Spikes Excitement Talks

In this episode, Gordon hosts Prashant SUkhwani, former VP Marketing at Burger King and now leading the next chapter of his career as Managing Partner, Publicis Digital Experience (PDX), at Publicis Groupe. From selling products in remote villages across India to leading marketing for Burger King India, Prashant has built his career by understanding people, culture and what truly captures attentio...

In this episode, Gordon speaks with Steve Greig, SVP Marketing, Communications & PR at Redwood Credit Union. He has built brands across beer, payments, fintech and financial services, from Heineken and Visa to Redwood Credit Union. Steve reflects on navigating career pivots, building global marketing programs, finding great mentors and why AI is making creativity more valuable, not less. Tune...

In this episode, Gordon is joined by Jim Cervantes, VP Marketing, Crunch, 100G, Raisinets at Ferrero USA, who shares his journey from selling candy at school in Mexico to leading iconic confectionery brands at Ferrero USA. He talks about building brands through curiosity, balancing creativity with commercial discipline, why Ferrero's brand-first culture stands out, and how AI can become a crea...

In this epsiode, Gordon speaks with Andrea Zappolini , Marketing Director, Digital and Commerce Activation at Puma . From childhood inspiration in Italian advertising to leading digital marketing at Puma, Andrea shares the career decisions, mentors and moments that shaped his journey through Nike, Zalando, Adidas, and beyond. The conversation explores sports, e-commerce, AI and why, despite rapid...

In this episode, Gordon is joined by Dirk Schuelgen , Managing Director Marketing International at ALDI Nord . From helping build Electronic Arts during the gaming boom to leading marketing at Nike and ALDI Nord, Dirk has spent his career embracing new industries, new challenges and new perspectives. He shares why growth comes from stepping into the unknown, why customer obsession beats assumption...

In this episode, Gordon welcomes Paolo Narag , Global Brand Director Sheba at Mars , who shares why the future of marketing won't belong to those with the most data, but to those who understand people best. At just 29, Paolo Narag has already built an impressive career, leading global brands at both Procter & Gamble and Mars. From the importance of mentors and courageous career decisions t...

In this episode, Gordon speaks with Fabio Kadow, Global Media Director at Puma. Fabio shares his journey from journalism and Vogue Brazil to leading global media strategy for one of the world's most recognized sports brands. The conversation explores the challenge of aligning global campaigns across more than 30 markets, building influence without command-and-control structures and why sports...

In this episode, Gordon speaks with Olaf Geuer, Group Head of Brand at Swisscom. With a career spanning the BBC, Channel 4, digital innovation, academia and more than 16 years at one of Europe's most respected telecom brands, Olaf brings a unique perspective on the intersection of trust, technology and creativity. The conversation explores how brands can embrace AI without losing authenticity,...

In this episode Gordon sits down with Jakob Edman, Head of Brand at WASA, part of the Barilla Group. From producing shows at MTV to shaping global brands at Red Bull, agencies and now WASA, Jakob shares a refreshingly honest view on career twists, creativity and modern marketing. They discuss why storytelling remains at the heart of great brands, what it takes to make a 100-year-old crispbread bra...

What do Japan, customer centricity, aviation, food innovation and AI have in common? In this episode, Gordon sits down with Catherine Beriere, Head of Insight broad experience from Billion dollar brands to digital first scale-ups and currently Global Insight Lead for Animal and Pet at ADM, to discuss a career built on curiosity, cultural bridges and human-centric growth. From uncovering unmet cons...

In this episode, Gordon speaks with Dominic Grounsell, Chief Revenue Officer at the UK Post Office, about a career shaped by transformation, curiosity and a relentless focus on impact. From starting out at Unilever, where he learned the foundations of brand marketing, to building data-driven growth models at BT and Capital One, Dominic shares how each industry shift sharpened his understanding of...

In this episode, Gordon speaks with Julian Sauer, Head of Marketing at Puma Group about his journey from sports journalism into global sports marketing. He shares how a deep passion for sport, especially basketball, shaped his early path into storytelling and ultimately led him from journalism into communications and marketing roles at Audi, Red Bull and Puma. The discussion explores his experienc...

In this episode, Marcela Gutierrez, Global Head of Digital Analytics & Optimization at Fossil Group, shares how curiosity, continuous learning and taking initiative have shaped her 13-year career journey. From accidentally discovering her passion for analytics to pioneering AI-powered experimentation programs, Marcela explains why the most exciting opportunities often come from creating them y...

In this episode, Philipp Züllich, Global Head of Brand at Deutsche Bank, shares why branding is ultimately about people, stories, purpose and creating meaning. Drawing on experiences from design consulting, agency leadership and now one of the world's most recognized financial institutions, Philipp explores the intersection of strategy, philosophy, creativity and human connection. He explains...

In this episode, Alessandro Panella, Advisory Board Member of Spikes,  speaks with Fabrice Digonnet, EMEA Marketing Director, Transportation & Plastic Business at Dow, about a career built on curiosity, global experience and a deep passion for Material Science, Sustainability and People. From unexpectedly joining Dow in 1995 to working across cultures and leading global innovation projects, Fa...

In this episode, Aidan Beanland, a search industry veteran with nearly three decades of experience spanning the pre-Google era, Yahoo, Silicon Valley and now Optus, explores one of the biggest shifts in digital discovery since the birth of the internet. As search evolves into AI-powered answer engines, Aidan shares his perspective on the rise of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), the challenges...

In this episode, Virginie Berçot, Global Brand Director at AXA, shares her journey from leading strategic and creative work at some of the world's most respected agencies to shaping one of the most ambitious brand transformations in business today. Virginie discusses why she believes creativity is a powerful force for positive change, how brands can connect business, society and customers and...

In this episode, Steph Whitacre, Merchandise Director at Vans, shares her perspective on navigating one of the most transformative periods in retail. From her early days at Bergdorf Goodman and Burberry to leading merchandising at iconic brands, Steph reflects on the growing tension between AI-driven innovation and the enduring importance of product, brand identity and human connection. Tune in to...

In this episode, Tatiana Schoch, Head of Marketing Life & Health Re at Swiss Re, shares her journey from academia and brand management to global B2B marketing in the reinsurance industry. From Hong Kong to Zurich, Tatiana reflects on cultural differences in consumer behavior, the power of storytelling in complex industries and how insurance is evolving from reactive protection to proactive res...

In this episode, Yuri Ezhkov, VP Creative Centre of Excellence at The Estée Lauder Companies, shares his journey from design intern and agency founder to leading global creative transformation. Yuri reflects on the rapid evolution of AI, the importance of prompt engineering and why creativity is still deeply human. From building communities through coffee shops and cosmetics to creating global bra...

In this episode, Laura Sileo Pavat, Global Brand Homes Director at Pernod Ricard, leading the most comprehensive network of spirit venues in the industry. With over 20 years of experience, she drives innovation, brand advocacy and guest experience across 30+ destinations worldwide, bringing energy, vision and bold approaches to the future of experiential transformative tourism. From Scottish disti...

Marketa Kristlova, Marketing Manager for Healthy Biscuits at Mondelēz International, joins Sandra Peat for a conversation about creativity, ambiguity, agility and what it really takes to build relevant brands today. From discovering marketing “by accident” to leading major brand turnarounds at Mondelēz and Müller UK & Ireland, Marketa shares why she’s most energized by undefined challenges, fu...

Dicla Veliz Salce, Global Brand Director for IO Women’s Cancer at AstraZeneca, joins Gordon for a deeply thoughtful conversation about purpose, oncology, behavioral science and why innovation only matters when it changes real lives. From starting in pharma sales “by accident” in Mexico to shaping global oncology strategy, Dicla shares how understanding human behavior has become just as important a...

Matthew Leppanen, Director of Marketing Enablement & Partnerships at Bell, joins Gordon for a conversation about AI, transformation, leadership and why the biggest career opportunities often live in the undefined spaces. From the rise of mobile internet to today’s AI boom, Matthew shares what makes this technological shift different  and why leaders should actively “fill the gaps” instead of w...

Julie Jackson-Jones is Director of Marketing CRM Loyalty & Analytics at EssilorLuxottica, where she works across more than 25 brands shaping customer experience, loyalty and patient journeys. Before that, she built her career across industries including luxury fashion, music, logistics and retail with roles at Bulgari, Robert Graham Designs and more. Her unconventional path — from selling subs...