When Leela Cosgrove applied to coach with me in 2014, I have to say I was a bit, um, disrupted — which is, in the end, her purpose. This wild child, one of Australia’s top marketing experts, and outspoken founder of two game-changers, Strategic Anarchy and The 8 Percent, has been plotting a creative revolution that is coming out big in just a few weeks at a Melbourne festival like no other.
But just 10 years ago, Leela was punching a timecard and working as a temp. On this week’s episode of Glambition Radio, Leela and I cover ground — step by step — on how she went from a day job pushing papers to being a go-to marketing guru to now changing how business is done — and how she’s one of what she calls “the 8 percent”.
Click the play button at the bottom to hear why 2014 nearly killed Leela and her dream, but how she’s come out stronger than ever with a new unstoppable mission around cultural creatives and entrepreneurs.
It’s a huge goal I know no one would take on. Except Leela.
Quite a long way from two years ago when she was dealing with a team implosion and beginning a complete overhaul of her business.
Today she’s doing edgy joint ventures with companies like Hermès, has been nominated for the Veuve Clicquot “New Generation” entrepreneur award, and has been hanging out with Richard Branson and friends on Necker Island. (An invitation I was delighted to pass onto my private clients.)
How? She always starts with gratitude (a big deal in my book) and never, ever gives up. If she can’t get around, she goes through. If she can’t get through, she goes over and above.
Leela launched The 8 Percent to pay tribute to thought leaders and independent spirits — the disrupters — who break down barriers to change. In our interview, we also preview her 8 Percent Festival in Australia next month, a three-day event where some of the brightest minds in business and the arts form a live think tank on stage to solve society’s biggest problems, from new media to the refugee crisis.
On this episode of Glambition Radio, Leela and I also cover everything from the magic of Melbourne, punk rock, business building blocks, and being snubbed by your pet after a long bout of travel. I know you’ll get a lot out of this episode. So click the play button below and listen to this episode of Glambition Radio now (or download for later).
