Bestselling author, creative sociologist, futurist, cultures consultant, and LinkedIn Top Voice 2020, Amy Kean, says to the industry: if you want change, change things, without fanfare or fireworks.

There's a variety of unorthodox qualifications that can set you up for the corporate world

Whether you possess a degree from the University of Life or diploma from the School of Hard Knocks, the real world teaches us a great deal. Me? I’m proud to have gained a PHD in Office Politics, after seventeen years in the big bad ad industry.

I’ve seen it all: CEO civil wars, megalomaniac managers, ruthless rumours, and managed to thrive without getting caught in crossfire. I’ve witnessed backstabbing that’d make Marcus Brutus blush. Advertising environments aren’t known for their kindness, and many former agency employees speak - very seriously - of having PTSD from bullying and harassment.

But none of this prepared me for the cutthroat world of ad land’s Diversity Politics; a new-ish space where activism (important) and ego (self-importance) collide. It’s a toxic combination that’s led us to a...