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

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]

Piers North: Why Journalism Still Matters in the AI Era

Piers North joins MENTOR to share the leadership lessons that shaped his journey from aspiring journalist to CEO of Reach PLC, the UK’s largest commercial news publisher. Having started his career in journalism before moving into the rapidly evolving world of digital media at Yahoo, Piers reflects on the setbacks, risks and pivotal moments that ultimately led him to the top of one of Britain’s biggest media businesses. He explains why storytelling remains the most important skill in leadership, why redundancy taught him more than success ever could, and how leading a public company means constantly balancing short-term pressure with long-term vision. Piers also opens up about the realities of being CEO — from loneliness and difficult decision-making to managing stress, building trust and staying grounded when everyone around you sees the title before the person. The conversation explores the future of journalism in the age of AI, the challenges facing trusted media, and why accountable reporting still matters in a world increasingly driven by platforms and creators. Honest, thoughtful and full of practical insight, this is a conversation about leadership, resilience, modern media and navigating uncertainty at the highest level.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]