How To Be A Maverick CEO (with Justin Billingsley)

Justin Billingsley defies convention. It would be very easy to make assumptions about someone who is one of the most senior people globally in a multinational advertising group. Whatever picture that brings to mind, Justin is NONE of that…and is a true Maverick.

As the CEO of Publicis DACH and Publicis EMIL, Justin runs a multi-billion dollar business. But, he walked into our interview, took off his converse trainers and chatted with me as if I had known him for years. It couldn’t have been more refreshing experience.

In this podcast, Justin discusses his journey as a Maverick and how he has risen to the ranks of being a global business leader, all while staying true to himself.

What impressed me most about Justin is just how down-to-earth, humble, geeky and personal he is. He is also immensely smart. If you work in corporate but long to be more true to yourself, this is a must listen.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• Even in corporations, you can be disrupting and entrepreneurial

• What is your one-word equity?

• What it takes to reach the top of one of the world’s largest and most successful companies

• The challenges and opportunities of moving your family and moving to China

• How as a Maverick, you have to be able to embrace ambiguity

• Despite technology, it is still important to do business by looking people in the eye by being there in person

• In the age of information and technology, staying analogue is what keeps Justin organised

• As a founder, know your weaknesses and staff up around that

• The challenges of integrating family life and self-care and with being a global business leader

• How even global leaders have the people that inspire them

• When looking for inspiration, read outside of your immediate area of interest…it stimulates creativity and lateral thinking

• Assume that you are not an imposter! That holds more people back than almost anything else…

Justin's Social Links

LinkedIn | Twitter