Video & Photo Gallery

Berlin School "TentTalks"

Michael Conrad's conversations with members of the Berlin School faculty in the specially for the Berlin School designed tents labeled "TENTtalks" will be an ongoing series of in-depth, personal talks on creative leadership issues and topics.

Miha Pogačnik, a concert violinist and a member of the Berlin School of Creative Leadership Board of Governors shares his revelatory insights into music and leadership. In this Berlin School Tent Talk, Miha explains the powerful lessons music holds for creative leaders when they learn to look and listen for "phenomena arising." As Cultural Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, Miha enthusiastically embodies the transformative energy that the arts can bring to business and society. "Art evolves the world. Where nature stops, art continues," he explains. Here, aided by his colorful and dynamic drawings, Miha explains to Michael Conrad the positive role that crisis, conflict and detour can play in the creative process and how the best creative leaders are simultaneously cool observers and passionate, detail-oriented masters of their art.

Ralf Schmerberg is an award winning artist and film maker. In 2003 Ralf co-founded the dropping knowledge project and organized the table of free voices in response to second War in Iraq. As the head of this highly ambitious and innovative program that brought free thinkers and independent speakers to Berlin from around the world, Schmerberg found himself thrust into a new and unfamiliar leadership position. In this Berlin School Tent Talk Ralf shares his personal experiences with Michael Conrad and reflects on the challenges and triumphs of creative leadership. Ralf also describes how he strikes a balance between his commercial filmmaking and his often irreverent social activism.

Professor Stuart Dixon of the Open University of the Netherlands teaches The Fundamentals of Economics at the Berlin School of Creative Leadership. In conversation with Eoin Banahan he explains why an understanding of economics is crucial for creative professionals. As a tool to open doors of thought, economic reasoning challenges assumptions and offers new perspectives, Dixon explains. Through logical, carefully structured thought creatives can arrive a new ideas and strategies. By providing participants with an understanding of economic thinking, the Berlin School gives creative professionals this crucial leadership tool.

Rishad Tobaccowala is the CEO of Denuo and is a member of the Berlin School of Creative Leadership Board of Directors. He is media futurist, provocateur and creative leader par excellence. In conversation with Michael Conrad, President of the Berlin School, Rishad contrasts the use of new and old media by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to build greatly contrasting brands and messages during the current democratic primary race. We learn from Michael and Rishad, two titans of the communications industries, why never to ignore the underdog and why "The Future Comes From The Slime."

Renn Zaphiropoulos, 52 years of high tech management experience have made Renn Zaphiropoulos, former CEO of Versatek-Xerox, an insightful expert in entrepreneurial leadership, strategy, innovation, start-ups, motivation, inspiration and exit strategies. In this Berlin School TentTalk Michael Conrad and Renn discuss: Leaders' ability to define a problem in a way to promote creativity... Balancing spontaneous, intuitive action with cold blooded analysis to chose a business direction... Hiring based on clear expectations -- as if writing a play with distinct roles for each character... The process of convincing people of your ideas by coupling in with their culture... Thinking much like a philosopher Zaphiropoulos sheds new light on creative leadership. "If a person is a camelia you put them in the shade, if they are a rose you put them in the sun."

Marcello Serpa is the Co-CEO & Creative Director of Almap/BBDO, Brazil. In this Tent Talk Marcello shares with Michael Conrad what it takes to be a creative leader. Reflecting on his international success he explains, "to be a good general, you must have been a great soldier." His sharp focus on hard work and high quality production led Marcello to his dream of owning his own agency. Through trust, honesty and integrity Serpa was able to become indispensable to his clients including VW and Havaianas Sandals. He also explains his strategy for integrating digital production into the the core of his agency. Lastly, Serpa tell us how the Berlin School of Creative Leadership is playing an important role within Almap BBDO/Brazil, making global connections and turning his best Brazilian creatives into creative leaders.

Washington Olivetto, Chairsman W/Brasil, has captivated the public with groundbreaking creative work and earned a pop-star status in his home country Brazil. Considered one of the most important figures in the international advertising community, one of his campaigns (BomBril) gained him a place in the Guiness Book of Records as the campaign longest on the air with the same lead character (more than 160 commercials over the sixteen years). In this "Tent Talk" Olivetto shares his thoughts with Michael Conrad on successful strategies for creative companies and what is needed to stay on top in the advertising industry.

Jean-Marie Hiltrop, What is the importance of finding balance between "strategic" and "open" leadership styles? In this insightful interview, Professor Jean-Marie Hiltrop shares his views on different creative leadership styles and how they can help companies consistently achieve the highest creative quality standards possible. A distinguished Professor of Human Resource Management at Copenhagen Business School, Jean Marie Hiltrop regularly coaches, trains and advises senior executives in various international companies including IBM, Nestlé, Nokia, Sun Mircosystems, Unilever and Volvo.

Paul Kemp-Robertson, Through providing valuable information on creative effectiveness to creatives, planners, agency managing directors as well as clients, Contagious Magazine founder and Editor-in-Chief Paul Kemp-Robertson has successfully cornered a very competitive niche in a very competitive market. Building on his impressive experience in the advertising industry, Kemp-Robertson shares the story behind the creation of Contagious Magazine and talks about what it takes to lead a fresh product through development and growth.

Werner Seebacher, Does budgeting have a place in the world of a creative executive? Werner Seebacher, Financial Management & Controlling at School of Management and Innovation / Steinbeis-University Berlin thinks so. Foreign to most creative executives, basic budgeting skills can help creative executives improve the quality, performance and overall competitiveness of their company. In this candid interview Professor Seebacher explains that by mastering the numbers creatives are able to determine how and where to better exert influence in their company and with their clients.

Tokyo "TentTalks"

These Berlin School Tokyo TentTalk were captured at Dentsu which hosted the Berlin School Executive MBA Program visit to Japan for sessions on "Leading Innovation." Michael Conrad and Professor Eoin Banahan interview successful creatives and experts on Japanese styles of creative leadership and innovation.

Akira Kagami is the Executive Creative Director of Dentsu, Japan's largest advertising agency. Kagami-san is also a member of the Berlin School Board of Directors. Here in a conversation with Michael Conrad, he reflects on the Six Pillars of Creative Leadership and explains how Dentsu maintains strong relationships with over 1000 clients through a close human touch in account services. Kagami-san also explains his philosophy on how to reach people, "Heart First, Brain Follows; Emotion First, Logic Follows," he says. The Japanese style of of motivation to encourage high-qaulity work, Kagami-san explains, is to focus on the development of ideas, bringing out the best in people and their work. He also touches on his work to promote Japanese advertising around the work at international festivals such as Cannes Lions and how Japanese work has impacted the creative industries worldwide. This Tent Talk was filmed in Tokyo during the Berlin School Japan Module Leading Innovation that was graciously hosted by Denstu.

Yasumichi Oka is the Creative Director and CEO of Tugboat, one of Japan's most sought-after and creative advertising agencies. 10 years ago Oka-san left the comfort of Japanese mega-agency Dentsu to form his own company Tugboat for two reasons, "to satisfy my ego and to focus on creativity." In this Tokyo Tent Talk with Michael Conrad, Oka-san explains the importance of leading by example, and motivating others with high-quality work. He also describes the structure of Tugboat which has no sales team and no marketing department. The responsibility for tracking cash flow and sticking to deadlines is up to the people doing the creative work. "It is hard to keep track of the work of others," he explains, so everyone must stay close to the details. "I am not a creative person by nature but . . . at my core, I am an adman," says Oka-san, revealing that he keeps his creative edge sharp through disciplined reading and film watching. This tent talk is followed by some of the brilliant work of Tugboat.

Professor Yo Oshima, Waseda Business School casts light on the differences between traditional styles of Japanese and Western business leadership. Speaking with Professor Eoin Banahan of the Berlin School, Professor Oshima explains the the important values of harmony and collective wisdom among innovative creative teams. Today, he explains, Japanese styles of humble and self-reflective leadership focused on the "long view" are being mixed with more short-term and "headlong" Western approaches.

Berlin School Animation

Leading People - Remember What Michael Conrad Said
The first of three viral videos created by the Berlin School on issues of Creative Leadership. Watch and listen as an animated Pierre Casse, Dean of the Berlin School, answers an important question from Executive MBA Participant, Mihaela Nicola: "Professor, what if two guys in my company fall in love?"
Visual Concept & Production: Veronika Samartseva, Sonja Rohleder

Change without failure
The Berlin School Executive MBA class of participants recalls the words of Jean-Marie Dru, President & CEO, TBWA, as he describes to them the delicate balance required to make changes in a company. Luiz Sanches, Creative Director of AlmapBBDO listens in and tries to take careful notes.
Visual Concept & Production: Veronika Samartseva, Sonja Rohleder

Four Creative Freedoms in a World of Fear
The third viral video created by the Berlin School on issues of Creative Leadership. Sebastian Turner shares the words of Keith Reinhard after Professor Pierre Casse frightens the Berlin School Participants, telling them they live in a world of fear!
Visual Concept & Production: Veronika Samartseva, Sonja Rohleder