Pippa Bhatt, Super Person

Founder of Coterie and Co-founder of MADAM

Super Alumni Pippa Bhatt means business, new and otherwise. She’s a powerhouse in production, matching people with passions, and has been described as a formidable creative fixer. Here, she talks super abilities, how her soon-to-be B-Corp MADAM came to be and shares her passion for elevating women in industry.

How did you carve out your career in the world of New Business?

I worked hard to learn everything I could about my clients, how they worked, what they needed and the product I was marketing. It has always been about understanding strengths and weaknesses — getting to know people and how to make their jobs easier.

What’s been your career highlight so far?

I feel lucky to have traveled the world with my job, for shoots or ad festivals, and to spend my time meeting people and being immersed in creativity. However, being Co-founder of Madam Films with my partners Carly Stone and Michelle Stapleton is such a huge part of my life and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved and learnt so far.

You were nominated for your passion, what are you most passionate about?

Women in industry, definitely! I’m energised seeing women collaborate and rise together. I love working within a creative environment and experiencing the creative process unfold. It’s such a privilege to be here and I’m trying to do the best I can for those around me. It’s a WIP!

In your words, what would you say are your super abilities?

I don’t think I’m fazed by too much and have a blind belief that it’s all possible. I think it may be a “Hell yeah! Let’s do it!” attitude. I like people and I’m so interested to know more. On a good day, I hope that my positivity is contagious.

You’ve been described as a “fixer”, who connects people and their passions. Can you share an example of this?

In new business roles, bringing the right people together for the right project is magic. Pre-pandemic, I hosted the Coterie Chow Pow-Wow, a quarterly(ish) drop in breakfast of women in advertising — creative and production. It was a place to build your network of champions and supporters — find them, be one, and come away with a richer reach of talented women.

What led you to Founding Coterie and Co-founding Madam Films, how do the two go hand in hand?

MADAM came from a desire to balance being a parent with our careers. My partners and I all love our jobs and wanted to continue being a part of the industry and raise families without having to sacrifice.

Before MADAM launched, there was time to make the move and start Coterie, I was the breadwinner, and this gave me the opportunity to continue working in a field I loved whilst MADAM took shape.

Coterie was one of the early adopters of the US style repping system — multiple creative companies represented by one house/person, a departure from the trad in-house. I was interested in representing a variety of curated talent that provided more choice and opportunities. MADAM naturally became part of those same Coterie conversations I was having with clients as a production offering.

What would be your dream project to work on?

Projects with scale and impact excite me. Talented teams of people working in harmonious collaboration to achieve a lasting legacy. Now that sounds like a great place to be.

What are you working on now? What’s next for you?

MADAM’s B-Corp journey is huge for company development. It is bringing every aspect of our business and how we conduct it under the spotlight. It’s proving to be an intensely valuable and educational process, showing us how we can do business well for everyone involved and the positive impact we make across people and planet.

Interview by: Katy Pryer

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