People, Culture and Creating Great Work with Jo Tauscher, Managing Partner at Leo Burnett

At Daniel Marks, we care deeply about our candidates and clients and everyone in our industry. We conducted a series of interviews in late February/early March as part of a series to provide motivation and inspiration. The early interviews in this series are virus-unrelated and we have made the decision to publish these in the hope that they provide insight and welcome relief during this challenging time. As well as continuing to provide inspiration and motivation in these unprecedented times that we find ourselves in.

To all our readers please keep safe and well.

Continuing our ongoing series of interviews entitled, 'Builders and Breakers’ in which our team interview industry leaders who are breaking down traditional barriers, changing the rules and building new pathways – innovating, implementing change and inspiring others to do the same.

Our Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Gaby Dutton-Williams, interviewed Jo Tauscher, Managing Partner of Leo Burnett in London. Jo has followed a successful career path within Client Services in some of the world’s leading agencies working with well-known domestic and international brands. As a leader she shares how female leaders have helped influence and impact her career and tells us about the work she loves and would loved to have worked on!

So, let's get to it...

Q> Hi Jo! You’ve had a very successful career working within the creative industry. What is it that you love most about what you do and what motivates you on a daily basis?

Jo> The people and culture of where I work, I love it - and of course creating work that truly impacts business and makes a difference!

Q> What’s your favourite piece of work that you have ever worked on and why did it inspire you?

Jo> Ooh that’s tricky! If pushed I would say some recent work we did for AXA around mental health where we created an acronym W.A.T.C.H to help carers identify the signs of mental health in children. It inspires me because it is genuinely trying to make a difference.

Q> What’s the one piece of work you love that you wish you’d done? Why?

Jo> I think the VR Vaccinations work by Ogilvy is amazing – how cool to use tech so children are immersed in a game and the injection becomes part of that.

Q> What are the challenges that you have faced in the industry and how do you seek to overcome them?

Jo> I think I have been very fortunate throughout my career and been given amazing opportunities and felt very supported as a working mother.

The biggest challenge I have perhaps faced is keeping up with clients evolving and increasing needs. We have to adapt to this and ensure we are constantly evolving how we work to accommodate the change.

Q> Who has inspired you throughout your career? Did you have a mentor and how did that impact you?

Jo> I have been fortunate to work with two female leaders who really made an impact on me, one who has become a life-long mentor. Their belief and support of me was, and is, unwavering.

Q> If you could work on any brand or campaign what would it be and why?

Jo> John Lewis because I love the brand and evidently the client has an eye for buying fantastic work!

Q> When it comes to your career what’s the one piece of advice you would go back and give your younger self if you were able to do so?

Jo> Don’t be afraid of zig zagging your experience - breadth of experience is really important as you climb the career ladder.

A huge thank you to Jo for taking part in this series. Look out for our next interview coming soon. If you would like to nominate a member of the industry who inspires you to take part in this series, tweet us @TeamDanielMarks and we will be in touch!