Lucy Jackson is the Founder and Chief Clarity Officer at Studio Jackson. She’s also a brilliant example of what happens when you back yourself, even when the plan isn’t fully formed yet.

We start with a metaphorical drink in an English country pub and quickly get into Lucy’s love of flexibility, autonomy, and working in whatever spot has the best light. From there, she takes us through a career that reads like a masterclass in brand-building, licensing, and creative leadership, from designing chocolate packaging in London to building global programmes and leading creative in New York across fashion, talent, and entertainment.

But the heart of this episode is the moment everything changed. Lucy was laid off unexpectedly. It was brutal, emotional, and disorienting. Then it became something else. A forced reset. A relief. A door opening.

She shares what it felt like, how she navigated the shock, and how she rebuilt her confidence through one word she chose as her anchor for the year: discipline. Discipline to show up. Discipline to keep moving. Discipline to stop letting fear run the strategy.

We talk about impostor syndrome, ageism in the industry, and why creativity isn’t just aesthetics. It’s emotion, story, and human connection. Lucy also shares a brilliant mental model for chaos moments: “Work the problem.” It’s simple, practical, and it’s saved her more than once.

By the end, Lucy’s definition of success has shifted too. Less glitz, more freedom. Less ego, more alignment. More life.

And when I ask the final question… she answers it with the kind of self-approval we could all use more of.

In this episode, we cover:

* Building a business of one, and why freedom matters more than ever

* Lucy’s career journey from London packaging design to New York brand leadership

* Emotional branding, and why creativity has to make people feel something

* The tension between craft and commercial goals, and how to balance both

* Working remotely with “bare essentials” and staying creatively sharp

* Impostor syndrome, confidence, and using evidence to shut down false narratives

* “Work the problem” as a practical mindset when things go wrong

* Lessons from high-pressure campaigns and experiential activations

* Layoffs, identity, grief, relief, and rebuilding after the shock

* Choosing “discipline” as the anchor for transformation

* Why Lucy never wants to rely on one income stream again

* The Reframe Sprint workshop and getting out of your own way

* Leaving New York and relocating to Europe, and what that represents

#AwaitingApproval #CreativeLeadership #DesignLeadership #LeadershipPodcast #light

===

This is Awaiting Approval. The globally charting design podcast about the messy, human side of creative leadership.

Hosted by Adam Jennings - a creative leader with three decades of experience leading teams and projects for global brands including Microsoft, Salesforce, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Ancestry, Dolby, BBC and many more - this show features honest, unscripted conversations with the leaders shaping design, storytelling, and innovation today.

These are the conversations you don’t hear in keynotes. The ones about imposter syndrome, trust, failure, confidence, and finding your voice as a leader.

Whether you’re just stepping into creative leadership or you’ve been at it for years, Awaiting Approval is your place to feel seen, challenged, and encouraged.Awaiting Approval is a Cordial Fox production.

Hosted by Adam Jennings.

Produced by Adam Jennings & Jasmin Egner.

Ready to level up your leadership with real, honest support?Join the next cohort of Supercharged Creative Leaders - my flagship four-week programme for creative leaders who want clarity, confidence, and a community that gets it.

✅ Small groups (just 6 per cohort)

✅ Weekly live sessions with me and your cohort

✅ Async access to me and your cohort via a private Slack community

✅ Invitation to join my alumni community once you’ve completed the programme.

Previous attendees have gone on to win major pitches, land new roles, get promoted and step into leadership with more purpose and presence.

🚀 Learn more and apply here: https://www.growwithadamjennings.com

Grow With Adam Jennings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit growwithadamjennings.substack.com/subscribe

Awaiting Approval. Season 2, Episode 13 : Lucy Jackson - Discipline