Being an excellent planner or strategist can propel you up through the ranks to senior jobs but rarely prepares you for becoming a strategic manager, running a big client or a planning department.
Hardly any agencies prepare their strategy stars for management of any kind, something that account people have bred in their bones.
This course aims to fill the strategy management gaps and give you the confidence and ability to embrace your promotion, whenever it comes, and make a success of it.
What the masterclasses cover:
Managing people
Managing departments
Managing big teams
Managing ideas
Managing change
Managing the business
Managing new business, and …
Managing yourself.
Over 5 half days you will examine all of the above in the expert company of Craig Mawdsley and Bridget Angear, the Planning Duo who took over the department at AMV BBDO in 2005 and ran it till 2017 when they became Joint CSOs. During their tenure they transformed the planning department into a phenomenally successful and highly influential team that dominated new business, awards shows and helped to shape some of the unforgettable campaigns of the last 10 years. It also yielded more future heads of department and CSOs than any another department, including current incumbents of the APG committee.
How they did it and what you can learn from and apply to your own career, is the substance of this course.
What you will learn and get out of it
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A strong sense of your own worth
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The ability to operate successfully in all kinds of situation
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The tools and confidence to make good decisions
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Practical guidance where you need it and lots of examples to learn from and build on.
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Expert, personal guidance from Craig and Bridget, plus guest speakers to learn from.
Who is it for?
Planners and strategists with 8/10 years plus experience in all kinds of agency or marketing company. It’s relevant to current Heads of Planning and very senior strategists, as well as those aiming to make the next step, be it as a future CSO or Head of Planning or as a very senior strategist without direct agency management responsibilities.
It is a companion course to the APG’s Strategy Leaders of Tomorrow Programme. The SLOT programme which focuses more on your personal development as a strategist leading the thinking on clients and in the agency.
What does the programme consist of?
Masterclass 1: Personal Strategic Development (with guest speaker Cat Wiles)
Masterclass 2: Leading and Winning Pitches (with guest speaker Jo Juber)
Masterclass 3: Managing People (with guest speaker Emily Harlock)
Masterclass 4: How to have the Biggest Impact as a Strategy Manager (with guest speaker Andy Nairn)
Masterclass 5: Changing and Influencing Culture (with guest speakers Jo Arden and Raj Nathwani)
Course Information
Cost
£1,140+vat*
*APG Membership is required. Please go here for more information.
Dates & Times
Dates: 30th April, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th May 2025
Times: 2pm - 5:30pm/5:45pm BST
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Venue
They will most likely take place on zoom for ease of access but we will organise a social event so that delegates can meet each other.
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Please note, the sessions will not be recorded/filmed and we can’t offer catch-up sessions on future courses, if for any reason you can’t attend.
Course Tutors
Craig Mawdsley
Founding Partner at craig+bridget
Emily Harlock
CSO and Partner at Special London
Bridget Angear
Founding Partner at craig+bridget
Jo Arden
CSO at AMVBBDO
Andy Nairn
Founding Partner at Lucky Generals
Raj Nathwani
Consumer & Marketing Insight Consultant at Num8ers Ltd.
Cat Wiles
CSO at Lucky Generals
Testimonials
What a brilliant course! I learned so much - I'd go so far as to say the most from any course I've been on. And I never once felt like I was being 'taught'. I felt like I was simply having chats and picking up sage advice through conversation.
- Strategy Partner, Marketing Agency
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The ability to learn and hear from some of the industry leaders and being able to listen in and hear from peers was invaluable.
- Planning Director, Media Agency
The highlights were ALL of the practical tips and examples, the reflections, the sharing, Craig+Bridget and all of the guests - really, really great material.
- Strategy & Insights Director, Communications Agency
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The speakers' candour was really inspiring and insightful. The practical exercises allow you to self-reflect on your approach and behaviour which was really valuable
- Head of Strategy, Creative Agency
Course Enquiries
If you are interested in attending this Training Course, please e-mail Alison Trotter at alison@apg.org.uk
APG Training Course Cancellation Policy
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Should you cancel your booking for an APG training course, the following cancellation policy will apply: For a cancellation made more than 30 calendar days in advance of the training course, a full rebate will be applied. For a cancellation more than ten calendar days in advance of the training course, a rebate of 50% will be applied. For a cancellation less than ten days in advance of the training course no rebate will be applied.
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Training sessions will not be recorded/filmed and we can’t offer catch-up sessions on future courses, if for any reason you can’t attend.
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On occasion we may need to re-schedule training sessions - we reserve the right to do this at any time although we will aim to give you as much notice as possible.
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Attendance on Training Courses is entirely at the discretion of APG. There is no automatic right to attendance.
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