Anant Sharma

Whoa, the UK is the 2nd largest targeted market for M&A. The UK and the US can't get enough of it - perhaps it's due to the 'united' that's in our naming and our approach! One of the most important things to get right in this market is branding - and how you sensitively make the right positioning decisions to foster future growth. Want to understand more? Read the fundamentals in this post from Nalla...

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👇 👇 👇 BRAND ASSETS: Playfulness and professional services seem a good candidate to top any list of oxymorons! Having a unique set of brand assets allows firms to be playful. But first firms have to create them, then creatively and repeatedly use to build distinctiveness. Hogan Lovells is now embracing playfulness alongside Accenture, EY, and Cooper Parry. Want to learn more about defining, creating, and harnessing unique brand assets? Click to read my article. https://bit.ly/4eEqNvt  #Branding #BrandAssets #BrandIdentity #Distinctiveness

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At the latest BIMA (British Interactive Media Association) AI Roundtable, co-chaired with Kerry Howell and Liberty Covill, we cut through the noise around AI’s role in the agency world. One thing’s clear: AI isn’t about replacing creativity...it’s about backing it up. Some of the takeaways: AI as the wingman 👨‍🚀👨‍🚀 Tools like Faith’s Bubl for O2 prove that AI can make brands more nimble, reacting to real-time trends. But let’s not kid ourselves; this isn’t about saving time; it’s about raising the creative bar. Human-centric, always! ❤️ Synthetic data is everywhere, but great ideas still come from humans. AI should enhance creativity, not drown out a brand’s unique voice or people’s insight. Pricing needs a rethink 💸 Traditional pricing models? Time to let them go. AI changes the game, and value-based approaches give agencies and clients more room to grow. The rub 🤓 AI’s a tool, not the star of the show. The real magic happens when you pair it with human creativity, vision, and integrity. Keep it balanced, stay authentic, and use AI to build—not break—what makes agencies great. Read more on this topic here: https://lnkd.in/ebkqsEYS

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The future of AI: Can it ever fully replace human understanding? Sam Altman’s recent thoughts on AGI got me reflecting on a key challenge we’re facing today: while AI is excellent at telling us what people are doing, it often misses the why. 🤔 We live in a world where brands are awash with data, but data doesn’t tell the full story. Human behaviour is complex, unpredictable, and often driven by factors that numbers can’t capture. And that’s where human insights come in. In my career, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of understanding customers beyond the data ... something AI is still struggling to replicate. It raises a big question: will AI ever truly understand human emotions and motivations? I share my thoughts on this balance between AI and human intuition in my latest article. Link in the comments! 👇 #AI #HumanInsights #CustomerExperience #TechForGood #Innovation #CX

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Impactful insight doesn't always mean doing a fresh research project. Sometimes it's about communicating existing assets differently and re-activating them across a business. Myself, Mark and Judith at EXPLNERS have seen explainer videos become such an effective way to do this - but I'm curious to know what other tools people are using? Drop a comment below 👇

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Some thoughts from our head of UK Russ Wilson on the use of AI in B2B (and other research). Would love to get other feedback including from Evidenza if you'd care to comment :) Thanks Russ. #mrx #insight

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Not quite as catchy as The Weeknd, and could very possibly leave you numb. Come and find out for yourself at the New Scientist Emerging Tech Summit, where I’ll be talking about weird interfaces of the future… #invention #innovation #technology #tech #interfaces

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Business Genome Book Project: Random Research #1 DAVID OGILVY’S GUIDE HOW TO RUN AN ADVERTISING AGENCY  Posting interesting stuff that may or may not be included in the book. A brilliant example of codifying Corporate DNA into actionable principles. David Ogilvy’s guide to the heads of Ogilvy & Mather offices around the world outlines how to run an advertising agency effectively. This document provides both strategic and tactical principles, demonstrating a clear framework for maintaining creative quality and strategic direction. Here is a strategic-level brief extracted from the document using the Business Genome Framework. Additional tactical and even operational level briefs can be developed from this material: — PRINCIPLES FOR RUNNING AN ADVERTISING AGENCY ENSURE HIGH STANDARDS, DRIVE PRODUCTIVITY, AND CREATE A POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM SUCCESS. Uphold High Standards and Ethical Leadership Set an example with high personal ethics and professional standards. Leaders must be ethical, professional, fair-minded, compassionate, and imaginative. Encourage Hard Work and Fun Promote a strong work ethic while maintaining a fun and informal workplace. Make the workplace enjoyable to boost productivity and creativity, eliminating negativity. Foster Initiative Allow initiative to flourish within the team. Encourage team members to take initiative, providing opportunities for growth and innovation. Recruit the Best Hire talented individuals and let them work independently. Focus on recruiting brilliant individuals and provide an environment that fosters innovation and freedom. Promote Productivity and Change Ensure all managers are productive and drive positive change. Managers must be active, productive, and agents of change, combining insight and courage. Maintain Honesty with Clients Always be honest in your dealings with clients. Offer clients solutions as if you were in their shoes, fostering trust and long-term relationships. Embrace Diversity Avoid all forms of prejudice in recruitment and promotion. Be inclusive and avoid discrimination based on religion, race, or background. Prioritize Creative Function Empower the Creative team to make decisions on creative work. Leave creative decisions to experts to ensure high-quality outputs. Maintain Open Communication Encourage open communication at all levels. Foster an environment where open communication and airing disagreements are encouraged. Focus on Quality Never tolerate mediocrity in creative work or planning. Always strive for high-quality work and avoid second-rate performance. — #CorporateDNA #DavidOgilvy #Creative #Marketing #Management #Leadership Content is shared as it is developed, in no particular order. Stay tuned for more excerpts. Follow the #BusinessGenomeBook and Business Genome to get notified about new posts and updates! Feel free to leave your comments, share your thoughts, and tag someone who would find this insightful! —

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I'm not a huge fan of AI in the creative industry as it erodes craft (and has delivered a tsunami of really shitty content) but I'm intrigued at its potential in aiding the strategic process which I cover in my latest MarkLives.com column - link in the comments below. Outfits like Evidenza are using ‘seeded’ information to create an exponential number of synthetic data points. For strategists, this means access to vast amounts of intelligence without having to worry about the complexities of commissioning their own research. #AI #syntheticdata

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I'm coming to it slightly late, but I enjoyed this refreshingly honest take on AI from Simon Case. "The big agency networks are not telling the truth about what's going to happen. They don't want to admit there will be big fallouts and many very unhappy people." I think that's entirely correct, but I also think there will be some unhappy agency networks, too. That's because I think the whole charging model of the agency world is probably the worst possible model to try to navigate the emergence of AI with. As the article says: "The one thing that AI can't do is come up with strategy and good ideas, so creative people will still be needed." …and yet most agencies are giving away precisely that thinking in order to charge for creative output, a charging model which delivers the benefits of productivity increases to clients rather than to agencies. AI massively reduces the cost – both actual and perceived – of generating creative output, and so massively reduces its value. So you're stuck either transitioning to charging for something you've historically not charged for, or trying to maintain high fees for something that's increasingly commoditised. Neither is at all easy; I can't see how the large networks navigate it, personally.

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🎮 How does a small city like Dundee go from industrial roots to being a global gaming hotspot…? Find out in our latest #PlayableFutures article - in partnership with Ukie GamesIndustry.Biz and Amazon Web Services (AWS)

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The challenge of crafting a differentiated consultancy position remains more complex than it should be. More importantly, most consultancies struggle to cut through the noise with clear, bold messaging. That changes with TGO's tried and tested 3D Positioning Process™. #consultancygrowth #differentiation #positioning

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For this month's Problems Worth Solving podcast, I spoke to Rochelle Gold, Head of User Research and User-Centred Design at NHS England. She has been working quietly behind the scenes to build up a user centred focus across the NHS's digital work. We framed the discussion around how to make the digital side of the NHS more human. I loved this example that she shared when we were discussing the value of integrating research with technology investments: “One example I give is observing someone using a hospital system. They asked for a ‘print’ button on a screen, but by watching their behaviour, we realised the real issue wasn’t printing—it was integrating that information into another system. User research isn’t about what people say they need; it’s about understanding the outcomes they’re trying to achieve.” We also talked about how NHS England is tackling one of the biggest challenges in research—breaking down silos. They have over 130 user researchers now in their team and have developed an AI-powered tool to organise and surface insights across the organisation. “We want to allow anyone in the NHS to query what we already know about a topic. It’s transforming how we manage and share research knowledge.” We discussed the importance of collaboration between policy and service delivery and how transformative this was during the the pandemic, when teams from digital, policy, and operations came together under intense pressure. “The pandemic showed how collaboration could deliver faster, more effective solutions. That’s how we should be working across the NHS—not just in emergencies, but every day.” Rochelle talked about a her vision for the future where barriers to excluded groups are removed to ensure health services are truly inclusive. “If we address the barriers faced by the most excluded, we make services better for everyone.” Link to listen to the podcast in the first comment below. #servicedesign #ai #ucd #userresearch #nhs #healthtech #healthcare

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6 years ago, I was a broken man. From my single studio flat that I could only just afford, I would often wonder how my life had gone so wrong and feel utterly powerless to the darkness that consumed me. That's a whole other story, that we don't need to get into now. What I can say though, is that I turned things around. Today, I: - Live in a beautiful 2 bed flat with my girlfriend of 2 and a half years, overlooking lush greenery and a river - Feel better than I’ve ever felt: energy, mood, digestion, mindset, all of it. - Wake up with purpose and connected to my mission in life - I’m working on an incredible business that I know will change things in a big way - I practise compassion, kindness, grounding and mindfulness as often as I can Hey, maybe I’m painting a picture that sounds too good to be true! I still have off days, who doesn’t. And there's a whole load more changes I haven't even touched on here. But the difference is palpable, and exciting. If I can come back from such a dark place, I know others can. So I wrote a book. The thing is, this is going to sound kinda CRAZY, but AI was a big part of what changed my life. I used early versions of ChatGPT to help me come up with meal plans, fitness routines, help me write manifestations and overcome challenging emotions, as well as so much more. I’m not ashamed to admit it, but it served as an ever listening confidant, guide and even dare I say it, friend. If you’re interested in learning more about how you too can take advantage of this superpower for wellness, you can check out my book Healthy, Happy, Wealthy on Etsy. https://lnkd.in/eTBpXV55 Yes, I used AI to help me write it. I developed a system that I’m creating a business out of, where AI channels your own life experiences and perspective into its writing, rather than just being GPT generated boring fluff. If you check it out, please let me know, I’m always keen to hear feedback. If just a few people read it, and it changes their life in a small way, then that's all I can really ask.

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Excellent investigation into the ethical concerns using GenAI imagery in advertising. The authenticity gap is real and can't be overcome. Thanks, Jasmine Glasheen for bringing us the story on The Robin Report #genAI #marketing #advertising #authenticity

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How marketing teams are tackling the AI challenge https://bit.ly/3R7yMb0 Nothing has polarised opinion in the marketing and creative industries more than AI adoption, and 33Seconds co-founder Dominic Cook explores how to navigate this complex terrain

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Does the UK have a seat at the table in the global AI race? The House of Commons debating room thinks so! It was great to propose this debate with my fellow proposer Ashley Winton. Backed by some impressive and passionate contributions from the floor we narrowly succeeded in carrying the motion. But were countered every step of the way by strong and well-reasoned opposition from Leila Seith Hassan and Sanjeevan Bala. Our point of view, reasons to be positive: ✔ The UK is already the third largest AI economy valued at over $21bn, expected to reach $1 trillion by 2035. ✔We are a leading nation in the AI governance and innovation conversation; building on the Bletchley declaration with the signing of the Seoul declaration this very week. Much of which was UK orchestrated or led. ✔AI should be a factor in turning around our productivity crisis (flat growth vs 2% annual growth pre-2008) and recent innovation trends (37% ‘Innovation Active’ companies in 2023 vs 45% in 2020). ✔With historic and recent strengths in creative, service, automotive and pharma/healthcare industries we are well placed to join the AI revolution Thanks to DMA, in particular Rachel Aldighieri and Michael Sturrock. And The Debating Group. Finally to debate chair, Tulip Siddiq, Shadow City Minister and MP for Hampstead and Kilburn. #ai #dma #ukeconomy https://lnkd.in/eFvCD2SB https://lnkd.in/eu5iWVeM https://lnkd.in/eQJih6Yy

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Are you using the power of #interactive #design to showcase your technical expertise? Instead of taking a linear route through a presentation, why not deliver a more engaging #customerexperience by embedding rich media such as video content, animations or motion graphics to bring your technology alive? It's a really agile and powerful way of conveying your capability: in those important pitches where you need to be perceived as an industry leader, or at events/expos where it's important to deliver understanding. #sales #presentations #digital

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