How Mash is disrupting the creative industry with borderless talent
What does it take to challenge the traditional agency model and build something truly innovative?
For Tash Menon, the answer lies in borderless teams, diverse perspectives, and a relentless drive for reinvention. From playing Division 1 basketball in the U.S. to working alongside Gordon Ramsay to founding Mash, a global creative agency, Menon’s unconventional path has shaped her leadership style and vision for the future of work.
In the latest episode of The Human Algorithm Podcast, I sat down with Menon to discuss how she’s transforming the creative industry by empowering independent talent and rethinking the role of an agency.
A non-traditional journey to leadership
Menon’s career is a series of bold leaps. She started as a high-performance athlete, transitioned into recruitment and consulting in London, and then managed creative teams for some of the world's most demanding personalities, including Gordon Ramsay.
She describes that experience as her "boot camp in leadership," during which she learned the importance of curating top talent, fostering high-performance teams, and creating an environment where creativity thrives.
Her biggest takeaway? Outstanding leadership is about connection, not control.
Building a borderless creative ecosystem
Menon founded Mash with a simple but disruptive idea: brands no longer need agencies in the traditional sense—they need access to the right talent at the right time, in the right way.
Rather than a rigid agency model, Mash operates as a global network of creative specialists. This allows brands to access highly curated teams that are tailor-made for each project.
This approach challenges the outdated structures of traditional agencies and offers more flexibility, diversity, and efficiency, a model that has proven successful in the fast-evolving Asia Pacific market.
What’s next for the creative industry?
Menon sees the industry at a cultural tipping point. Between the rise of AI, economic uncertainty, and changing workforce expectations, businesses must redefine how they build and engage with talent.
She believes two key trends will shape the future. The first is autonomy: More professionals seek independent, flexible careers over rigid corporate structures. The second is community. While autonomy is valued, creatives crave connection and collaboration, making curated ecosystems like Mash more relevant than ever.
Lessons in leadership and inclusion
As a woman of colour in business, Menon understands the barriers many faces in leadership. But rather than letting those challenges define her, she’s focused on what she can control: creating spaces where talent can thrive, regardless of background.
Her leadership style? Transparency, honesty, and an unwavering belief in the power of collaboration.
Want to hear the full conversation? This episode is exclusively available for paid subscribers of The Human Algorithm Podcast.