Our guest today is the wonderful Harjot Singh – Global Chief Strategy Officer at McCann & McCann Worldgroup. This is a rich and personal conversation about the impact of people being different in our industry. 

Harjot has a real way with words and he shares some lovely thoughts, not least on the critical difference between discipline and dogma when it comes to great work. He also beautifully captures what he calls the ‘dance’ that occurs between agencies and their clients as we strike a balance between offering certainty and possibility. 

Harjot also speaks candidly about there not being a playbook to follow as he progressed through the ranks. And his perspective on imposter syndrome is particularly powerful; using his own doubts as a prompt to search for more information and greater insight. 

I really love the groundedness that Harjot brings to the conversation. If you’re looking for an example of how to stay present, really listen and offer genuine answers, there’s a lot to learn here. He talks the talk on being yourself and he certainly walks the walk too.

Highlights: 

[05.38] Balancing certainty and possibility.

[07.36] The art of persuasion and positive outcomes.

[12.13] Why observation and attention is so important.

[19.00] Listening to your mind and processing what you hear.

[24.22] Why good people make good leaders. 

[30.07] You can’t do different if you’re not different.

[34.32] Advice for agency leaders.