Khairul Akbar is a seasoned marketer who doesn’t just survive the industry—he outlasts it. After stints at McCann and Dentsu, he co-founded Popcult, a group of independent agencies that have thrived for over a decade, and Brave & Company, Indonesia’s first real network of independent agencies, where owners actually own and make decisions. He’s picked up plenty of creative awards (yes, judged by humans), including MMAs, and still believes great ideas matter more than vanity metrics. While others chase titles, Khairul builds things that last—even if it means rewriting the rules.