Real Creative Leadership

The Stoke Group - Adam Morgan

Real Creative Leadership is building a community to address the issues, challenges, and benefits of creative leadership. Join us as we discuss topics and share strategies that will help us all become better creative leaders.

Real Creative Leadership is hosted by Adam Morgan and produced by The Stoke Group, a full-service digital marketing agency that specializes in content marketing, video, and interactive experiences.

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20 episodes
Avg 34 min
English

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S7 · E3
August 17 · 36 min
The Builder Mindset: The Creative Leader’s Advantage in the Age of AI — with Jennifer Kattula, Global CMO, Microsoft Advertising
Successful AI implementation is more than just a software download. For Microsoft’s Jennifer Kattula, it’s about creating a robust framework that gives teams the structure they need to safely test the boundaries AI is helping us expand. Together with Adam Morgan, she explains why creative leaders have the responsibility to set the standard for AI implementation and how to mitigate risk without sacrificing creativity.
S7 · E2
June 26 · 41 min
Getting to ROI with Experiences — with Jennifer Gardner, Creative Director of Event Experiences, ServiceNow
Most brand events are forgettable. Jennifer Gardner’s aren’t. As creative director at ServiceNow, she’s mastered the art of turning immersive experiences into actual ROI — and it starts with purpose, not trends. In this episode she joins Adam Morgan to share how great events become a brand’s “front door,” blending storytelling, strategy, and human-centered design into moments people remember. From multisensory entrances to aligning executives months in advance, Jennifer reveals what separates events that just look good from ones that actually move the needle.
S7 · E1
June 1 · 21 min
Why Brands Still Need Human Creativity — With Adam Morgan, VP of Brand, Twilio
AI can generate content at scale — but it can’t replace good taste, clear judgment, or emotional connection. In the season 7 premiere of Real Creative Leadership, Adam Morgan explores why human creativity is becoming more valuable in the age of AI.
S6 · E5
Dec 22, 2025 · 40 min
Arrows-Out Leadership — With Catharina Walker Eure, Director of Innovation Strategy, Nike
What if the best leaders weren’t the ones with all the answers, but the ones asking the right questions? Catharina Walker Eure, Nike’s director of innovation strategy, shares her “Arrows-Out” leadership approach: lead with empathy, build emotionally intelligent teams, and create space for people to do their best work.
S6 · E4
Oct 31, 2025 · 41 min
Feedback, Humility, and the Creative Ego — With John Renz, VP, Head of Creative, U.S. Businesses, Prudential
Prudential creative leader John Renz reveals why balancing ego with humility is the real key to leadership. From Bill Bernbach’s “humility card” to avoiding the ego trap, this episode of Real Creative Leadership shares lessons on building trust, giving better feedback, and leading creative teams with courage.
S6 · E3
Oct 2, 2025 · 40 min
Branding, Bravery, and the Responsibility of Leadership— With Debbie Millman, Host of Design Matters and Founder of SVA Masters in Branding
Debbie Millman, with over 20 years of hosting Design Matters, offers insights into what creative leadership is evolving into by 2025. From brand purpose to courage, she discusses how the best leaders inspire and uplift. A must-listen for anyone in the creative field.
S6 · E2
Aug 22, 2025 · 40 min
Building a Creative Identity, Not Just a Portfolio — with Donna Lamar, Global Head of Video Content & Entertainment, Spotify
In this episode, Real Creative Leadership host Adam Morgan is joined by Spotify Global Head of Video Content & Entertainment Donna Lamar to talk about building and protecting your creative identity. Learn how to align your personal values with your work, handle feedback without losing your voice, and inspire originality in yourself and your team.
S6 · E1
May 14, 2025 · 28 min
What It Really Takes to Become a Creative Director - With Adam Morgan, VP of Brand, Twilio
Season 6 kicks off with a must-listen for senior creatives ready to take the next step. Host Adam Morgan breaks down what it really takes to land a Creative Director role — the experiences you must have, the details to leave out, and the important questions you must ask. Discover how to position yourself for this next level of creative leadership, speak the language recruiters want to hear, and step into the role that unlocks greater influence across brands and organizations. Tune in now.
Dec 18, 2024 · 27 min
What is the Future of Creative Leadership? — with Adam Morgan, VP of Brand, Twilio
Real Creative Leadership reaches a landmark as its fifth season draws to a close — but we’re not done just yet. In our season finale, Host Adam Morgan takes listeners on a tour of the season’s most prescient insights and suggestions from our slate of compelling guests, featuring stories from brands like Delta, Paypal, and more. The creative landscape can seem unfamiliar as rapid changes to technology and markets can upend what’s worked for years. But Adam and his guests speak to this, proving that being flexible, agile, and committed to innovation can set the stage for opportunities that deliver great returns.
S5 · E8
Nov 8, 2024 · 32 min
From Creative Leader to CEO — with Karan Dang
In this latest episode of Real Creative Leadership, Karan joins host Adam Morgan for a discussion about his storied career path and where he sees creative leadership headed in the future. Karan advocates for seeing youth trends as tactics to engage audiences of all ages and sharing ways to nurture your creative teams to perform their very best. He calls it finding your creative framework. Listen now for more.
S5 · E7
Oct 30, 2024 · 35 min
The Power of Auditory Branding — With Laura Montarroso Daher
In this episode of Real Creative Leadership, host Adam Morgan talks with Laura Montarroso Daher, founder of Music Collective and a creative visionary when it comes to auditory branding. Laura explains why brands should be incorporating sound and music into their creative strategy (which encompasses way more than catchy jingles) and how to look for inspiration and storytelling techniques in both familiar and unlikely places.
S5 · E6
Sep 5, 2024 · 32 min
Why creativity is a radical act — with Jod Kaftan
In this episode of Real Creative Leadership, host Adam Morgan is joined by Jod Kaftan, head of product and research design at Oracle, for a candid conversation about the future of design in an increasingly automated world. Together, Jod and Adam talk about how creativity is intrinsically tied to the human experience, why building a community of people who challenge you can lead to better design, and what creative folks should be looking out for as AI keeps emphasizing that it’s here to stay. As Jod says, “Creativity is a life force,” which means that as the world moves faster and faster toward automation, knowing where to keep and nurture the human touch will be more important than ever. Real Creative Leadership is a video podcast series that helps creative leaders make an impact on the business world. The series is produced by The Stoke Group, a full-service digital marketing agency that specializes in content marketing, video, and interactive experiences. Our host, Adam Morgan, is a global brand, creative, and content leader, an Adweek Creative 100, and author of Sorry Spock, Emotions Drive Business. For more information, visit realcreativeleadership.com. #realcreativeleadership #leadership #creativity #worklifebalance #fillyourcup #delta #travel
S5 · E5
Jun 16, 2024 · 24 min
The Creative Leadership Maturity Model
Adam Morgan spends this episode of Real Creative Leadership breaking down his five-level creative leadership maturity model, a system designed to help creative leaders at every stage of their career find new ways to engage with their work and spark creative innovation in every aspect of their business. With decades of experience, Adam explores why creative leaders should be helping lead organizations in more than just their own department, and how a fresh perspective can transform not only design and copy, but budgets and company mission statements, too. Real Creative Leadership is a video and podcast series that helps creative leaders make an impact on the business world. The series is produced by The Stoke Group, a full-service digital marketing agency that specializes in content marketing, video, and interactive experiences. Our host, Adam Morgan, is a global brand, creative, and content leader, an Adweek Creative 100, and author of Sorry Spock, Emotions Drive Business. For more information, visit realcreativeleadership.com. #realcreativeleadership #leadership #creativity #business #industrytrends #creativetrends
S5 · E4
May 28, 2024 · 39 min
Filling Your Creative Cup — with Maya Dukes
Adam Morgan chats with Maya Dukes, Managing Director of Global Brand Strategy, Creative & Social Media at Delta Air Lines, for a wanderlust-inducing episode that dives deep into why filing your own “creative cup” is more important than ever before. Together, Adam and Maya discuss ways to lead teams that draw inspiration from unlikely sources, how to prioritize the creative pursuits you love the most, and why you should never sell your Beyoncé tickets (no matter how busy things are at the office). Real Creative Leadership is a video podcast series that helps creative leaders make an impact on the business world. The series is produced by The Stoke Group, a full-service digital marketing agency that specializes in content marketing, video, and interactive experiences. Our host, Adam Morgan, is a global brand, creative, and content leader, an Adweek Creative 100, and author of Sorry Spock, Emotions Drive Business. For more information, visit realcreativeleadership.com. #realcreativeleadership #leadership #creativity #worklifebalance #fillyourcup #delta #travel
S5 · E3
Apr 26, 2024 · 29 min
Sidecar Leadership — with Jennifer Lai Stern
Leading from the “sidecar” is the best management strategy you haven’t heard of—until now. Host Adam Morgan chats with guest Jennifer Lai Stern, head of Brand Studio at PayPal, about her extensive industry experience and her favorite ways to lead creative teams with empathy as well as skill.
S5 · E2
Apr 8, 2024 · 36 min
The Three Pillars of Creativity — with Eph Cruz
From his work as a fashion designer and music manager to his current role as Director of Operations at Xfinity Creative, Ephraim “Eph” Gerard Cruz is no stranger to pursuing creative endeavors. As a lifelong collaborator and creative innovator, Eph shares how his three pillars of creativity — paycheck, passion, and playground — have paved the way for discovering new ways to express big ideas. Real Creative Leadership is a video and podcast series that helps creative leaders make an impact on the business world. The series is produced by The Stoke Group, a full-service digital marketing agency that specializes in content marketing, video, and interactive experiences. Our host, Adam Morgan, is a global brand, creative, and content leader, an Adweek Creative 100, and author of Sorry Spock, Emotions Drive Business. For more information, visit realcreativeleadership.com. #realcreativeleadership #leadership #creativepillars #creativity
S5 · E1
Mar 19, 2024 · 26 min
Top Creative Trends for 2024
In this special season five premiere of Real Creative Leadership, host Adam Morgan shares never-before-heard clips from previous guests who answer the question, “What trends are you seeing in 2024?” With insights on everything from hiring to AI, join this powerhouse digital roundtable and learn how to leverage powerful tools and strategies to make 2024 your most innovative year yet.
S4 · E9
Dec 21, 2023 · 36 min
The Secrets to Building a Winning Creative Team Structure
Adam Morgan returns to his 2023 Adobe MAX standing-room-only session with an insider’s look into building the ultimate creative dream team and measuring its success. With Adam’s own expert insight as well as interviews with other industry leaders, and proprietary research from Stoke, you’ll get practical applications to transform your organization into one that produces incredible creative — and hits all your other targets, too. Real Creative Leadership is a video and podcast series that helps creative leaders make an impact on the business world. The series is produced by The Stoke Group, a full-service digital marketing agency that specializes in content marketing, video, and interactive experiences. Our host, Adam Morgan, is a global brand, creative, and content leader, an Adweek Creative 100, and author of Sorry Spock, Emotions Drive Business. For more information, visit realcreativeleadership.com. #realcreativeleadership #leadership #creativeagency #creativedesign #advertising #marketing
S4 · E8
Dec 6, 2023 · 39 min
How to Prepare Yourself for the Pitch — with Danny Fontaine
Building the perfect pitch takes experience and insight, which guest Danny Fontaine has in spades. Host of the popular podcast, “Pitch Masters,” Danny joins Adam Morgan for a conversation about storytelling driven by emotions and vulnerability, all while proving that pitching the client can be anything but routine.
S4 · E7
Oct 17, 2023 · 40 min
How to Land Your Next Creative Dream Job — with Michelle Stuhl
Growing your creative career takes a well-developed network and the knowledge of how to navigate a constantly changing industry. Join host Adam Morgan as he talks with executive search consultant Michelle Stuhl about how to become the talent that recruiters are looking for and how to make the biggest impact on the teams you join.

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