Spikes Excitement Talks

In this episode, Gordon sits down with Benjamin Lickfett, Global VP of Breakthrough Innovation & Digital Inventions at Diageo — the dream job for anyone passionate about where tech meets culture. From whiskey to Guinness to emerging tech, Benjamin’s career is anything but linear. He shares his journey from international relations at Tufts to startup founder, consultant, and now innovation lead...

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon sits down with Tapas Sharma , Vice President, Marketing and Brand Design Lead at JP Morgan Chase in London. Tapas shares his fascinating journey from a television actor in India to becoming a driving force in brand design across multiple industries. Tapas shares how design is more than aesthetics, it’s a tool to build trust, evoke emotion, and br...

In this episode, Gordon welcomes Scott Redick, Managing Director of Retail Acquisition Strategy and Integration at Charles Schwab. Scott shares how his career—spanning top creative agencies like Heat (now part of Deloitte), Isobar, DDB, and beyond evolved from journalism and PR into a unique strategy role at one of America’s most trusted financial institutions. They explore how Scott’s nonlinear p...

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon sits down with Gina Roughan, Head of Branded Social at Compare the Market—home of the legendary Meerkat campaign. Originally from Durban, South Africa, Gina shares her journey from growing up around journalism to building standout brand content in the UK. Gina reflects on her early career as a music editor in post-apartheid South Africa, her tran...

In this episode, Gordon sits down with David Jacobson , Global Senior Director of Segmentation and Culture Insights at The Coca-Cola Company . From his early days handing out flyers for a Portland bar to helping shape the cultural footprint of one of the world’s most iconic brands, David shares a fascinating journey through storytelling, innovation, and insight. An expansive conversation on how ad...

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon dives deep into the eclectic and inspiring journey of guest Michael Gross , a music supervisor and creative force who's left his mark at some of the most influential names in advertising and tech— TBWA\Chiat\Day , Droga5 , Google , Twitter , and now as a partner at Squeak E. Clean Studios . Michael shares how his first break came not through a CV...

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon sits down with Donata Peksa , Head of Brand Experience at HSBC, one of the world’s most recognized banks. With over 15 years at HSBC and a rich background that spans economics, marketing, and international roles, Donata brings a unique perspective on navigating brand leadership through organizational transformation. They talk about her journey fr...

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon welcomes Ewelina Kawnik, Regional Marketing Director for North Region at EssilorLuxottica – the powerhouse behind iconic brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada Eyewear, and more. With an impressive career spanning nearly two decades in giants like Unilever and Heineken, Ewelina shares what it’s like to pivot into a completely new industry — from glob...

In this episode of Excitement Talk, Gordon sits down with Terry Seitz, whose career spans two decades across top agencies like IPG, Grey Group, PhD, and a transformative 12-year run at Visa as Vice President of North America Marketing. Terry shares his journey from aspiring artist to marketing leader, weaving through agency life, multicultural marketing, media strategy, and business school. They e...

 In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks, Gordon sits down with David Rosenberg — CMO / CXO, a brand builder and innovation strategist whose career spans from the golden era of ad agencies to the cutting edge of Amazon Health, currently leading the product management. David’s journey is anything but conventional: from early days at JWT and LBI to launching a startup in the wild west of digital...

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon is joined by Janice Pollard — Fractional CMO and a powerhouse in the world of brand storytelling and marketing Janice has shaped narratives for some of America’s most iconic brands. They dive into Janice’s early fascination with advertising sparked by a 60 Minutes feature, her first steps in the agency world, and the bold moves that propelled her...

In this episode, Gordon sits down with Ard Bossema,  CMO, Director of Marketing & Strategy at Asahi Europe & International. Ard brings a wealth of experience from the world of beer, brand building, and international marketing—alongside stories from Unilever, SAB Miller, and personal aha moments. They dive into the “good old school” of marketing at Unilever and how beer brands help shape re...

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon and Simon Walter, Chief Strategy Officer at Project A Ventures, dive deep into the concept that innovation is the only solution we have. Simon emphasizes that innovation doesn’t just happen within companies, but within ecosystems, where diverse players like startups, universities, investors, and consultancies come together to drive change. Simon...

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon chats with Elena  Taraskina Ohannessian, Head of Brand & Communication at Octopus Energy France. From Unilever to L'Oréal to co-founding her own branding agency, Elena’s journey is full of bold moves, emotional marketing, and plenty of unexpected turns. She shares what it was like to go from being the “Queen of Meatballs” at Unilever—wher...

In this episode of Excitement Talks , Gordon sits down with Luke Forshaw, Head of Brand Marketing UK at Back Market. Luke shares his journey through the world of marketing, from early aspirations of becoming a writer to working with some of the most iconic brands, including Apple, Beats, and Universal Music. They explore the evolution of consumer behavior—how buying second-hand went from niche to...

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon sits down with Adam Morgan, Founder and Chair of Eat Big Fish and a pioneer of challenger brand thinking as Brand and Marketing Consultant. They dive into what it truly means to be a pirate in the navy—how to push boundaries within large organizations without unleashing chaos. Adam shares insights on structuring challenger cultures, drawing from...

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks, Gordon sits down with the brilliant Lucy Jameson—strategist, agency founder, and one of the most respected voices in the industry. Lucy shares how she stumbled into advertising simply because it started with an “A” in the Oxford career guide, and how that serendipitous choice turned into a lifelong passion and career. From her early days at the legendary...

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks, Gordon sits down with Lisa Steinhauer, Head of Customer Experience and Digitalization at BMW, to explore how digital transformation is reshaping one of the world’s most iconic automotive brands. Lisa shares why India is the most exciting market on the horizon, how working across diverse regions—from Chennai to Cape Town—offers a new lens on customer beha...

In this episode of  Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon sits down with Florian Scheiblbrandner, Head of Insights & Creation at Allianz. With a career spanning photography, brand strategy, and creative leadership—across industries as diverse as lingerie and insurance—Florian shares his unconventional journey through the world of marketing and innovation. They explore the intersection of creativity...

In this episode of  Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon sits down with Rob Bagot, founder of Story Machine and former Global Chief Creative Officer at McCann. With a career spanning some of the most legendary agencies—including Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Ogilvy, and Hill Holliday—Rob shares his incredible journey through the world of advertising, from writing for Apple at BBDO to leading crea...

In this episode of  Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon sits down with John Constantinou, Head of Brand at Tesco, whose career has spanned some of the most iconic brands—from PlayStation and Electronic Arts to Orange and Tesco. With a passion for customer-centric marketing, John shares his journey from shaping global sponsorship strategies to leading one of the UK’s biggest supermarket brands. They d...

In this episode of  Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon sits down with Karl Isaac and Valerie Carlson—two creative powerhouses with distinct career paths that have led them to the top of the industry. Karl, a former global brand leader at eBay and Adobe, has shaped the way brands tell their stories, while Valerie has made her mark as a top agency executive, driving creativity at scale. They discuss t...

In this episode of  Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon sits down with Christophe Poirier, Chief New Concept Officer at KFC, whose career spans leadership roles across Publicis, McCann, AIG, and Yum! Brands. With a track record of reinvention and bold decision-making, Christophe shares his journey from advertising to shaping the future of global brands. They dive into the mindset of disruptors, the p...

In this episode of  Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon sits down with Joe Goldberg, Head of Brand Strategy at Santander UK and a member of the bank’s Global Brand Council. From his early days in politics and consulting to shaping brand strategy at major agencies like Engine UK, Joe shares his unique perspective on how brands win hearts and minds. They dive into his early marketing lessons at Mars, w...

In this episode of  Spikes Excitement Talks , Gordon sits down with Gui Pasculli, Global Head of Culture and Partnerships at The Absolut Group. With a career spanning some of the most creative agencies—including BBH, 72andSunny, and Wieden+Kennedy—Gui shares his journey from client-side marketing at Unilever to shaping cultural impact for global brands. They discuss the power of brand storytelling...