One Minute With: Simon Cook, managing director at Cannes Lions, on why good leadership is like gardening

Interviewer: What industry topic doesn’t get talked about enough?

Simon Cook: Ageism.

Simon Cook: My name’s Simon Cook. I’m the managing director of Cannes Lions.

Interviewer: What’s the best career wisdom you’ve ever received?

Simon Cook: That as a leader, you are in service to your team, not the other way around.

Interviewer: What’s the hardest career lesson you’ve ever learnt?

Simon Cook: That you can’t do everything yourself.

Interviewer: What’s your professional superpower?

Simon Cook: Listening. Because we have two ears and one mouth.

Interviewer: What comes to mind when we say “machine learning”?

Simon Cook: Opportunity.

Interviewer: “Programmatic”?

Simon Cook: Not quite there.

Interviewer: “Future marketer”?

Simon Cook: Exciting.

Interviewer: What’s your YouTube sinful indulgence?

Simon Cook: I don’t want to say.

Interviewer: Come on!

Simon Cook: Probably like pop videos that I shouldn’t be watching at my age.

Interviewer: Any parting words of wisdom for the next generation of creative minds?

Simon Cook: If you want to be a leader, don’t try and be a coach or a colonel, or win the war. Just try and be a gardener. Try and create the right environment where other people can flourish.