7 Sept 2026
Stop Trying to Be a Professional Person: Leadership, Confidence & Finding Your Own Way with Michael McConville
In this episode of CMO Chapters, Lucy Bolan sits down with Michael McConville, Founder of Free Studio, for a refreshingly honest conversation about careers, leadership, confidence and what it really means to find your own way.
Michael's career hasn't followed a neat, five-year-plan kind of path. From tourism and travelling the world to newspapers, advertising and senior leadership roles across some of the industry's biggest agencies, his career has been shaped by curiosity, hard work, a willingness to take a few big leaps and, in his words, simply trying to get good.
Lucy and Michael talk about the leadership lessons he's picked up along the way, including why collecting experiences matters more than chasing titles, the role of luck in a successful career, and how important it is to eventually stop trying to be an "impersonation of a professional person" and become comfortable being yourself.
They also explore the thinking behind Free Studio, Michael's alternative approach to the traditional agency model, why so much brilliant creative and marketing talent is currently sitting outside full-time roles, and what separates the clients who get genuinely brilliant work from those who don't.
It's an open, funny and thoughtful conversation about leadership, confidence, agency culture, curiosity and the importance of being a good egg.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
Why Michael believes getting good at your craft matters more than chasing the next title
How collecting different experiences can build better judgement and confidence
Why taking a few calculated leaps can change the direction of your career
The role of luck, timing and other people in a successful career
What led Michael to create Free Studio and challenge the traditional agency model
Why so much talented creative, marketing and advertising talent is currently outside full-time employment
What separates the clients who get genuinely brilliant work from those who don't
Why trust and clarity are at the heart of strong client-agency relationships
How becoming comfortable with who you are can make you better at what you do
Why leaders have a responsibility to build confidence in the people around them
The importance of curiosity, asking questions and being willing to say "I don't know"
Michael's advice for the next generation of marketers and advertisers
Key Takeaways:
Get good before you get ambitious - Michael wasn't focused on reaching a particular title. His approach was to do the work, get better and collect the experiences that would ultimately give him confidence in his decision-making.
Your career doesn't have to be linear - Michael's path has taken plenty of unexpected turns. Rather than seeing those experiences as distractions, he sees them as valuable pieces of a much bigger picture.
Luck matters too - Hard work can take you a long way, but Michael is refreshingly honest about the role luck and timing have played in his career. Recognising that can keep success in perspective.
Trust is a two-way street - The strongest client-agency relationships aren't built on blind faith. They're built on trust earned by both sides, clear expectations and a shared understanding of what good looks like.
Authenticity makes you better - Michael talks about reaching a point where he stopped trying to be an impersonation of a professional person and became comfortable being himself. He believes that freedom made him better at his job, not less professional.
Good leadership builds confidence - For Michael, leadership isn't about the big motivational speech. It's about training, guidance, patience, teamwork and giving people exposure to opportunities that help them discover what they're capable of.
Stay interested - Michael's advice to the next generation is simple: ask questions, be curious and don't worry about whether you're supposed to already know the answer. You'll learn faster and get more out of the people around you.
Be a good egg - Perhaps the simplest lesson of the episode. Be yourself, be interested in other people, treat them well and enjoy the connection that comes from it.
Resources & Mentions:
Free Studio – Michael’s creative studio and the business he launched after his agency career.
News Corp – Where Michael began his career after transitioning into marketing.
Australian Times – Michael’s time in London, working in sales and marketing, and an important part of his journey into advertising.
WCRS – One of the agencies Michael worked with during his time in the UK.
Adam & Eve – Referenced in the conversation around Michael’s agency experience and the creative industry.
JWT – Michael’s experience working across multi-agency teams, including the Ford account.
Wunderman – Part of the multi-agency Ford team Michael worked within.
Mindshare – Another agency involved in the Ford account and Michael’s experience of collaborative client-agency teams.
Ogilvy PR – Part of the multi-agency team Michael worked with on Ford.
Free Studio’s approach to talent and agency work – Michael talks about the changing agency model, accessing specialist talent and creating a more flexible way of working.
Memorable Quotes:
💬 “I just really wanted to get good.”
💬 “It was about collecting experiences I need to be able to inform my decision making.”
💬 “You don't land in those sorts of places just because you've earned the right.”
💬 “Trust is earned by both parties.”
💬 “Just be yourself.”
💬 “That makes me better at what I do, not worse.”
💬 “Just do the work, work hard and be nice to people.”
💬 “No one actually thinks you should know all the answers.”
💬 “Just be a good egg.”
Connect with Michael McConville:
Michael McConville on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mcconville-17175a9/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mcconville-17175a9/)
Free Studio: https://free.studio/ (https://free.studio/)
Follow the Podcast & New Chapter Talent:
Instagram: @NewChapterTalent (https://www.instagram.com/newchaptertalent/)
LinkedIn: New Chapter Talent (https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-chapter-talent/) || CMO Chapters Podcast (https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/cmo-chapters-podcast/)
This podcast is brought to you by New Chapter Talent recruitment. If you're hunting for a fulfilling new role or seeking the right talent for your company, contact Lucy Bolan today!
Website: https://www.newchaptertalent.com.au/contact-us (https://www.newchaptertalent.com.au/contact-us)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-chapter-talent/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-chapter-talent/)
Email: lucy@newchaptertalent.com.au (mailto:lucy@newchaptertalent.com.au)
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction to Michael McConville
(01:18) Finding His Way Into Advertising
(06:15) Getting Good at the Work — and Building a Career
(08:22) From Account Leadership to Running Agencies
(11:19) Mentors, Confidence and Taking Big Career Leaps
(14:01) Why Michael Built Free Studio
(19:18) Why So Much Great Talent Is Out of Work
(22:16) What Creates Brilliant Client–Agency Relationships
(26:26) Becoming Comfortable Being Yourself as a Leader
(29:06) Career Advice for the Next Generation
(32:56) What Leaders Need to Do Differently
(35:56) The Leadership Lesson Michael Wishes He’d Learned Earlier
