John hard at work in his office
John Bowman is EVP, Global Director of Strategic Equities at SaatchiNY. He’s worked at Saatchi & Saatchi for over seven years, and is also a musician, art lover and Director for the Advertising Educational Foundation. If you’re interested in learning more about John’s thoughts and background, be sure to check out his blog, Bowmanifesto, his Ning Network and his LinkedIn page.
Photos taken by Sasithon Pooviriyakul, an Account Supervisor at SaatchiNY. You can see more of her wonderful work on her website.
What do you do at Saatchi & Saatchi?
Infuse what we do with what people love.
What was your first job?
Paperboy. Winter convinced me that an indoor job would be preferable.
If you weren’t at Saatchi & Saatchi, what profession would you most like to try?
Troubadour.
What motivates you most?
Love.
What blogs, magazines, books, papers or websites can you not live without?
Good News.
What are your Lovemarks?
Please discover my Lovemarks on Lovemarks.com – Moreover, I strongly urge everyone to get personally involved. I’m a believer. And a proponent. That’s why I’ve taught Lovemarks to college and graduate students at major universities in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
What’s your best “nothing is impossible” story?
Before he was 21 years old, my great-grandfather survived gunshot wounds in the Civil War, capture by Mosby’s Rangers, torture in the infamous Andersonville Prison that killed all but three of his company, serving under Grant when Lee surrendered at Appomattox, and hunting down Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, with the NY 17th Cavalry.
He lived on to become a family man, which is how I live to tell his story.
What is your favorite place in the world? Why?
Home. Because it is home.
Who do you most aspire to be like?
My wife. I’m serious. She inspires me every day.
If stranded on a deserted island and you could bring only one thing, what would it be?
My wife. I know she’s not a thing. But she’s all I’d need. Still serious.
Tell us something surprising about yourself.
I recently became a grandfather!
What’s your DOT?
Say “No, Thank You!” to Plastic Bags at grocery and convenience stores.
What is your favorite creative pursuit?
Music.
What led you on the path you’re on today?
Poetry. In my opinion, it’s the form of literature closest to advertising.
Do you have a motto?
Passion Plus Perseverance Prevail.
What do you do for fun?
Boogie Boarding.
What’s your favorite client story?
The next one.
What’s your favorite thing to do in NY?
Imagine the lives my Dutch ancestors lived, literally on the land where we work today, way back when New York was known as Nieuw Amsterdam.
Who is your favorite artist/musician/designer?
Great Big Sea, a rollicking band of ruffians from Newfoundland.
When’s the last time you gave a standing ovation?
For Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros at Webster Hall. Bravo, latter day hippies!