Yakob: Why planners must leverage the power of philosophy

This article addresses the importance of philosophy for planners, based on the insights of Faris Yakob, the co-founder of consultancy Genius/Steals.

The best planners seem to have an innate gift for uncovering consumer truths, connecting data with real-life behaviors, and solving complex problems.

But Faris Yakob – a co-founder of Genius/Steals, the consulting firm – believes most leading strategists are guided not by preternatural instincts or gut reactions. Instead, he insists, they can call upon a clear, consistent philosophy that shapes how they think about the world, interpret what they see, and effectively translate ideas into action.

Yakob – whose résumé includes strategic and innovation-focused roles at agencies such as MDC Partners/KBS+, McCann Erickson and OMD – further argues that the...

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