CB Hot Suit Takes: Adam Brami, Director, Art of the Possible
CB Hot Suit Takes is our new Q&A series for extremely busy CEOs and senior leaders across the industry ~ covering careers, creativity, challenges and the song that sums it all up. Next in the hot seat is Adam Brami, Director, Art of the Possible, ANZ.
1. What made you get into advertising?
My mum, actually. She clocked early that I loved telling stories and had a habit of persuading people by spinning a decent yarn. She enrolled me in AUT’s School of Communications, where I started honing my craft as a copywriter. My first role was as a placement junior copywriter at Colenso on College Hill – an intimidating but brilliant place to cut my teeth. From day one I was surrounded by people who cared deeply about ideas, craft and impact. I was hooked pretty quickly.
2. Which piece of work are you most proud of, and why?
The Donation Dollar for the Royal Australian Mint while at Saatchi & Saatchi Melbourne. When I first saw it up on the idea wall (the world’s first legal tender designed to be donated), it felt bigger than advertising – a simple design tweak that could unlock millions in charitable giving. I helped push it from a concept into reality, working closely with the team and stakeholders to make it happen. Turning every circulating dollar into a potential act of generosity, and seeing it adopted nationally, was a reminder that our industry can genuinely influence behaviour and culture, not just communication.
More recently, I’m proud of a pro bono challenger campaign I delivered for a small appliance retailer facing a tough Boxing Day outlook late last year. We leaned into an unapologetic underdog stance, taking on the dominant category players at the exact moment they typically drown out smaller voices. It struck a chord – tapping into that instinctive Kiwi tendency to back the underdog – and gave the owners a much-needed boost at a critical time. It was a reminder that bravery, even on a small budget, can still punch well above its weight.
3. What’s the biggest challenge you face in your role right now?
Isolation, if I’m honest. After two decades inside large agency environments, building something independently is both liberating and confronting. The wins are motivating, but the lows tend to be a lonely road. At times I miss the energy of teams rallying around ideas and the shared momentum that comes from solving problems together. There’s also the balance of advocating for a new model without overselling it – particularly in New Zealand, where polite interest doesn’t always translate into clear and immediate yes or no. Learning to navigate that ambiguity while staying optimistic has been the real test.
4. What’s the most recent thing you’ve learned – professionally or personally?
Perseverance beats momentum. As I approach the first birthday of Art of the Possible in NZ and Australia, I’ve learned that progress rarely comes in straight lines. It’s about showing up each day with clarity, optimism and focus, even when external signals are mixed. I’ve also been struck by the generosity of people along the way – peers, clients, former colleagues and prospects offering advice, encouragement and occasionally tough truths. That support, combined with stubborn belief in what I’m building has become the fuel that keeps me moving forward.
5. What song best sums up your career so far?
Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac.
Twenty years inside big agency networks taught me a huge amount, but stepping out to build a different model required backing myself and choosing a less-travelled path. It’s been challenging and energising – but ultimately it’s about building something different and holding firm in the belief, even when doubt creeps in, that the reasons for doing it are the right ones.
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