When Liz Valentine founded her ad agency Swift, the building had no individual offices. The reason for this; to ensure that all Swift employees are on an equal footing, no matter their position. Valentine’s leadership philosophy is based around respect and personal freedom. She understands that good work comes from good people, and allowing them time to decompress and pursue their passions helps that work blossom further. In this episode, Valentine talks about how taking a year off at Nike changed her perspective on her work environment, how she founded Swift following the 2008 financial crisis and her path to a top leadership role at a global agency.
Episode Notes
2:40 – Taking a year off at Nike
8:00 – Keeping Swift alive at the height of a recession
12:00 – Embracing uncertainty
17:00 – Allowing employees to be multi-dimensional
21:00 – Having employees truly live by a company’s values
24:00 – Valentine’s non-negotiables
30:00 – The transition to Wunderman Thompson
36:00 – The importance of embracing your life outside of work
39:00 – Leadership lessons from becoming CEO
LINKS
Liz Valentine on LinkedIn
CREDITS
Produced by Kai Hellberg
Music by Isaac Chambers – ‘Change’