Cliff Skeete, ECD at 140: Why leadership requires authenticity

Leading Into The Unknown

In the time since a design contest launched his career, Cliff Skeete has risen through the traditionally white male-dominated advertising industry to become an Executive Creative Director at a number of agencies. In this episode, Cliff explains practical ways anyone can develop a personal leadership style rooted in authenticity. He also shares why design matters for all business leaders, and offers tips for teams trying to remain creative despite pressure from deadlines. Cliff started his career at Y&R working on brands like Accenture and United Negro College Fund. His work for the NHL received notable industry recognition, including multiple Emmy awards. After his long stint at Y&R, Cliff made the move over to McGarryBowen, where he was the ECD of brands like Verizon Branded Entertainment Group, Burt’s Bees, and Jeep. Cliff is now at 140, Verizon’s in-house agency, where he is charged with helping to build the agency. Hosted by Chad Bennett: As the Design Talent Manager, Chad leads recruitment for our design practice across the firm. Prior to joining SYPartners, he led recruiting efforts for 140 and managed programmatic media buying/planning and analytics at IPG Media, working with brands like Estée Lauder, BMW, and Coca-Cola. In addition to his experience in creative agencies, Chad has been a freelance designer for many years.