On Strategy Showcase

We're joined by Danielle Hawley, Head of Global Brand for Uber and Celia Garforth, Head of Strategy at the Special Group. We talk about the new work and the unlock that drove its original creation. Thanks to the Master of Advertising Effectiveness program (MAE) for sponsoring this episode. More at MAE.academy.

Jonnie Cahill, CMO and Timothy Bodart CFO, of Heineken USA join me to talk about why their relationship works, how they got there, and advice they have for others. This series is sponsored by Analytic Partners (the leader in commercial analytics.) Learn more at www.analyticpartners.com/onstrategy

In this last episode in the series, we focus on mature brands (grown-ups) and how they manage for growth and shifts in their competitive landscape. We're joined by Smirnoff Vodka's Global SVP, Stephanie Jacoby, Domino's Pizza's SVP, Chief Brand Officer, Kate Trumbull, and Land O'Lakes SVP and CMO, Heather Malenshek. Thanks to Tracksuit (the affordable brand tracking soluti...

"How did the world's greatest love story become known as a hate group?" That was the question the client posed. We've seen the Super Bowl spots. It's a strikingly honest $100m campaign designed to bring skeptics back to Jesus. It's had over 3 billion video views with 73% aided awareness in the U.S. I talk with the organization's CEO, Ken Calwell.

With $1.65 billion in revenue in 2023, YETI has built its business by allowing people to get out into the wild. But YETI’s wild is not the wild of extreme sports and caffeine-fueled energy. It’s a more quiet, reflective wild. An almost spiritual wild. And it's all done in-house. Thanks to the Master of Advertising Effectiveness (MAE) program for sponsoring this episode.

With a brand platform of "Breaking the Rules for Good," Dave's could have gone purpose-first with its founder's backstory of incarceration. But now that Dave is no longer part of the business, a shift is occurring.  Thanks to Tracksuit (affordable brand tracking for modern-day brands) for sponsoring this episode.

Gina teaches ethnography to MBA students at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. We talk about the importance of adding understanding to knowledge in business and life. Thanks to the Master of Advertising Effectiveness (MAE) program for supporting our show.

Scale-Ups Liquid Death and Canva join us. One has been brand-first from the beginning, the other later using brand to expand into new audiences. While they come from different categories, they’ve a shared belief: an emphasis on earned and shared versus paid. And both create their campaigns internally. Thanks to Tracksuit (affordable brand tracking for modern-day brands) for sponsoring this series.

A fantastic conversation this week. So much is changing in terms of streaming consolidation, content, branding and pricing. I'm joined by Michael Beach, CEO of Cross Screen Media in Washington DC. to discuss what exists today and what lies ahead. Thank to the Master of Advertising Effectiveness (MAE) program for sponsoring this episode. 

Start-Ups are the focus of this first episode. We discuss the degree to which marketing and brand are factors in creating growth at this early stage. And about the importance of partnerships and product/market fit. Guests are Kathryn Winokur of Hally Hair, Imme Ermgassen of Botivo drinks and Jessica Klimczak, formerly of Entain. Thanks to Tracksuit for sponsoring this three episode series. Info at...

Being synonymous with small resulted in newer, larger models being overlooked. We talk with Jonny Ewles of Media. Monks, London about the UK's APG award winning campaign for the MINI Clubman.

Steve and Ed are each unique and prolific voices in our industry. We talk about how our new realities are a stage not just for change, but for opportunity.  Thanks to the Master of Advertising Effectiveness Program for sponsoring.

In this final episode, we talk about Connections Planning from the media agency perspective. We're joined by Jon Gittings, International Head of Strategy at Wavemaker, LA, Eliza Kaplan , Exec. Dir. Global Strategy at OMD, NY and David Broad, Fmr. Marketing Strategy Director at Spotify. Thanks to WARC for sponsoring this three episode series. 

The streaming platform's CMO, Nicole Parlapiano and Mischief's EVP, Strategy, Ed Gunn share the story behind their famous "Find Your Rabbit Hole" campaign and where it's headed. Thanks to the Master of Advertising Effectiveness Program for sponsoring.

In Ep#2, we talk about how connections planning  is earning its seat at the table. We're joined by department heads Stephanie Ehui of TBWA Chiat/Day, Los Angeles, Jonathan Daly of Johannes Leonardo, NY,  Annex88's Brandon Solis. Thanks to WARC for sponsoring this three episode series. 

For the third year, columnist and marketing professor, Mark Ritson shares his Top 10 Marketing Moments of the year. These are marketing moments, not simply advertising moments. We talk about each and why they mattered.  

Brian Brydon, SVP, Head of Comms Strategy for Publicis, Enda Conway, Head of Connections Strategy for BBDO, NY and Ben Nilsen, Head of Media Strategy for Droga5 NY,  join me for Ep#1 to talk about the importance of Connections Planning in the ever increasing canvas of marketing strategy. Thanks to WARC for sponsoring this three episode series.

Uber Eats are the 800 lb gorilla, but may be vulnerable. Rob Campbell of ColensoBBDO and Jean Mexted of Delivereasy talk about how they've defended against the intruder and just delivered their seven millionth order.

The real story behind "You're not you when you're hungry." MARS Wrigley's Chief Brand Officer, Rankin Carroll and BBDO's Global CSO on MARS and PepsiCo, James Miller share the backstory and its evolution across 15 years.

Is America truly lagging behind the rest of the world in its understanding and application of marketing effectiveness principles? We talk about what Mark wrote in his Marketing Week column that caused quite a stir. Thanks to the Master of Advertising Effectiveness (MAE) program for sponsoring our show.

A 2023 APG Gold award winner, the Replens brand shines a spotlight on the strategic importance of understanding human psychology in consumer research. We're joined by Kit Altin, Chief Strategy Officer at The Gate, London. Thanks to The Masters of Advertising Effectiveness Program for sponsoring this episode.

Our guests are from ADWEEK top agencies, Jeff McCrory, CSO, MischiefUSA,  Lee Maicon, CSO, The Community and John Doyle, EVP Brand Strategy at Colle McVoy. We talk about whether strategy is adding value when so much is so unimpressive and about the need for the U.S. to establish universal effectiveness principles.  Thanks to Tracksuit and WARC for sponsoring this series.

From “It Pays to Discover” to “Especially for Everyone,” Discover is banking on the democratization of specialness to attract a new set of customers. CSO, Jen Costello and Group Brand Strategy Director, Steph Berenson join me from TBWA/Chiat/Day Los Angeles. 

Our guests are Dan Hill, Global CSO, Wieden+Kennedy, Melle Hock, U.S. CSO, Edelman and Kim Einan, Global CSO for Starcom. We talk about the importance of truth and the dangers of strategy becoming too “distinct” a department.  Thanks to WARC and Tracksuit for sponsoring this three episode series.

David Gluckman has written a book about his years developing products and ideas for Diageo/IDV. Dozens of origin stories are in his book "That Shit Will Never Sell." He's a terrific story teller. He shares a few of them in this week's episode.