An Interview With Fotis Georgiadis

You can read endless consulting reports on talent acquisition and retention, but the most human story I can tell you is that when I was interviewing with my current company and saw an Asian-American surname above the door, I knew this was a place that encouraged people to embrace their identities and that I would be able to do the same. I was right.

As a part of our series about “How Diversity Can Increase a Company’s Bottom Line”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Grace Francis.

Grace Francis is the Global Chief Creative and Design Officer of WONGDOODY, a creative agency with 21 offices around the world, each obsessed with designing for the human experience. Their personal mission is to bring more meaningful creative work into the world and not add to the noise.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive into the main part of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit more. Can you share a bit of your “backstory” with us?

I started off in tech, dot com bubble darlings working out how to bring soul to the early days of the internet when it felt like the whole world lived on the same six websites. Since then, I’ve always loved taking roles where we need to write the rule book ourselves, working things out along the way. You can only do that with people who are interested in collaborating.

Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? Can you tell us the lesson or take away you took out of that story?

I remember joining a new company and watching a leader open a question to the room. Regardless of specialism or seniority, people were comfortable giving opinions, sharing ideas and taking risks. Each time someone said something that resonated he lifted them up and shared exactly why he liked the idea. A month later, a different leader sat in the same room with the same group and no one spoke. A leader always sets the tone.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you tell us a story about how that was relevant in your own life?

I grew up in a house where ‘what’s mine is yours’ was a popular mantra from the adults. Not just generosity with possessions, but also time and acts of kindness. When that principle is applied in abundance, you can’t help but grow up to give the same. Today, I have 1,200 staff across the world and set aside time to hear from any of them each week. There doesn’t have to be a reason for conversation; it’s about connection. When we spend time together, I feel rejuvenated and fortunate.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?

I have a very dear friend who started off as a colleague. He saw my potential and took me into his department, where he became my boss, then later a creative partner. We haven’t worked together for well over a decade, but when I am seeking advice, or clarity, or comfort, the first thing I do is open a blank email and type out his name. He doesn’t always have the answer, but he always replies.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

We’re built on creative democracy, the concept that anyone and everyone has something of value to add to the work we create. This principle is one of inclusion — both intersectional identity and lived experience — and it runs through everything we do. When I joined WONGDOODY, I met with a junior team member who told me that this is the first place she has worked where she doesn’t have to represent everyone who looks like her, she can simply be herself and her contribution is valued. This is the bar.

Are you working on any new or exciting projects now? How do you think that might help people?

In London, we just released a climate change game for the Financial Times that uses real-world predictive data to teach players about the impact we can have on the planet, if only we try. In Germany, we have a digital make-up emulator that is designed for people of all skin colors. Both projects are essential in my eyes. Contributing to the world can take many forms.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

Still perhaps the most important thing I do is mentoring. I have a free practice at elsewherestudio.org that uses design thinking to help people answer challenges in life and work. As an English person, I also make an excellent cup of tea.

Ok. Thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the main part of our interview. This may be obvious to you, but it is not intuitive to many people. Can you articulate to our readers five ways that increased diversity can help a company’s bottom line.

So much of business is invention and innovation — we cannot solve problems from a single point of view. Diversity helps us reach better answers, sometimes entirely new answers, which leads to greater business success. Organizations like Folx Health are a brilliant example of this.

Diversity expands our client reach, both the types of organization and clients themselves that we can authentically connect with in a meaningful way. The creative industry is built on our ability to rapidly understand and add to an industry or company we’ve just met. We would not be able to do this if we were all the same.

You can read endless consulting reports on talent acquisition and retention, but the most human story I can tell you is that when I was interviewing with my current company and saw an Asian-American surname above the door, I knew this was a place that encouraged people to embrace their identities and that I would be able to do the same. I was right.

What advice would you give to other business leaders to help their employees to thrive?

You can create a space where people can authentically be themselves but you cannot ask them to give that part of themselves to their work. If you create a safe environment that promotes equity whenever possible, I find employees give all they have without even being asked.

What advice would you give to other business leaders about how to manage a large team?

As a leader, have your fingerprints on everything and your signature on nothing. This empowers your team while you set the vision.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this 🙂

I’d love a breakfast with Jen Wong, COO of Reddit, to learn more about shaping one of the most influential corners of the internet. Being part of Reddit, we know Jen is versed in the fine art of AMA.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Don’t — surely, you’ve had enough of me in these five minutes!

Thank you for these excellent insights. We wish you continued success in your great work.


Grace Francis Of WONGDOODY: How Diversity Can Increase a Company’s Bottom Line was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

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