Ant Gillard
Founder & Super Glue

Hi, I’m Chief Soul Saver or Guardian, (I have raised the bat, but many say I look younger than Bart). My business is saving your “soul”. Well, not yours personally — although that is often a very welcome side effect. Huge, soulful commercial growth ideas need someone who will protect them, no matter where they go. Put your genius on TedTalks or a piece of cardboard, it must retain its original power… if not, magnify it, thanks to the medium you pick, or the supplier you entrust it to. I was lucky enough to grow up in an era when industry transformed digitally and economically. It meant I fostered, practiced and preached soul saving as second nature. Starting from Australia via Dubai with long stopovers in London, Amsterdam and Vancouver, I have seen it and fought it all across ALL the big markets and industry sectors across our planet. In my twenty-five years of playing, I have coined my own terminology. This terminology is like a tattoo that reminds me to never forget what counts. I don’t roll-out strategy or ideas. My job is to cultivate growth with you, your diverse teams and a roster of suppliers; to truly glue them to deliver. The “Guardian of Soul” with miles on the shop floor doing just that, as my North Star. That’s me.

Bart Van Der Vliet
Founder & Super Glue

Hi there. I’m Bart, 50-something, married with kids. In order to practice what I preach this bit is all about my purpose… “Me”… rather than a tiresome roll call of my 30 years of roles. I work and lead the art of successful branding and organisational change. That rare craft that moves people to run marathons, climb mountains, see the world, work around the clock and shift their thinking. My job transcends the material of a sneaker, outshines the look of an anorak, outperforms the special rims on a car, and should go well beyond today’s stock valuation. The work I have been leading for about 20 odd years is all called Soul. I was lucky enough to learn “soul” a long time ago; when someone offered me a 1000 bucks for my Malboro McLaren sneakers. This defining moment helped me start a strategic brand and e-commerce consultancy at a young age. It helped me steer global brands to more sustainable profits, grow market shares in times of crisis and allign big boardroom egos behind a common goal. It’s also how I helped investors assess the worth of companies, and why I made people believe in their own organisations. “Soul” is also what I use to raise the bar and help people make difficult decisions easily. Soul with constant sense checks. That’s me. But the idea is that “me” fits you. After all, it’s not about us, it’s about you.