Marketing careers rarely start with a misunderstanding. But when a fresh college graduate asked his dad for career advice, “go into communications” somehow turned into cold-calling London’s biggest ad agencies. Two decades and several cross-country moves later, that mix-up has led to an impressive career in private equity and digital marketing. It’s a story of saying yes to opportunities, rebuilding after setbacks (including actual heart surgery), and learning that sometimes the best paths are the unexpected ones.
Cold Calls and Lucky Breaks
Fresh out of college, Kingsley Taylor started hustling – literally dialing up CEOs of London ad agencies. His bold move paid off. He landed a role at Carlson Marketing Group’s internship program. “I beat 400 other candidates to securing this role,” Kingsley says, not hiding his pride at that early win. Over the next ten years, Kingsley climbed through London’s ad scene. But it was at Ogilvy and Mather where things got interesting. Really interesting.
Cross-Country Moves and Career Growth
At Ogilvy London Kingsley encountered a formidable strategist who caught his attention. ‘She was well established at the agency and the Brit in me was drawn to her direct, no-nonsense attitude’
They ended up both securing positions at Ogilvy New York. Now many years later, Kingsley’s wife heads brand strategy for a leading auto brand while he works with private equity firms, driving growth for their portfolio brands.
Staying Ahead Through Innovation
For Kingsley, passion comes from constantly pushing boundaries. He recalls advice from a former client, now head of insights for McDonald’s Asia Pacific: “The day that you are not one step ahead of me is the day that you will lose your job as an agency.” This philosophy of continuous innovation has guided his approach to new technologies, including AI.
“What AI has done certainly within our business is it’s managed to free up people’s time from what I would call busy work,” Kingsley explains. “People say that AI is going to steal our jobs. No it’s not. Ultimately the people who know how to leverage AI are going to steal your job when it comes down to it.”
Three Keys to Professional Growth
Kingsley shares three fundamental approaches that have shaped his success:
- Maintain an Open Mindset: “Moving away from, do you want to do this thing? No, I can’t be bothered. To sure, I’ll give it a go.” That attitude’s taken him coast to coast, from New York to LA to San Francisco.
- Prioritize Personal Wellbeing: “Getting up early in the morning, taking time to do exercise, eating healthy, spending time nurturing relationships and spending time with friends and family.” Simple stuff, but it matters.
- Commit to Continuous Learning: Kingsley’s constantly taking courses – Google AI, Harvard business programs, you name it. “Just because you went to college doesn’t mean you’re done learning,” he says.
Overcoming Life’s Challenges
Kingsley’s journey hasn’t been without obstacles. A rugby injury led to serious health complications in New York. “I had to get major surgery, had my chest opened up, and a heart valve repaired,” he shares. “When you’ve stared into the jaws of death, it makes you appreciate what you have and focus on life.” The experience strengthened his client-first philosophy: “What drives success is being on the client’s side, when you sell more of their products, when you help get them a promotion, when you make their life easier, when you make them look good, you both succeed and you both travel up the ladder.”
Today, Kingsley continues to drive innovation in marketing and advertising while maintaining his focus on client success. His story serves as a reminder that sometimes the best opportunities come from being open to unexpected paths.
To learn more about Kingsley Taylor and his approach, check out his LinkedIn profile.
