Think pieces

The Red Pill Series: What AI in marketing looks like when nobody’s watching

Contemplative executive in a high-rise boardroom
Marketing is embracing AI but with mainly surface-level usage. The reality of this means a function best placed to benefit from AI, is quietly missing it entirely. Joe Hildebrand explains.

Understanding APAC's Gen Alpha

Looking at Iphone
Gen Alpha isn't just "skibidi" slang and screens. With nearly half of Gen Alpha in APAC, these savvy digital natives are already influencing household spending and developing dreams for the future. To win them over, brands must bridge the gap between virtual play and real-world aspirations.

As AI scales, human judgment becomes the advantage

Engaged conversation in a cozy workspace
When AI can generate content at scale, human experience, judgment and authenticity are our most powerful and irreplaceable competitive advantage, Allison Beattie explains why.

The Art Of (a good mental health) Conversation

Casual conversation in a cozy lounge
Discussing mental health is not always easy, but it’s better to have a clumsy chat than not have one at all. Mark Simmonds suggests pointers to help kick off that important conversation.

What wellbeing and resilience truly mean to me - and why it’s more important than ever in today’s world

Quiet morning reflection by the window
In today’s fast moving marketing profession we need look after, not only our own energy and wellbeing, but that of the marketers in our care, Abigail Dixon reveals how.

Three days 2,200+ leaders One disused quarry And a brief to inspire a better Britain

Session at Anthropy 2026
The Marketing Society Member Emma Isaac shares her top take aways from Anthropy 2026.

The Art of Stopping: Why Slowing Down Makes You a Better Leader

people walking together talking side by side
Anni Townend's personal reflection on why leaders must deliberately carve out moments of stillness and self-reconnection in order to show up with greater intention, creativity and purpose

My Anthropy 2026 Reflections

John O'Brien at Anthropy 2026
Michael Sani, Chief Exploration Officer at our always-on listening platform, Play Verto shares his thoughts on Anthropy 2026.

Trust, Truth and Blind Spots: Reflections from Anthropy 2026

Sophie Devonshire hosting a panel at Anthropy 26
Michael Bayler's impressions of Anthropy 2026 - a highly satisfying and valuable experience.

Breaking the ‘Sea of Sameness’: Why Marketers Must Rethink Media Mix, Measurement and Trust

Uncomfortable Conversation The Marketing Society Sinagpore
Mediacorp's Jacqui Lim on the gap between what marketers know works - broad, omnichannel strategies - and what they actually do (defaulting to the same narrow, easy-to-measure performance channels) and what they need to do to address this.

The Leadership Questions Marketing Leaders Are Asking in 2026

Professional meeting in a modern office
Insights into The Marketing Society's 2026 Global Leadership Mentoring Programme which focuses on influence, navigating transitions, leadership presence, and strengthening marketing's strategic voice within organisations.

Dispatches from Anthropy 2026: Part Three

Panel conversation at Anthropy 2026
The Marketing Society's Rachel Letham reports back on the final day at Anthropy 2026 and offers key insights from The Impact of AI on Employment and the Value of Being Human in the Workplace session.

Dispatches from Anthropy 2026: Part Two

Sophie Devonshire panel at Anthropy 2026
Rachel Letham reports back on all the sessions in day two of Anthropy 2026 Uniting through Trust, Transparency and Public Good, Brand Purpose and The Trust Tax: How AI is Silently Eroding Credibility and Emotional Connection.

Dispatches from Anthropy 2026: Part One

panel discussion at anthropy 2026
Rachel Letham reports on day one of Anthropy 2026 with key insights on day one sessions Leading through Complexity and Values in Leadership.

Honorary Fellow Tony Scouller remembered

Tony Scouller
Former CEO of The Marketing Society Hugh Burkitt shares his memories of Honorary Fellow Tony Scouller who died recently.

The Marketing Society at Advertising Week Europe 2026

The Marketing Society at Advertising Week Europe
Insights and take aways from The Marketing Society's session at Advertising Week Europe 2026 - Marketers Who Mean Business, Conversation Circle

The Marketing Society at Advertising Week Europe 2026

Rebecca Dibb-Simkin Advertising Week The Marketing Society
Insights and take aways from The Marketing Society's session at Advertising Week Europe 2026 - AI’s Next Leap for Marketing Leaders.

If you want to make advertising great again, learn to Fink

Graham Fink
Graham Fink's TheArtSchool proves that brutal, honest feedback from experienced creatives is still the most powerful creative education available.

The One-Person Multinational Agency is Here and it’s Better for Marketers

Man juggling all kind of tech
This articles by Manesh Murthy explains how AI is triggering a shift in marketing, enabling smaller, smarter agencies to expand into full business impact while delivering faster, cheaper, and more integrated solutions.

Red pill or blue pill: the AI choice most marketing leaders aren’t seeing clearly

Red and blue pills over city lights
Joe Hildebrand from Humari explains that while most marketing leaders are investing in AI tools and automation but the real returns come from investing in people, culture, and human readiness.

AI is not creating your brand, it is interpreting what already exists

Futuristic landscape with AI interface
This article looks at how AI is a curator of existing brand reputation rather than a creator, meaning organisations must focus on strengthening their external signals and test at scale to understand how they're being represented in AI outputs.