Alan Fayolle has never been one to follow a set path. As a Partner at Fearless Union, he thrives on the unknown and welcomes the fresh challenges that land at his doorstep every morning.
Whether guiding his team through uncharted creative territory, tapping into ever-evolving technology, or drawing on a childhood spent adapting to new environments, Alan’s story is one of relentless curiosity, authenticity, and embracing change as a competitive edge.
In this candid conversation, we dig into his journey, his influences, and what it really takes to stay relevant—and fearless—in an industry that refuses to stand still.
Tell us a bit about your role! Is there a “typical” day?
One of the most attractive aspects of this job is there is no typical day. The one consistent part of my day - our morning partners’ kick-start meeting - often impacts the main thrust of what I’ll be focusing on and always takes me to where the biggest challenges or opportunities are. Fearless Union prides itself on being both flexible and responsive and that starts with myself and my partners, and how we work.
What was the biggest challenge in getting to your current position?
I was going to say resilience but on reflection it’s probably adaptability. Although it’s close. The speed of change right now is something else. We choose to deliberately lean into rather than resist everything that comes with change.
For me a central part of my job is understanding where to stick with tried and tested ways of working, and where to tear up the rule book and do things completely differently. With that respect, we’re in unchartered water. But we are steadfast in believing that our desire and ability to adapt gives us a competitive advantage. That’s where the ‘Fearlessness’ comes in.
What is your personal background and what role did it play in your career?
I consider myself very privileged. But I do not come from a middle class background, something that is prevalent in our industry. I came to the UK from Mauritius when I was four and I certainly knew what it felt like to be a little different.
I also knew from an early age that if I wanted to achieve anything, I’d have to do it myself. I am, as a result, very driven. I find a way to make things happen. One of those things is co-founding Fearless Union.
What is your biggest career-related win? What is your biggest loss?
When my Partners and I found out our previous agency had gone into insolvency on very short notice, we worked through the weekend, came up with a plan, and booked a flight to pitch to our first client.
We didn’t know it at the time but we secured our founding client on the very first morning of our very first day as Fearless Union. The rest as they say is history. I don’t think anything will eclipse that moment.
Which individuals and/or agencies do you gain inspiration from? Do you have any heroes in the industry?
VCCP will always hold a special place in my heart. When I joined them they were themselves something of an unknown, and a start-up. I remember asking my recruiter “who?” I think they were about 30 or so strong.
By the time I left, they were already well on their way to becoming the juggernaut they are now. There’s too many incredible people to mention, a lot of them are still there running the show. An incredible alumni and an incredible success story.
An honourable mention also goes to Pablo. Gareth Mercer in particular has been extremely helpful over the last couple of years. Their story and meteoric rise is something we’d love to emulate.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Go. For. It. It’s easy to find reasons not to do something. Sometimes you just have to take the leap. Yes, it could all go wrong but better to try and fail then never know.
I’ve found that the biggest progressions I’ve made have always come off the back of the biggest challenges. Fearless Union is a case in point. I never thought starting an agency at this time would be viable, it’s turned into way more than that: a thriving business.
If you weren’t in your current industry, what would you be doing?
I don’t like to think like that, it almost invites regret. This is what I’m doing. Everything so far has led to this moment. I’m 100% committed to it. I'm more excited by what I’m doing now than ever. There’s no going back now even if I wanted to, so make the most of it.
What’s your one big dream for the future of the industry?
I think creative agencies are undervaluing themselves. I would like to see more confidence and forward-thinking - especially from agencies. The demand from brands remains, but has evolved significantly over the past few years. To meet these shifting demands effectively, agencies must adapt and innovate.
What are your top tips for aspiring creative professionals?
I’ve found quite a few creative people and agencies surprisingly set in their ways. These can be characterised by a defined way of doing things or a particular process, maybe an inhouse style or perhaps an almost evangelical belief that a certain media channel is most effective.
My personal belief is what worked yesterday, might not work tomorrow. Creative professionals need to be more curious than ever before.
What are your top tips for other creative leaders?
I don’t know if I’m qualified to give anyone top tips. I’m still figuring things out myself. What I can say is that finding a way to channel yourself with authenticity in what you do really works for me. Lean into your own personal qualities, be authentic.
When you think about your team, what is the thing that matters to you the most?
Communication and alignment. Without a shadow of a doubt. Everyone at Fearless Union is extremely clear on where we are, where we want to get to, our priorities and what we’re about. It’s a massive advantage. We invest a great deal of time in team communication and as a result are all aligned.
What industry trends do you foresee taking hold in the coming months?
Technology is moving more slowly right now than it will ever move again. Think about that for a second.
AI is currently grabbing all the headlines. It seems likely it’s here to stay and will increasingly impact our industry but beyond that it’s impossible to say.
At Fearless Union we embrace technology and change, because like it or not technology will play an increasingly prominent role in our working lives. Get used to it, find a way to work with it or risk being replaced by it.
What do you think sets apart truly exceptional creatives from the rest of the pack?
I have had the pleasure of working with some absolutely brilliant creative minds over the last few years. Something I see in the truly exceptional creatives I’ve worked with, like our very own Mark Campion, is that they are curious about and into absolutely everything. There’s also a versatility to them that is impressive to say the least.
For example, let’s apply just one lens: media channels. There are so many channels now, a top creative is able to create big platforms that seamlessly deliver across a ridiculous number of them. These are ideas that need to tick an almost endless list of boxes.
How do you think technology has influenced the creative industries and how have you adapted to these changes?
Technology will continue to have a profound impact on the creative industries. Our focus at Fearless Union is leveraging technology to the advantage of our client partners and that means striking a balance between creativity and technology.
Technology is really good at things like crunching data and producing averages, but right now it can’t really do emotion or intuition. By combining creative intuition and the power of technology, we not only adapt to change but can deliver work with vision and purpose.
Importantly we can do this differently to traditional agencies at a different speed and quality, and this has inherent advantages for our client partners.
How do you prioritise self-care and maintain a healthy work-life balance?
I think one of the positive things to come out of the last few years is far more openness and dialogue around self-care and mental health, a big part of which is work-life balance. I used to be terrible with my work-life balance.
I’ve since done a complete U-turn. I now feel strongly that good health is pivotal to optimal work performance, and I like to lead by example by setting boundaries, prioritising exercise, sleep and things like breaks.
All of which I didn’t really do or encourage in the past and all of which cost me. I’m fully converted to a different way of thinking with regards to work-life balance.
How do you handle creative blocks or burnout?
Burnout is recognized as an occupational phenomenon rather than a medical condition, so it has strong ties to the workplace. From what I’ve seen and experienced, it builds up over time.
Obvious things like setting boundaries and good self-care and getting help and support can make an impact. The biggie for me is aligning your work to your values. Doing work that is meaningful and fulfilling, is something I’d recommend.
Do you have any websites, books or resources you would recommend?
I quite enjoy taking insights and thinking from other industries and spaces, and applying it to my day to day. I like to read and listen quite widely beyond brands, advertising and technology. even like to listen to people with beliefs that don’t necessarily align with my own.
A friend recently put me onto Tracey Follows’ podcast “The future of you”. In one episode she talks to an expert in human behaviour Chase Hughes. I found this conversion interesting and equally applicable to both business and managing my young kids - both involve a lot of negotiation!
