105: "When will agencies understand the value of account management?!" with Faizan Ali, VMLY&R

Call To Action

This week, we took one giant leap to catch aspiring astronaut turned account manager, Faizan Ali.
Currently Account Director at VMLY&R, Faizan is a loud and proud advocate for account managers worldwide. Having cut his teeth at Saatchi, JWT, and Hogarth Worldwide, he shares stellar advice on LinkedIn on how to calm storms, massage egos and help sell the work.
Tune in for an out-of-this-world chinwag on all things account management; why it’s both extremely hard and very simple, the qualities of a good client partner, what to do when s**t hits the fan, why agencies need to realise what added value it brings, the best way to deal with client briefs, the wording of the job title itself, having a point of view, timesheets, job specs, ego and tons more.
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Follow Faizan on Twitter.
And on LinkedIn for a choice cut of stellar account management advice.
Here’s a few to whet the appetite:
3 QUESTIONS IN 3 MINUTES
As Account Managers, we wear many hats
Listening is an Art
GOOD ACCOUNT MANAGER vs GREAT ACCOUNT MANAGER
Listen to Call To Action with Nick Ellis for tips on creative briefing, his “womb room”, making the world’s most boring advert for a sex toy client and loads more.
And here’s Nick’s talk from ZeeMelt on Account Management.

Thank you to everyone who has lent their ears and their brains for over 100 episodes of the Call To Action® podcast. It’s a real privilege. Please do share and review the podcast to help more marketers feel better about marketing.
Timestamps
(01:42) - Quick fire questions
(02:50) - Starting a social media agency at university
(08:57) - First account management role at JWT
(10:41) - Why account management is extremely hard but very simple
(13:00) - Agencies need to realise what added value account management brings
(17:32) - Handling mess and politics as an account manager
(20:40) - Dealing with client briefs
(26:30) - Account Manager or Client Partner?
(28:20) - Listener questions
(34:28) - 4 pertinent posers
(38:56) - How to navigate problems to do with ego

Faizan’s book recommendations are:
Good Strategy Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
Strategy Is Your Words by Mark Pollard
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