Oliver McAteer, Partner and Head of Development at Mischief @ No Fixed Address, is reimagining what creative bravery looks like in today’s ad world. As part of the founding team behind one of the most awarded agencies of the last five years, Ollie has helped turn viral moments into business momentum and cemented Mischief’s unignorable culture. 

‍

In this episode, we cover how Mischief campaigns have gone viral for all the right (and sometimes unexpected) reasons, the strategic methods behind the madness, why playing it safe can be dangerous, plus so much more. Here are the highlights.

‍

Mischief’s calculated chaos strategy

‍

Not every campaign goes exactly to plan. And sometimes? That’s the plan.

‍

One of the first ‘stirs’ to put Mischief on the map was its campaign for RepresentUs. Here, Mischief used deepfakes of Putin and Kim Jong-un to deliver a wake-up call about the state of American democracy. It was slated to air during an election debate, but networks pulled it at the last minute. Rather than crumble, Mischief doubled down on paid social, and their videos went viral.

‍

They reframed the campaign’s message around censorship, fear, and the risk of being unignorable. So, the TV blackout didn’t kill the campaign. It made it louder. The massive success inspired Mischief not to fear unexpected reactions but lean into them.

‍

What it takes to create a stir

‍

Mischief isn’t for the faint of heart. Ollie makes that clear. The agency’s name isn’t a vibe, it’s a filter. When a client gets in the room, they know what they’re in for: audacity with strategy baked in. You’re not there to color inside the lines.

‍

The journey to a head-turning campaign is highly collaborative. Mischief listens to their clients needs and understands the brand goals. Ollie says, “by the time we get to the creative execution, it just looks like the natural conclusion to all the homework we've done together.” Even the boldest idea starts from a sound strategy, not pure shock.

‍

What Mischief runs on

‍

“Here are the keys, Ollie, drive the car.” Those were some of the first words Ollie heard during his onboarding at Mischief. Despite it being his first time working at an agency, Mischief's trust from the get-go showed Ollie that it was an environment unshackled by fear and judgment. A safe place for dangerous ideas. That ideology is still a key driver for the agency.

‍

Mischief’s trust isn’t given lightly, however. Before coming aboard, the agency takes significant time assessing talent and opportunities. One wrong hire, one toxic client, one bad-fit pitch can drain morale, erode momentum, and kill the very spark that makes the agency special.

‍

Mischief’s pitch mindset

‍

Born in the height of the pandemic, Mischief was virtual from day one. Many of the original team members hadn’t even met in person until a year into the agency’s existence. And yet, the bond was instant. Strong. Real. Ollie chalks it up to a shared mission and a no-BS approach to the work. And that’s the attitude they bring when pitching their clients. Ollie explains that pitching virtually “stripped away all the theater... all the everything. It was just people on a screen and their thinking.”

‍

Mischief’s pitch formula is straightforward: Be real, be accessible, and don’t bait-and-switch. Clients meet the actual team they’ll work with, including heavyweights like Greg Hahn and Bianca Guimaraes. The leaders have their hands in the work, they aren’t there just for show. What you see is what you're going to get, so you can be confident when deciding whether or not it’s a good fit. 

‍

That’s not all…

Want to hear more from Ollie? Like his favorite non-Mischief campaign? Or whether or not Mischief’s strategy team really presents 24 briefs to Greg Hahn before he signs off? Catch the full episode on YouTube, and don’t miss the end where Ollie reveals the media legend he’d most like to catch a Coors with. As always, drop your favorite takeaways on our social posts and leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. See you next month. 👋‍

‍

ABOUT THE QUESTION EVERYTHING PODCAST

Part interview, part therapy, part Price Is Right, the Question Everything podcast puts your favorite CMOs and thought leaders in the hot seat. That means while they're facing off against our game board, you'll learn from the successes and failures of the best in the biz who were daring enough to be curious.