E39 | The Hidden Art of Global Leadership: A CEO's Secrets to Worldwide Success | Karina Wilsher

Karina Wilsher, Partner and Global CEO of Anomaly, spearheads key client initiatives, fortifies the agency's global presence and propels the company's ongoing evolution as an industry trailblazer.

Karina, who ascended from Partner and CEO of Anomaly's London office to Partner and Global CEO in 2019, offers an exclusive look into her distinctive approach to leading six global offices. In this insightful discussion, she delves into the critical importance of 'feeling the business.' Karina unpacks this concept, explaining its profound impact and how it can be leveraged by leaders, both globally and locally, to elevate their teams' performance to unprecedented heights. Karina reveals the nuances of this approach and how it can transform leadership effectiveness in any environment.

Previously, Karina held the position of Managing Director at Fallon London, orchestrating the agency's transformation from a startup to a Top Ten industry player. Her tenure marked remarkable achievements, including clinching Campaign's UK Agency of the Year accolades twice and establishing Fallon as the world's most creatively awarded agency. Her leadership saw the agency's revenue doubling, with consecutive UK Agency of the Year titles in 2006 and 2007. As Head of Client Services, Karina cultivated one of London's most robust Account Management departments and nurtured a diverse talent pool, positioning Fallon as a pioneering and market-leading company.

This week, we delve into Karina's insights on valuable business advice, her experiences with motherhood, and navigating the challenges of dealing with grief.

We discuss:

-Growing up in an English-Malaysian household

-Embarking on a childhood career in TV acting

-Immersed in the influences of 80s pop culture and advertising

-Embracing a role at the forefront of a burgeoning creative start-up, Fallon...

-Navigating the steps to climb the career ladder

-Coping with the profound grief of losing a parent

-Reinventing life by relocating to a new country for a fresh start

-Evolving into the role of a global CEO

-Navigating the challenges of being a working woman in 2024

-Embracing the notion of "feeling the business"

Chapters:

(00:00:00) The Motherhood Penalty

(00:05:14) Early Years and Family Dynamics

(00:10:51) A Softer Side

(00:16:59) Pursuing a Career in Media and Advertising

(00:22:31) Career Moves and Parental Guidance

(00:28:11) The Benefits of Being in a Smaller Startup

(00:33:48) Building Relationships and Rising Together

(00:38:58) Dealing with Personal Loss

(00:44:43) Coping with Loss and Putting Others First

(00:50:17) Making a Fresh Start and Moving to a Different Country

(00:55:55) Joining Anomaly and Embracing Change

(01:01:41) The First 90 Days

(01:07:29) Moving Back to the States and Making Choices

(01:13:39) Challenges for Women in their 50s

(01:19:38) The Motherhood Penalty and Fatherhood Gain

(01:25:14) Checking in with Each Other

(01:30:58) The Importance of Structure and Process in Leadership

(01:36:11) Approaching Work with Inspiration and Care

(01:41:38) The Industry's Need for Unification and Change

(01:47:07) Trusting Your Decisions and Developing Dependable Capability

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