RevThinking™

David McGavran has been leading Maxon as CEO since 2018, following a successful two-decade tenure at Adobe. As Adobe's director of engineering for professional audio and video, he spearheaded industry-transforming projects that empowered film editors, broadcasters, and post-production houses globally. At Maxon, David has driven strategic acquisitions, including Red Giant, Redshift, and ZBrush, significantly expanding the company's product portfolio and market presence. His innovative leadership continues to position Maxon at the forefront of media and entertainment technology.http://www.maxon.net/Enjoyed this conversation?Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Matt Cornelison is storyteller, entertainer and founder of Fungi Media. He helps complex B2B organizations make content their audience actually wants. His sillier accolades include U.S. Nationl Air Guitar Champion and Robert Goulet Mustached American of the Year :)https://www.fungimedia.com/Enjoyed this conversation and want to reach out to Valerie via email?Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Valerie Madden is a creator, strategist, and innovator blending over two decades of storytelling expertise with the transformative power of AI to craft emotionally resonant experiences that captivate, connect, and inspire. A senior creative leader behind 350+ brand identity campaigns for Amazon MGM Studios and NBCUniversal, shaping culturally defining eras like NBC’s Must See TV and Prime Video’s growth. Valerie's work has earned top industry honors, including Oscars, Emmys, Clios, and Promax awards, while driving innovation in production efficiency and scaling high-impact creative teams. This episode is a recording of The Weekly Briefing from September 2025.Resources for listeners:https://www.vmcre8.com/pricing-plans/clymi-webinar-replaysChoose Cre8-Maxx+60 and you’ll receive $100 offDuring check out use this coupon code > MAXX-100https://www.vmcre8.com/promptsteerplayground/maxxstrataConnect with Valerie:https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriemadden/Enjoyed this conversation and want to reach out to Valerie via email?Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Drew Norton became the top sales representative in a company of over 100 reps, generating more than $4 million in annual revenue. He went on to build and lead a sales team that produced over $20 million in annual revenue. With more than a decade of experience leading and training hundreds of business owners, leaders, and sales professionals, Drew has worked closely with sales leaders, entrepreneurs, and business owners across diverse industries. Throughout his career, he has helped individuals grow from minimum-wage roles to earning six-figure annual commissions.The Everyday Leader Podcast https://www.theeverydayleader.co/podcast Resource for Listeners Text SALES to 928-928-5985 or https://resources.theeverydayleader.co/salesarchetype Enjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Radim Malinic is a creative director, designer and bestselling author. Living and working in South West London, he runs Brand Nu Studio, an award winning branding and creative studio + Brand Nu Books an independent publishing imprint. Before finding his calling in the creative industry, Czech born Malinic was an ice hockey player, a bassist in death metal bands, an indie DJ, music journalist and student of Economics and Business management. At the break of the new millennium, Malinic moved to the UK to explore the expansive music scene, only to find even a greater interest in art and graphic design. Since then his eclectic interests have seen him working with some of the biggest brands, companies and bands in the world. Clients include Harry Potter, London Film Museum, Decleor, Adidas, Dolby, WWF and USAID amongst many others. He is also a regular keynote speaker (Adobe Max, OFFF, FITC) guest lecturer and brand ambassador.https://radimmalinic.co.uk/https://www.brandnu.co.uk/Enjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Jane Morgan is a filmmaker, business owner and spiritual babe. She's in a big transition at the moment finding her way to mixing business and spirit, using the pen and the microphone as the way through.The discussion goes through her extraordinary career trajectory with themes of intentionality, personal calling, and navigating significant life transitions with courage and optimism.Janethedirector.comJanemorganmedium.comEnjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Bart Hendrikx's journey transitions media, entertainment, and global strategy. His expertise spans feature films (e.g., Mr. & Mrs. Smith) and brand activations (Sonos x Gorillaz). He advised major clients like 20th Century Fox and played a crucial role in launching director Ridley Scott’s European office in Amsterdam. Based in Amsterdam, he also maintains his influential platform, AskTheRightQuestion.org. https://barthendrikx.com/https://www.asktherightquestion.org/Enjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Confab Groups are weekly masterminds emphasizing different specialties quarterly.- Choose from 6 groups each with a different focus- Weekly sessions occurring over 3 months- Build relationships with your fellow peers- Replays available if you miss a weekRegister here: https://www.revthink.com/confab

Curt Doty propelled two entertainment marketing agencies to 8 figure growth and worked with over 50 Fortune 500 companies, Curt has a proven track record. A former NBC Universal creative executive, Curt is an award-winning brander and marketer. His sweet spot of innovation has been uniting the worlds of design, content and technology. His legacy lies in branding and marketing across various business sectors. Curt leverages his expertise in AI-driven platforms to create innovative solutions that enhance the value and impact of his clients' brands. He recently launched RealmIQ, an education and advocacy consultancy focused on AI, connecting AI Founders with Investors and also launched the RealmIQ: Sessions podcast, now in its second season.https://curtdoty.co/https://www.realmiq.com/sessionsEnjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Lee Hunt is a strategist and industry thought leader for media companies across the globe. His success in launching and positioning entertainment brands, in addition to his groundbreaking work in audience management and competitive analysis, have set many of the standards for our industry.Lee began his career on the client side in the 1980s, launching, branding and executive producing at Lifetime, VH1, TNT, and MTV. In the 90s, he founded the creative services agency, Lee Hunt Associates. After a decade of working with scores of media companies around the world, Lee sold LHA to the digital services company, Razorfish. In 2001, he launched the strategic consultancy, Lee Hunt LLC. Lee was also publisher and editor-in-chief of CMOintelligence, the syndicated service that tracked and analyzed the on-air marketing of more than 125 linear and streaming services.Enjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Wesley ter Haar is a co-founder and the Chief AI Officer at Monks. Now in year 25, he’s helped grow the company from a scrappy production shop from Amsterdam into a global leader in creative, tech and now AI. With 7000 people working across timezones in 33 countries, the Monks are regarded for high quality work and relentless innovation, and were recently named Adweek's first ever AI agency of the year. Wesley serves on the boards of S4Capital and The One Club for Creativity, is the inaugural president of Cannes Lions' Digital Craft jury, serves on the Cannes Titanium Jury and has spoken at major events including Cannes, CES, and Adobe MAX. He was recently named an AI Trailblazer by Business Intelligence.https://www.monks.com/Enjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Alex James has spent the last 12 years helping B2B service businesses across the globe become experts at conveying their expertise. He believes the go-to strategies of the 2010s, like niching down, solving problems and sharing ideas are no longer enough. Because in a post-AI world (where output is cheap & everyone's a specialist) you can't just share ideas - you need to own one. You need a perspective. His cut-to-the-bone approach has earned him 120,000 TikTok followers (despite posting no more than 3 times per month), and 10,000 LinkedIn followers from just 40 posts total - proving that a sharp perspective lets you say less, but matter more.Enjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Melissa Havel is a senior communications strategist, executive advisor, and team coach who blends big-idea thinking with a disciplined approach to problem-solving and delivering results. She has driven powerful storytelling and strategic communications campaigns across owned, earned, and paid channels for organizations of all sizes, drawing on her extensive experience as a senior director at Portland General Electric and an executive vice president at WE Communications. Currently, Melissa also imparts her expertise as an adjunct professor in the Strategic Communication Master’s program at the SOJC.Enjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Mark Jones is an accomplished educator, producer, and author, known for bridging the worlds of culture, technology, and education. As the Dean of the Faculty of Animation, Art, and Design at Sheridan College and former Director at Seneca Film Institute, Mark has dedicated over 25 years to empowering the next generation of creatives. His book, The Starving Artist Myth, challenges long-standing stereotypes about creative careers, advocating for the economic and social value they contribute. With a career spanning producing award-winning animated films, live art installations, and documentaries, Mark possesses firsthand insight into the evolving landscape of creative industries. This unique perspective allows him to discuss the post-pandemic shifts in audience behavior, the impact of technological advancements like AI on the arts, and the misconceptions that families and educators face when supporting youth in creative fields. As both an educator and a parent who has faced these challenges personally, Mark brings authenticity and passion to conversations about guiding young creatives toward fulfilling, sustainable careers. His discussions resonate with a diverse podcast audience—from parents of aspiring artists to professionals in education and creative industries.https://www.starvingartistmyth.com/Enjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Héctor Ayuso has spent the last 30 years chasing ideas and making them real. Call him an artist, filmmaker, creative director, storyteller, or just a guy who can't sit still—labels don’t matter, doing does. From Spain to Mexico, Italy to the U.S., he’s built studios, taught, spoken on stages, and created projects that live outside the usual boxes. For nearly 25 years, he founded and shaped one of the world’s most influential creative festivals, OFFF. Now, he’s building Paradiso, a different kind of gathering—one that ditches the polished and embraces the raw, the real, the human. Alongside this, he co-founded NOT On Sale, consulting and guiding creative projects that push boundaries and break formulas. He currently lives in Mexico City with his wife Bea, Suki the perfect kitty, and the only machine he fully trusts: his road bike. What else do you really need?https://paradisofest.com/Enjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Marcel Petitpas is the CEO & Co-Founder of Parakeeto, a company dedicated to helping agencies measure and improve their profitability. In his work as a speaker, podcast host, and consultant, specializing in Agency Profitability Optimization, he's helped thousands of agencies, consultancies, and professional services firms worldwide measure the right metrics and improve their profitability. He’s on a mission to help firms break free of the outdated management silos between finance, operations & new business, and master their profitability through Parakeeto’s Integrated Profit Management System. In addition to his work at Parakeeto, Marcel is also a bestselling author, weightlifting and biohacking enthusiast and a part-time beekeeper.https://parakeeto.com/https://softwarebook.com/Enjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Mandi Ellefson transformed her life from battling $175k in debt to amassing a multi-million dollar net worth before hitting 40. As the visionary behind Hands-Off CEO, Mandi isn’t just another success story; she’s a lifeline for consulting agency owners drowning in the day-to-day. Her magic? Transforming million-dollar agencies into scalable enterprises with minimal CEO dependency. Mandi has propelled hundreds of agencies toward tens of millions in revenue by refining their offers and attracting premium clients willing to pay 50-600% higher fees—all within 90 days.But Mandi’s expertise doesn’t stop there. As a former business exit advisor for Millionaire Exits, with $20B in exits under their belt, she knows a thing or two about creating and executing an exit strategy. Her clients rave about adding five figures to their net profit monthly, skyrocketing sales, and stepping back from daily operations to focus on growth or prepare for sale.Beyond her transformative consulting work, Mandi is the author and host of the Hands-Off CEO Podcast, sharing insights and strategies to triple your fees and profitably scale an exceptional consulting agency that grows without you.Enjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Cecilia Owens is an esteemed finance and operations executive with over 20 years of progressive experience in financial reporting, budgeting / forecasting, strategic planning, cash management, business operations, HR oversight, and business relationship management. Cecilia is currently the Chief Financial Officer / Chief Operating Officer at Grandview Entertainment, a renowned management company that represents awe-inspiring writers, directors, producers, and talent. She also serves as Fractional Chief Financial Officer of Rogue Planet ATV, an award-winning advertising agency that cuts some of the best movie trailers in the business. Aside from her work within the entertainment industry, Cecilia serves as Chair of the Board of Directors at EmpowHer Institute, an organization focused on helping young women in marginalized communities gain the skills necessary through education, training, and mentorship to become confident, college and career ready. Cecilia is a Founding Member of Chief Los Angeles, one of few organizations specifically designed for senior women leaders to strengthen their leadership journey, cross-pollinate ideas across industries, and affect change from the top-down. Cecilia is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Black TV & Film Collective, which provides creative and professional support to facilitate career advancing opportunities for artists of Black and African descent within the entertainment industry. Although she has earned many titles throughout her career, two of the most important roles Cecilia has are wife to her husband of nine years and mother to their two daughters. She is also a proud native of Southern California having attended Junipero Serra High School where her admiration for academics flourished, Loyola Marymount University where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting, and the University of Southern California (Fight On!) where she earned an MBA.Enjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/

Tony Kadillak has spent 20 years in branding and promotion, servicing today's most recognizable entertainment and sports brands. Currently EP at Versus, he’s been responsible for supporting the strategic growth of his agency teams, while focusing on key clients to drive the value of design-led thinking to their bottom lines.For over ten years, Carson Hood has played a crucial role as the executive producer at BigStar. He shares a passion for sales, marketing, and collaborating on branding and storytelling initiatives with the creative team. A connector at the core, Carson spends much of the time collaborating with his vast network of peers and influencers, honing client strategy, developing partnerships and expanding upon the BigStar portfolio.Enjoyed this conversation? Join RevCommunity, the society of exceptional creative leaders.Apply to join: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://revthink.com/community/