Let's Bring It In: Discussions with In-House Creative Leaders

Jason Johnson shares his path from Disney host to leading creative at Qualtrics. He dives into the evolution of Qualtrics’ in-house creative team, the challenges of maintaining brand consistency worldwide, and why in-house roles can offer unmatched creative variety. Plus his best advice for creatives eyeing the in-house world.

The new Utah Mammoth logo is more than just a design—it's a story of community, symbolism, and bold creative choices. In this episode, Chris Ryan George and Ben Barnes discuss how they crafted a brand that resonates with fans and honors Utah's identity. Check out nhl.com/utah for more info.

DW Brotherton, Group Art Director at Disney’s Yellow Shoes, shares how he’s navigated a career that’s part careful planning, part seizing the moment—and often, just rolling with the unexpected. We talk about the thrill and responsibility of working with Disney’s iconic IP, what makes in-house agencies today so powerful, and how he knows whether he's just making noise—or creating magic.

Head of the Creative Lab at Spotify, Kay Hsu talks about curiosity, entrepreneurship, and diversity. And by the end of the episode, you'll be googling "Ice Festival Harbin China."

A few weeks ago, some of the industry's best creative minds gathered in Scottsdale, Arizona, for The One Club Creative Leaders Retreat. Among them was Mollie Wilkie, Senior Global Creative Director at Hasbro, who took the stage to share her insights. In this episode, Mollie breaks down the key lessons from her presentation, what she took away from the event, and how creative leaders can drive impact in an evolving industry.

Julia Melle, Director of Brand and Content at Southwest Airlines, shares what she’s learned stepping from the agency world into a brand she already knew (and loved). We talk about the power of influencers, why customers trust them more than brands, the difference between balance andfinding windows, and the rigor of truly taking care of your people. Plus, why she and her team are just getting started.

Creator of BMW Films. Former ECD of Fallon. Partner of a Civil War-era mill that makes blankets. And current ECD of Best Buy. Bruce Bildsten is a really interesting guy. Hear what he has to say about Best Buy's new production facility, how marketing people jump around within their discipline, and how Dan Wieden created the Titanium Lion. We also talk a bit about skiing.

Duo on Ice. Crafting a sword from Valyrian steel. And a Super Bowl commercial with an owl coming out of another owl’s butt. These are just a few of the efforts that make Duolingo more than another language learning app. James Kuczynski, Creative Director of Brand and Marketing tells us all about them.

Quit your job and travel while freelancing. Stop making decks and start presenting your ideas in Word docs only. Learn to be smart and dumb at the same time. Start an ultra running podcast that makes fun of ultra running podcasts. These are just a few of the how-tos you’ll hear in this episode with Andy Pearson, VP of Creative at Liquid Death.

After two decades at creative powerhouse GSD&M, Ray Longoria’s freelance career took him to a number of in-house agencies, including a 5-year stint as the execuitve creative director at Charles Schwab. In this episode, Ray talks about the importance of working with clients who have a purpose and why going in-house is no longer Plan B for creatives. You can see Ray’s work at raylongoria.com.

Chris Ryan George is Senior Creative Director of two pro sports teams in two different leagues - the NBA's Utah Jazz and the NHL's Utah Hockey Club, just starting their inaugural season. If you like sports and you like advertising, design, and marketing, this episode's for you.

Annie Castellano is Head of Brand & Agency at financial services giant Edward Jones. She talks about working in a culture where they say “yes,” what it means to “quantify the squeeze,” and how to show ROI to the CEO and other executive leaders.

Kevin Lynch talks about his in-house work at Oatly and the Shanghai American School. He’s been the ECD of BBDO South China and is currently the proprietor of The Wrong Agency. In this episode, Kevin talks about the difference between selling t-shirts and selling conversation, how the Oatly Department of Mind Control doesn’t fit on an org chart, and why he’s never had an alarm clock.