The Persuasion Game

In this episode, Adam and Laura welcome back Julian Gomez to the podcast to discuss portfolio strategy, focusing on his extensive experience as CMO of Unilever's beauty and personal care business. The conversation deep dives into the importance of creativity and passion in building successful brands, how internal politics and emotions affect strategy, and the critical balance between logic and mag...

In this episode of The Persuasion Game, hosts Simon and Adam sit down with Julian Gomez, a highly experienced senior marketer, to discuss the crucial topic of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in marketing. They explore Julian's wealth of experience with DEI marketing initiatives from his role as CMO for Unilever's beauty and personal care brands across 40 markets in EMEA and ANZ. They discus...

In this thought-provoking episode, hosts Laura and Simon sit down with Poppy Mardall, founder of Poppy's Funerals, a company redefining funeral care with empathy, individuality, and transparency. Funeral care is an industry with some of the most deeply entrenched traditions, but Poppy’s Funerals is doing things differently. Poppy shares her approach to empowering grieving families, her dedication...

In this episode of The Persuasion Game, Laura talks with Nick Manning, co-founder of Manning Gottlieb, and Caroline Marshall, former editor of Campaign, about the rapidly changing advertising landscape and discusses their pioneering 'Advertising: Who Cares?' initiative. This wide-ranging conversation explores the evolution of digital platforms, the impact on traditional media, and the importance o...

In this insightful episode, hosts Adam and Laura sit down with Selina Sykes, Global Lead for Digital, Media, and Commerce at Unilever. They delve into the essence of partnerships, storytelling, and leadership in the modern business landscape. Selina shares her journey from a psychology student to a leader in digital marketing and discusses the importance of empathy and compassion when driving succ...

In this podcast episode, hosts Adam and Laura engage in a lively conversation with Imme Ermgassen, co-founder of Botivo, a non-alcoholic, “big sipping” aperitivo. They discuss Imme’s unique approach to brand building including breaking the non-alc category rules by creating a pleasure-focused product. She discusses the challenges in educating consumers and category buyers and the tactics she has u...

In this insightful episode, hosts Laura and Simon discuss sustainability with Joss Ford, founder of Enviral, a communications agency dedicated to combatting boring sustainability stories. Joss shares his journey into sustainability, the challenges of effectively communicating it, and the importance of integrating it into business strategies.  They explore the dynamics within NGOs and corporations,...

In this festive episode of The Persuasion Game, hosts Laura and Adam embark on a Christmas special where they tackle some common festive dilemmas but with a twist - they’ll be using marketing insights from past guests.  Drawing on their discussions with previous pod guests Jane Buck, Grant Mckenzie, Paul Thomas, Katie Evans, Nick Graham and Alex O’Rourke they explore family traditions, gifting, cr...

In this episode of The Persuasion Game, Laura Halliday and co-host Adam Rowles interview Jane Buck, Global Head of Innovation at Cadbury.  Jane is a seasoned expert in innovation with an extensive background at major brands including Mondelez and Unilever where she launched and scaled the €1BN+ personal care brand Love Beauty & Planet Jane discusses her unique approach to brand development, explai...

In this episode, Laura Halliday and co-host Adam Rowles are joined by Nick Graham, an esteemed leader with senior roles at PepsiCo North America and Mondelēz. Nick shares his expertise on how iconic brands like Pepsi and Cadbury have adapted their strategies to stay relevant in a fast-changing world. They explore the power of nostalgia, storytelling, and emotional connection in creating meaningful...

In this episode, Laura Halliday and co-host Adam Rowles discuss some of Burger King’s most impactful marketing campaigns with Katie Evans, Chief Marketing Officer of Burger King UK.  Operating in the highly competitive UK quick service restaurant sector, Katie shares how Burger King behaves like a challenger brand to create maximum impact with its communications versus its competitors with much la...

In this episode, Simon and Laura are joined by marketing professional Grant McKenzie to explore the evolution and innovation in the world of alcohol-free beverages. The conversation covers overcoming market skepticism, strategic rebranding, and positioning non-alcoholic beers as positive lifestyle choices linked to sports and health benefits.  They also delve into future trends, including regional...

In this episode, Simon and Laura are joined by Alex O'Rourke, co-founder of Locksmith and experienced marketer. Together, they explore the challenges and strategies of self-promotion and navigating societal barriers as a woman in the workplace. Alex shares her knowledge as a transformational life coach and delves into issues including the importance of creating a personal narrative.  With insights...

In this episode, Simon and Laura dive into the evolving premium spirits category to learn about the consumer motivations behind alcohol purchasing decisions. They are joined by Paul Thomas, International Insight Director and Global Head of Shopper Insight at Suntory, who shares insights on consumer planning, luxury goods spending, and brand marketing strategies.  Paul discusses how consumer behavi...

Coming soon, a brand new podcast all about the secrets of persuasion and how it shapes consumer behaviour, fuels business growth, and sharpens marketing skills. Hosts Laura Halliday and Simon Garnett from The Forge chat with those who have mastered the art of influence. Learn the tactics, stories, and strategies that will help you become a more effective marketer and business leader.