Dr. Bill Cowen’s Post

I'd love to talk to you about - everything. Really. 15 minutes. About whatever you want. But first, a little history lesson. When I left Western Michigan University, I was supposed to move to Queens, New York. True story. I won a slot in a competitive advertising program to take on a year long rotational program with Ogilvy. Then I got a job offer to move to Chicago and work for a place called Giant Step, the interactive arm of Leo Burnett. As an advertising major, I missed my tour of Burnett because driving from Kalamazoo to Chicago meant horrendous traffic. I never got my chance to grab one of the apples. Some may call it a whim or calculated risk, I gave up my spot in NY and moved to Chicago instead, starting a wild and crazy ride on the thing called the World Wide Web. 25 years later, it's crazier than ever. In celebration of my Golden Anniversary, I finally got around to an important project: updating my own site. At the updated Blagica.com, you can get a deeper look into my background, but also book a time slot or two to talk about - anything. Some ideas: -Have we worked together, but not caught up in ages? -Do you need some tough love into why driving an EV is pretty awesome? -Would you like to start a debate on the nuances of deep dish pizza? -Do you need some help writing a white paper or figuring out AI prompts? -Are you about to graduate college and need some career mentoring? -Are you wanting to start an affiliate program for your brand but stumped on how? -Do you need pinch hitting on vetting and hiring a solid bench of practitioners? One of my favorite things to say is 'saturated momentum'. In the spirit of reconnection and using the interwebs for good, let's schedule a chat! https://lnkd.in/gYm_CdgU #connections #happy25

Day 66 - One of the things I value most is #learning. I think we should all be learning every day of our lives. Dentsu Creative (#McGarryBowen) was a great place to work in regards to #companyculture (as I mentioned yesterday). A significant part of that was a keen focus on #employeeeducation programs. For that reason specifically dentsu started #McGarryBowenUniversity or #MGBU which gave many of us a chance to learn new skills like #uXdesign taught by Eric Green, #digitalstrategy taught by Chuck Heckman, and #resourcemanagment taught by Jasmine Belizario The course that most impacted me was #BrandStrategy taught by Kristina Jenkins who saw something in me that no one else had seen before as an asset, an obsession with #PopCulture . Most people just saw me as a #nerd but KJ saw someone with an encyclopedic knowledge of what was popular in the world from #music to #fashion to #literature to #television to #movies She saw that knowledge and nicknamed me #LouGle (way before the use of this term in #HotTubTimeMachine) but more importantly she explained to me what a Cultural Brand Strategist was and how important #culturalwaves were to brands success. A great #brand understands what is going on in #popularculture because they are watching #trends (waves) closely at all times. Their finger is always on the pulse of society and she felt I was a person predispositioned to be taking that pulse. I took KJ's advice and decided to get a post graduate education in Brand #Strategy with a focus on Cultural Brand Strategy. I have used the skills I learned from that coursework throughout the rest of my career and even in my personal life. I will always be grateful to KJ for both inspiring and illuminating me. Thank you KJ, I hope I get to work with you again one day. Has anyone ever saw something special in you? Nurtured a natural talent of yours? Given you direction when you needed it? Because if so I want to hear about it. Please tell your stories to me in the comments and stay tuned for more #AdventuresInAdvertising

After over a year of dedicated effort, ESPN NEXT has undergone a transformation. Gratitude to my exceptional team for their courage in driving change and reshaping our program. One of our major milestones was the launch of our career accelerator. Just last month, our #Accelerators embarked on their intensive career development journey. Curious to learn more? Tap in below. Ready to be part of our team? The application link for NEXT awaits you in the article! 🚀 #ESPNNEXT https://lnkd.in/eAapR_zj

🤩 What a beautiful mess. 🏆 Saatchi & Saatchi's "You're Gonna Need More Tide" campaign for Procter & Gamble will be winning plenty of awards this year. And Catch+Release helped Saatchi curate and license the perfect UGC for the campaign. ✏ Want to learn how to get started with UGC 2.0? Check out the step-by-step guide included in this article from the Telly Awards. ➕ You're Gonna Need More Catch+Release. #UGC2dot0 #FoundContent #authenticity Link: https://lnkd.in/emyS3T4g

Exciting Learning Opportunity with Industry Leader Saurabh Saksena , CEO of VMLY&R!🚀 Hello connections! I am thrilled to share my recent experience attending an insightful and interactive masterclass on the world of advertising with none other than Mr. Saurabh Saksena, the visionary CEO of VMLY&R hosted by Bennett University. As a student pursuing BAJMC, this opportunity was truly a game changer for me! The session revolved around exploring the incredible potential of advertising and gaining a comprehensive understanding of its current state. Mr. Saksena's deep industry expertise shone through as he effortlessly navigated through the evolving landscape of advertising, highlighting its power to captivate audiences and shape perceptions.🧠 While explaining the present was important, he not only showcased its potential but delved into the past and the roots of modern advertising. Talking on topics such as modern feminism, misogyny, poverty and society in the context of advertising, he really opened my eyes to the reality of consumer communication and how one goes about talking to millions of people.💯 The conversation delved into the dynamic nature of the advertising industry, with a keen focus on adapting to digital trends, data-driven insights, and innovative storytelling. Mr. Saksena shared real-world examples that showcased how creativity and strategy blend seamlessly to create impactful campaigns that resonate with audiences across diverse platforms.👨💻 Moreover, the interactive nature of the session allowed me to ask questions, seek advice, and gain firsthand insights into the challenges faced by professionals in the advertising industry. Mr. Saksena's practical wisdom and approachable demeanor made the learning environment both engaging and enriching. As I embark on this journey towards becoming a future communication professional, the wisdom shared by Mr. Saksena has left an indelible mark on me. It's a reminder that innovation, creativity, and adaptability are the driving forces behind a successful career in the ever evolving world of advertising.🎓 #AdvertisingInsights #IndustryLeadership #LearningFromTheBest #VMLYR #BAJMC #FutureOfAdvertising #InnovationInCommunication #Bennettuniversity #Advertising #Ogilvy

Amazing opportunity for young creatives who’d like to enter into the advertising industry. Read more abt it in the link below

I believe there is great value in embracing curiosity. When doing so, you turn your focus to someone other than yourself. Besides improved understanding and connection, curiosity can push us to learn new information and gather fresh experiences. This is the foundation of the creative mind. "Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people." - Leo Burnett, American advertising executive and founder of Leo Burnett Company #NexNex-TechCreative #outsourcedmarketing #marketingandadvertising #curiosity

An Authentic Look at Agency Life with Day of Wrk ! The day of wrk platform offers an eye-opening and authentic glimpse into the daily realities of professionals across various industries. Their mission is "helping disadvantaged young people understand what various jobs truly entail, through authentic and personable day-in-the-life stories." This makes it a fantastic resource when you apply to a job. I explored their videos focusing on agency roles, and they were insightful! Created in collaboration with 6 top creative agencies, these videos showcase 26 real-life stories that shed light on different agency positions. Here's what I found most valuable: Relatable Stories: The first-person narratives allow us to connect with the experiences and challenges of colleagues in similar roles, fostering a sense of community and inspiring us to enhance our own skills and contribute more to the agency's growth. Empathy & Understanding: By seeing the work from other departments, we gain empathy and a better understanding of how diverse roles contribute to the agency's success. This is crucial for collaboration and a strong team dynamic. Demystifying Careers: These videos are far more informative than a quick Google search. You'll get a real feel for the day-to-day work! Diverse Perspectives: Importantly, the stories are from ethnic minorities, enriching the platform and promoting inclusion and representation in the workplace. Whether you work in an agency or are just curious about the industry, here is website to explore the video stories: https://lnkd.in/dMyj7BEC #agencies #advertising #marketing #career #diversity #DayofWrk

Check out the article Mediaweek wrote about my experience moving from Starcom London to Starcom Australia! Please feel free to reach out if you are also making the move, I would be happy to share some tips :)

Join us in celebrating Leila Ribeiro's promotion to Marketing Assistant! 🎊 From her start as a Marketing Intern, she has shown dedication, creativity, and a fantastic team spirit. Find out more about Leila: What is your title at DKT WomanCare Global? Marketing Assistant   Favorite Quote: "Our human compassion binds us to one another – not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future" - Nelson Mandela   Favorite TV Binge: My Brilliant Friend   Go to karaoke song: 4 Non Blondes - What's Up   Describe your job in three words : Strategic, Impactful, Empowering.   What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now? The new artwork platform system :)   Best thing about being part of the DKT WomanCare team? The best thing about being part of the DKT WomanCare team is making a positive impact on women's health worldwide. I also love working with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and nationalities; there's always something new to learn from everybody. #meettheteam #marketing #womenhealth