The long term benefits of Sunscreen and why you should never fight a land war in Asia
The Little Questions
In a world that occasionally feels like it's teetering on the edge, the demand for "wise counsel" has never been higher.
In this episode of the Little Questions Podcast, we turn the spotlight on advice, the good, the bad, and the confidently delivered but completely wrong.
Because in Corporate Affairs and Communications, advice isn't just part of the job, it is the job. Whether it's guiding reputations through choppy waters, helping leadership navigate tricky moments, or answering the unexpectedly high-stakes question of what a CEO should wear to an awards dinner, we're in the business of judgement.
And most of the time, we get it right.
…most of the time.
Apella Partner Andrew Brown shares some of the best advice he's given (and received), alongside a few moments where things didn't quite go to plan. From genuinely valuable insights to the kind of counsel you politely ignore, and occasionally wish you had, we explore what separates wisdom from hindsight.
Along the way:
- Why demonstrating commercial impact is non-negotiable The uncomfortable truth about hiring (and being judged for it) When leaders need a "suck it up" moment Why getting ahead of an issue matters more than reacting to it And some truly questionable guidance that's best left in the past
We also reflect on the reality that even the most experienced advisers get it wrong sometimes and why that's not just inevitable, but useful.
After all, as one famous cinematic strategist once proved… even the most confident advice can have fatal flaws.
Apella partners Andrew Brown and Matt Young host this one and you can get in touch at podcast@apellaadvisors.com. Please consider leaving us a review.
Andrew Brown; formerly Director of Communications and Public affairs at Ageas Insurance, has more than ten years' experience leading the corporate affairs functions for global, listed, multifaceted firms across a range of regulated and unregulated sectors. He has considerable experience in issues, crisis and change management as well as reputation sentiment analysis and insight. Formerly Director of Communications at Drax Group plc.
Matt Young has 25 years of experience across media relations, public affairs, regulatory development, employee engagement, brand development, competition and CSR. Group corporate affairs director at Lloyds Banking Group, part of the senior team which rescued the bank and rebuilt its reputation following the financial crisis. Formerly communications director at Santander UK and board member of the BBA.
This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.