Our next Hip Daddy Spotlight is here, and it’s a good one 🙂 Featuring our friend and award-winning creative marketer, Geoff Cottrill is in the house! From leading iconic brand like Converse, Starbucks and Coke to now leading a global ad agency in MullenLowe, Geoff is simply #theman. But more importantly, he is a devoted, excellent Dad…who still…does not like Coldplay. Please enjoy our interview with this amazing marketer and business leader:
Tell us about your kids. What’s it like being a Dad?
We have 2 beautiful daughters. Two wonderfully funny, smart, caring young women. Abby is nearly 20, and Claire is 17. Abby is in her second year of college, Claire is a junior in high school.
Being the Dad of two young women has had a profound impact on me, and the way I view the world we live in. It’s made me make sure I’m doing my part to make sure women get equal opportunities and fair treatment. I’m so lucky to have two daughters. There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where they haven’t taught me something, and inspired me to be a better person.
Talk to us about your parenting style.
My parenting style? Great question…I’ve always tried to be supportive, loving, caring, and always available. My career has required a lot of travel over the years so I’ve missed a lot along the way, but I’ve always worked to be available to them whenever they’ve needed me. We talk nearly everyday, we text, I write them letters, and we spend as much time as we can together. Laughter is an important part of our lives. I’m proud that our girls both have such a great sense of humor…we laugh a lot.
What’s the one thing you cannot live without as a Dad?
I can’t live without seeing our girls smile. Everything I do is aimed at keeping them happy….knowing that they will have a lot of ups & downs in their lives.
Yeah, my favorite thing in the world is to see a smile on their beautiful faces. Sounds corny I know, but you asked….and it’s true.
You’ve had a storied career in marketing and building brands, tell us about 2-3 of your ‘shining moments’.
I’ve had a great career. I’ve worked on some big product launches, some epic campaigns, for some world class companies & brands. I’ve been quite lucky. My top 2-3 “shining moments” have nothing to do with a product launch or a campaign though….my shining moments have always come from seeing the people who’ve worked for me succeed, or solve a problem, or push themselves beyond what they thought they can be. I believe that your legacy is not built on product launches, campaigns, the opening of a recording studio, or anything like that…legacy is built on the people you brought in, taught, coached, pushed, and watched reach new heights. Those are my shining moments….and it’s also moments like this that make me love being a parent as well!
From CMO at Converse to something new, tell us about your recent news and what lies ahead.
My time at Converse was a lot of fun. It’s a great brand and the marketing organization is filled with extremely talented, smart, funny people who worked to help each other achieve great things. But after 8 years, it was time for a new creative challenge. I’m moving to join the team at MullenLowe to lead their Boston office. When I left Converse I set out to find something challenging, interesting, & fun. After spending time with the MullenLowe team, I quickly understood that joining their team would offer all three of those things. There’s a great team in place, and I think that I can not only add value, but also learn a great deal. I’m curious by nature so I’m truly excited about all that I have to learn. It’s going to be a great next chapter for me.
For more on Geoff, follow him on Instagram here and Twitter here.
