From the diary of Steve Blakeman's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Which people helped you to get where you are today and what did they do for you?
- Who or what inspires you?
- Where did you get your schooling from? Has your education helped shape you to be the person that you are today?
- Explain some facts about Steve Blakeman that the world doesn't know; how would you describe yourself?
Professional Career
- We’d like to know more about your book, ‘Billy Bullsh!t Talks Business.’ When is it being released and what should readers expect from it?
- Tell us about your career - where and when did you start work? How did you end up working as Managing Director at OMD Worldwide? Did you always have a passion for the industry?
Leadership Advice
Steve Blakeman's story
Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
I lived with my grandparents in a place called Middleton until I was four years old. They didn’t have much, but I was adored by them both. My grandad used to read the newspaper with me, and it gave a love of reading and writing that prevails to this very day.
From the diary of Steve Blakeman's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Which people helped you to get where you are today and what did they do for you?
- Who or what inspires you?
- Where did you get your schooling from? Has your education helped shape you to be the person that you are today?
- Explain some facts about Steve Blakeman that the world doesn't know; how would you describe yourself?
Professional Career
- We’d like to know more about your book, ‘Billy Bullsh!t Talks Business.’ When is it being released and what should readers expect from it?
- Tell us about your career - where and when did you start work? How did you end up working as Managing Director at OMD Worldwide? Did you always have a passion for the industry?
Leadership Advice
Steve Blakeman's story
Which people helped you to get where you are today and what did they do for you?
Transitioning from a single market like the UK to work in Asia across 22 countries as diverse as China, India, Australia, etc. was hugely challenging, as was the simple matter of covering the ground. In my nine years in APAC, I did more than 3 million air miles.
From the diary of Steve Blakeman's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Which people helped you to get where you are today and what did they do for you?
- Who or what inspires you?
- Where did you get your schooling from? Has your education helped shape you to be the person that you are today?
- Explain some facts about Steve Blakeman that the world doesn't know; how would you describe yourself?
Professional Career
- We’d like to know more about your book, ‘Billy Bullsh!t Talks Business.’ When is it being released and what should readers expect from it?
- Tell us about your career - where and when did you start work? How did you end up working as Managing Director at OMD Worldwide? Did you always have a passion for the industry?
Leadership Advice
Steve Blakeman's story
Who or what inspires you?
I’ve been very lucky to have several mentors in my career (my first boss Pauline Hackett, Jill Thomas, King Lai, Barry Cupples, etc.). But the one who influenced me the most was the late, great Ray Sale. His best piece of advice to me? You have two ears and one mouth. Use them in that ratio.
From the diary of Steve Blakeman's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Which people helped you to get where you are today and what did they do for you?
- Who or what inspires you?
- Where did you get your schooling from? Has your education helped shape you to be the person that you are today?
- Explain some facts about Steve Blakeman that the world doesn't know; how would you describe yourself?
Professional Career
- We’d like to know more about your book, ‘Billy Bullsh!t Talks Business.’ When is it being released and what should readers expect from it?
- Tell us about your career - where and when did you start work? How did you end up working as Managing Director at OMD Worldwide? Did you always have a passion for the industry?
Leadership Advice
Steve Blakeman's story
Where did you get your schooling from? Has your education helped shape you to be the person that you are today?
I won a free scholarship to a private school when I was 11 years old. There were only a handful of us who got in and I felt very privileged. The teachers were superb and I really developed my interest in English Language and Literature whilst I was there.
From the diary of Steve Blakeman's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Which people helped you to get where you are today and what did they do for you?
- Who or what inspires you?
- Where did you get your schooling from? Has your education helped shape you to be the person that you are today?
- Explain some facts about Steve Blakeman that the world doesn't know; how would you describe yourself?
Professional Career
- We’d like to know more about your book, ‘Billy Bullsh!t Talks Business.’ When is it being released and what should readers expect from it?
- Tell us about your career - where and when did you start work? How did you end up working as Managing Director at OMD Worldwide? Did you always have a passion for the industry?
Leadership Advice
Steve Blakeman's story
Explain some facts about Steve Blakeman that the world doesn't know; how would you describe yourself?
The truth is a fell into advertising by mistake. I wanted to be a copywriter but couldn’t get an interview. So I applied for a job in media thinking I could ‘swap’ disciplines at a later date. How wrong I was. Over 30 years later and I’m still in media.
It’s tough to describe oneself as you have such a subjective view. But trying to be objective, I’d summarise by saying that I strive for simplicity, I hate politics, I’m a proud dad, I’m annoyingly enthusiastic about the things I love (like football, hard rock music, and writing) get bored too easily, adore being creative, am a terrible sulker, am not very trusting, like to try new things and couldn’t ice skate if my life depended upon it. Is that enough?
From the diary of Steve Blakeman's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Which people helped you to get where you are today and what did they do for you?
- Who or what inspires you?
- Where did you get your schooling from? Has your education helped shape you to be the person that you are today?
- Explain some facts about Steve Blakeman that the world doesn't know; how would you describe yourself?
Professional Career
- We’d like to know more about your book, ‘Billy Bullsh!t Talks Business.’ When is it being released and what should readers expect from it?
- Tell us about your career - where and when did you start work? How did you end up working as Managing Director at OMD Worldwide? Did you always have a passion for the industry?
Leadership Advice
Steve Blakeman's story
We’d like to know more about your book, ‘Billy Bullsh!t Talks Business.’ When is it being released and what should readers expect from it?
'Billy Bullsh!t Talks Business' came about after an article I wrote on LinkedIn that went viral. I asked people for their most hated business idioms and the response was overwhelming. One of the commenters was Mike Adams who suggested it would make a great idea for a book. I thought that was a great idea and so we developed the character of Billy Bullsh!t who only ever talks using these BS phrases and expressions. Pop that in your mental microwave and see how it defrosts!
The book has a global launch in August this year and both Mike and I will be doing a series of interviews and book signings to support the release.
From the diary of Steve Blakeman's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Which people helped you to get where you are today and what did they do for you?
- Who or what inspires you?
- Where did you get your schooling from? Has your education helped shape you to be the person that you are today?
- Explain some facts about Steve Blakeman that the world doesn't know; how would you describe yourself?
Professional Career
- We’d like to know more about your book, ‘Billy Bullsh!t Talks Business.’ When is it being released and what should readers expect from it?
- Tell us about your career - where and when did you start work? How did you end up working as Managing Director at OMD Worldwide? Did you always have a passion for the industry?
Leadership Advice
Steve Blakeman's story
Tell us about your career - where and when did you start work? How did you end up working as Managing Director at OMD Worldwide? Did you always have a passion for the industry?
My first job was at J. Walter Thompson as a trainee media executive. I’m still in touch with several colleagues from those days including my old boss who I had lunch with just a few weeks ago. After about a decade in the business, I got my first really big break when I was appointed MD at CIA (now Wavemaker) in Manchester. It was a very successful period of new business success and that for me noticed by Initiative who offered a senior strategic role based in Paris to run Unilever.
Then a chance meeting a few years later with the then Chairman of PHD led to me coming home to launch PHD’s second office in the UK.
I was then poached by IPG Mediabrands to be their Chief Strategy Officer for APAC based in Singapore in 2006 where I worked on some incredible clients such as Coca Cola and J&J.
Then in 2011, I was offered the CEO role at OMD in APAC with a brief to chase double-digit revenue growth each year and also to vastly increase their award wins. I’m delighted to say we achieved and surpassed both objectives.
After almost a decade away we decided to return home to the UK in 2015 as my daughter won a scholarship at a drama school. I stayed with OMD based in London and Paris running the Groupe Renault business globally.
After over 30 years working for someone else, I recently took the plunge and decided to launch my own agency which is primarily focused on Influencer Marketing built around LinkedIn. Beyond that my second book is launching in August this year, and I am lined up to speak at three conferences in the UK, France, and Australia talking about how I managed to become a macro-Influencer on LinkedIn with over 300,000 Followers.
From the diary of Steve Blakeman's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Which people helped you to get where you are today and what did they do for you?
- Who or what inspires you?
- Where did you get your schooling from? Has your education helped shape you to be the person that you are today?
- Explain some facts about Steve Blakeman that the world doesn't know; how would you describe yourself?
Professional Career
- We’d like to know more about your book, ‘Billy Bullsh!t Talks Business.’ When is it being released and what should readers expect from it?
- Tell us about your career - where and when did you start work? How did you end up working as Managing Director at OMD Worldwide? Did you always have a passion for the industry?
Leadership Advice
Steve Blakeman's story
What advice would you give to anyone seeking a career in your industry?
The best pieces of advice I can offer are to stay authentic, don’t try to be something you are not, trust your own judgment, never compromise, work hard and try to keep a smile on your face - we are not saving lives here!
From the diary of Steve Blakeman's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Which people helped you to get where you are today and what did they do for you?
- Who or what inspires you?
- Where did you get your schooling from? Has your education helped shape you to be the person that you are today?
- Explain some facts about Steve Blakeman that the world doesn't know; how would you describe yourself?
Professional Career
- We’d like to know more about your book, ‘Billy Bullsh!t Talks Business.’ When is it being released and what should readers expect from it?
- Tell us about your career - where and when did you start work? How did you end up working as Managing Director at OMD Worldwide? Did you always have a passion for the industry?
Leadership Advice
Steve Blakeman's story
What is your favorite book and can you explain what you like about it?
My reading habits are somewhat odd, to be honest. In the past year, I’ve read about 15 books about anything from President Trump to the books about business bullshit. The most fascinating read? ‘The Heroin Diaries’ by the bassist of Motley Crue, Nikki Sixx. It’s harrowing but is a true story of real redemption and as such is incredibly inspiring.
From the diary of Steve Blakeman's story
Life and Experiences
- Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Some fun facts and anecdotes from your life.
- Which people helped you to get where you are today and what did they do for you?
- Who or what inspires you?
- Where did you get your schooling from? Has your education helped shape you to be the person that you are today?
- Explain some facts about Steve Blakeman that the world doesn't know; how would you describe yourself?
Professional Career
- We’d like to know more about your book, ‘Billy Bullsh!t Talks Business.’ When is it being released and what should readers expect from it?
- Tell us about your career - where and when did you start work? How did you end up working as Managing Director at OMD Worldwide? Did you always have a passion for the industry?
Leadership Advice
Steve Blakeman's story
Let's talk about the marketing industry; how do you foresee the future of the industry with upcoming innovations?
Automation is completely revolutionizing our industry as computers and algorithms take over some of the more tedious aspects of our craft. But that in itself represents a problem as less people will be needed in the future. On a more positive note, computers can’t be ‘creative’ in the same way that humans can so at least that element of what we do is safe. For now.
