At a festival built for rule-breakers and rethinkers, Rory Sutherland fits right in. Known for his wildly original takes on marketing, decision-making and human behaviour, the Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK is more than just a brilliant mind. He’s a walking, talking provocation to everything you thought you knew about how people think and buy.
On paper, Rory is an advertising executive. In practice, he’s a behavioural economics evangelist, TED Talk veteran, bestselling author (Alchemy), and accidental TikTok sensation. His Ideas Fest session, Inside the Mind of a Marketing Genius isn’t just another talk on strategy. It’s a shot of rocket fuel for anyone who's ever felt like the "logical" solution didn’t quite work, or that their best ideas couldn’t be explained by a PowerPoint slide.
And this year, he won’t be on stage alone. Rory will be joined in conversation by Grace Andrews, founder of Social Climber, known for her own sharp takes on brand-building and how to cut through in a noisy world. Together, they’ll unpack the weird, wonderful (and wildly effective) ways that brands actually win hearts and minds.
So, how did he get here?