Great to see the latest IPA Bellwether report showing a return to growth, even in a challenging environment. In the latest Mediashotz roundup of the Q1 2026 Bellwether report, Great to see our CEO Marcus Brown featured among other industry voices. It reinforces a key point we see every day at The Great Pitch Company: the brands that stay visible and consistent through uncertainty are the ones that unlock growth. Also, Great to read the perspectives of others industry leaders

In business pitching, the biggest obstacle isn’t competition. It’s perceived risk. You walk into the room expecting a decision. The client walks in thinking about consequences. What happens if this goes wrong? How exposed am I if this fails? Is this safer than the alternative? So they ask for more information. Another meeting. More time to “think it through internally.” It sounds like hesitation. But in business pitching, what’s really happening is risk management. In this ar

An AI elevator pitch can reveal more about a business idea than a full presentation ever will. When you compress an idea into a short, clear explanation and pressure-test it with AI, weak logic, vague positioning, and shaky assumptions quickly surface. In 2026, AI is becoming a powerful tool for founders, agencies, and teams who want to test their thinking early. Used properly, an AI elevator pitch doesn’t just help you explain an idea. It helps you challenge it. In this arti

In a pitch, the room isn’t just judging your idea . They’re judging whether you can lead it. That’s where leadership presence comes in. In easy terms, leadership is the difference between someone who presents slides and someone who commands belief. In high-stakes pitches, presence often tips the decision before the strategy even finishes landing. This article breaks down why leadership presence wins pitches and how teams can improve it so it shows up when it matters most. L

If you’re wondering how to build team chemistry for a pitch, start here: clients can feel it within minutes. They notice who interrupts. Who hesitates. Who looks unsure when someone else speaks. And they notice when a team feels tight, aligned, and comfortable together. Team chemistry isn’t about liking each other. It’s about visible trust, clarity of roles, and shared belief under pressure. And if it doesn’t show up in the room, it doesn’t exist; at least not where it matte

Every team walks into the room believing their pitch idea will carry them. The strategy is smart. The thinking is sharp. The creative is strong. And yet, they lose. Because a great pitch idea on its own doesn’t win rooms. It needs clarity. It needs conviction. And most importantly, it needs an emotional connection . In this article, we’ll break down what separates strong thinking from winning performance. A great pitch idea still needs to be understood instantly A strong ide

Pitches are high-stakes thestatre. You’re selling ambition, momentum, and a version of the future that hasn’t happened yet. So do you lead with logic? Or lean into emotion and show the magic? This article breaks down the battle between emotional appeal (magic) and rational proof (logic) in pitches and why the best leaders learn how to use both in sync. Why emotion gets you in the room Every pitch begins with a judgment. Not of your model. Of you. Within minutes, a room decid

Wishing our partners and clients a joyful Easter! At The Great Pitch Company, we’re grateful to have you as part of our journey. Thank you for your continued trust and collaboration. We also recognise that not everyone in our global community celebrates Easter. Whether you’re marking the occasion or simply enjoying a well-earned break, we hope this season brings you time to pause, recharge, and reset. Enjoy the break. You’ve earned it. #HappyEaster #ClientAppreciation #Gr

We’re delighted to welcome Claire Morris to The Great Pitch Company as we expand our presence in North America 🇺🇸🇨🇦 With over 25 years’ experience, including her role as Managing Director at Ogilvy New York. Claire brings a proven track record of helping agencies win, grow and retain business at the highest level. She will lead our New York office, supporting agencies across the US and Canada with sharper positioning, stronger business development and improved pitch perfo

Great list from Michael Parker and still highly relevant! In a world where AI is elevating the quality of content, the real differentiator is no longer just what you say… but how you say it. Confidence, clarity and delivery are becoming the edge in pitching and new business. Because when everyone can generate a good answer, the winners are those who can bring it to life in the room. From mastering your opening to embracing the pause, these fundamentals haven’t changed, if any

Great to attend Seichō 2026 by dentsu at the incredible Frameless London. Another thought-provoking event exploring how brands are navigating change, from AI and intelligent systems to culture, fandom and the evolving role of media as a growth engine. Thanks Annette Male for the kind invitation and great to catch up with so many familiar faces across the industry. #Seicho2026 #dentsuUKI #dentsu #TheGreatPitchCompany #NewBusiness

If you care about how pitching needs to change in 2026. From wellbeing to how new business really works, now’s the time to speak up. 👉 Have your say: https://afogroup.decipherinc.com/survey/selfserve/53b/g022/260139?list=6&Link_Status=LIVE# ? It only takes a few minutes. Your voice matters! Please share with your teams. The Great Pitch Company #TheGreatPitchPoll #HaveYourSay #NewBusiness #AgencyLife

Some relationships in this industry are built pitch by pitch. The best ones are built year by year. And we’re super proud to have built relationships from independent agencies to global holding companies. Last December, we had the immense pleasure of supporting once more, the global #MediaplusPitchAcademy in Munich. #PitchCulture #NewBusiness #Mediaplus #TheGreatPitchCompany

Michael Parker revisits a core belief from his book It’s Not What You Say, It’s The Way You Say it!, and challenges us to think differently about pitching in 2026. As AI makes content slicker and harder to differentiate, the real edge lies in what machines can’t replicate: instinct, vulnerability, shared experience, humour, bravery. Clients don’t just buy ideas. They back people who feel like “their kind of person.” In a world of polish and performance, kindred spirit may be

This Campaign UK debate is a timely reminder: the best agencies never assume they’ve won a pitch. They prepare to win it. They focus on chemistry. They bring clarity. They demonstrate real commercial impact. They don’t coast on credentials or past success. They play to win. You don’t win a pitch because you expect to. You win because you earn the client’s confidence, strategically, creatively and commercially. What’s your take? If you’re looking to improve your chances of win

2026 is about energy, ambition and charging forward with confidence. In pitching, momentum matters. Strategy gives direction. And bold thinking wins the race. Here’s to pursuing ambitious goals and making this an unstoppable year for new business. The Great Pitch Company Team. #LunarNewYear #YearOfTheHorse #Pitching #NewBusiness #TheGreatPitchCompany

The Great Pitch Company New York Office is officially open! So excited to be working with Claire Morris again! If there’s a pitch you absolutely definitely have to win, we’re here for all N.American based agencies too! #TheGreatPitchCompany #NewBusiness #BusinessDevelopment #Pitching

Great afternoon at Agency Hackers’ Growth Summit at the British Library this week. Brilliant to hear such honest, practical perspectives from staying independent to M&A, hiring and scaling sustainably. Huge thanks to Agency Hackers for bringing so many smart agency leaders together. #AgencyGrowth #AgencyLeadership #AgencyHackers #TheGreatPitchCompany

Huge thanks to BAND and everyone who joined us in Soho today for Compete. Convert. Grow - How Agencies Can Win in 2026! With 2025 testing even the strongest agencies, it was refreshing to be in a room full of founders and commercial leaders having such an honest, practical discussion about what will really move the needle in the year ahead. From positioning and pitching to conversion and sustainable growth. Thank you to Rob Quinn for hosting, and to my fellow panellists Adam

Many business development courses promise the same outcome. Bigger pipelines. Better outreach. More deals moving faster. And most of them teach the same things. Useful, sure. But also incomplete. The best BD courses do something different. They don’t just teach people what to do. They teach people how to show up when it matters. In live conversations. Under pressure. In front of real decision-makers. In this article, we’ll break down what the best business development course

There are two very different types of pitch consultants in the world. The first type helps brands and advertisers find agencies. They sit on the client side. They manage RFPs, run agency searches, and help companies choose who to hire. The second type does the opposite. They help agencies win pitches. This article is about the second type. Specifically, consultants like The Great Pitch Company, whose entire job is to help agencies perform better when it matters most. What is

A new year, a fresh start. But when it comes to pitching and new business, are things really changing? As we kick off 2026, agencies across the world are setting priorities, resetting targets, and thinking hard about how they win new business. But behind the optimism of January, important questions remain: Are agencies truly protecting their team's wellbeing or still expecting all-nighters when a pitch lands? And is the way we approach new business fit for the future? Today,

Pitches happen in the pauses.Those five words changed everything for Michael Parker. The pause isn’t empty space. It’s where confidence lands. Where meaning settles. Where your audience leans in. From Churchill’s wartime broadcasts to Susan Cain’s quietly powerful TED Talk… From courtroom advocates to stand-up comedians… The great communicators all understand one thing: Timing isn’t about speed. It’s about restraint. At The Great Pitch Company, we coach founders, leaders, and

📢 We’re partnering with BAND this January 📢 The Great Pitch Company is delighted to be partnering with BAND for Compete. Convert. Grow – How to Win in 2026 for Agencies , part of a month-long programme of BAND events. On 29 January 2026 , agency founders and leaders will come together at the Karma Sanctum Hotel, Soho for a practical, insight-led discussion focused on one key question: How do agencies win in an increasingly competitive and uncertain market? The session wil