Leadership Lesson with Caroline Banoun, SVP – Brand Affairs at Omnicom Reputation Group

Camille Chevallier, Senior Consultant at Hanson Search, sat down with Caroline Banoun, SVP – Brand Affairs at Omnicom Reputation Group, to discuss her career journey, leadership philosophy and the lessons she has carried with her from both agency and in-house roles. She also shares how she encourages talent development and creativity within her teams, creating a culture built on trust, recognition and continuous learning.

How did you first get into communications and what inspired you to pursue it? 

As a Modern Literature graduate, I’ve always been drawn to the power of words and stories to bring people together and inspire change. Early in my career, I realised that communication is much more than creating messages; it’s about shaping perceptions, building trust and creating lasting relationships. It was the chance to make a real difference and that still drives me today. What struck me was that the way a story is told can change how people think and act and I realised that this was a skill I could apply in business and leadership. 

What do you enjoy most about working in brand and corporate engagement? 
What excites me most is where strategy meets creativity. In brand and corporate engagement, it’s not just about helping organisations communicate their purpose, it’s about turning values into actions that resonate with employees, customers and the wider community. Seeing how our work can shape perceptions, both inside a business and in the broader market, is incredibly rewarding. And I find the challenge of aligning brand values with business goals not only exciting but also deeply fulfilling. 

How has your In-House experience influenced your work back in agency life?

Working in-house gave me insight into how communications are perceived internally, the expectations leaders face and the constraints they operate within. When I returned to agency life, I had an understanding of the challenges clients face and a clearer sense of how to deliver solutions that are both strategic and practical. This has made me a better partner and advisor. In-house work also helped me appreciate the long-term vision needed to shape corporate culture and employee engagement. I now bring that perspective to agency projects, ensuring that our work is not only creative but also sustainable and aligned with clients’ long-term goals. 

How would you describe your leadership style and how has it evolved over time?

My leadership style is collaborative and empowering. Early in my career I felt the need to oversee everything, but over time I’ve learned that giving people the space, trust and ownership to thrive is the key to unlocking their best work. I focus on listening, mentoring and providing clarity so my teams can flourish. Leadership is about enabling others to succeed and creating an environment where people feel confident to take risks and make decisions. I have learned that transparency, especially around challenges, helps build trust and a sense of shared responsibility within the team. 

 What is the best leadership advice you have received, or one lesson you wish you had learned earlier?

The best advice I ever received was “Success cannot exist without failure.” I’ve always aimed to deliver to the highest standard, but it’s been the challenges and the lessons that came with them that have given me the most valuable insights and pushed me to grow. Learning to embrace failure marked a turning point in my leadership style. The fear of mistakes can easily hold us back, but once I began to see them as opportunities to learn, I became more resilient and far more open to new ways of thinking and working. 

How do you promote talent development, creativity and growth within your team? 

I believe in giving my team both freedom and support. I encourage them to experiment, challenge their creativity and I provide ongoing feedback along the way. Mentoring is also important to me, and I am involved with the OmniWomen programme at Omnicom, which help people grow both personally and professionally. I make a point of celebrating achievements, big and small, because recognition motivates people to keep striving for excellence. I also encourage continuous learning, whether through training or informal knowledge-sharing, so the team is always exploring new ideas. 

Whether you’re hiring top Public Affairs or Communications talent, or considering your next career move, our team would be delighted to support you.

Camille Chevallier leads the Marketing & Communications European practice, covering Corporate Communications, Consumer PR, Financial Communications, Digital, Branding, Advertising and Crisis Communications.

Hanson Search is a globally recognised, award-winning talent advisory and headhunting consultancy. Our expertise lies in building successful ventures worldwide through our recruitment, interim and executive search in communications, sustainability, public affairs and policy, digital marketing and sales.