Most agency executives spend their time figuring out how to say "yes" to client requests. Nadja Bellan-White has built her reputation on asking "Are you sure?" when clients walk in wanting campaigns. Her approach to questioning assumptions and redirecting conversations toward business transformation rather than tactical execution has made M&C Saatchi Group a destination for brands that need more than creative services—they need strategic recalibration.
Nadja's conversation reveals someone who's learned to balance empathy with tough questions, whether she's advising Fortune 500 companies or reflecting on her own career decisions. Her stories about working with industry titans, navigating major agency transitions, and building teams that can handle complex cultural and geopolitical challenges offer insights that go beyond typical leadership advice.
Nadja Bellan-White: Her Approach to Business Transformation ⚖️
- "Long Dinner Table of Life" Philosophy: Uses this metaphor for career relationships - some people come for appetizers, others stay for all meals, focusing on who truly supports you when things get tough 🍽️
- Grit and Resilience Advocate: Learned from mentor Moon at Ogilvy South Africa that when you can't go on, find grit within yourself to surround yourself with the right team 💪
- Cultural Power Expert: Built M&C Saatchi's value proposition around cultural power - understanding geopolitical shifts, generational changes, and how people consume information 📊
- Business Transformation Consultant: When clients ask for campaigns, she asks, "Are you sure?" and redirects them to focus on transforming their business instead 💡
- Work-Life Balance Wisdom: Advises her younger self to give herself grace, recalling being so focused on not making mistakes that she wasn't learning ⚖️
📰 News That Matters
McKinley Franklin
Darlene Superville, Associated Press
☀️Tomorrow on ATM
Sneaky, sneaky, and we are giving you a peek 🫣
XOXO,
