Sometimes it rains. And then the ideas come.

Look up from the grind and check around a corner you've not been to - well worth it.

Running your own company is exhilarating and challenging in equal measures.

One day the path forward is super clear.

The next is just doubt after doubt.

But today reinforced that I belong where I am right now.

What’s your take on this significant shift? Are you rapidly integrating AI into your agency operations and client offer? Or waiting to see whether we witness AI hallucinations on a global scale?

At Is The Answer we've been having many discussions with clients about where AI can fit in, with most of the solutions focussed on efficient operational improvements. But also some use cases with client work, albeit nothing this aggressive.

The tensions between public confidence, operational reality, and technological transformation at the very top offer a fascinating window into how our industry is evolving under pressure.

A defensive manoeuvrer to Ad networks cutting out agencies in the near future, as suggested by Zuckerberg?

Are WPP now convinced there are enough benefits to replacing workers with AI? (many layoffs in GroupM (previous name) prior to this announcement)

Today: Full-scale AI integration across a $60bn media operation

This transformation raises compelling questions for every other agency. Is this AI consolidation cost-cutting? Differentiation? Survival?

Just over a year ago: “WPP says ‘too early’ to know whether AI overhaul will hit advertising jobs”

End of 2024: “WPP shares dive to four-year low as clients spend less money”

February 2025: “We’ve done 6,000 pitches this year – WPP dismisses new business concerns”

The Soundcore Liberty 4 are supposed to be very good as earbuds go! Often on sale direct or via Amazon.

I eyed the Sony ones up, they have a great reputation for noise cancelling! Interesting you find them chunky.

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lost pitch isn’t just a closed door—it’s a treasure trove of wisdom for next time, and winning new clients.

I'd love to hear your failed pitch stories (and how you approach the post-mortem!)

✅ Run a team debrief – Break down each aspect of the pitch, learn from what worked and what didn't, and refine your approach for next time. All in a constructive manner; one team, shared outcome.

✅ Think about anonymous surveying – Sometimes, the real reason for the loss will come out when when people feel they can be blunt. Using an external consultant or firm to solicit feedback is always an option (same goes for existing clients!)

✅ Hunt down detailed feedback – Staying silent is worse than asking and hearing nothing. During the pitch, straight after, whether lost or indeed won. Be open to sometimes brutal and seemingly unfair, occasionally nonsensical critique.

When processing a failed pitch, I do 3 things to make sure I can maintain a growth trajectory for agencies I work with:

🔎 I learnt early on in my career working agency-side that every pitch is an opportunity. One of the first CEOs I worked with explained that you have to be out there to either find a way to win work (on the table or not), or learn from your failures and refine your approach.

But we had a solid pitch—snazzy custom deck, well-researched strategy, great team dynamic.

Five minutes in, it was clear they’d already made up their minds. We were just there as a benchmark against their preferred local agency. Pointless? Demoralising? Absolutely. But we powered through.