How to Unlock Creative Genius Inside Any Organization with Author Andrew Robertson
Tue Jan 27 2026
In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Robertson, former CEO and current Chairman of BBDO and author of The Creative Shift, to unpack why creativity gets squeezed out of adults, teams, and organizations and what it actually takes to bring it back. We talk about the difference between innovation and true creation, why most brainstorming fails, and how businesses unintentionally shut down their people's most powerful ideas. Andrew shares the research, stories, and real-world lessons behind some of the most iconic campaigns of our time and why creativity is not reserved for "creative people," but for anyone solving meaningful problems.
We also go deep into the practical side. Andrew breaks down BBDO's famous Workout process, a structured and repeatable way to unlock breakthrough ideas in any organization. Along the way, we explore unforgettable stories from Snickers to Guinness to hard-earned failures that reveal how great ideas are actually discovered, protected, and brought to life.
Topics We Cover in This Episode:
Why innovation alone rarely creates real competitive advantage
The surprising reason most teams believe they are "not creative"
How redefining the problem can unlock entirely new solutions
Why generating bad ideas is a critical step toward great ones
The mindset shift that helps leaders evaluate risk without playing it safe
How iconic ideas are often hidden in plain sight
What most brainstorming sessions get wrong
The conditions that allow creativity to thrive inside real organizations
If you are leading a team, growing a business, or feeling stuck repeating what has always worked, this episode will challenge how you think about creativity and what is possible when you design for it on purpose. Tune in, listen closely, and ask yourself what could change if you stopped asking for one good idea and started creating space for many.
Resources Mentioned:
Order your copy of Give to Grow
Get the Supplemental materials for Give to Grow
Get a copy of your GrowBIG Playbook today!
Inquire About Andrew's Talks and Speeches: andrew.robertson@bbdo.com
Link to Andrew's Book The Creative Shift: https://a.co/d/hVrfaHr
Andrew Robertson Outlines Principles of Business Development Success: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-relationships-real-revenue-video-edition-invest/id1504330338?i=1000565194906
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In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Robertson, former CEO and current Chairman of BBDO and author of The Creative Shift, to unpack why creativity gets squeezed out of adults, teams, and organizations and what it actually takes to bring it back. We talk about the difference between innovation and true creation, why most brainstorming fails, and how businesses unintentionally shut down their people's most powerful ideas. Andrew shares the research, stories, and real-world lessons behind some of the most iconic campaigns of our time and why creativity is not reserved for "creative people," but for anyone solving meaningful problems. We also go deep into the practical side. Andrew breaks down BBDO's famous Workout process, a structured and repeatable way to unlock breakthrough ideas in any organization. Along the way, we explore unforgettable stories from Snickers to Guinness to hard-earned failures that reveal how great ideas are actually discovered, protected, and brought to life. Topics We Cover in This Episode: Why innovation alone rarely creates real competitive advantage The surprising reason most teams believe they are "not creative" How redefining the problem can unlock entirely new solutions Why generating bad ideas is a critical step toward great ones The mindset shift that helps leaders evaluate risk without playing it safe How iconic ideas are often hidden in plain sight What most brainstorming sessions get wrong The conditions that allow creativity to thrive inside real organizations If you are leading a team, growing a business, or feeling stuck repeating what has always worked, this episode will challenge how you think about creativity and what is possible when you design for it on purpose. Tune in, listen closely, and ask yourself what could change if you stopped asking for one good idea and started creating space for many. Resources Mentioned: Order your copy of Give to Grow Get the Supplemental materials for Give to Grow Get a copy of your GrowBIG Playbook today! Inquire About Andrew's Talks and Speeches: andrew.robertson@bbdo.com Link to Andrew's Book The Creative Shift: https://a.co/d/hVrfaHr Andrew Robertson Outlines Principles of Business Development Success: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-relationships-real-revenue-video-edition-invest/id1504330338?i=1000565194906