‘On The Sofa’ this month with Laura Gregory – Founding Partner of Great Guns

"What happens when you put one dynamic woman and 5 brilliant men together in one company? You get Great Guns with a PhD - one of the most successful production houses around. With offices in London, Los Angeles and Bangkok; clients like Nike, VW, Boots, Cadillac,  AppealNow, Virgin Trains, HSBC, COI and BBC queuing up to make them their first choice for production.”

SL How did you get to where you are now in your career?
LG By not listening to negative voices and believing that anything is possible.

SL Who is your biggest influence/mentor?  
LG Madonna is a living example that women can grow old disgracefully.

SL  What is the biggest changes in your job?
LG  Looking outside the UK for sources of creativity, revenue and talent.

SL What are your vulnerabilities?
LG Would be answering question like this

SL What key issues do you think you have today re your expertise and 
what you deal with today?  
LG  I have to run a tight ship in order to compensate for the cut in overall profitability on  work.

SL What was the best advice you have ever been given?
LG What doesn't kill you makes you stronger: 

SL Who told you that?
LG Michael Mann when I told him my first company went bust because the in-house accountant was stealing.

SL  What is your advice to anyone setting up in business?
LG  Understand finance and do a realistic business plan.  Never trust in-house accountants or your auditors. None of them have your best interests at heart.  Get a second opinion.

SL What do you see in your crystal ball for the industry?
LG  Change is coming and it's coming fast.  Keep looking behind you.

SL What do you still like to learn?/need to change?
LG I would like to learn calligraphy and change my car. And to never forget that anything bad things happen for a reason.

SL What is your favourite commercial of all time?  
LG Guess 'Cheat' because  I made it happen. My clients were brilliant, and it still  stands out 10 years on. Ridley Scott named it his favourite commerical in the D&AD book.

SL What is your favourite music track and why?
LG . “Indiscretion # 243” by  Aerogramme – because it’s always nice to know that someone else  has a list almost as long as mine. AND  “Where is my mind?” by The Pixies – because I can relate to it. I  lost mine years ago.     AND “Sexy Mutha F****” by Prince – because,  well, isn’t it obvious?

SL And in a commercial?
LG  I’m never quite sure about a lot of the music choices in ads. A good track is often used to hide the lack of an idea.

SL Secret lemonade drinker question – what’s not on the official bio?   
LG I always wished I could... anything... Brown set up the 28 day Detention rule to stop me trying.