Issue 6 2021

14 CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 6 2021 , Mar21509 Stepping in Time to the Technological Revolution ‘Poppins was created to enable a group of talented individuals to use their craft to make an impact on the world. We aim to do this by seeking out clients who are on missions we care about, and that we think will impact the world in a positive way.’ – Maani Safa Poppins Agency is a boutique business dedicated to transforming how companies function in the digital age. Offering globally renowned and technologically top-of-the-range solutions, it primarily works with start-ups on a track to fast growth and established brands to change how they use technology to interact with their end users. Poppins’ headquarters is based in London, but has offices in both Sydney and Los Angeles, and a client base that spans the world. Its efficiency and capability in serving this vast market segment has brought it significant industry clout – despite being a relatively young company, it is guided by its curiosity, its ingenuity, and its proven expertise, provided by a team who have transformed all manner of brands. Before coming together to form the Poppins’ leadership team, every senior member of staff was busy proving themselves in their field. Its team has worked with executives of over 90 brands Driven forward by the increasingmomentum that has propelled it into the spotlight, Poppins Agency is a brand building and digital product creation studio giving businesses the leg up they need to thrive in an increasingly technological world. Headed up by an exceptional leadership teamand a winner of the ‘Most Influential CEO’ award for London, Maani Safa, Poppins is making itself an indispensable partner tomany. that are internationally renowned heavy hitters in their respective sectors; and between them, each have contributed to digitally revamping these brands so that they can thrive in the modern world. It combines the focuses of strategy, brand, and product, creating the well-rounded and effective service that it is now known for. By working with this agency, clients therefore are granted access to a depth and breadth of information that is second to none. Leading this team and the efficacy they bring to their work is Maani Safa. He is an award-winner in his field and a technological pioneer in his own right, working hard to create the newest and greatest innovations and further bolster the way businesses work. His efforts, refined over the creation of several other digital agencies, have created an expansive yet well-defined list of capabilities found within the company: creation of brand strategy and visual and verbal brand identity; product vision, definition, design, development and technical innovation; and brand campaigns, social content, and messaging for marketing. To delve into the processes Maani has implemented is to explore the full meaning of digital development. Poppins intends to show its clients just how multi-faceted a concept it is, empowered by its three values. It seeks to help a client find the magic in their company, show it cares by listening intently to their needs, and collaborating with a client so they can make their mark on the world. Additionally, the founder has a staunch belief in the importance of technology. This manifests for Poppins in its work to set up businesses of all industries to be comfortable with that truth, allowing them to see that digitisation can be utterly seamless, and at the same time reinventing traditional paradigms of user engagement. Maani puts great faith in his team and attributes his company’s success to everyone equally – this has created a healthy and supportive working environment in which everyone is valued. Furthermore, his leadership team supports him with the principles of compassion and leadership acumen at its core. The combined knowledge of this group of people allowed Poppins to start its life during a pandemic and persevere through it, digging its heels in deep to become one of the fastest growing agencies in the UK. Its COO, Gabby Hegerty, spent 20 years working for large corporations before making the switch to the agency side of things. This has allowed Poppins to benefit from her direct experience in what challenges face their clients, and Gabby often is able to guide the agency towards better operational workings, as she knows what a successful client relationship with an agency looks like. This has been invaluable for both Poppins and its clients. Another member of its team that shows consistent elegance in their way of working is its Executive Director of Creative & Strategy, Dan Sherratt. At the forefront of digital brand design and having worked with the leadership teams of influential brands such as LVMH, DeBeers, Audi, and Disney, Dan is a ‘true artistic creative powerhouse’ that provides this company another fresh and proven perspective. Poppins’ clients, understandably, take one look at this incredible roster of talent and find themselves reassured that the service they receive will be of the highest standards available. Of course, over time, building this team has meant figuring out what works and what doesn’t. This included working out what is constructive, and what isn’t; Maani quickly found that personal ego is one thing that absolutely is in the latter group. Ego has no place in the boardroom. Instead, the leadership team of Poppins prizes humility and the