharepoint.com/:i:/p/myrte/EYtHvjNXIOFCua_CXTseUKYBDXF_biri7osYhCNrZcmzXQ?e=VokTva
* Story campaign Child Abuse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jBgWFhtfb0
About this podcast: www.myrtescheffer.com/gamechangers-united-podcast