Episode 28 - Michael Lebowitz

Today’s guest is Michael Lebowitz, Founder and Executive Chairman of SPCSHP – an agency that’s defied trends and labels for 25 years, and been a Harvard Business School case study not once, but twice.

Using the metaphor of a living, breathing organism, Michael describes SPCSHP as a creative canvas, where culture and imagination are more important than rigid labels or passing trends.

We also unpack why values aren’t just something to stick in a creds deck, but a powerful filter for the right clients and talent. And he explains how rituals (even playful ones) reveal more about team health than KPIs ever could.

From resisting the lure of being a ‘hot shop’, to navigating a people-first acquisition by MSQ, this is a masterclass in leading with personal conviction – and playing the long game.

HIGHLIGHTS

[02:05] Before digital was a thing

[04:26] The agency as an organism

[08:27] Leading with values

[11:07] Becoming a solo founder

[15:43] Cultural health is success

[20:01] How values keep you grounded

[24:52] Breadth of creative perspective

[28:11] Being featured by Harvard Business School

[33:29] Why MSQ felt like home

Previous episodes

Evolving the business of creativity

Episode 45

Guy Wieynk

Global CEO, AnalogFolk Group

Scaling culture at pace

Episode 44

Dimi Albers

CEO, Dept

Retaining the soul of creativity

Episode 43

Mark Figliulo

Founder, FIG

The power of ownership

Episode 42

Rania Robinson

CEO, Quiet Storm

Pioneering a new agency model

Episode 41

Luke Smith

CEO, Croud

The alchemy of modern media agencies

Episode 40

Richard Morris

CEO, UK and EMEA, IPG Mediabrands

Standing up for the next generation

Episode 39

Tesa Aragones

CEO, The Americas, AKQA

The hidden goldmine of B2B

Episode 38

Valerie Beauchamp

VP Global Head of Agency Development and Marketer Education, LinkedIn

Reinventing your passion

Episode 37

Armando Turco

President, Mojo Supermarket

Building a Market of One

Episode 36

Laurence Green

Director of Effectiveness, IPA

Coaching for commercial growth

Episode 35

Maureen Falvey

Lead Coach & Trainer, Strong Training & Coaching

Differentiating your client experience

Episode 34

Allen Adamson

Co-Founder, Metaforce

Leading the next phase of digital

Episode 33

Michael Olaye

EVP, Huge

AI and the pursuit of happiness

Episode 32

Matt McNeany

President, WPP Open

Knowing the people behind the creds

Episode 31

Lisa Colantuono

President, AAR Partners

Creativity as a process

Episode 30

Eric Zuncic

Global MD & CPO, Forsman & Bodenfors

A human-first future for agencies

Episode 29

Holly Maguire

Global Chief Growth Officer, Design Bridge & Partners

A unique perspective on agencies

Episode 27

Marla Kaplowitz

CEO, 4A's

Challenging the global market

Episode 26

James Townsend

CEO, Stagwell EMEA

Every moment is a chance

Episode 25

Nils Leonard

Co-Founder, Uncommon Creative Studio

Making a promise to the market

Episode 24

Conrad Persons

President, Grey London

Nurturing creative cultures

Episode 23

Toby Southgate

Global CEO, We Are Social

Breaking the burnout cycle

Episode 22

Bianca Best

Global Growth Officer, Performics

How audacious ideas get made

Episode 21

Trevor Guthrie

Co-founder, Giant Spoon

Leading with culture

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