As the founder and CEO of We First — a brand consultancy specializing in the strategy and storytelling of purpose and focused on creating sustained business values for companies — Simon Mainwaring has always had one of the longest views in the room. For years, he has wondered why business leaders remain so inert when it comes to addressing the biggest challenges facing modern society, watching them suffer in private while pretending business as usual is okay in public.

On this episode of On Scope, he joins host Mike Berberich to discuss how we arrived at a critical moment in our history. The duo covers what true business leadership looks like in 2025, what the long-term consequences of abdicating the reins of marketing to technology might be, and how our industry can move forward focused on the “We” in a world that continues to reward callous individualism. 

On “Marketing News You Might Have Missed,” Mike and show producer Ryan Dinger discuss a new research report that revealed how creative industries — including marketing — are undervaluing neurodivergent talent, putting long-term business growth in peril.

If Simon’s call for courageous leadership sparked something in you, it’s time to channel it. Get started by signing up for the ANA’s Personal Branding for Marketers Virtual Workshop, taking place on September 4, 2025. Learn how to build a personal brand that commands trust, fuels opportunity, and differentiates you in a noisy market. Learn more and register by visiting www.ana.net/personalbrandworkshop.

Have a great idea for a topic or guest you’d like to see On Scope? Tell us about know by emailing us at onscope@ana.net. 

To learn more about We First visit wefirstbranding.com.