Creative Profile: Marc Allenby talks art, fashion, self-belief and how we can all be inspiring leaders

When I was a kid at school my best art classes, were in fact my maths classes! I used to look out of the window and daydream; forever sketching. These maths books eventually became my ticket out of Grimsby and into art college!

I’ve always done things my own way, gone with my heart, instinct and I guess the most important thing; I always believed in myself and worked bloody hard for everything. When those idiots at school told me I should perhaps look to work in a fish factory (and yes, I did my time in one on a few occasions as a student), I knew I had to do it my own way.

I actually started off in fashion. I loved it.

Making something from scratch; from 2D into 3D was pretty cool. Understanding the cut of the fabric, and the skills of putting it all together. One of my greatest buzzes was that of seeing a bunch of models strutting down the runway at London Fashion Week wearing my designs! I loved fashion, but, I soon realized the industry wasn’t for me; it was too cold and full of drama.

Luckily for me, a housemate was working at a creative lab in Islington and there was a job going as a junior designer.

He got me an interview and the rest was history.

My journey started at this point; working with a bunch of brilliant young minds, experimenting in this exciting new medium of digital interactivity, deep in a basement in Highbury.

But it wasn’t all plain sailing. I had many downs as well as ups. There were the recessions: no money, no work. In fact, I spent a few months working as a porter in a hospital to make ends meet. While it wasn’t what I expected to be doing, it was a valuable experience and one I’ll always remember. It taught me to never take anything for granted.

I’ve had quite a squiggly career and have worked across many of the creative disciplines, from digital to branding.

When I fell into ad land, initially as a designer but soon evolved into a ‘creative’, I knew I had found my calling.

I loved it and I excelled in this environment. It was full of some of the most incredible characters. It was glam, the offices were beyond cool and the creative opportunities it gave me were simply priceless.

Thanks to work, I’ve travelled the world, been in unimaginable situations, experienced incredible things and collaborated with the most incredible people. I have had the pleasure of creating big ideas and advertising campaigns for some of the world’s best-loved brands across all channels and mediums; from broadcast to digital, social to PR at some of the best creative agencies. I am forever humbled by this.

My role today is pretty amazing.

I am executive creative director, heading up the creative vision and direction for the tech specialist marketing and PR agency; Harvard – with a mission to help tech brands make their move. I also sit on the board (if only those idiots at school could see me now!). I love the freedom the agency has given me. I have grown so much and I am pretty amazed at how I have created a whole department from scratch; it’s amazing what we are all capable of if given the chance and more importantly believed in.

This year is going to be another transformational year with a new brand design proposition. It’s so exciting to be driving growth and pushing creativity even more within this sector (watch this space!).