At Setup, we have the privilege of partnering with multiple established marketing agencies with groundbreaking business practices and leadership styles. In this series, we will highlight these leaders’ stories in order to inspire, educate, and unlock new ways of thinking to marketers.  

Today’s feature is Kit Hughes, the Co-founder and CEO of Look Listen.

What gap did you see in the market that led you to found or be a part of your agency?

I was working in-house at a big, global brand and rarely found an agency that could not only bring the sizzle, but also add substance to the work. In that role, I was very focused on human-centered design and saw the opportunity to extrapolate it to human-centered marketing. 

In 2007, I decided to co-found Look Listen, the kind of agency I was always looking to hire, which I have run since then; we wanted to improve the human experience since those early days.

What differentiates your agency from others?

We actually care. You may think other agencies care, but they won't write off your debt if you've treated them like a partner for years. They won't tell you to your face when you do something wrong. We will, but only in private of course; we're not animals. 

Are any of your personal values incorporated into the agency?

They are incorporated, but not directly into company values. They're incorporated into cultural moments: giving everyone in a meeting the chance to speak, respecting an idea’s meritocracy (where the best idea wins no matter the ideator), and always asking how to make things stronger and better. 

But the biggest one is that our commonwealth is camaraderie and collaboration.

Do you have any advice for marketers?

My advice is to do this kind of work for the right reason. You are the gatekeepers of growth and bear a major responsibility to use your powers for good. If you can achieve this level of integrity, call me because we will run through a wall for you.