This time, we sit down with Rhonda Hiatt, Global CEO of M&C Saatchi Consulting and CEO of Clear. From mowing lawns in the Midwest to helming a global consultancy and opening a restaurant on the side, Rhonda’s career is a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and reading the cultural tea leaves. We talk navigating chaos, leading with empathy, and why clarity is the ultimate growth hack.

Our Favorite Stories

• Rhonda’s journey from Midwest entrepreneur to global CEO of M&C Saatchi Consulting.
• Starting a restaurant mid-career—and how it reshaped her view on brand marketing.
• The time a fake AI voice clone of her nearly tricked a colleague.

Big Moments from Doing the Work

• How embracing complexity has become her strategic superpower.
• The importance of cultural connection in modern brand identity.
• What she’s learned from working across massive legacy brands and DTC disruptors alike.

Career Advice We’ll Live With

• "Diversity of data” is the new creative edge.
• Embrace change, don’t fight it—it’s the only constant.
• Leading with clarity and humanity is how you weather every storm, from 2008 to AI deepfakes.

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In this episode of The Bad Podcast, An Advertising Podcast, we get inside the mind of Tom Suharto, Global Strategy Lead at Forsman & Bodenfors. From cutting his teeth in research to leading strategy on a global scale, Tom's career path is anything but linear—unless you count the 400-page data reports he once sifted through. We talk cultural codes, creative instincts, and why trusting your gut is the real killer app.

Our Favorite Stories

• Tom's journey from working in research to leading global strategy at Forsman & Bodenfors.
• Immersing himself in Mongolian drinking culture for a vodka brand campaign.
• The "Find Your Greatness" campaign for Nike during the Olympics and how it resonated differently in China.

Big Moments from Doing the Work

• Navigating cultural dynamics while working across Shanghai, Portland, and New York.
• Transitioning from data-driven research to trusting creative instincts in strategy.
• Leading Forsman's strategy community and curating global project teams.

Career Advice We'll Live With

• The value of getting out of your comfort zone and working abroad to gain cultural insight.
• Trusting your gut and learning to write creatively, not just accurately.
• Using AI as a tool for idea generation, but layering human instincts and creativity on top.

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Our Favorite Stories

• Erin’s unconventional path to advertising—starting with an English and film degree, moving to Chicago, and launching a scrappy startup before breaking into UX.
• The “hot cake” corporate training at McDonald’s, where new hires spend a full day working in a restaurant, and how it shaped her design perspective.
• How McDonald’s global headquarters offers a rotating international menu, giving employees and customers a taste of different cultures.

Big Moments from Doing the Work

• Moving from startups and agencies to massive brands like Walmart and McDonald’s, learning to design for “everyone.”
• The balance between clarity and cleverness in UX—how focusing on human behavior and needs leads to better design.
• The reality of global UX at McDonald’s—creating a digital standard that works across diverse cultures while allowing for local customization.
• The importance of field research and real-world observation in UX, from drive-thru experiences to kiosk interactions.

Career Advice We'll Live With

• Selling your ideas is just as important as having great ones—whether it’s convincing a team or educating leadership on UX value.
• Designing for inclusivity starts at the beginning, not as a late-stage checklist.
• Patience is key in big organizations—meaningful change happens over years, not weeks.
• A great UX designer is also a great communicator—storytelling and persuasion matter just as much as technical skills.
• The best design teams take risks on unconventional hires, keeping the door open for fresh perspectives.

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