Founder & CEO, MadeBrave | Creative Entrepreneur | Public Speaker | Podcast Host | Brand Expert
Everyone
has a story.
The brave
ones choose
to tell it.
I help leaders, & teams unlock creativity, confidence, and the courage to go out and build brave brands worth believing in.
Let’s Scroll 👇
Inspire Creativity (and Bravery) in Everyone. Inspire Creativity (and Bravery) in Everyone. Inspire Creativity (and Bravery) in Everyone.
Inspire Creativity (and Bravery) in Everyone. Inspire Creativity (and Bravery) in Everyone. Inspire Creativity (and Bravery) in Everyone.
Trusted by the World’s leading brands
My Story
Hey, I’m Andrew Dobbie - Brand Founder, Creative Leader, Public Speaker, and someone who's spent his
whole life asking a big question.
Not many people know this, but I wasn't born Andrew Dobbie. I was born Steven Jaques and adopted at 30 days old. That experience shaped the question I've carried ever since: Is creativity in our DNA, or is it something we unlock through the way we're nurtured?
That question has influenced everything I've built since.
In 2011, when my son Fin was just two weeks old, I left my job with £1,000 in my bank — my last wage. Naive? Absolutely. Brave? Definitely.
Luckily for me, my bravery paid off.
Since then, I’ve built MadeBrave, one of the UK’s Top Independent Brand & Creative Agencies — a multi-million-pound business working with some of the world’s leading brands, while helping entrepreneurs build brave brands of their own..
Along the way, we’ve been named one of the Top 100 Small Companies to Work For in the UK by The Sunday Times, Best Places to Work by Campaign Magazine, and listed among The Drum’s Top 100 Independent Agencies.
My guiding purpose has never changed:
To Inspire Creativity
(and bravery) in everyone
Now, I share what I’ve learned about creativity, business and building belief — because I want you to know that you too can build a brand people will truly believe in.
I do Public Keynotes & Workshops that get people thinking differently.
They’re high-energy, practical, and full of human stories designed to inspire creativity, confidence & courage.
Your team or audience will laugh, learn, & leave fired up to do brave work that actually makes a difference to your business, your brand & your bottom line.
Read enough already?
Public Speaking
& Workshops
Energise your team or audience. Unlock their creativity and build a braver brand.
Bring your event, offsite, or leadership day to life with talks that create real change.
In my talks, I combine creative storytelling (and a little bit of magic) with practical insight to help people see what's possible when they believe in themselves. I’ll ignite creativity, build confidence, and give your team or audience the courage to act on bold ideas and become the best version of themselves!
Every talk is tailored to the room — so it connects with your audience, your goals, and the challenges your people or audience face every day. They'll leave re-energised, refocused, and ready to be 1% more creative and brave every single day.
Popular Talks
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The Magic of Creativity
Creativity isn't random — it's something you can nurture, train, and grow. Andrew shares his personal story of being adopted at 30 days old and how it shaped his understanding of nature versus nurture — and how belief, courage, and curiosity create the perfect conditions for ideas to flourish.
He reveals how being intentional about your environment, shaping your culture, and putting yourself in a position to get lucky can make those magic moments happen more often than they don't.
Expect emotion, insight, and a few unexpected sparks of magic.
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Playing it safe is the biggest risk of all.
Andrew shares how courage transformed his life — from starting a business with £1,000 and a newborn son at home, to building a multi-million-pound creative agency. This talk helps teams and leaders embrace uncertainty, act boldly, and build cultures where bravery drives growth.
Along the way, Andrew shares the lessons (and failures) from growing his own brand and scaling brands around the world — proof that fortune really does favour the brave.
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Turn storytelling into your superpower — in sales, leadership, and brand building.
Andrew shows teams how to find and tell the stories that build connection and belief — from personal brand to business purpose. This talk is about the power of personal branding and how it can give you an unfair advantage in life and at work.
Practical, inspiring, and packed with real tools you can use immediately to communicate better.
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In a world where people are picking sides — all in on AI or all in on human creativity — maybe the answer is both?
Andrew reveals how to mix human imagination with artificial intelligence to create work that feels more human, not less. This talk inspires teams with practical AI tools, creative examples, and an honest look at what technology means for the future of brands, culture, and creativity itself.
The future isn't AI versus humans. It's AI amplifying what makes us human.
Brave people don’t overthink it.
They click buttons.
Pssst, down here... If you’re thinking about booking me for your conference or event, I’ll create something tailored to your audience and goals. And I promise to bring bucket-loads of energy, honesty, and enthusiasm. And yep, I’ll jump on a plane if you need me to.
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![Marion Barlos DXC Technology]()
“When Andrew spoke at our company, DXC Technology, he delivered an authentic and powerful talk about creativity, drawing from his personal journey in ways that resonated deeply with our team. His ability to weave vulnerability and business insight together creates truly memorable experiences for audiences.”
Marion Barlos
DXC Technology -
![Richard Muir, Deputy CEO, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce]()
"Andrew is a brilliant speaker with such an authentic and genuine story to tell which will resonate widely at home and abroad with a huge variety of audiences. He’s a master of many trades and a natural story teller with the magic touch."
Richard Muir
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce -
![Rachael Arnold]()
“Inspiring is often over used when it comes to listening to keynote speakers, but not when it comes to Andrew. He’s funny, smart, engaging, very knowledgeable, oh and utterly inspiring. ”
Rachel Arnold
Creative Entrepreneurs Club -
![Graeme Atha, CEO, The Marketing Society Scotland]()
"Andrew is one our of most impressive speakers on marketing and branding. He speaks with both passion and intelligence using great case studies and inpires his audiences with useful guidance."
Graeme Atha
The Marketing Society -
![A woman with black hair and a white blouse sitting at a desk with a laptop and a smartphone, in front of a large screen displaying a presentation.]()
“You really brought the magic to the event, and the feedback we’ve had since has been fantastic. Your energy and approach made it a fun, engaging and memorable for everyone in the room.”
Kerry McFarlane,
Scottish Creative Network -
![Beth Wilson INTL]()
“You're a total legend! It was an honour to have you involved in International Assembly. We are super happy with it all and lots of people are saying it was the best year yet.”
Beth Wilson
INTL Festival -
![Louise Burrett]()
Andrew was an incredibly engaging speaker at our conference. His session was full of fascinating insights that hooked the audience and offered fresh new perspectives.
Louise Burrett
Pharma Social Media Conference
Ever wondered what goes on inside the minds of the World’s leading Brand & Creativity experts?
I’m also the host of ‘Just a Chat With’ — a podcast where I sit down with the most inspiring leaders in branding, creativity, and culture.
I get to dig behind the scenes of how the World’s best ideas are made — exploring the stories, mindsets, and moments that shaped them.
Guests include:
Chris Do (The Futur), Marty Neumeier (The Brand Gap), Debbie Millman (Design Matters), Claude Silver (VaynerMedia), Lars Bastholm (ex-Google CCO), Noah Klocek (Pixar), and Danny Campbell (Host on BBC’s Home of the Year), Michael Wolff (Wolff Ollins), Adam Morgan (Adobe) and loads more!
Don’t grow up, it’s a trap.
When I’m not busy building brands, I love nothing more than spending time with my son, Fin — where I’m the least-talented half of @EntertainingDad, TikTok’s favourite father-and-son duo.
What started as a few daft ideas together during the pandemic turned into more than 300 million views across our videos, a global audience, and even a remake from Will Smith (we’re still getting over it 😅).
We’re all just kids at heart — some of us are just better at pretending to be adults than others. Entertaining Dad is our reminder that creativity starts with curiosity, play, and not taking life (or yourself) too seriously.
Along the way, I’ve learned what makes content connect — how to tell stories that spark emotion, build community, and go viral for all the right reasons.
Now, I share those lessons with brands, leaders, and creators who want to do the same.
Work with me
Book me to speak at your next event, run a creative workshop with your team, or work one-to-one to sharpen your story, strategy or creative thinking.
And if you need the full creative firepower, MadeBrave® can help you build or relaunch your brand from the inside-out.
Ways to work with Andrew Dobbie
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High-energy talks that inspire creativity, bravery, and new ways of thinking. Tailored to your audience — full of real human stories, laughs, and lessons that will turn into action. I’m available to travel globally for your event.
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Hands-on sessions designed to spark ideas, build confidence, and get teams creating together. Packed with energy, collaboration, and inspiration — perfect for marketing teams, leadership off-sites, or teams who needs a creative kickstart.
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Looking for a guest for your podcast? I share real stories about building a multi-million-pound brand from £1,000 and a newborn — plus what being adopted taught me about creativity, courage, and the power of shared belief.
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Refocus, reposition, or rebuild your brand from the inside-out. I’ll help you uncover what you stand for — and show and inspire you how to bring it to life.
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Have a big idea — or no idea at all? These personal sessions are for anyone who wants to think braver, get unstuck, and move forward with confidence. Whether you’re leading a team, building a brand, figuring out what’s next — or just want to pick my creative brain — it’s a safe space to get clarity, direction, and honest advice on creativity, leadership, and strategy.
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Board experience includes Park Circus — representing over 25,000 films from major Hollywood and UK studios — TRC Media, developing the next generation of creative leaders, and the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, supporting business growth and innovation.
I’m also an ambassador for The Social Hub and The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, and a board advisor to Danny Campbell (BBC Home of the Year judge) and HOKO Design.
If you need someone to inject brand expertise, creativity, and fresh thinking into your board — it’s me.
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Need the full creative power of a creative team? Brief my agency MadeBrave® to create your brand, refresh your story, or create world-class campaigns that will grow your business.
FAQs
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I tailor every talk to your needs — from punchy 30-minute keynotes to full-day workshops. The most popular format is 45 minutes with Q&A, but I'm flexible. Tell me what works for your agenda.
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Yes — I'm based in Glasgow, Scotland but available globally. I've spoken everywhere from London to Lithuania. Just factor in travel time for scheduling.
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I do, though I believe the magic happens in the room. That said, I've delivered high-energy virtual sessions that really land. We can discuss what format works best for your event.
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Absolutely. Every talk is tailored to your audience and their challenges.
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Drop me an email or fill out the contact form. Let's have a chat about what you need. Every great moment starts with a conversation.
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Definitely. I actually love when talks are filmed — it helps spread the message further. Whether you want it for internal training, social posts, or a sizzle reel, I'm happy to discuss. Just let me know your plans beforehand so we can make sure the footage works for both of us.