Faris Yakob - Speaker

Faris Yakob is a well-known strategist, creative director, and founder of GeniusSteals LLC, a consultancy focused on ideas and innovation. He started his career as a strategy consultant for digital businesses during the dot-com boom and has a Master of Arts in English from Oxford. Faris joined Naked Communications as their 20th employee, working in London, Sydney, and New York. He was a communication strategist and later became the global head of digital. At McCann Erickson NYC, he was the EVP Chief Technology Strategist, leading the agency's digital transformation and winning their first Cyber Lion award at Cannes. As Chief Innovation Officer at MDC Partners, he created a social team and co-founded the creative technology boutique Spies&Assassins. Throughout his career, Faris has worked with major brands like Google, Sony, and Coca-Cola, helping them gain recognition and awards. He has also been a juror for prestigious award shows, including the Clio Awards and the Campaign BIG Awards. Faris has received many accolades, being named one of the most planners globally in The Planning Survey and one of Fast Company's ten modern-day Madmen. He writes a blog called "Talent Imitates, Genius Steals," which has been recognized as one of the top advertising blogs in the UK. As a public speaker, Faris has lectured at universities like the University of Westminster and the University of Southern California, and has presented at global conferences, including MIT's Future of Entertainment. He describes himself as an advertising philosopher, promoting creativity and innovation. In his book "Paid Attention," he discusses the evolution of advertising in the digital age and the need for valuable content. Currently, Faris leads GeniusSteals LLC, working on various consulting and creative projects while staying active in the industry through writing and speaking engagements.