Podcast Summary: The Messy Parts with Maryam Banikarim

Episode: Fede Garcia: Fired at the top and giving up on the power, the prestige, and all of it
Date: July 21, 2025

Episode Overview

In this candid and vulnerable conversation, host Maryam Banikarim sits down with Fede Garcia, acclaimed Chief Creative Officer, to uncover the real, untold “messy parts” that define a career at the top of the advertising world. Fede discusses his very public exit from the industry, the insecurity and ego that accompany high-level roles, and the unpredictability of success. Together, they explore the reality behind shiny LinkedIn achievements, life after being "famous" in the industry, and the ongoing quest for meaning and happiness beyond titles and trophies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Viral LinkedIn Post and Its Raw Honesty

• Background: Maryam invites Fede after his viral post about getting fired and choosing to leave advertising. Unlike typical celebration posts, his was honest about loss and change (01:00-02:18).

• Fede on the post:
  “I left, let it go like a toxic ex you’re obsessed over. For a long time that post was really messy and vulnerable and honestly, it was amazing.” – Fede (01:39-02:18)

• Why Write It: Fede explains the year-long process of coming to terms with his job loss and the pressure to control his narrative post-firing. He resisted the norm of pretending to have left voluntarily (02:18-06:05).

  “…somebody told me is you need to get a job as soon as possible. And then you need to manage your narrative so it doesn’t look like you got fired … But that's not me. I don't want to lie…”
  — Fede (02:40-03:52)

• Result: The post resonated with many peers, sparking honest, “messy” conversations about careers and transitions (06:05-07:11).

Losing Status and Decoupling from Ego

• Immediate Changes: Friends stopped calling, and the professional perks vanished quickly. Fede notes how much value is tied to the access, money, and power that comes with big roles (08:15-09:17).

  “When you’re in a global CCO job, you’re the owner of many, many budgets. When you don’t have those budgets anymore, suddenly you’re not that interesting...”
  — Fede (08:38)

• Self-Image & Ego: Fede and Maryam discuss how one’s sense of self often fuses with their title, especially when others constantly seek your attention or validation (10:04-11:36).

  “How do you live when the constant adulation of the industry doesn’t exist anymore... Can you live without people telling (you’re) some kind of genius every other five minutes?”
  — Fede (10:09-10:56)

The Messy Parts of Fede’s Career

• Early Struggles & Health Battle: Fede shares about a life-altering kidney dysfunction in his 20s, requiring years of dialysis and a transplant (13:19-13:49). This limited his career choices, forcing him to take flexible jobs over "the best" jobs (13:52-14:58).

  “I was hooked on to a dialysis machine for four years... that kind of changed the kind of jobs that I took...”
  — Fede (13:21-13:56)

• Non-linear Growth: Despite what his storied resume might suggest, Fede’s early career felt chaotic — jobs chosen for necessity, not passion, and a string of “wrong choices” in hindsight (14:58-16:29).

  “My first 10 years were a disaster... sometimes because one paid a little bit better for whatever reason... I took a cut off a third in my salary just to start again.”
  — Fede (15:09-16:29)

Lessons for the Next Generation

• On Career Trajectories:

  “Careers are not a straightforward line and they don’t grow geometrically. Your career goes up and down. It kind of moves like a stock... eventually things happen.”
  — Fede (17:05-17:21)

• On Ego and Taking a Step Back: Sometimes, progress means taking a junior job to get on the right long-term path (16:29-17:05).

• Advice for Young Creatives: Grit, resilience, and patience matter most; things often look smooth only in hindsight (30:56-32:00).

Awards, Success, and “Imposter Syndrome”

• Late Recognition: Fede’s big industry awards came late in his career—he spent years being the “solid” creative, not the famous one (17:47-20:33).
• Imposter Feelings: Even after high-profile wins, imposter syndrome lingered because peers seemed more decorated (20:54-21:05).

  “Every friend that I have have won 10 times the amount of award that I want. I don’t consider myself an award winning creative director.”
  — Fede (20:54-21:05)

• What Is Success: For Fede, true success was realizing childhood dreams—like having an HBO billboard in Times Square—not just the industry accolades (21:43-23:06).

Turning Points and Life After Advertising

• Exceeding Original Dreams: Becoming a global CCO surpassed Fede’s original ambition. That led him to ask, “Isn’t that enough?” (24:00-25:00).

  “I achieved way more than I imagined I was going to achieve... I don’t need more.”
  — Fede (24:00-25:00)

• Choosing Happiness: Aware of mortality (especially after his health struggles), Fede decided to step off the “career race” and prioritize enjoying life (25:06-26:51).

  “I want to enjoy life, I want to see more, I want to try other things. Like all relationships... maybe it’s time for something new.”
  — Fede (25:58-26:51)

Embracing Beginner’s Mindset & Curiosity

• Always Learning: Fede values putting himself in positions where he’s a beginner—learning Japanese in Tokyo, boxing at 40, riding motorcycles at high speed (27:01-29:36).

  “I love the idea of feeling like a beginner because... everything feels new... that level of accomplishment, no matter how small it is...”
  — Fede (29:39-30:14)

• Humility: Being willing to say “I don’t know” and embrace discomfort is key (30:14-30:21).

The Future of Creativity & Advertising

• On the Current Industry: Fede is wary about recommending advertising as a career for young people, citing structural changes and the impact of AI (32:00-34:16).

  “Would you tell somebody in their early 20s to go into the advertising business?” – Maryam
  “Oof, probably not.”
  — Fede (32:00-32:08)

• Creativity is Transferable: The creative mindset now applies to startups, innovation, and building brands beyond just ads (32:12-34:16).

• AI’s Impact: The craft’s early learning happens through repetitive work—now much of that is outsourced to AI, challenging how juniors learn and enter the industry (34:20-35:29).

  “Now you can have that with AI within seconds... And you don’t have to teach AI... So it’s getting quite hard in that sense.”
  — Fede (34:20-35:29)

• What Stays Human: Fede believes taste, discernment, and unique gut instinct will remain invaluable (35:33-36:24).

Rapid Fire and Memorable Moments

• Karaoke/Walk-on Song: “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen (36:39)

• Favorite Potluck Food: Sanguche de miga (Argentinian sandwich) (36:44)

• Alternative Career: Failed pro tennis player or something fashion-related (37:03)

• What’s he watching: Ted Lasso for its feel-good, reflective tone and message of kindness despite industry cynicism (37:11-37:58)

  “You don’t know what the other is going through and just try to be kinder. And I don’t think I’m necessarily the kindest person in the world, but I would love to be.”
  — Fede (37:48-37:58)

• Surprising Fact: Many don’t know about his kidney transplant, even those who’ve worked with him (38:03-38:04).

Notable Quotes

• “Careers are not a straightforward line ... it kind of moves like a stock.”
  — Fede (00:12, 17:05)

• “How do you live when the constant adulation of the industry doesn’t exist anymore?”
  — Fede (10:09)

• “I was just pursuing the wrong job, sometimes because of the time availability, sometimes because one paid a little bit better for whatever reason... I took a cut off a third in my salary just to start again.”
  — Fede (15:16-16:29)

• “I feel that I lived it all and I don’t need more ... I want to enjoy life, I want to see more, I want to try other things.”
  — Fede (25:58-26:51)

• “I love the idea of feeling like a beginner... that level of accomplishment, no matter how small it is...”
  — Fede (29:39-30:14)

• “Nothing comes easy in life... And to me the only way to put up with it is to love it, to love what you do.”
  — Fede (30:56-31:22)

• “Don’t worry that much. Things will eventually fall into place without you even knowing.”
  — Fede’s closing advice (38:16-39:07)

Advice and Takeaways

• Embrace the Mess: Careers are not linear; accept and learn from the detours and setbacks.
• Be Honest: Telling the truth—about failure, change, and uncertainty—invites real connection and growth.
• Redefine Success: Achievements feel meaningful when they align with personal history and dreams, not just industry standards.
• Decouple Self from Title: Explore identity beyond jobs and accolades. Enjoy life in the present, not just at the finish line.
• Stay Curious: Seek new experiences that challenge and humble you—remain a learner, no matter your age or status.
• Cultivate Taste & Human Judgment: In an era of AI and automation, distinct taste and intuition are more valuable than ever.
• Take It Easy: Patience and resilience matter. The journey often makes sense only when you look back.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:39] Fede describes the inspiration and motivation behind his viral LinkedIn post
• [03:18] On the toxicity of LinkedIn and the pressure to control your narrative
• [10:09] Decoupling work from ego and dealing with loss of status
• [13:21] Fede’s battle with kidney dysfunction and impact on his career
• [16:29] Taking a step back: moving from creative director to junior copywriter
• [17:05] Nonlinear career lessons for young creatives
• [20:54] Imposter syndrome after major successes
• [23:06] Achieving his childhood dream of a Times Square billboard
• [25:58] Decision to step off the career race and pursue happiness
• [27:01] Embracing beginner’s mindset: learning Japanese, boxing, and motorcycles
• [32:00] Would Fede recommend a creative career today?
• [34:20] The impact of AI on creative industries and early career experiences
• [38:16] Fede’s one piece of advice: “Don’t worry that much. Things will eventually fall into place without you even knowing.”

Final Thoughts

This episode of "The Messy Parts" is a heartfelt exploration of what it means to succeed, to fail, and to continually reinvent yourself—career, ego, and all. Fede Garcia’s story is a testament to the enduring value of honesty, curiosity, and humanity amid the competitive, ever-evolving world of creative industries.