John McNeil, Founder & CEO of John McNeil Studio, talks about blending business and creativity with our president, Steve Gilman.
Creativity and business don’t always speak the same language, but John McNeil has spent his career bridging that gap.
In this episode of Brand Story, we sit down with John for a candid conversation about what it really means to build a brand. From his early days in traditional agencies to pioneering the studio model, John shares how his team helps brands move beyond deliverables to a system where everything from strategy to media to brand experience works together. We also talk candidly about the tension between business and creativity, the role of AI in marketing, and why executives are hungry for expansive thinking—whether they admit it or not.