Oliver Duffy-Lee

Founder of Authority Agency & Komms | 800+ Agencies Mentored | Previous clients include Volvo, Porsche and Unilever

21six is a brand and purpose studio that believe the world needs Brands That Care. More than that, we know that genuinely caring isn't just a slogan, it's a commercial strategy – we call it The Care Advantage™. It’s our simple but powerful system for helping the world’s leading companies grow crowded markets by showing they care – not as a slogan, but as a living, breathing part of how they operate.

We’ve used The Care Advantage™ to help Johnson & Johnson, The North Face, and Philips with global projects, capture new audiences, and create work that actually matters. And we apply it to every brief, from rethinking a brand’s positioning to igniting movements people want to join.

The age of simply churning out campaigns is over. We’re here to transform the way brands connect with people; faster, smarter, and with more humanity than ever before.

Founder

Website: https://www.authorityagency.co.uk

Welcome to the age of Thought Leadership.

Most B2B brands are drowning in a Sea of Sameness, unable to differentiate themselves from their competition.

And so they spend their time:

- Scrapping for low quality opportunities
- Unable to build an audience
- Failing to fill their pipeline
- Struggling to sign new clients 
- Pricing their services too low
- Stagnating and not growing
- Struggling to make pay day

The problem isn’t caused by lead generation, marketing or sales…

It’s a positioning problem.

Strong positioning will:

✅ Differentiate the business
✅ Attract high quality leads
✅ Convert them into high paying clients
✅ Grow the business month on month

And the strongest way to position in 2024?

Build Authority.

If you want help becoming the Go-To Authority Thought Leader in your space, book a call below:

https://content.authorityagency.co.uk/

FINALLY found some time to write a post for LI this week*… Here’s a small update on how our year has started…

1. In Amsterdam this week with one of the most exciting players in Optical Retail 🙏

2. Had a lot of RFP opportunities land so far this year, many of them unexpected. I’ve never had a problem pitching, I actually enjoy it… Never understood the anti-pitch policy many agencies have

3. Also had some really nice new client wins, including TDK, Asus and UCL… Very grateful for these amazing brands putting their trust in us

4. We’re learning to navigate a world where client decisions take longer and involve more stakeholders… This can be challenging, but it’s definitely not changing any time soon

5. More and more we’re productising our IP… Not to sell as it’s own product, but to help explain the value of our strategic thinking - this is definitely an area of the business I’m most excited about

6. Lot of travel to happen this year (all over Europe and Asia)… My view is that international business and expansion is crucial for UK agencies looking to grow. UK market alone isn’t strong enough right now to bank on for strong growth

7. Fascinating to hear the conversations in the agency world on AI influence… It seems to be having an HR impact already, especially in junior positions, but hasn’t transformed our world yet (A convo for another post)

*This is BS btw, it’s about priorities… Content hasn’t been a priority for me recently, but will get back to it. How are things in your world? Let me know 👇

CEO at 21six | The Agency for Brands That Care

Paolo Emilio Zanini

Leather Lane Studios

Chief Executive Officer

Acumen

Parlez Media

Payfor Ltd

Joined this incredible fast growing Financial company focused on enabling liquidity into businesses around the world. Combining years of experience of Marketing and Commercial know how, I hope to bring growth and innovation into the  company.

Partner

TBD Crew

Leading the team to help grow the worlds' first "Film as Service" product . We work with global brands in helping them scale quality video content. When it comes to video content, whatever you need, wherever you need it and whenever you need it... TBD CREW can deliver.

TBD Media Deutschland

Geschäftsführer

TBD MEDIA

Working with a team of great of exceptional film makers and strategic thinkers to help tell the key stories of Businesses and Corporates from around the world. 

More and more businesses are becoming active stakeholders within our societies and have an need to tell the world how they are positively impacting our societies and the work they are doing. 

That is our mission and we believe that it is a very important one.

Responsible for overseeing the growth and success of the Industry News division of ITN. This means guaranteeing high quality films for our corporate clients and liaising with our producers and external partners to deliver high end Industry News programming.

Programming Director

Lyonsdown

Responsible for growing our the events devision Inner circle. 

Our events cover issues such as Global Supply Chain, Risk Management, Information Security and Costumer Experience.

Commercial Director

The role consists in managing a team of project managers whilst maximising visibility for clients into the Irish market. Our aim is to stimulate business development for our clients via special interest reports published in the major Irish newspapers, including The Irish Independent and the Irish Times.

Senior Project Manager - Irish Market

Managing business special interest reports published in major UK newspapers, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Economist, The Independent and The Times.  Coordinating sponsorship, editorial content and networking with relevant industry associations and relevant Government bodies The role consists in coordinating sponsorship, editorial content and networking with associations and relevant government bodies.

Project Manager

Sintesi Dialettica(NPO)

PR, Online Marketing and Event Planning to coordinate expansion.
Increased Brand Awareness through efficient networking as well as 
Direct Marketing activities(left position in order to pursue MSc Course in the UK).

Acumen Media is proud to create amazing branded content for Fortune 500 companies throughout the world. 

We cover a range of sectors and industries throughout the world, always focusing on thought leadership and B2B storytelling. Our content is distributed via tier 1 media partners such as Bloomberg, CBS News, The Telegraph. South China Morning Post, Die Welt and many others.

One of the best moments at work is recognising real effort.

This week, we celebrated one of our team members earning a Rolex, not as a symbol of status, but as a marker of exceptional consistency, commitment, and results throughout 2025.

Long days. High standards. Showing up when it mattered.
This didn’t happen by accident.

Proud of the culture we’re building, where hard work is seen, appreciated, and rewarded properly.

Well earned 👏

#Culture #Success #Consistency #Commitment

Entrepreneur/Investor/Real Estate Developer CEO of Acumen International Media

BIG DAY AHEAD TODAY!!

Finally moving into my new home after months of renovations and unforeseen complications, as is the way on all building projects. 

Over the past 15 years I have moved house 14 times from Aberdeen and Edinburgh to London through to Vancouver and San Diego, I always rented, never having a true home of my own. 

I acquired properties as investments but never my own home. 

The thinking, was delayed gratification. 

Build an investment portfolio first and then build your own home. 

It’s the same with a lot of things in life. Satisfy now or enjoy the fruit of your hard work and investments later. 

I see so many young people making that mistake, wanting to live the life the don’t have by stretching themselves too thin and not learning the value of saving and delaying gratification. 

But things don’t happen overnight. 

They are the result of years of work, discipline, risk, setbacks, progress, and a lot of persistence. 

Don’t fall into the trap of buying expensive things now, save, plan and grow. 

Very Grateful for the opportunities given to me in life and Proud of the results. 

Summer BBQs will be epic 😉

Here is a sneak peak, more to come:

#NewHome #Moving #Finchley

I WAS SCARED 
 

Many years ago when I first started this business someone had to convince me to take a leap of faith and start my own company. I wouldn’t have done it on my own.

At the time, like most other people I was frightened about all the possible ways things could go wrong. 

But two thoughts always stuck with me, regret and curiosity. 

1) What happens when I’m old and i never tried and end up regretting not doing it. 

2) I will never know if I don’t try and I’m very curious to see what it would be like. 

Armed with that I took the jump. 

Now here we are 11 years later.

Moral of the story if you are hesitant about jumping into something this year, whatever that might be, think about how you’ll feel in 20 years time when you look back. 

Life is meant for living not overthinking.

Great conversations today with CNBC discussing a potential campaign for a major client in the Middle East.

Always aiming to scale different opportunities, this one specifically aligns with the alignment on storytelling, credibility, and global reach that Acumen stand for, especially in a region where narratives are evolving fast and visibility matters more than ever.

I hope this encourages discussions around how strong media strategy, thoughtful messaging, and speed of execution can come together for something impactful.

Always energising to sit at the table where serious ideas are being shaped.

More to come.

#CNBC #MediaStrategy #ThoughtLeadership #MiddleEast

Back in our Berlin office next few days. 

There’s something about changing environment that sharpens perspective. 

Different market, different conversations, different cultures and pace of life. 

Berlin has always been an important base for us in Europe. 

Strong talent, creative workforce with rich cultural diversity, a city that understands innovation and resilience.

But there is an elephant in the room. 

Germany and the wider European block find themselves at a crossroad now. Innovate and embrace free markets, or become irrelevant in global conversations.

I’ll spend the day with the team outlining how, in challenging times, there is always a way to be successful. 

Making sure strategy matches reality.
Making sure teams feel motivated and inspired. 
Making sure objectives don’t change, but execution readjusts.

Grateful for the team on the ground here.

Big year ahead, and it’s already moving fast.

#Berlin #TeamExecution #TeamSpirit #Europe

Mean what you say and say what you mean.

Today, I spent a few hours on the phones and meeting with our brilliant executive producers in London.

What we realized was that people had fallen into the age-old trap of just presenting and explaining, but not persuading.

I’ve talked about this numerous times, but it’s worth reiterating.

If you sell anything over the phone or in person, you need to understand the importance of HOW you say things as opposed to just WHAT you say.

A genuine sense of conviction is mandatory, but also a full and deep comprehension of what you are offering at a fundamental level.

Don’t overtalk or overcomplicate. 
Persuade. 
A sophisticated and elegant way of communicating goes a lot further than just presenting information.

As a professional persuader, it’s your job to get someone to buy into you and the product, not simply for them to understand what you are offering.

Persuade, charm, and build trust.

#Charm #Communication #Persuasion #Sales

What consistency actually looks like (not the Instagram version).

No breakthroughs.
No applause.
Just showing up and putting your best foot forward, even when it’s boring.

What I’ve found over the years is that consistency isn’t some dramatic routine change or viral “morning ritual.”
It’s very unsexy.

- Eating the same healthy lunch most days, because decision fatigue is real.
- Making sure to not let the negativity or complacency creep in by staying active everyday.
- Making sure you take personal responsibility for the outcomes in your life and work to fix them asap.

None of this makes for a highlight reel.
But this is where progress actually comes from.

Consistency isn’t intensity.
It’s repetition and accountability without negotiation.

The people who win long-term aren’t more motivated.
They just remove options and daily decisions and keep things simple.

Boring habits.
Quiet discipline.
Real results.

#Consistency #WorkingOut #EatingWell #Goals #Fitness

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Paolo Emilio Zanini

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The Battle

Oliver Duffy-Lee

Paolo Emilio Zanini

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Engagements

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Oliver Duffy-Lee's LinkedIn Performance

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