Vivian Mohr: Why Great Leaders Need Clarity, Courage & Humility

Vivian Mohr: Why Great Leaders Need Clarity, Courage & Humility

Vivian Mohr is Chief Operating Officer of Bauer Media Group, one of Europe’s largest media businesses, operating across radio, publishing, digital platforms and outdoor advertising. Before joining Bauer, he built his career across consulting, technology and media, including leadership roles at McKinsey, Comparis and major European media organisations. In this episode of Mentor, Vivian reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy, from growing up between Germany and the United States, studying in Dubai and Cambridge, to leading transformation programmes across international businesses. He shares why some of the most important career opportunities are often the ones that feel uncomfortable, and how stepping into roles he felt unprepared for accelerated his growth. Vivian explains why even the best strategies fail without belief, alignment and execution. He reveals the three qualities he believes every leader must balance: clarity, courage and humility. He also discusses the importance of psychological safety, building trust across cultures, bringing people with you through change, and why leadership is less about having all the answers and more about creating an environment where great ideas can emerge. Along the way, he shares lessons learned from McKinsey, the career mistake that taught him the importance of taking people on the journey, and why meeting people where they are is one of the most underrated leadership skills. Whether you're leading a team, navigating a career transition, managing change or aspiring to senior leadership, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom from a leader responsible for helping shape the future of one of Europe’s most influential media companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Mark Howe: 17 Years at Google, Leadership Lessons & Why Authenticity Wins

Mark Howe spent 17 years at Google helping agencies and brands navigate one of the biggest transformations in media history. Before that, he built a successful career across television, media sales and leadership, giving him a front-row seat to decades of industry change. In this episode of Mentor, Mark reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his career, from leaving traditional television for Google at a time when many thought he was making a mistake, to navigating difficult leadership challenges, industry disruption and periods of intense personal pressure. Mark shares why authenticity became his greatest professional asset, how trust is built over decades rather than transactions, and why the best leaders surround themselves with people who are smarter than they are. He also opens up about career-defining setbacks, the importance of resilience, lessons learned from Google’s culture, and the difficult balance between professional success and family life. Along the way, he reveals the story behind escaping Alcatraz three times, the leadership lesson that changed his perspective forever, and why "being the best you can be at what you're best at" remains his guiding principle. Whether you're leading teams, building a business, navigating change or simply looking to make better career decisions, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom from someone who has spent decades at the highest levels of media and technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Judith Salison OBE: Mentorship, Resilience & Building a Career That Lasts

Judith Salison OBE joins MENTOR to share the lessons, leadership principles and career wisdom gained from more than five decades at the forefront of the advertising and media industry. From becoming one of the first female television sales executives in Britain to co-founding one of the UK's pioneering outdoor advertising businesses, Judith reflects on the determination, resilience and adaptability that shaped her career. She discusses the realities of building confidence in male-dominated environments, the importance of earning trust through expertise, and how a willingness to embrace change helped her navigate an industry undergoing constant transformation. Judith shares the story behind launching Harrison Salison, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the experience of growing and eventually selling the business after more than a decade of success. The conversation explores the role of mentorship throughout a career, why the best mentors are often those willing to challenge your assumptions, and how honest feedback can shape important decisions. Judith also reflects on her long-standing involvement with WACL and NABS, the progress made for women in leadership, and the challenges that still remain around ageism, inclusion and workplace culture. Along the way, she offers practical advice on career fulfilment, knowing when it's time to move on, building meaningful professional relationships and supporting the next generation. Asked what advice she would give her younger self, Judith's answer is simple but powerful: always stand up for yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Richard Eyre: Leadership, Reinvention & The Decisions That Shape a Career

Richard Eyre CBE joins MENTOR to share the leadership lessons, career decisions and hard-won wisdom that shaped a remarkable journey across advertising, broadcasting, television and digital media. From his early days in advertising at BBH to leading Capital Radio, ITV and some of the most influential organisations in British media, Richard reflects on the opportunities, setbacks and pivotal moments that defined his career. He explains why careers are rarely as planned as they appear, how some of his biggest opportunities emerged from disappointment, and why the ability to adapt matters more than having a perfectly mapped-out strategy. Richard shares candid stories from boardrooms, merger negotiations and leadership roles at the highest level, including the lessons learned from missed opportunities, difficult decisions and managing competing interests under intense pressure. The conversation explores the realities of leadership, from balancing confidence with self-doubt to building influence as an introvert, attracting great talent and learning from people whose strengths differ from your own. Richard also discusses the importance of visibility, mentorship, risk-taking and why some of the most valuable career decisions come from following curiosity rather than certainty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Laura Desmond: The Future of Advertising, AI & Leadership

Laura Desmond joins MENTOR to share the leadership lessons that shaped her journey from rising through the advertising industry to becoming CEO of Smartly and one of the most respected figures in global media and marketing. Having led some of the world’s biggest agency businesses at Publicis Groupe and Starcom MediaVest Group, Laura reflects on the defining moments, risks and reinventions that helped her navigate decades of transformation across advertising, technology and leadership. She explains why great leadership starts with purpose, why the hardest problems always reach the CEO, and how embracing innovation before the rest of the industry became one of the defining themes of her career. Laura also opens up about the realities of operating at the top level — from managing pressure and making high-stakes decisions to balancing ambition, culture and human connection in an increasingly digital world. The conversation explores the future of advertising in the age of AI, the shift from smart targeting to intelligent creative, and why trust, storytelling and collaboration still matter more than ever. Honest, insightful and full of practical wisdom, this is a conversation about leadership, reinvention, technology and building winning teams in times of constant change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]