Digital Cheesecake

In this weeks episode of Digital Cheesecake: The Growth Department, Ellie and Jane bring together digital marketing and luxury events expertise for a no-nonsense breakdown of what brands are still getting wrong with in-person events in 2026. From briefing agencies properly and managing scope creep, to understanding what community-driven events actually look like. This episode covers the conversati...

This week on Digital Cheesecake, Ellie and Jane get into the unglamorous reality of running a business while raising small children. From going back to work one week after giving birth, to juggling work time and toddler time and selling a business on an ultimatum, this episode covers it all. Plus: outsourcing everything you can, running the house like a business, and what it actually means to have...

Jamie Irving is SVP of Digital at Pentland Brands, home to Speedo, Canterbury, Kickers, Endura, Mitre and more. Previously Digital Director at Boden. This episode gets into the commercial reality behind digital marketing at scale. Jamie talks through what it really meant to go from 80 agency clients to a single brand, then to a portfolio of eight. He shares the tech investments that genuinely move...

Peter Dudley joins Digital Cheesecake to discuss the launch of Seek, a platform designed to simplify how businesses find office space by connecting them directly with landlords. After spending 15 years in commercial real estate, Peter saw an opportunity to modernise an industry he believes has been slow to evolve. In this episode we discuss: • The inspiration behind Seek • Why office space is maki...

Paul Canavan joins the Digital Cheesecake hosts at our Live Podcast Event to unpack the biggest challenges facing ecommerce brands today. From rising acquisition costs and customer retention to, Wickes 15 minute fulfilment and the impact of AI on search. This episode explores what separates growing brands from those standing still. If you're responsible for ecommerce, digital growth or custome...

Jack and Sarah break down the biggest recruitment lessons they’ve learned from 15 years working across marketing and digital hiring. In this episode they discuss: • What separates great employees from average ones• Signs of a high-potential candidate• Whether references still matter• Bad hire vs no hire• Why some interview questions feel outdated• Office working vs remote working in 2026• Small de...

Megan Jones is the co-founder of ByBabes, the beauty brand behind the viral lash serum that’s sold over 100k units on TikTok Shop. In this episode, we unpack how ByBabes scaled from an idea into a best-selling ecommerce brand using TikTok Shop as a major growth driver. If you need some mid-week motivation, or want to branch on to Tiktok Shop, this is one you want to watch! 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Ap...

AI search is changing how customers discover brands but maybe not in the way most people think... In this live bonus episode of Digital Cheesecake, we sit down with Garret Cunningham, VP of Global CX at Columbus, to discuss the rise of LLM-driven product discovery, “zero-click” shopping journeys, and what brands need to do to stay visible as customer behaviour evolves. From ChatGPT recommendations...

In this episode, we turn the mics on Jack and Sarah, the founders behind Blu Digital. We skip the small talk and dive straight into the operational frameworks and strategic pivots that have allowed Blu to thrive for 15 years. If you are interested in the reality of career growth at the executive level, this conversation is a blueprint for long-term business building. In this episode: • Dividing th...

Most ecommerce businesses think they’re ready to scale... In this BONUS episode from our Live Podcast Event: 'Preparing For a New Wave of Ecommerce Growth' Steve Webster, Former Ecommerce Director from Barbour, unpacks how growth often exposes the operational cracks already sitting underneath the business. We discuss why so many businesses obsess over ROAS and top-line performance while ig...

In this BONUS audio-only episode from our Live Podcast event, Ellie sits down with industry experts to unpack how ecommerce brands should really be approaching performance marketing in 2026. Topics include: This episode covers: → AI in ecommerce → Performance marketing strategy → Creative testing → LLMs & AI search → Attribution & GA4 → Paid social & paid search → CAC, LTV & ROAS →...

What does it actually take to build a marketplace from scratch? In this episode, we’re joined by Harriet Noy, Founder of Hazaar, a student marketplace connecting brands with Gen Z audiences to sell excess stock through exclusive drops. From early-stage struggles with supply to a full pivot into a B2B model, Harriet shares how staying scrappy and not perfect helped unlock growth. We cover: The pivo...

Everyone sees the household names. But how do you stay at the top? In this episode of Digital Cheesecake, we sit down with Helen Cutmore (Bacardi, ex-M&S) to unpack the real world of global Marketing Leadership. From retail giants to spirits powerhouses, Helen shares the strategic moves that turn a product into a cultural icon. We cover: • The "secret sauce" global brands have that s...

Most people see the brand now. But how did it actually start? In this episode, we sit down with Molly Goddard from Desmond & Dempsey to unpack the real journey behind building a luxury loungewear brand. From failing uni to launching a business, Molly shares what those early months actually looked like and how they turned uncertainty into momentum. We cover: • The reality of starting from scrat...

What does it take to go from CMO to founder? In this episode, Andrew Higgins shares the journey behind building Parsnipp — from the initial idea through to launching in one of the most exciting areas of marketing today. We explore how AI search is evolving, what it means for brands, and why this shift presents a huge opportunity for marketers willing to adapt early. Learn more about Parsnipp here:...

Most businesses don’t have a marketing problem. They have an agency selection problem. We’ve seen it too many times: brands overpaying, underwhelmed when they can't align, and stuck in partnerships that never deliver. In this episode, we unpack what actually makes a great agency relationship work: • Transparency in pricing and expectations (Jack) • Strong communication and knowing when to go in-ho...

Burnout nearly ended Mike Mudie’s corporate career but it also sparked a completely new path. In this episode of Digital Cheesecake, we talk about how stepping away from corporate life led Mike to launch Authentic Brew and rethink how work, energy and wellbeing should fit together. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 02:15 – Early signs of burnout 06:40 – The moment everything changed 11:20 – Life af...

In this episode of Digital Cheesecake, we’re joined by Wizz Selvey, founder of Valerie, to talk about navigating perimenopause while leading, building, and performing in demanding marketing careers. A hot topic as we come down from International Women's Day. Women are often expected to manage symptoms quietly while continuing to perform at the same level professionally but Wizz is challenging...

Ellie is weeks away from giving birthm and simultaneously trying to hand over her entire business. In this weeks episode of Digital Cheesecake, we talk a topic close to our hearts, a raw and honest episode from Ellie on preparing for maternity as a marketing director. We discuss: -Handing your business over -Finding that unicorn hire -Maternity Leave Guilt and much more Is there ever a “right” tim...

Every Founder comes to this decision... In this weeks episode of Digital Cheesecake, we talk: When should you bootstrap and when does investment actually make sense? The real trade-offs between funding and freedom. “If you’re going to invest that money, just don’t expect to see it" 🎧Stream this episode now on:

What’s actually happening in marketing right now? In this episode of Digital Cheesecake, Sarah, Ellie & Jack break down the real trends shaping 2026: Budgets are shrinking. Digital costs are rising. And AI is integrated into almost every platform. #marketing #marketingtrends #marketingideas #marketing #digitalmarketing

In this episode of Digital Cheesecake, we unpack the reality of marketing recruitment in 2026. From the return of senior roles (with a twist), to salary compression, longer hiring cycles, and the growing demand for hands-on leaders, this conversation is a must-watch for marketers and founders alike. We cover: Why £150k+ roles are still rare Mid-level roles becoming hyper-competitive Why CMOs are a...

The move from Marketing Director to Founder is becoming more common but the reasons behind it aren’t always obvious. In this episode, we break down the reality of leaving a senior marketing role to start your own business, including: Why some marketers feel pushed rather than pulled The difference between freedom and full ownership What the first year actually looks like How to know if starting a...

What does it take to drive growth as a CMO in fashion? John Sadeghipoor, former CMO of Lulu Guinness, joins Digital Cheesecake to share real-world lessons from senior marketing leadership roles across fashion, beauty and consumer brands. 🔥 In this episode, we cover: • The strategies that actually scale fashion brands • How to build and structure high-performing marketing teams • In-house vs agenc...

What does it take to lead marketing for a global brand operating across 70+ markets? In this episode of Digital Cheesecake, Nikos Bartzoulianos, Group CMO at Electrolux (2024-2025) , joins the team to share lessons from senior leadership roles. 🔥 In this episode, we cover: • Scaling brands across global markets • Turning functional brands into lifestyle brands • Leadership challenges at enterpris...