How to navigate alcohol and addiction, with Natalie Bell, CEO, MG OMD
02/05/25 • 33 min
Got a question for The NABS Podcast?
tw: alcohol addiction, depression
Natalie Bell is CEO, MG OMD and one of the industry's most prolific leaders, with a string of accolades to show for it. With her focus on people and mental wellness, she's well-placed to talk about leading with empathy. Natalie also has a moving story to tell: that of living with her mother's alcohol addiction, and how this has affected her.
This is a thought-provoking and heartfelt discussion, which also delves into the importance of supporting managers in our industry.
Key takeaways:
Alcohol use disorder is a spectrum, and we need to talk more about what this complex condition looks like;
We still need to do more to make it OK to drink a little, or not at all, at industry events; and
Our industry needs to give more resource and support to managers, so they can support themselves and their teams.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
NABS Advice Line nabs.org.uk/how-we-can-help/advice-line/
NABS Walk and Talk nabs.org.uk/walk-and-talk/
Drinkaware drinkaware.co.uk/
Tabbin Almond winetowatercoaching.com/my-story
NABS Managers' Mindsets nabs.org.uk/managers/
If you work in advertising, marketing or media, NABS is here for you. Through good times and bad, we’re here to get you through all of life’s issues, in and out of work.
Want to build a network? We’ll connect you to the industry.
Aiming to be your best work self? We’ll develop your skills.
Need a listening ear, a friendly face, a confidential chat, some money advice or some help with your mental health? We’re here for that too.
NABS is your charity, generously funded by the industry. Thanks for having our back; we’ve definitely got yours.
Need A Bit of Support? Speak to NABS.
Sign up to the NABS newsletter
Follow NABS on LinkedIn
Follow NABS on Twitter
Follow NABS on Instagram
Watch NABS Talks on YouTube
Find out how you can support NABS...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast?
tw: alcohol addiction, depression
Natalie Bell is CEO, MG OMD and one of the industry's most prolific leaders, with a string of accolades to show for it. With her focus on people and mental wellness, she's well-placed to talk about leading with empathy. Natalie also has a moving story to tell: that of living with her mother's alcohol addiction, and how this has affected her.
This is a thought-provoking and heartfelt discussion, which also delves into the importance of supporting managers in our industry.
Key takeaways:
Alcohol use disorder is a spectrum, and we need to talk more about what this complex condition looks like;
We still need to do more to make it OK to drink a little, or not at all, at industry events; and
Our industry needs to give more resource and support to managers, so they can support themselves and their teams.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
NABS Advice Line nabs.org.uk/how-we-can-help/advice-line/
NABS Walk and Talk nabs.org.uk/walk-and-talk/
Drinkaware drinkaware.co.uk/
Tabbin Almond winetowatercoaching.com/my-story
NABS Managers' Mindsets nabs.org.uk/managers/
If you work in advertising, marketing or media, NABS is here for you. Through good times and bad, we’re here to get you through all of life’s issues, in and out of work.
Want to build a network? We’ll connect you to the industry.
Aiming to be your best work self? We’ll develop your skills.
Need a listening ear, a friendly face, a confidential chat, some money advice or some help with your mental health? We’re here for that too.
NABS is your charity, generously funded by the industry. Thanks for having our back; we’ve definitely got yours.
Need A Bit of Support? Speak to NABS.
Sign up to the NABS newsletter
Follow NABS on LinkedIn
Follow NABS on Twitter
Follow NABS on Instagram
Watch NABS Talks on YouTube
Find out how you can support NABS...
Previous Episode
How to be a hands-on dad and a hands-on leader with James Fox
Got a question for The NABS Podcast?
James Fox is the outgoing CEO of Havas. First and foremost though, in his own words, he's a dad, and in this conversation he talks about the truth of being a working parent and a leader in adland with refreshing honesty and perspective. It shouldn't be unusual for an adland leader to say that it's OK and natural for parents to put their children first, but it is, and in this conversation James talks about how he manages the parenting/working combination.
James is also fascinating on the topic of the 'shadow board' at Havas, which enables people across the organisation to ask him questions about anything - anonymously.
Key takeaways:
- Therapy is for everyone, not just for people in crisis
- Open communication is everything, between your peers and across your organisation
- Parental leave for dads is a wonderful thing; dads returning to work also need structured support
Resources:
If you work in advertising, marketing or media, NABS is here for you. Through good times and bad, we’re here to get you through all of life’s issues, in and out of work.
Want to build a network? We’ll connect you to the industry.
Aiming to be your best work self? We’ll develop your skills.
Need a listening ear, a friendly face, a confidential chat, some money advice or some help with your mental health? We’re here for that too.
NABS is your charity, generously funded by the industry. Thanks for having our back; we’ve definitely got yours.
Need A Bit of Support? Speak to NABS.
Sign up to the NABS newsletter
Follow NABS on LinkedIn
Follow NABS on Twitter
Follow NABS on Instagram
Watch NABS Talks on YouTube
Find out how you can support NABS...
Next Episode
How to spot burnout and share tough times with Emma Flaxman
Got a question for The NABS Podcast?
tw: suicide
Emma Flaxman is senior commercial comms lead at Channel 4 and a mental wellness influencer in adland, having led on mental health for the likes of PHD and Omnicom Group UK. Emma is superbly open about her own challenges, especially where they relate to becoming a single parent. She blogs about her experiences on her blog. In this brilliant conversation, Emma talks about spotting burnout in yourself and in your team as well as what life looks like for her as a senior leader raising two children on her own. We also discuss the importance of movement and recovering from the trauma of school sports to reclaim physical and mental fitness as an adult.
Key takeaways:
- Burnout often goes unrecognised until it manifests in behaviour changes
- Managers should ask their team members open-ended questions to understand how they're feeling
- Giving back to others can make you feel great, no matter how busy you are.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
NABS Managers' Mindsets
NABS Inclusive Leader
NABS Advice Line
Insanelynormal
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
If you work in advertising, marketing or media, NABS is here for you. Through good times and bad, we’re here to get you through all of life’s issues, in and out of work.
Want to build a network? We’ll connect you to the industry.
Aiming to be your best work self? We’ll develop your skills.
Need a listening ear, a friendly face, a confidential chat, some money advice or some help with your mental health? We’re here for that too.
NABS is your charity, generously funded by the industry. Thanks for having our back; we’ve definitely got yours.
Need A Bit of Support? Speak to NABS.
Sign up to the NABS newsletter
Follow NABS on LinkedIn
Follow NABS on Twitter
Follow NABS on Instagram
Watch NABS Talks on YouTube
Find out how you can support NABS...
The NABS Podcast - How to navigate alcohol and addiction, with Natalie Bell, CEO, MG OMD
Transcript
Louise (00:01.666)
This week on the NABS Podcast, my guest is Natalie Bell. Natalie Bell is CEO of MG OMD. Natalie's well-respected for her people-first leadership approach, with the agency listed in Campaign’s Best Places to Work for five years and in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023 and 2024.
Natalie was recognised as the top UK media leader in Campaign’s Review of the Year in both 21 and 22 and she was awarded Media Week's Media Leader of the Year in 22 and 23, as
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