What’s on the minds of Malta’s CEOs? Shannon Weber and Stephen Ellul tell all

In this new series for MaltaCEOs, we’re asking the islands’ top leaders the same simple, broad yet weighty question - what's on your mind? - to uncover a unique platter of insights, strategies, and reflections that shape their leadership.

This week, we hear from Shannon Weber, CEO of A&E Creative Consulting, and Stephen Ellul, CEO of Gen-Z-led marketing agency Growth Bully. One emphasises the power of purpose-driven teams, while the other focuses on leveraging automation to free up creative thinking.

For Ms Weber, success hinges on clarity, culture, and intentionality. “I’ve been thinking about how rare it is to truly love what you do, and who you get to do it with,” she says. “A business with no purpose at its core will always struggle to connect - with talent, customers, and the market.”

Meanwhile, Mr Ellul is redefining efficiency by minimising friction. “Less time firefighting, more time thinking,” he notes. “Automation isn’t just about speed, it’s about preserving energy for what truly matters.”

Two different perspectives, one common thread: the relentless pursuit of meaningful, sustainable growth.

“I’ve been thinking about how rare it is to truly love what you do, and who you get to do it with,” Ms Weber says.

“I consider myself incredibly fortunate to collaborate with a team that’s sharp, creative, and deeply values-driven. That kind of alignment doesn’t happen by accident, it takes clarity, consistency, and the courage to build something that stands for more than just profit.”

“This week, I’ve been consulting with both startups and corporates and one thing keeps showing up: most can’t answer three basic questions. Why do you exist? Who are you really serving? And what impact do you want to make?” Instead of investing in strategy, story, or team culture, too many are outsourcing their thinking and hoping the brand will build itself. It won’t.”

“A business with no purpose at its core, will always struggle to connect with talent, with customers, and with the market,” she finishes.

On the mind of Stephen Ellul is the need to maximise the time of his and his teams' time, so that they can think, as oppose to “firefight”.

“We used to spend hours every week on repetitive, mind-numbing tasks. Now, most of it runs quietly in the background. Bringing automation in-house wasn’t just about efficiency; it was about reducing friction. The kind that chips away at focus, morale, and energy,” he explains.

“We recently hired someone in admin and operations. Explaining the role was a bit surreal: ‘Your job isn’t to do the tasks—just to make sure the systems that do them don’t fall over’.”

“Naturally, there’s still work that needs a human touch. But the shift has been clear. Less time firefighting, more time thinking. And people notice the difference. Not just in output, but in how they feel doing the work.”

Shannon Weber is a seasoned business owner and strategist with 20+ years of experience. She's a trusted collaborator with both leading global brands and innovative startups, offering pragmatic insights into ESG and brand strategy. Her diverse expertise spans multiple industry sectors, including Web3, AI, Venture Capital, Fintech and more.

Stephen Ellul connects businesses and brands with their customers and boosting sales through dynamic B2B and B2C marketing strategies. With over 90 clients served in the past 2 years across diverse industries such as medical aesthetics, reproductive health, hospitality, fitness, e-commerce, real estate, and more, his team proven track record of success, working in marketing, events, social media, and business development.