To celebrate the launch of a new book featuring a who’s who of the marketing world sharing their stories about the ‘larger-than-life and times of David ‘Devo’ Walden”, we’re republishing the entry from his long-time partner in crime at Whybin\TBWA, Andy Blood.

Innovation is often revered as an esoteric art form, which only a few geniuses are privy to. But Andrew Lewis argues that everything isn’t as mystical as it seems.

Behavioural science insights are hugely relevant for marketers, but it can be a challenge to shift from anecdotes to action. Renee Jaine shares thoughts on how savvy marketers can succeed in doing this.

For years brands have been at ‘arms length’ and somewhat out of touch with the reality of the customer experience, says Jenene Crossan. But influencer marketing, which is driven by brands shifting away from push-style ads towards ‘an enhanced word of mouth strategy’, has the ability to change that.

Because digital has become ubiquitous and a normalised part of everyday life, some are questioning whether we still need specialist digital agencies. Andrew Hawley defends his kind.

As the founder of a few companies, Jenene Crossan often gets asked to explain the traits required to succeed. She’s given a range of different answers, from bravery to persistence to bossiness. But she says you can’t underestimate the importance of just starting blindly and being comfortable with your own vulnerability.

The latest wave of transformative digital services has the potential to change lives to an extent far beyond the disruption caused by the previous two waves, desktop web in the 1990s and mobile in the 2000s, says Accenture Interactive’s Michael Buckley.

Claudia Batten is currently on the Better by Design Study Tour in the US along with a number of other Kiwi overachievers and she says the success of Contently—and the attitude of its founder Shane Snow—shows that marketing now needs to come from a place of integrity and sincerity.