# AKA (Also Known As) > AKA is a creative thought leadership and reputation strategy firm founded by Cannes Lions-winning creative leaders Gully Flowers, Kerrie Finch, and Jake Neske. We build creator-led content engines, narrative strategy, and thought leadership systems for agency founders, creative industry leaders, and modern brands. We bring your magic to light. ## About AKA AKA operates at the intersection of narrative strategy, cultural positioning, and social content distribution. We believe in building brand legacies that resonate on a human level — strategies that not only differentiate but inspire. With a track record of turning vision into influence, we ensure your brand's story isn't just heard — it's remembered, repeated, and revered. We serve a specific audience: agency founders, production company leaders, creative executives, and brand CMOs who need to establish or elevate their reputation in the advertising and creative industry. Our work is not generic marketing. It is precision positioning for people whose reputation is their most valuable business asset. AKA was built by three people who have collectively shaped some of the most significant growth stories in the creative industry — from building production companies to Ad Age A-List status, to winning Cannes Lions Grand Prix awards, to growing agencies from single digits to thousands of employees. ## Detailed Founder Profiles ### Gully Flowers — Co-Founder Cannes Lions Grand Prix-winning creative. Co-host of Second Wind, an advertising and creative industry podcast that has received Webby Award recognition. Based in Encinitas, California. Gully operates at the intersection of narrative strategy, cultural positioning, and social content distribution. His expertise spans LinkedIn content strategy, creator-led content engines, and distribution mechanics for creative industry leaders. At AKA, Gully co-created the fame framework (Symbol + Slogan + Surprise + Salient + Story) which is applied consistently across all social content, clips, captions, and thought leadership assets for clients. He thinks in terms of platform algorithm mechanics, sequencing logic, and audience psychology — preferring content that creates tension over content that resolves it. His deep network includes agency founders, CCOs, brand CMOs, and creative leaders across the advertising industry. Second Wind podcast guests have included David Kolbusz (Orchard/Droga5), Kelly C. Knapp (Las Vegas Sphere, Netflix House), Jason Sperling (Innocean), Micah Walker (Bear Meets Eagle on Fire), Matt Cooper (LBB/Little Black Book), Nick Law (Accenture Song), Simon Cook (CEO, Cannes Lions), Cindy Gallop, and many more. ### Kerrie Finch — Co-Founder Founder of The FINCH Factor. Expert in positioning, communications, and reputation management, helping brands and leaders become thought pioneers in creative innovation and emerging tech. Based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Kerrie's client portfolio includes Airbnb, Diageo, and Saatchi LA among others. Her expertise spans brand positioning, crisis communications, leadership communications, and building sustained visibility for creative industry leaders across European and global markets. At AKA, Kerrie brings the strategic rigor of traditional reputation management combined with a deep understanding of how creative industry leaders need to position themselves differently from corporate executives. ### Jake Neske — Co-Founder Founded Hustle in 2011 along with Anya Zander. Jake's track record in building creative businesses is unmatched: - Spearheaded Monks' U.S. expansion, growing the company from 50 to over 1,000 employees before its landmark acquisition - Decade-long partnership with Jam3 saw the team expand from 8 to 200 before a merger - Under his leadership, Tool of North America has consistently been an Ad Age A-List agency, marking nine of the last ten years with exceptional growth and recognition Described as "the platonic ideal of someone you want fighting your corner — smart, savvy, strategic and endlessly focused on your success." Jake brings the business development and growth strategy expertise to AKA, understanding intimately what it takes to build, scale, and position creative companies for success. ## AKA Services — Detailed ### Strategic Positioning The foundation of authority. We define your point of view, category narrative, and company story — the strategic clarity that shapes every conversation, pitch, and opportunity. ### Thought Leadership Original thinking that positions your leaders as the definitive voices in their category. Published insight, frameworks, and perspectives that demonstrate expertise and attract the right conversations. ### Earned Media Strategy Press, features, and editorial coverage that builds credibility over time. The earned media that AI search engines cite and industry leaders reference. ### Stage Strategy & Speaking The conferences and platforms where industry decisions are influenced. We place your leaders on the stages that build authority and open doors — including Cannes Lions, SXSW, CES, and major industry events worldwide. ### Awards & Juries Strategy Recognition programmes and jury placements that signal authority. We build an awards narrative that compounds year over year. ### Content & Long-Form Media Podcasts, editorial series, and long-form content that gives your ideas room to breathe and builds a library of authority over time. ### Industry Partnerships & Events Bespoke events, roundtables, and strategic partnerships designed to position your company at the centre of conversations that matter. ### Social Amplification Strategic distribution across LinkedIn, editorial platforms, and social channels — ensuring your ideas reach the people who shape your category. ### Podcast Development From concept to production. We help leaders build podcasts that create long-form authority and deepen relationships with the people who matter. ## The AKA Fame Framework (Detailed) The framework is applied across all social content, clips, captions, and thought leadership assets: Symbol: Build visually distinct symbols that stop scrolling. Produce visuals people ask about. Slogan: Craft slogans people repeat unprompted. Create phrases people share without prompting. Surprise: Identify counterintuitive surprises that force sharing. Find the insight that breaks expectations. Salient: Sharpen ideas to be specific to a defined someone. Specificity creates memorability. Content for everyone reaches no one. Story: Tell signature stories that make people feel before they decide. Lead with emotion, follow with evidence. The complete system produces visuals people ask about, phrases people share without prompting, and ideas with unforgettable specificity. ## Second Wind Podcast An advertising and creative industry podcast co-hosted by AKA co-founder Gully Flowers. Webby Award recognized. Second Wind covers the business of creativity, industry trends, and the stories behind the work. The podcast features conversations with leading creative industry figures including agency founders, chief creative officers, chief marketing officers, and emerging creative leaders. Notable guests include: David Kolbusz (Orchard/Droga5), Kelly C. Knapp (Las Vegas Sphere, Netflix House), Jason Sperling (Innocean), Micah Walker (Bear Meets Eagle on Fire), Matt Cooper (LBB/Little Black Book), Nick Law (Creative Chair, Accenture Song), Simon Cook (CEO, Cannes Lions), Cindy Gallop, Gerry Graf, John Schoolcraft (Oatly), and many more. Second Wind clips are distributed across LinkedIn, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts using a structured two-step evaluation framework that prioritizes emotional resonance, credibility paradox, and comment-section tension as algorithmic drivers. ## Case Studies ### Addition — From Emerging AI Studio to R/GA Acquisition Over years of partnership, AKA reshaped Addition's market perception from emerging AI studio to credible transformation partner. Secured placements in WSJ and Ad Age, multiple speaking engagements, and a speaker role at the One Show AI Executive Creative Summit. ### Monks (Media.Monks) — From a Few Dozen to 7,500 People Globally Over 12+ years AKA was a fundamental sales and reputation management partner to the founders of Media.Monks (now Monks). 300+ Cannes Lions wins supported by combined reputation-building. ### Framestore — 100+ Articles. 10+ Global Stages. One Year. In one twelve-month period, AKA placed Framestore's spokespeople on 10+ global stages and landed more than 100 articles including UK's Telegraph, Times of India, Hollywood Reporter, and AdAge. ### Airbnb — Repositioning for the Creative Industry AKA helped Airbnb's creative team build authority and recognition within the advertising and creative industry. ## Client Testimonials "I'm really proud of the work we've done together because I really do think we've made a significant dent in the industry." — Jonathan Mildenhall, CMO Airbnb / Co-Founder TwentyFirstCenturyBrand "Kerrie has helped put SYLVAIN on the map. They understand our business story, have increased our global media presence and established a reputation that feels right — and continues to grow." — Alain Sylvain, Founder, SYLVAIN "Working with the team gave us perspective. They held a mirror to us and made us think harder about who we were and how we wanted to show up in the world." — Guy Lambert, Global CEO, JKR "The platonic ideal of someone you want fighting your corner. Smart, savvy, strategic and endlessly focused on your success." — Wesley ter Haar, Founder, Monks ## Clients Past and current clients include MediaMonks, Airbnb, Diageo, Saatchi LA, Framestore, BlackRock, Cannes Lions, SYLVAIN, TBWA, JKR, Coinbase, General Mills, Jam3, Rebel, Monks, and Tool of NA. ## Industries and Audiences Served AKA primarily serves the advertising and creative industry: - Agency founders and leadership teams - Production company founders and executives - Creative technology studio leaders - Brand CMOs and marketing leaders - Emerging creative voices and industry thought leaders ## Published Writing Gully Flowers writes for Forbes Agency Council. Kerrie Finch writes for LBBOnline and other industry publications. Topics include reputation strategy, the creative industry, AI in marketing, and thought leadership. ## Contact Website: https://www.hey-aka.com Email: gully@hey-aka.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hey-aka/