If you don’t know your why, why the hell are you doing this? Andre Gray is on a mission to normalise what should be normal, but isn’t.
Today’s Episode features Andre Gray, a creative who is committed to using his talents to represent the under represented, in all forms, including Avocados. In a fascinating and deeply insightful conversation, The Imposterous digs into the themes of unconscious bias, pressure from unexpected places and the urgent need for all of us to question all the things we take for granted. Because for those that can claim it the ‘unconscious’ within bias is a privilege that needs challenging.
Having spent his career deliberately testing his comfort zone, Andre’s point of view is that of a Black/Jewish polyglot who grew up going to French school in San Francisco, lived the last 3 years in Amsterdam and 5 years in Paris, believes the message dictates the medium and has a burning desire to inspire others. For him, saying is easy, its doing that counts. Over the course of his career, André Gray has made integrated campaigns for varied categories, from deodorant to Ultraboosts, leading global campaigns for brands like adidas, Gatorade and Nissan.
We discuss how partnership and trust are vital, because fundamentally, being a creative is a lonely place, it’s just you and your ideas echoing around your head. If you don’t have someone to talk to, to shoot it to you straight – not only will your work suffer, you will to. Which I why Andre passionately believes in creating a safe space for all different points of view – which means actively closing down your own preconceptions of what people may, or may not be capable of. If we manage to do that – then maybe those negative inner voices will have a little less to say.
With a new episode every Monday, The Imposterous is hosted by Michael Knox (ECD, Roller) and Graham Drew (CCO, Grey Malaysia) and as has been created to explore the theory that even the world’s most respected creative professionals suffer pangs of inadequacy that either stifle their potential brilliance or protect them from mediocrity. Tune in to find out how Imposter Syndrome might just be your super power, if you let it.
LISTEN TO THE ANDRE GRAY INTERVIEW
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Listen to previous episodes with Nils Leonard, Laura Petrucelli, Rob Campbell, Kitty Lun, Sarah Barclay, Fran Luckin, Jab Borgstrom, Merlee Jayme, Jo Sellars, Grant Rutherford, Shannon Crowe, Daniel Lobaton, Josy Paul, Vicki Maguire, Paul Catmur, Toby Talbot, Rachel Lounds, Phoebe Sloane & Graham Fink here.
