Be the Best You Can Be: Joe McCarthy on Creativity, Leadership & Building Iconic Brands

What does it take to build a career around some of the world’s most iconic brands—and consistently turn strategy into ideas that actually connect with people? Today’s episode, is an interview I did with Joe McCarthy, who built his career in advertising and marketing working with organizations including Saatchi & Saatchi, Nike, Johnson & Johnson, and Publicis. Along the way, he helped shape major brand initiatives, including Nike’s influential “If You Let Me Play” campaign promoting girls’ participation in sports. In our conversation, Joe shares how persistence opened the door to his first job, why he learned to focus less on competing with others and more on becoming his own best, and what he believes separates great leaders, great creative teams, and great ideas. One of his most memorable lessons: “You’ve got to be organized to be creative.” This is my conversation with Joe McCarthy.