September 26, 2013 – AKQA China’s Johan Vakidis answers 12 questions on adobo magazine. Vadikis is an integrated creative director, designer by default and is considered to be one of the top digital marketing experts in China.
1. Any skill you faked till you made it?
I wouldn’t say faked any of my skills as I learnt all my skills over the years, and am constantly learning.
2. If not advertising what would you have done as a career?
Probably a carpenter.
3. Best advice you ever received?
Before a talk, start with a Joke.
4. Worst advice you ever received?
Some projects just need to be done and thrown out the door.
5. What is your favorite ad of all time you didn’t work on?
The Curators of Sweden
6. What is your favorite ad of all time you did work on?
A project I did for Adidas 6 years back called The Rook – Purely because of how much I learnt on the project.
7. If you had to create a mission statement/ a tagline for your personal brand what would it be?
Real.
8. What was your biggest failure?
My first pitch.
9.What was your biggest success?
My first speech.
10. If you could change one thing about your business what would it be?
Nothing, its constantly changing and evolving and keeps on surprising me.
11.What have you learned about yourself after a career in advertising?
That the brain is a very important muscle, it truly does get stronger and stronger over time.
12. What are you doing to ensure you don’t become obsolete to continue in this industry?
I keep on pushing innovation, Resetting occasionally, hiring the best people possible, so I can keep learning.
Biography
Johan Vadikis is currently the Executive Creative Director of AKQA China but travels throughout Asia and the rest of the world to build creative excellence on a wide range of local and international clients across the region including Nike and Unilever.
In his free time Vadikis enjoys time with his family and often judges at international, regional and local award shows. Vadikis enjoys speaking at a variety of industry events.
Vadikis previously served as the National Executive Creative Director for OgilvyOne China, responsible for winning numerous awards including Cannes, One Show, Clio Awards and more. During his eight and a half year tenure at OgilvyOne, Vadikis worked on key accounts such as adidas, IKEA, Philips & Volkswagen to mention a few.
Prior to OgilvyOne, Vadikis worked as creative head for a dot.com, and prior to that worked as an arts and multimedia lecturer at a world renowned design institute.
