Willing & Abel

2020 has been an appalling year – one of the most difficult in living memory. A global pandemic, countries locked down, socio-economic catastrophe, international protests. Now more than ever, there’s a demand for vision and leadership in a time of crisis. Into the breach steps Mike Abel, founding partner of multi-award-winning agency M&C Saatchi Abel and one of the most prominent ad-men in Africa.

Launched in October 2010 by Mike and partners, M&C Saatchi Abel started out as an industry underdog amid the after-shocks of the 2008 financial crisis. No clients, no money, no offices, no furniture and plenty of established competition. They didn’t know it, but the decade ahead would also be one of catastrophic state capture and economic decline for South Africa. Today M&C Saatchi Abel is an African industry leader. Its high-profile clients include Nando’s, Standard Bank, Heineken and Takealot, and Mike Abel has the ear of the country’s most powerful business leaders and parliamentary ministers.

In Winning & Abel, Mike shares his lessons from the coal-face of business and leadership. Hard-earned lessons acquired in a business career that has seen him rise on the headwinds of perpetual challenges, amid economic and political chaos, to lead one of the most prominent advertising agencies on the continent. Lessons of hope and positivity that mark the tenth anniversary of the founding of M&C Saatchi Abel – and have never been more relevant.