Rishad Tobaccawala Wants Builders, Not Spreadsheets

In his address during Monday's AAAA's Transformation Conference, Publicis Groupe's Rishad Tobaccowala told attendees the advertising industry needs builders, people with the audacity to "remake industries." He also gave a slap to industry bigwigs when he said, "You came in with dreams, and now you stand with spreadsheets."

He's right. The industry has become a collection of holding companies which function as bean counters. Free thinking and big ideas have disappears. And in their place, the almighty dollar without regard for how that dollar is earned.

Take risks, people. Bring back the big idea. We are a creative industry. We need to be creative. Yes, we all need to make money. But not at the expense of big ideas and great creativity.