The Ad Podcast

Executive Profile: Sam Lewis Current Role: Senior Vice President (SVP), Creative & Media (Americas) at DEPT® Industry Focus: Brand Strategy, Integrated Marketing, AI & Digital Transformation Sam Lewis is a seasoned marketing transformation specialist and executive with over 20 years of experience building integrated agency models that merge creative storytelling, media, and technology. The...

Michael "Mike" Pratt is an entrepreneur, technology executive, and the Founder, President, and Host of Digital Fight Club (DFC) . Digital Fight Club: Founded by Pratt in 2015, Digital Fight Club is a highly popular, fast-paced live event series designed to replace boring, dry corporate panels. It pits top technology gurus, CEOs, and cybersecurity experts against each other in a metaphori...

Stevan Popovich is a prominent retail and corporate leader in the powersports industry. He serves as the President and Chief Retail Officer of Cycle Gear, America's largest retailer of motorcycle aftermarket parts, apparel, and accessories, operating nearly 180 stores across the United States. Career Trajectory: With over 20 years of experience in brand growth and product development, he spent...

Brandon Lentino is a prominent creative executive in the social media and creator economy space, currently serving as the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) at Viral Nation , one of the world’s leading social media marketing transformation agencies. His work focuses on bridging the gap between traditional brand marketing and the fast-moving "social-first" world of creators and influencers. Chi...

Josh Gross is an elite, award-winning creative executive known for building viral, culture-shaping campaigns that merge massive scale with genuine human soul. Having established himself as a powerhouse creative leader during a highly successful decade at Energy BBDO, he was appointed to oversee the newly integrated FCB Global / BBDO Chicago creative team following the major Omnicom network merger....

Pam Piligian is the Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President at Navy Federal Credit Union, a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution dedicated exclusively to serving active-duty military personnel, veterans, and their families. At Navy Federal, Pam oversees all global marketing and advertising strategy, digital property engagement, corporate social responsibility, and data anal...

Justin Inman Founder & CEO, emberos Justin Inman is an enterprise growth and tech executive who spent over a decade operating at the intersection of global commerce, advertising, and technology. He is a former enterprise growth leader at Google , where he spent years helping major global conglomerates—including Amazon, Coca-Cola, Sony, and L’Oréal—navigate the massive operational shift of digi...

Amanda DeVito is a seasoned marketing executive and thought leader who serves as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Butler/Till , a prominent results-driven, women-owned, and employee-owned (ESOP) marketing agency. With over 25 years of industry experience, DeVito has spent the last 15 years as a pillar of Butler/Till’s leadership team, guiding the agency's business development, innovation,...

Richa Pande is a highly accomplished B2B marketing executive specializing in Account-Based Marketing (ABM), customer journey design, and precision targeting. She is currently a driving force behind HP’s global commercial and industrial print marketing strategies . Key Highlights of Her Career & Expertise: The "Science" of ABM: Richa is a leading voice in the marketing community regar...

This Scott Floyd is a highly accomplished, senior-level marketing and entertainment executive with over 25 years of experience building global brands. He serves as the Chief Community and Performance Officer for the Acceleration Community of Companies (ACC) , a fast-growing marketing collective that owns heavy-hitting agencies like MKG, DKC, and Pink Sparrow. Role & Impact: Floyd is responsibl...

Kate O'Brien is a prominent media executive and entrepreneur who is actively disrupting the traditional advertising landscape. Before launching her own venture, she built a formidable reputation in the performance media space, notably leading a 200-person agency team and driving massive revenue growth (over 30%) by securing heavyweight clients like DraftKings, Virgin Voyages, and Rao’s. In May...

Spencer Schrage is an accomplished brand and business strategist who currently serves as the Managing Director of North America for M&C Saatchi Consulting , a role he stepped into in early 2026 to lead the agency's regional consulting division, focusing on brand repositioning and go-to-market strategies. Brand & Corporate Strategy: Throughout his career, Schrage has counseled numerous...

David Yankelewitz is a prominent figure in the advertising and creative world, currently serving as the Founder and Creative Director of Public Display of Affection (PDA) , a creative studio based in Brooklyn, New York. His career is defined by high-impact, viral marketing campaigns that often blend pop culture with innovative brand experiences. Public Display of Affection (2021–Present): Founded...

Rick Blackshaw is a powerhouse footwear industry veteran and entrepreneur who has overseen the sale of more than half a billion pairs of shoes throughout his illustrious career. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of STOKE Shoes, a performance-lifestyle footwear brand launched to serve the 65 million American men who have wide feet and are consistently overlooked by mainstream athletic giants. Before dis...

Christine Capone – President of MKG (Experiential Marketing) This Christine Capone is a high-profile executive in the experiential marketing and branding industry. She serves as the President of MKG , a top-tier creative agency known for producing massive live events and brand activations. Career Background: Her expertise is rooted heavily in relationship building and partner management. Before mo...

Brad Hoos is the CEO of The Outloud Group, a fast-growing influencer marketing agency specializing in creator partnerships and digital campaigns for major consumer brands. He is known for helping brands leverage influencer marketing to drive measurable business results across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Under his leadership, The Outloud Group has worked with companies including...

Brian Watson: The "Cactus" Legend Brian is essentially the embodiment of the agency's history. He is often cited as the "ultimate homegrown talent," having spent his entire 24-year career at Cactus. Career Arc: He started at the agency as a junior copywriter in the early 2000s and worked his way up to Executive Creative Director before being named Chief Creative Officer in...

Tara DeVeaux is an award-winning marketing executive and brand strategist known for her leadership across advertising, entertainment, and media. She currently serves as CEO of Burrell Communications Group, where she leads the agency’s next phase of growth and cultural impact. Prior to Burrell, she was Chief Marketing Officer at Wild Card Creative Group and BBDO New York, helping drive major campai...

As of May 2026, Julie Levin has just stepped into a major leadership role at Stagwell (the global "challenger" network known for its focus on AI and digital transformation). In late April 2026, Stagwell revamped its growth strategy, and Julie was named SVP, Strategic Growth for Marketing Services . Julie is described as a "dual-perspective" leader who understands both the agenc...

Verena Gründel is a leading figure in the European digital marketing and media landscape. As of 2026, she serves as the Director of Brand & Communications for DMEXCO (Digital Marketing & Exposition), one of the world's largest digital industry events held annually in Cologne. The Voice of DMEXCO: Beyond her leadership role on the management board, she is the official host and face of t...

Colleen Meenan is an Executive Vice President at Publicis Media , where she focuses on leading media strategy, client partnerships, and integrated marketing solutions for major brands. She is recognized for her leadership in modern, data-driven media planning and helping clients navigate the evolving digital and advertising landscape. Brad Feinberg is Vice President of Media & Marketing Operat...

Robyn Freye is a powerhouse in the advertising and marketing world, currently serving as the President and Chief Growth Officer of CourtAvenue. Appointed in early 2026, she is the first person to hold this dual leadership title for the agency, where she leads global growth strategy, M&A initiatives (with a focus on AI and data platforms), and unified client leadership. Career Highlights &...

Joel Halpern is a seasoned brand strategist, creative director, and marketing executive with over 20 years of experience building multimillion-dollar businesses from the ground up. As the CMO of Morningside Brands, he leads the global marketing and brand positioning for a high-end portfolio of international spirits, including Alma Del Jaguar Tequila. Career Highlights & Expertise The "Zer...

Harris Wilkinson is an award-winning creative leader in advertising and entertainment, currently serving as Chief Creative Officer at TMA, a global experiential and branded entertainment agency (with offices in LA, Chicago, NYC, Dallas). He oversees all creative output, blending storytelling across film, TV, advertising, activations, and sponsorships for clients like Die Hard, State Farm, Bet Rive...

Jen Seregos is a serial entrepreneur and the Founder and Lead Strategist of Athena Digital, a boutique performance marketing agency based in Boulder, Colorado. Professional Background Athena Digital: Jen founded the agency with a "client-first" philosophy after observing businesses struggle with larger agencies that prioritized their own scaling over client results. She remains hands-on...