Glenn Engler: Lead With Curiosity, Heart and a Sense of Humor (#63)

Our Guest Today: Glenn Engler

Glenn Engler (@Glennengler) is a Managing Director at Parthenon EY. Previously, he was the Global Chief Strategy Offer at Edelman, CEO at Digital Influence Group and President of Digitas Boston for nearly 10 years. Glenn is an industry veteran with nearly three decades of experience in business strategy, marketing, brand development, and communications. This is a rare opportunity for me to connect with Glenn not only on a professional but also a personal level.

Transcript if available for this episode at the bottom fo the page.

He has guest lectured in undergraduate and graduate school courses in many universities in Boston. He also hosted a bi-weekly podcast series called Market Edge, interviewing industry-leading marketers and innovators.

Business aside, Glenn Engler is a member of the Advisory Board for Organize, a non-profit organization to end the organ donation crisis. He is also on the Board of Directors for Horizons for Homeless Children, where he is a member of the Executive Committee and co-leads the Development & Brand Strategy Committee.

In our podcast, we dive deep into Glenn’s leadership experience, style, five people who have inspired him. We also talked about the world of digital strategy, social media, a mash-up of fascination.

Glenn Engler addresses the importance of having different talents and disciplines: the compulsive organized side to help compliment creativity. They have to go hand in hand – if not, it’ll just be wonderful chaos that doesn’t go anywhere. But most importantly, we have to see people as people.

This one-hour podcast shares many of Glenn’s success stories, as well as challenges while he led some of the biggest and most recognizable agencies in Boston, United States and Worldwide. It’s not just about work – family always comes first.

If you enjoy this episode, please help share with others. Thank you for joining me in this movement to celebrate real stories by real people, from all walks of life.

Favorite Quotes

The world of digital strategy and social media is a mash-up of fascination. Something is changing all the time.

Curiosity is the most important skill to have.

We need the compulsive organized side, to help compliment creativity. They have to go hand in hand – if not, it will just be wonderful chaos that doesn’t go anywhere.

I love people who are passionate, focused, and want to work as a team, fueled with energy, creativity. As leaders, we need to create an environment that allows that flourish.

Agency and consulting are people business. Assume positive intent. Put things in prospect. Have a sense of humor.

In our profession, we care about how to think and what makes you tick.

Questions We Discussed

• What excites you today?
• How do you stay relevant without feeling overwhelmed?
• What is your daily routine?
• What was the family dynamics growing up?
• As a leader, how do you balance heart and power?
• What are behind the scenes challenges, frictions, people don’t know about running and leading a company?
• What’s your role at Horizons for Homeless Children?
• What is parenthood like for Glenn?