President's Lecture

Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of the Board, Nestlé S.A. talked to Berlin School participants and selected members of the public about the latest research in consumer engagement, Nestlé's Accelerated Innovation Team and how the complex organization localizes social media efforts. Mr Brabeck-Letmathe also took questions from the audience on current issues Nestlé is facing and how to keep ideas fresh and team members motivated.

Brabeck-Letmathe tent talk

Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of the Board, Nestlé S.A. talks to Berlin School President Michael Conrad about his personal style of creative leadership, the first three moves he made as head of the company and his philosophy on keeping innovation a focal point in creative organizations.

Impressions

Impressions from the Berlin School of Creative Leadership Graduation Ceremony and Events (November 20, 2011)

iPhone testimonials (November 2010)

Impromptu iPhone interviews with Berlin School participants by Michael Conrad. (Interviews filmed November 2010).

The question: "When we were developing the concept for this program, Sir John Hegarty said that this has to be a life changing event for the participants. What was it for you?"

Ménage à Trois

How can an unsexy brand in a boring category like banking reach consumers and make an authentic impression on them? Drawing on her Berlin School research and years of professional practice, Luciana Olivares presents her findings in her award-winning Master's Thesis, "Ménage à Trois"  She explains a methodology by which brands can identify with a mutual love between themselves and their consumers, and she then shows his this process yielded spectacular results for her company, a Peruvian bank. It capitalized on its regard for Peruvian gastronomy, long a source of national pride, to generate a vast array of activities and products that anchored BBVA Banco Continentale and Peruvian Cuisine next to each other in consumers' hearts. Luciana and her bank went beyond the well-worn methods of celebrity endorsement or community outreach to go much deeper in authentically and creatively promoting something it loved. The results catapulted her bank to the top of brand identity in her market and serve as a helpful blueprint for marketers everywhere.

Yasumichi Oka tent talk

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.

Berlin School

Cannes Creative Leaders Programme

Following an intensive 6 days of classroom instruction in Berlin and 6 days of blended learning sessions in Cannes during the Cannes Lions festival, three 2011 Cannes Creative Leaders Programme participants share insights about their program experience and what the key take aways were for them (Till Hohmann, Chief Creative Officer, JWT Germany, Patrick Tom, Executive Creative Director, TBWA\Vietnam and Nina Mosurashvili, Marketing Communication Director, TBC Bank Georgia).