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Most leaders say they want creativity. Few know how to make it happen. Andrew Robertson, Chairman of BBDO Worldwide, has spent two decades leading one of the most awarded creative networks in the world—and now he’s written the playbook for bringing creativity back to the heart of business.

In his new book, The Creative Shift, Robertson argues that organizations can’t just hope for inspiration—they need to deliberately design for it. He explains how to balance operational discipline with imaginative thinking, why bad ideas are essential for breakthroughs, and how simple changes—like rethinking meeting spaces—can spark better group collaboration.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why most corporate cultures quietly stifle creativity
• The flaws in traditional brainstorming—and how BBDO aims to fix them
• How to manage creative risk and know which ideas to pursue
• Practical ways to spark group creativity and make room for unconventional thinking
• Why operational excellence and visionary thinking aren’t opposites—they’re partners

Links & Resources:

• Andrew’s book: The Creative Shift: How to Power Up Your Organization by Making Space for New Ideas (released Sept 2, 2025)

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Guest: Nick Foster, futures designer, former Head of Design at Google X, and author of Could Should Might Don’t

Episode Summary:
Everyone’s talking about the future, but few are thinking about it well. Nick Foster, one of the world’s most influential futures designers and former Head of Design at Google X, argues that our imagination about what’s next is often shallow, clichéd, and dangerously incomplete.

In his book Could Should Might Don’t, Foster introduces a powerful framework for rethinking how we approach tomorrow. Instead of relying on sci-fi utopias, doomsday scenarios, or neat statistical projections, he challenges us to combine different lenses—what could, should, might, and don’t happen—to build a more rigorous and useful picture of the future.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why sci-fi optimism and dystopian doom both fail as guides to the future
• The four dominant ways we imagine tomorrow—and how to balance them
• Lessons from inside Google X on how bold organizations explore the unknown
• Why overconfidence in forecasts blinds us to hidden possibilities
• How leaders, policymakers, and innovators can think more responsibly about what’s coming next

Links & Resources:

• Nick’s book: Could Should Might Don’t (on shelves today, Aug 26!)

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Search isn’t just about Google anymore — and the fastest-growing search engine might already be on your phone. With 55% of consumers now starting their search journey on social platforms, TikTok is leading a massive shift in how people discover, evaluate, and buy.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., Brian Torpey, TikTok’s Global Head of Search Monetization Product Solutions and Operations, takes us inside how TikTok is redefining the search experience for a new generation. We dig into the platform’s latest search ad products, the surprising ways consumers use TikTok to find answers, and how brands can harness TikTok’s organic and paid tools to stay ahead.

We also explore:

• Why TikTok search is fundamentally different from traditional search engines
• How Omnicom Media Group’s partnership with TikTok is reshaping paid search strategies
• What TikTok’s search data reveals about real consumer intent
• The opportunities (and challenges) for marketers in the “social-first” search era

Whether you’re a marketer looking to future-proof your search strategy or just curious about how TikTok is quietly becoming a search powerhouse, this is one episode you don’t want to miss.