In this episode, we sit down with David Lee, Chief Creative Officer at Squarespace, to trace his journey from a restless teenager in suburban Montreal to leading one of the most design-forward companies in the world.

David shares how skate culture and DIY design first opened his eyes to creativity, what he learned at the Rhode Island School of Design (including the life-changing lesson of drawing with his left hand), and how he carved his path through some of the world’s top creative agencies like Sid Lee, AKQA, and Wieden+Kennedy, before making the bold leap into tech.

He also reflects on building Squarespace’s in-house creative team, embracing risk, and the role of self-awareness as the most valuable career investment. From navigating imposter syndrome to leading creative teams through technological disruption, David’s story is a masterclass in staying curious, adaptive, and human in a rapidly changing world.

In this episode, we explore the unconventional path of Jeremy Jones, who transformed his passion for punk rock, skateboarding, and counter-culture creativity into a thriving advertising and marketing career. Jeremy shares how making band flyers and touring with musicians became his informal MBA in marketing, teaching him branding, promotion, and creative problem-solving long before he understood what advertising actually was.

Discover how Jeremy's creative partnership—formed through both bandmate chemistry and advertising collaboration—propelled him through agency ranks, culminating in representing Team USA at Cannes Young Lions. His journey spans radio promotion, boutique agencies, and eventually a global role at J. Walter Thompson before making the pivotal leap to building MailChimp's acclaimed in-house creative team, Wink.

Jeremy reveals the philosophy behind MailChimp's distinctive "expert absurdist" brand voice and shares insights from memorable campaigns like "Email Is Dead" and "The Customer." He emphasizes the importance of bringing organization and belief to creative teams, understanding client businesses deeply, and marketing to marketers in ways that inspire rather than bore.

The conversation offers invaluable guidance for creatives at every stage: students should lead with passion over perfection, early-career professionals must raise their hands for opportunities, and new leaders need to stay connected to the work while investing in relationships outside their industry. Jeremy's advice on "fishing in other rivers" and maintaining hobbies for creative rejuvenation provides a refreshing perspective on sustainable creative leadership.

Whether you're an aspiring creative, agency professional, or in-house marketing leader, this episode delivers authentic wisdom from someone who built his career on curiosity, relentless work ethic, and never forgetting the scrappy, DIY spirit that started it all.

In this episode, we sit down with Emma Donelan, Marketing and Communications Director at Data.org, to explore how data and artificial intelligence are being harnessed to address some of the world's most pressing social challenges. Emma shares the powerful work Data.org is doing through global innovation challenges and capacity-building initiatives that bridge technology and humanitarian impact.

Discover how Data.org partners with philanthropic organizations and corporate entities to scale transformative data and AI solutions across five global hubs, including India and Africa. Emma highlights their focus on critical intersections between climate and health, along with innovative approaches to interdisciplinary training and workforce development that are creating new opportunities in underserved communities.

The conversation features compelling success stories, including an AI-powered platform in Mumbai revolutionizing access to sexual and reproductive health information. Emma emphasizes the crucial importance of localism in technology deployment, ensuring solutions are culturally relevant and community-driven rather than imposed from outside.

Emma also shares her fascinating personal journey from studying art history to venture capital and ultimately to leading communications for social impact technology. She reveals how her great-aunt's influence sparked her enduring passion for creativity and meaningful work, demonstrating that unconventional paths can lead to profound impact.

Whether you're interested in AI for social good, international development, or building a purpose-driven career, this episode offers valuable insights into how technology can be deployed ethically and effectively to create positive global change while generating economic opportunity.

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