In this special episode of the Creative Ops podcast, we’re bringing you a live recording of my presentation at the Henry Stewart Creative Operations Conference in Los Angeles. The feedback from attendees was incredible—people left inspired and motivated to reimagine the role of AI in Creative Operations.

During this talk, I dive into the real opportunity AI presents—not just as an automation tool, but as middleware for the Creative Operations imagination. You’ll learn how to leverage AI to elevate your role, spark creativity, and drive your career forward in this rapidly changing world.

Key Takeaways:

• 🧠 How to embrace AI as a partner to move Creative Ops from tactical to strategic.

• 🚀 How AI can fuel your career trajectory and transform the way you work.

• 🤔 Why AI is more fun (and powerful) than you might think, when you start using it to unlock new possibilities.

And here’s the best part: If this talk resonates with you, I’m happy to bring this session to your team. Let’s reimagine what’s possible together and set you up to thrive in this AI-driven world.

Also, stay tuned! I’m rolling out an AI workshop to help Creative Ops teams put these ideas into action. If you want to be among the first to know, reach out!

So, are you ready to evolve or go extinct?

In this critical episode for creative operations and creative leaders, we dive deep into the AI revolution with Wesley ter Haar, co-founder of Monks. Wesley shares invaluable insights on how AI is reshaping creative workflows, team structures, and business models. This conversation is essential listening for any leader looking to future-proof their operations and creative processes to leverage AI for competitive advantage.

Key Insights

1. Redefining Workflow Efficiency:
   • How AI is collapsing traditional departmental functions
   • Balancing AI-driven "Scale" workflows with human-centric "Story" processes
   • Strategies for integrating AI into existing creative operations
2. Evolving Team Structures:
   • Moving from rigid departments to fluid, AI-augmented project teams
   • Identifying roles at risk of AI displacement and areas for human upskilling
   • Fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation
3. Transforming the Creative Process:
   • Using AI as "middleware for human imagination"
   • Reimagining briefing, ideation, and production workflows with AI
   • Maintaining brand consistency and emotional resonance in AI-assisted work
4. Rethinking Performance Metrics:
   • Moving beyond billable hours to value-based compensation models
   • New KPIs for measuring AI-enhanced productivity and creativity
   • Balancing efficiency gains with quality and innovation metrics
5. Strategic Client Management:
   • Educating clients on AI capabilities and limitations
   • Differentiating services in an AI-saturated market
   • Leveraging AI for improved client insights and personalization
6. Ethical Considerations and Risk Management:
   • Developing guidelines for AI use in creative work
   • Addressing copyright and ownership issues in AI-generated content
   • Ensuring data privacy and security in AI-driven operations
7. Future-Proofing Creative Operations:
   • Wesley's vision of a near-term "creative renaissance"
   • Identifying new revenue streams and service offerings enabled by AI
   • Preparing for the next wave of AI advancements

Quotable Moments

"The AI meteor has struck the creative industry. The question isn't if you'll be affected, but how quickly you can evolve."

"It's about using AI to amplify human creativity, not replace it. We're becoming expert AI collaborators, not obsolete creatives."

Action Steps for Creative Operations Leaders:

Action Items

1. Conduct an AI readiness assessment of your current operations
2. Identify pilot projects for AI integration in your creative workflow
3. Develop an AI upskilling program for your team
4. Review and update your creative process to incorporate AI touchpoints
5. Engage clients in discussions about AI's role in your services

Thought-Provoking Questions

1. How can creative leaders balance the efficiency of AI with the need for original, breakthrough ideas that maintain a brand's unique voice and emotional resonance?
2. What new skills and roles should creative operations leaders prioritize developing in their teams to thrive in an AI-augmented environment, and how might this reshape traditional creative department structures?
3. How might AI transform the entire creative process, from briefing and ideation to production and optimization, and what new workflows or methodologies should agencies adopt to leverage these changes effectively?

Brianne Gallagher, Head of Creative Operations at Wayfair, shares innovative strategies for reimagining creative operations. Drawing parallels with Hollywood production methods, she introduces concepts like the "producer mindset" and strategic "casting" of talent, while exploring how to balance human creativity with AI capabilities to drive breakthrough innovations.

5 of 10 Key Takeaways:

1. The "Producer Mindset": Adopting a Hollywood-inspired approach to creative operations involves strategically "casting" talent based on their unique strengths or "majors and minors," rather than just job titles. This method enhances team dynamics and project outcomes.
2. Balancing AI and Human Creativity: While AI offers unprecedented efficiency and scale in content creation, it risks producing a "sea of sameness." The key is to leverage AI's capabilities while prioritizing human-driven storytelling and emotional connection to maintain creative distinctiveness.
3. Redefining Success Metrics: Traditional KPIs fall short in measuring creative impact. Innovative approaches that incorporate qualitative metrics to capture emotional resonance and audience sentiment are crucial for truly understanding creative performance.
4. The Rise of the Creative Technologist: This emerging role bridges the gap between creative teams and cutting-edge technology, helping organizations effectively adapt to and leverage new tools, especially AI.
5. Data Literacy for Creatives: In the AI era, data skills are essential for creative professionals. Data literacy empowers creatives to make informed decisions, demonstrate their value, and contribute strategically to business goals.

Tune in for those and other great takeaways!

Connect

• With Brianne
• With Nish