Michael Jordan,
Phil Knight &
Spike Lee
It’s hard to imagine a world where Michael Jordan and Nike aren’t inextricably linked. But according to Spike Lee, who was involved in the Air Jordan line early on, there was a time when some at Nike didn’t think MJ was the right choice for the face of the company. Then-CEO Phil Knight saw the…
Read MoreAkira Kobayashi
He began his career as a type designer at Sha-Ken Co., Ltd. in 1983. After working for six years at the company, he went to London in 1989 to study calligraphy and typography. On his return to Japan in 1990, he joined Jiyu-Kobo, Ltd. and engaged in designing and digitizing the Japanese fonts Hiragino Mincho…
Read MoreRon & Pippa Seichrist
Ron Seichrist, Cofounder, M.AD SCHOOL Ron started his career as a designer and in his mid-20s was featured in Communication Arts magazine and magazines in Germany and Japan. He shifted to art direction working in agencies in Richmond and NYC. Europe called and he left the States for creative director roles in Frankfurt, Munich and…
Read MoreCheryl D. Miller
AIGA Medalist 2021, “Expanding Access” Cooper Hewitt National Design Awardee 2021, “Design Visionary” Honorary IBM Design Scholar 2021, “Eminent Luminary” Dr. Cheryl D. Miller is recognized for her outsized influence within the graphic design profession to end the marginalization of BIPOC designers through her civil rights activism, industry exposé trade writing, research rigor, and archival…
Read MoreCarol H. Williams
Carol H. Williams, Founder, and CEO of Carol H. Williams Advertising (CHWA) is an industry-recognized visionary, executive, and entrepreneur. A barrier breaker, Williams has led CHWA – the longest-running, award-winning, multicultural marketing agency with over 5,000 employees and $30 million in revenue during high-performance and growth periods for over 30 years. Beyond demographics, Williams provides…
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Janet Kestin &
Nancy Vonk
Janet Kestin and Nancy Vonk are co-founders of the Swim leadership lab. In 2012 they were inspired to leave their long-time CCO roles with an ambition to close the huge leadership skills gap for creative people. Today Swim supports the success of leaders at top agencies and creative companies around the world. Prior to Swim,…
Read MoreJohn Hunt
In 1983, John co-founded the advertising agency Hunt Lascaris based on the mantra Life’s too short to be mediocre. Since its inception, it has won countless awards including Agency of the Century in 2000, Agency of the Decade in 2010 and Ad Age’s International Agency twice. Proof that advertising can make the world a better…
Read MoreJoe Duffy
Joe is one of the world’s most respected and sought after thought leaders on branding and design. His work is regularly featured in leading marketing and design publications and is exhibited around the world. Joe founded Duffy with a vision to build a new kind of branding and creative company—partnering with clients and other firms…
Read MoreLee Clow
There are only two people I’ve ever worked with in advertising who can stand in a war room papered with a thousand ideas that run the gamut from awful to promising and, without seeming to think or ponder, point to The One that’s right, that will work, that will make the clients rich and the…
Read MoreJim Durfee
Durfee was the first grown-up I met in advertising, and I had been at two agencies before I worked for him at Carl Ally Incorporated. Durfee’s office overlooked the rectory of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the old Villard House, and all of Madison Avenue from 23rd Street to where it narrow and climbs up Carnegie Hill.…
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