Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about learning how to stay steady when none seem to exist.

In this conversation, Gila Wilensky, Chief Solutions Officer at WPP Media, shares what it means to lead with curiosity, composure, and a sense of humor in an industry that never stops reinventing itself. From her first lesson—“be a duck”—to her later discovery that tension and change can be creative forces, Gila reveals how she balances decisiveness with empathy and innovation with imperfection.

We explore how AI is reshaping the marketing world, why curiosity is the most underrated leadership skill, and how the best systems evolve the same way people do—through trial, iteration, and the occasional burnt pancake. Gila also opens up about the rituals that keep her grounded: early mornings, deep focus, and the rare art of doing one thing at a time.

It’s a conversation about staying human in fast-moving systems, leading with calm in the churn, and finding grace by gliding through chaos.

linkedin.com/in/gilawilensky/

99 Humans is a multimedia platform centered on humanizing leadership. Hosts Jeff Lakusta and Nadia Carta interview a group of cross-industry leaders, seeking stories about the human side of leadership. Join us and share your story:

www.99Humans.com | linkedin.com/company/99-humans

Behind every impressive career journey lies a set of values that quietly steer the course.

In this episode, Aysun Demircan reflects on how core values evolve over time, why debating both sides of an argument taught her empathy, and how she navigates the tension between chasing growth and staying rooted with people she loves to work with. She opens up about building a decision-making framework that balances intuition with analytical rigor, the role of mentors and “kitchen cabinets” in career choices, and the surprising ways personal life and professional life intertwine.

We explore the double-edged sword of loyalty, what it means to be true to yourself while adapting across industries and cultures, and how checking in daily against your values can guide both small choices and life-altering decisions. Aysun also shares how her support structure—partner, son, mentors, and friends—anchors her growth in the face of constant change.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation on values, growth, and the art of leading a life that feels whole, not split between work and home.

linkedin.com/in/aysundemircan/

99 Humans is a multimedia platform centered on humanizing leadership. Hosts Jeff Lakusta and Nadia Carta interview a group of cross-industry leaders, seeking stories about the human side of leadership. Join us and share your story:

www.99Humans.com | linkedin.com/company/99-humans

Leadership's truest test lies in how we treat our peers, own our mistakes, and invite others to run alongside us.

From his early days in the U.S. Air Force to his role as a marketing executive at State Farm and pro bono advisor to the National VFW, Sean has spent his career building cultures where curiosity beats criticism, where failure fuels growth, and where meaning matters more than momentary happiness.

In this episode, Sean shares why “done beats perfect” is more than a mantra—it’s a mindset that unlocks speed, psychological safety, and innovation. We explore the power of invitation over command, the hidden costs of leaving peers behind, and how to build organizations where agency and trust endure across decades.

Sean opens up about missteps, mentors who shaped him, and the 11 three-word mantras he wants to share with his children.

Tune in for a candid, energizing conversation on resilience, culture, and what it takes to lead with humanity in a fast-changing world.

linkedin.com/in/sean-kingsbury-30415814b/

99 Humans is a multimedia platform centered on humanizing leadership. Hosts Jeff Lakusta and Nadia Carta interview a group of cross-industry leaders, seeking stories about the human side of leadership. Join us and share your story:

www.99Humans.com | linkedin.com/company/99-humans