The CMO Podcast

Epizode

• 
  Beyond Football: How Ethan Braden Is Building the Texas A&M Brand 16.09.2026 1h 3min

  How do you take a brand that inspires extraordinary loyalty on the inside and make the rest of the world understand why it matters?That’s the challenge Ethan Braden took on when he became Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Texas A&M University three years ago.Texas A&M was already one of the largest and most influential universities in the country, with generations of fiercely loyal Aggies. But outside Texas, the story was very different. Research showed that 40% of Americans had either never heard of Texas A&M or had no association with it, and when asked what came to mind, the most common answers included football, sports and, remarkably, “nothing.” And Ethan saw an enormous brand opportunity.Tune in as Jim talks with Ethan about the playbook he has used to help transform the reputation of Texas A&M, building on lessons from more than a decade at Eli Lilly and five years leading marketing at Purdue University.Ethan shares why marketing should be an enterprise value creator rather than a communications function, how Texas A&M turned YouTube into a strategic storytelling engine generating more than 150 million views, and why unconventional partnerships with NASCAR, IndyCar, Dude Perfect, Buc-ee’s and others are helping introduce the university to entirely new audiences.Plus, Ethan reflects on his unlikely journey from childhood gymnast to college football player to marketer, the career opportunity he didn’t get that ultimately led him to Texas A&M, and why becoming a husband and father fundamentally changed his definition of ambition and success.—Meet The CMO Podcast On the RoadThe CMO Podcast will be on the road throughout early 2027, capturing conversations with the leaders shaping the future of marketing, leadership, and business. If you'll be attending one of these events, we'd love to connect. Let us know!Advertising Week New York | October 6BLINK Cincinnati | October 8ANA Masters of Marketing | October 20–22CES | January 5-7—Interested in partnering with The CMO Podcast?!Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and into 2027, we're partnering with brands to create executive content platforms that extend far beyond a single event. From pop-up podcast studios and live recordings to executive roundtables, keynote conversations, and bespoke thought leadership programs, we work with partners to build meaningful experiences that connect with senior marketing leaders.Whether you'd like to partner with us at one of the industry's biggest marketing events or create a custom experience designed specifically for your brand, we'd love to explore what's possible. Reach out to learn how we can build something together.Email us at [email protected]—Produced by vYveThe CMO Podcast is proudly produced by vYve Production, a full-service production and content studio specializing in podcasts, executive storytelling, branded content, and live experiences. vYve is a community of ambitious leaders dedicated to unlocking what's next in business and in life. Through executive coaching, transformative experiences, strategic content, and communities like The CMO Podcast, vYve helps entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and teams grow their businesses, strengthen their leadership, and build meaningful connections that last.Learn more about vYve and The CMO Podcast community at www.vyve.co. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Why AI Still Needs Human Wisdom with Jacqueline Corbelli (Brightline) 09.09.2026 39min

  What happens when technology moves faster than our ability to understand its impact?Our final episode captured during the Cannes Festival, Jim sits down with Jacqueline Corbelli, Founder and CEO of BrightLine, for a conversation that begins with the future of connected television and expands into a much broader discussion about AI, leadership, purpose, and human wisdom.Jacqueline is one of the earliest female founders in adtech and helped pioneer interactive and connected TV advertising more than two decades ago. Today, BrightLine works across the streaming ecosystem with leading broadcasters, platforms, and Fortune 100 brands to make television more engaging, measurable, and interactive.Her career extends far beyond advertising. Jacqueline also founded SustainChain, an AI-powered platform focused on global supply chain resilience and sustainability. She has advised both the United Nations and the Vatican, and her book, Changemaker, offers a framework for turning ambitious ideas into meaningful action.At its heart, this episode is a timely reminder that the future will not be shaped by technology alone. It will be shaped by the people who know how to use it with judgment, creativity, and humanity.—This week’s episode is brought to you by Brightline.—Meet The CMO Podcast On the RoadThe CMO Podcast will be on the road throughout Q4 2026, capturing conversations with the leaders shaping the future of marketing, leadership, and business. If you'll be attending one of these events, we'd love to connect. Let us know!Advertising Week New York | October 5–7BLINK Cincinnati | October 8-9ANA Masters of Marketing | October 19–22—Interested in partnering with The CMO Podcast?!Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and into 2027, we're partnering with brands to create executive content platforms that extend far beyond a single event. From pop-up podcast studios and live recordings to executive roundtables, keynote conversations, and bespoke thought leadership programs, we work with partners to build meaningful experiences that connect with senior marketing leaders.Whether you'd like to partner with us at one of the industry's biggest marketing events or create a custom experience designed specifically for your brand, we'd love to explore what's possible. Reach out to learn how we can build something together.Email us at [email protected]—Produced by vYveThe CMO Podcast is proudly produced by vYve Production, a full-service production and content studio specializing in podcasts, executive storytelling, branded content, and live experiences. vYve is a community of ambitious leaders dedicated to unlocking what's next in business and in life. Through executive coaching, transformative experiences, strategic content, and communities like The CMO Podcast, vYve helps entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and teams grow their businesses, strengthen their leadership, and build meaningful connections that last.Learn more about vYve and The CMO Podcast community at www.vyve.co. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  PepsiCo's Formula for Building Enduring Brands with Mark Kirkham 02.09.2026 47min

  What does it take to market some of the world's most iconic brands?Recorded live during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Jim sits down with Mark Kirkham, Chief Marketing Officer of PepsiCo Beverages U.S., to explore how one of the world's largest marketers continues to reinvent brands like Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Starbucks Ready-to-Drink, Lipton, and poppi in an era defined by AI, changing consumer behavior, and relentless innovation.Mark oversees brand and marketing strategy across PepsiCo's $28 billion U.S. beverage portfolio. During more than 15 years with the company, he's held marketing leadership roles across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, helping shape global campaigns, expand iconic brands, and lead innovation around the world. Before PepsiCo, he built his foundation in research and analytics at Forrester and Nielsen before moving into brand management at Procter & Gamble.The conversation also becomes a masterclass in leadership. From developing future CMOs to writing a weekly letter to his marketing team, Mark shares why trust, transparency, curiosity, and continuous learning are the foundations of building both great brands and great leaders.—Meet The CMO Podcast On the RoadThe CMO Podcast will be on the road throughout Q4 2026, capturing conversations with the leaders shaping the future of marketing, leadership, and business. If you'll be attending one of these events, we'd love to connect. Let us know!Advertising Week New York | October 5–7BLINK Cincinnati | October 8ANA Masters of Marketing | October 20–22—Interested in partnering with The CMO Podcast?!Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and into 2027, we're partnering with brands to create executive content platforms that extend far beyond a single event. From pop-up podcast studios and live recordings to executive roundtables, keynote conversations, and bespoke thought leadership programs, we work with partners to build meaningful experiences that connect with senior marketing leaders.Whether you'd like to partner with us at one of the industry's biggest marketing events or create a custom experience designed specifically for your brand, we'd love to explore what's possible. Reach out to learn how we can build something together.Email us at [email protected]—Produced by vYveThe CMO Podcast is proudly produced by vYve Production, a full-service production and content studio specializing in podcasts, executive storytelling, branded content, and live experiences. vYve is a community of ambitious leaders dedicated to unlocking what's next in business and in life. Through executive coaching, transformative experiences, strategic content, and communities like The CMO Podcast, vYve helps entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and teams grow their businesses, strengthen their leadership, and build meaningful connections that last.Learn more about vYve and The CMO Podcast community at www.vyve.co. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Helping People Live Better: Marketing's Role in the Future of Health with Google, Novo Nordisk and Bayer 26.08.2026 31min

  As people take greater ownership of their health, the role of brands is changing.Recorded live at the Havas Café during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, this conversation explores how marketing can help people live healthier, longer, and more fulfilling lives.Jim is joined by:Yvonne Bryant, Hemoglobinopathies Commercialization Head at Novo Nordisk, whose career has spanned clinical research, drug development, commercialization, and consumer marketing. Today, she leads commercialization efforts for rare blood disorders, helping translate breakthrough scientific innovation into meaningful patient impact.Lauren Gellman, Chief Marketing Officer for Health and Home at Google. Lauren oversees marketing across Google's health ecosystem, including Fitbit, Nest, and Google Health, where she's helping shape the future of AI-powered health experiences and personalized wellness.Samantha Avivi, Global Chief Marketing Officer for Consumer Health at Bayer. A longtime marketing leader whose career includes roles at Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, Walmart, and more, Samantha now leads global marketing and innovation across Bayer's portfolio of trusted consumer health brands.Drawing on Havas' Science of Desire research, the conversation explores how healthcare marketers are building trust in the age of AI, making complex science more accessible, and helping people navigate an increasingly personalized health journey. Ultimately, it arrives at a simple but powerful idea: the future of healthcare marketing isn't simply about helping people live longer. It's about helping people live better.—This week’s episode is brought to you by Havas and Infillion.—Meet The CMO Podcast On the RoadThe CMO Podcast will be on the road throughout Q4 2026, capturing conversations with the leaders shaping the future of marketing, leadership, and business. If you'll be attending one of these events, we'd love to connect. Let us know!Advertising Week New York | October 5–7BLINK Cincinnati | October 8ANA Masters of Marketing | October 19–22—Interested in partnering with The CMO Podcast?!Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and into 2027, we're partnering with brands to create executive content platforms that extend far beyond a single event. From pop-up podcast studios and live recordings to executive roundtables, keynote conversations, and bespoke thought leadership programs, we work with partners to build meaningful experiences that connect with senior marketing leaders.Whether you'd like to partner with us at one of the industry's biggest marketing events or create a custom experience designed specifically for your brand, we'd love to explore what's possible. Reach out to learn how we can build something together.Email us at [email protected]—Produced by vYveThe CMO Podcast is proudly produced by vYve Production, a full-service production and content studio specializing in podcasts, executive storytelling, branded content, and live experiences. vYve is a community of ambitious leaders dedicated to unlocking what's next in business and in life. Through executive coaching, transformative experiences, strategic content, and communities like The CMO Podcast, vYve helps entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and teams grow their businesses, strengthen their leadership, and build meaningful connections that last.Learn more about vYve and The CMO Podcast community at www.vyve.co. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Beauty Doesn't Have a Language // A Conversation with Ulta Beauty, Made by Mitchell and Cymbiotika 19.08.2026 47min

  What makes someone fall in love with a brand?Recorded during the Cannes Lions Festival, Jim brings together three leaders who are redefining what it means to build brands people genuinely want to be part of.Joining the conversation are…Kelly Mahoney, Chief Marketing Officer of Ulta BeautyMitchell Halliday, founder of Made by Mitchell;Durana Elmi, Founder, Chief Creative Officer, and Chief Experiential Officer of Cymbiotika.Together, they explore how purpose creates loyalty, why community is every brand's greatest asset, and what it takes to scale without losing your identity. Mitchell reflects on building a brand that's "made for everyone," Durana shares why she believes "true luxury is your health," and Kelly explains how Ulta has become a trusted home for founder-led brands and the communities behind them.Whether you're building a global retailer or launching your first company, this conversation is packed with lessons on authenticity, partnership, leadership, and creating brands that people don't just buy, but proudly choose to belong to.—This week’s episode is brought to you by Infillion.—Meet The CMO Podcast On the RoadThe CMO Podcast will be on the road throughout Q4 2026, capturing conversations with the leaders shaping the future of marketing, leadership, and business. If you'll be attending one of these events, we'd love to connect. Let us know!Advertising Week New York | October 5–7BLINK Cincinnati | October 8-9ANA Masters of Marketing | October 19–22—Interested in partnering with The CMO Podcast?!Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and into 2027, we're partnering with brands to create executive content platforms that extend far beyond a single event. From pop-up podcast studios and live recordings to executive roundtables, keynote conversations, and bespoke thought leadership programs, we work with partners to build meaningful experiences that connect with senior marketing leaders.Whether you'd like to partner with us at one of the industry's biggest marketing events or create a custom experience designed specifically for your brand, we'd love to explore what's possible. Reach out to learn how we can build something together.Email us at [email protected]—Produced by vYveThe CMO Podcast is proudly produced by vYve Production, a full-service production and content studio specializing in podcasts, executive storytelling, branded content, and live experiences. vYve is a community of ambitious leaders dedicated to unlocking what's next in business and in life. Through executive coaching, transformative experiences, strategic content, and communities like The CMO Podcast, vYve helps entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and teams grow their businesses, strengthen their leadership, and build meaningful connections that last.Learn more about vYve and The CMO Podcast community at www.vyve.co. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Stop Chasing Attention. Start Creating Desire // Lessons from Best Buy, AB InBev and Reckitt 12.08.2026 36min

  "Creativity is all about creating desire." So what makes people truly desire a brand?This week, we're back at the Havas Café for the second of our three-part series exploring Creating Desire. This conversation focuses on one of the most powerful drivers of all: creativity.Jim is joined by:Ryan Dullea, Chief Growth Officer at ReckittJennie Weber, Former Chief Marketing Officer at Best BuyMatthew Bull, Chief Creative Advisor at AB InBevTogether, they discuss how leaders create cultures where creativity can thrive, why teams need permission to take risks, how healthy debate leads to stronger ideas, and why AI should accelerate human creativity rather than replace it. Along the way, they share lessons from building some of the world's most iconic brands and explain why the best marketing doesn't just capture attention. It creates genuine desire.Recorded live during the Cannes Lions Festival, this conversation is packed with practical leadership lessons for anyone looking to build stronger brands, stronger teams, and more creative organizations.—This week’s episode is brought to you by Havas and Infillion.—Meet The CMO Podcast On the RoadThe CMO Podcast will be on the road throughout Q4 2026, capturing conversations with the leaders shaping the future of marketing, leadership, and business. If you'll be attending one of these events, we'd love to connect. Let us know!BLINK Cincinnati | October 8-9ANA Masters of Marketing | October 19–22—Interested in partnering with The CMO Podcast?!Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and into 2027, we're partnering with brands to create executive content platforms that extend far beyond a single event. From pop-up podcast studios and live recordings to executive roundtables, keynote conversations, and bespoke thought leadership programs, we work with partners to build meaningful experiences that connect with senior marketing leaders.Whether you'd like to partner with us at one of the industry's biggest marketing events or create a custom experience designed specifically for your brand, we'd love to explore what's possible. Reach out to learn how we can build something together.Email us at [email protected]—Produced by vYveThe CMO Podcast is proudly produced by vYve Production, a full-service production and content studio specializing in podcasts, executive storytelling, branded content, and live experiences. vYve is a community of ambitious leaders dedicated to unlocking what's next in business and in life. Through executive coaching, transformative experiences, strategic content, and communities like The CMO Podcast, vYve helps entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and teams grow their businesses, strengthen their leadership, and build meaningful connections that last.Learn more about vYve and The CMO Podcast community at www.vyve.co. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Behind Latin America's $90 Billion Marketing Success with Sean Summers (Mercado Libre) 05.08.2026 1h

  Fresh off one of the biggest sporting events in the world, Sean Summers, our guest this week, joins Jim after experiencing the FIFA World Cup from two unique perspectives: as a lifelong football fan from Argentina and as the Chief Marketing Officer of Mercado Libre, an official tournament partner. Mercado Libre has grown from an online marketplace into Latin America's leading ecommerce and fintech ecosystem. Operating across 18 countries with nearly $29 billion in annual revenue and a market value exceeding $90 billion, the company has become one of the region's most valuable and influential businesses.Sean shares the leadership principles that have guided both his career and the company's extraordinary growth. From helping build marketing capabilities that last beyond any individual leader to embracing curiosity, calculated risk-taking, and constant reinvention, he explains why today's CMO must think less like the star of the show and more like the executive producer behind it.Whether you're building brands, leading teams, or navigating your own career, this conversation is packed with practical lessons on growth, leadership, and staying curious.—This week’s episode is brought to you in partnership with Mercado Libre and Infillion.—Meet The CMO Podcast On the RoadThe CMO Podcast will be on the road throughout Q4 2026, capturing conversations with the leaders shaping the future of marketing, leadership, and business. If you'll be attending one of these events, we'd love to connect. Let us know!Advertising Week New York | October 5–7BLINK Cincinnati | October 8-9ANA Masters of Marketing | October 19–22—Interested in partnering with The CMO Podcast?!Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and into 2027, we're partnering with brands to create executive content platforms that extend far beyond a single event. From pop-up podcast studios and live recordings to executive roundtables, keynote conversations, and bespoke thought leadership programs, we work with partners to build meaningful experiences that connect with senior marketing leaders.Whether you'd like to partner with us at one of the industry's biggest marketing events or create a custom experience designed specifically for your brand, we'd love to explore what's possible. Reach out to learn how we can build something together.Email us at [email protected]—Produced by vYveThe CMO Podcast is proudly produced by vYve Production, a full-service production and content studio specializing in podcasts, executive storytelling, branded content, and live experiences. vYve is a community of ambitious leaders dedicated to unlocking what's next in business and in life. Through executive coaching, transformative experiences, strategic content, and communities like The CMO Podcast, vYve helps entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and teams grow their businesses, strengthen their leadership, and build meaningful connections that last.Learn more about vYve and The CMO Podcast community at www.vyve.co. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  What Racing Wienermobiles Can Teach Every Marketer with Todd Kaplan (Kraft Heinz) 29.07.2026 43min

  Six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles racing around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It may sound like a publicity stunt, but for Todd Kaplan, it was something much bigger: a reminder that great marketing should surprise people, spark conversation, and create joy.This week, Jim welcomes Todd Kaplan, Chief Marketing Officer of Kraft Heinz North America. Since joining Kraft Heinz in 2024 after nearly two decades at PepsiCo, Todd has been leading one of the industry's most ambitious brand transformations, helping modernize more than 70 iconic brands while building a culture rooted in creativity, collaboration, and consumer insight.Recorded live at Cannes Lions in the Infillion Café, Todd shares why marketing should be more like jazz than classical music, how his philosophy of "collaborativity" helps teams move at the speed of culture, and why even the biggest organizations need to leave room for improvisation. From the Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 to Heinz's award-winning creative work, Todd explains how great ideas are born, why creativity still drives growth, and why the strongest brands never lose sight of the fundamentals.Whether you're leading a global organization or building your own brand, this conversation is full of practical lessons on creativity, leadership, and finding new energy in iconic brands.—This week’s episode is brought to you by Infillion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Beyond "Priceless" // Mastercard's Next Chapter with Jill Kramer 22.07.2026 45min

  Some marketing ideas capture attention for a moment. The very best ones become part of culture. And you could say...that's priceless.Recorded live at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Jim sits down with Jill Kramer, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mastercard, to discuss what it's like to lead one of the world's most iconic brands. Mastercard, known globally for its “Priceless” platform and its role at the center of everyday commerce, has spent decades building trust, emotional connection, and cultural relevance across markets. After nearly a decade as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Accenture, where she led the company's "Let There Be Change" brand transformation, and earlier leadership roles at BBDO and DDB, Jill stepped into one of marketing's most influential positions with the responsibility of guiding Mastercard's next chapter.In this wide-ranging conversation, Jill shares her approach to earning trust as a new leader, building creative cultures where ideas can thrive, and why her philosophy of "early, ugly, often" has helped teams create better work. She also discusses how Mastercard is evolving its brand beyond payments, leaning into experiences, partnerships, and technology, and how the company is approaching AI, creator collaborations, and innovation while staying true to the timeless principles that have made it one of the most respected brands in the world.Whether you're leading a global organization or a small team, Jill offers thoughtful lessons on curiosity, creativity, change, and why the best leaders never stop learning.—This week’s episode is brought to you by Infillion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  How Gap Became Cool Again with Fabiola Torres | Live from the Tubi Cabana at Cannes Lions 17.07.2026 34min

  How do you reinvent one of the world's most iconic brands without losing what made it iconic in the first place?Recorded live on the Tubi Stage at Cannes Lions, Jim sits down with Fabiola Torres, Chief Marketing Officer of Gap, to unpack one of the most compelling brand turnarounds in retail. Drawing on leadership experience at Nike, Apple, PepsiCo, and now Gap, Fabiola shares how the team rebuilt the brand by focusing on marketing fundamentals, embracing creativity, investing in culture, and reconnecting with consumers across generations.They discuss why every brand should be treated like a living persona, how partnerships with talent are built on trust rather than transactions, and why the best marketing doesn't chase relevance—it earns it.—In partnership with Tubi. Brought to you by Infillion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  From Murder Your Thirst to Electric Air Taxis: Creating Brand Desire // Lessons from Liquid Death, Duolingo, and Joby Aviation 15.07.2026 32min

  Great brands do more than meet a need. They transform that need into desire. But in an increasingly crowded and fragmented media landscape, how can brands earn attention, turn that attention into affection, and ultimately inspire people to act?Recorded live at the Havas Café during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, this special roundtable is the first in a three-part series exploring the many dimensions of desire. Jim is joined by three marketing leaders approaching that challenge from very different industries: Manu Orssaud, Chief Marketing Officer at Duolingo;Benoit Vatere, Chief Media and Digital Commerce Officer at Liquid Death; and Oliver Walker-Jones, who leads Marketing, Communications and Brand at Joby Aviation.Together, they explore how modern brands use media to create lasting desire. Manu shares how Duolingo combines planned cultural moments with the flexibility to build stories alongside its community. The conversation explores why fun is an underrated business advantage, how brands can move quickly without chasing every cultural moment, and where AI can strengthen a company without replacing the human creativity behind great marketing. —This week’s episode is brought to you by Havas and Infillion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Marie Gulin-Merle (Google) & Anda Gansca (Knotch) | The New Era of AI-Powered Marketing 08.07.2026 40min

  Artificial intelligence is reshaping marketing at a pace unlike anything we've seen since the birth of digital. But as today's guests remind us, the fundamentals of great marketing haven't changed.Recorded live at the Infillion Café during Cannes Lions 2026, Jim sits down with Marie Gulin-Merle, Global Vice President of Ads & Commerce Marketing at Google, and Anda Gansca, Co-Founder and CEO of Knotch.Marie has spent her career leading marketing for some of the world's most iconic brands, including L'Oréal, Calvin Klein, and PVH, before joining Google to help shape the future of advertising, commerce, and AI-powered marketing on a global scale.Anda founded Knotch more than a decade ago with a vision of making digital experiences more personalized and measurable. Today, Knotch helps many of the world's leading brands optimize content performance and customer experience, and Anda has become one of the industry's leading voices on the intersection of marketing, data, and AI.Just days before this conversation, Google and Knotch announced the launch of ACE (Agentic Content Engine), a new AI-powered experience platform built with Google Cloud, Vertex AI, and Gemini. Designed for the emerging "AI-native consumer," ACE enables brands to create dynamic, personalized digital experiences that adapt in real time to each customer's needs.Together, Jim, Marie, and Anda explore what this next era of marketing means for brands, why relevance has become the industry's most valuable currency, how AI can amplify rather than replace creativity, and why the future belongs to marketers who can unite technology, data, and human insight to create better customer experiences.—This week’s episode is brought to you by Knotch and Infillion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Kelly Mahoney (Ulta Beauty) | Trust, Creativity, and the Superpowers of Beauty 01.07.2026 46min

  Just days before Supergirl hit theaters—and as Ulta Beauty launched its ambitious partnership with Warner Bros. to bring the film to life through an immersive, 360-degree campaign—Kelly Mahoney sat down with Jim Stengel to discuss one of the biggest transformations happening in marketing today.Kelly is the Chief Marketing Officer of Ulta Beauty, the nation's largest beauty retailer, with more than 1,400 stores, over $11 billion in annual revenue, and a loyalty program serving more than 47 million members. After more than a decade helping build Ulta's growth strategy and industry-leading loyalty ecosystem, she's now leading the brand into its next chapter.In this conversation, Kelly shares how Ulta is creating deeper emotional connections with consumers through purpose, creativity, AI-powered personalization, and culture-defining partnerships. She also discusses her unconventional path to the CMO role, what she learned from the late Shelley Haus, how she's building a high-performing marketing culture, and why the future of beauty is rooted in trust, wellness, and human connection.Recorded during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, this conversation took place aboard a yacht in the sunny South of France, thanks to our partners at Beanstalk and AppLovin.—Episode brought to you by Infillion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Grace Kao (Snap) | The Truth About Gen Z and Why Marketers Keep Getting It Wrong 17.06.2026 52min

  This week, Jim welcomes Grace Kao, Chief Marketing Officer of Snap Inc. Founded in 2011 by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, Snap has grown from a simple idea about visual communication into a global platform reaching more than 940 million monthly active users and generating nearly $6 billion in annual revenue.Grace joined Snap in late 2024 and was promoted to Chief Marketing Officer just months later. Before Snap, she held senior marketing leadership roles at Spotify and Instagram, helping some of the world's most influential platforms connect with creators, businesses, and consumers.Tune in as Grace shares what marketers still misunderstand about Gen Z, why creativity remains the defining skill of the next generation, and how brands can earn relevance by becoming part of the group chat rather than interrupting it. Whether you're leading a global brand, building a startup, or simply trying to understand where culture is headed next, this episode offers a thoughtful look at the future of marketing, creativity, and human connection.---We'll be at Cannes Lions from June 22nd to the 26th, hopping up along the Croisette all week. Let us know if you'll be attending too! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Omer Waysman (Michelin) | Trust at 70 Miles Per Hour - Tires, Dining, and 24 Hours of Le Mans 10.06.2026 58min

   For 24 straight hours every June, the world's greatest endurance race pushes drivers, machines, and engineers to their limits at Le Mans. For Michelin, it's more than a race, it's a proving ground for innovation, performance, and one of the most enduring brands in the world.This week, Jim welcomes Omer Waysman, Vice President of B2C Marketing for North America at Michelin. Founded in France in 1889, Michelin has grown into a global company with nearly $30 billion in annual revenue. While best known for its tires, Michelin's business extends far beyond the road, spanning brands including BFGoodrich and Uniroyal, the world-famous Michelin Guide, and innovations in fields ranging from aeronautics and healthcare to advanced materials and construction.Omer's career has taken him from France to South Carolina, where he now leads marketing, brand strategy, and go-to-market execution for Michelin in North America. Before Michelin, he held senior leadership roles at Danone and Microsoft, helping drive digital growth, e-commerce, and transformation initiatives around the world.Tune in for a conversation exploring one of marketing's most interesting challenges: how do you build trust, relevance, and long-term loyalty in a category where consumers only make a purchase every three to five years? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Melissa Grady Dias (Measured Wellness) | From CMO to CEO: Using AI and Human Connection to Transform Health 03.06.2026 51min

  The role of the CMO is evolving. Increasingly, it is becoming a pathway to the CEO's office.Jim's guest this week, Melissa Grady Dias, first joined the show in 2020 as Global Chief Marketing Officer of Cadillac, where she helped transform one of America's most iconic brands into the leading luxury EV brand while navigating a global pandemic and unprecedented industry disruption.Now she has entered an entirely new chapter. Melissa recently became CEO of Measured Wellness, a healthcare company focused on preventative care, wearable technology, AI powered health insights, and what she calls "care between appointments." It is a model built around the 99 percent of health that happens outside the doctor's office. The company was founded in San Diego by Dr. Michael Kurisu, who specializes in Family and Integrative Medicine.Melissa is a leader who thrives when navigating transformation, and she simply likes building things. Those are her words. At Cadillac, that meant helping consumers rethink mobility, luxury, and electrification. At Measured Wellness, it means helping people rethink healthcare itself by moving from reactive care to proactive wellness, from occasional doctor visits to continuous engagement, and from treating illness to creating the conditions for long term health.Tune in for a conversation about leadership, reinvention, wellness, and the growing influence of marketers in shaping the future of business. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Leadership Lessons from AT&T and e.l.f. Beauty | Kellogg School of Management Marketing Leadership Summit 27.05.2026 54min

  What does growth leadership actually look like in 2026?Recorded live at the Kellogg School of Management Marketing Leadership Summit, this week’s episode features two standout conversations with leaders building some of the most talked-about brands in business today. First Jim sits down with AT&T’s Chief Marketing and Growth Officer Kellyn Smith Kenny to chat about how a 150-year-old company is transforming itself through customer obsession, operational accountability, and AI-enabled personalization. Then, e.l.f. Beauty CEO Tarang Amin and President Kory Marchisotto share the culture, creativity, and community-first mindset behind one of the fastest-growing brands in the industry, and why they believe “zero distance” from consumers changes everything.Across both conversations, there’s a shared theme: the brands winning today are the ones willing to stay curious, move quickly, listen deeply to customers, and build cultures where people can do the best work of their lives. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Reclaiming Hope with Samantha Maltin (St. Jude) and George Carey (Human-ology) 20.05.2026 48min

  Are you a hopeful leader? Is your brand a hopeful brand? What does hopeful even mean anymore? And in a moment defined by uncertainty, anxiety, and rapid change, one emotion is emerging as a powerful force for brands and leaders alike: hope.Jim’s guests this week as both return guests, as he sits down with Samantha Maltin, Chief Marketing and Brand Officer at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and George Carey, CEO and founder of Human-ology, for a deeply human conversation about why hope matters now more than ever. Together, they explore groundbreaking research on the emotional drivers of hope, why consumers are craving emotional safety and optimism, and how brands can authentically create deeper relevance by helping people feel more hopeful in their everyday lives. Samantha shares how St. Jude’s mission is built around helping families “afford hope,” while George explains why hope is not “glittery,” but grounded in grit, resilience, and meaningful human connection.This episode could not be more timely. There is a war on hope and people are fighting it on every front. But don’t despair: what follows will help you understand hope today, and what you can do to integrate this learning into your brand platform and into how you lead.—Learn more about Human-Ology’s insights around Hope: https://www.human-ology.com/human-insights See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  The Future Legacy and Leadership Roundtable with Havas and NFL | Celebrating the AAF Hall of Fame 13.05.2026 48min

  A few weeks ago at Havas’ Hudson Street headquarters in New York City, industry leaders gathered on the eve of the Advertising Hall of Fame induction ceremony for a candid conversation about leadership, legacy, creativity, and courage. For this special episode, Jim joins NFL Chief Marketing Officer Tim Ellis in conversation moderated by Maggie Connors, Chief Marketing Officer of Havas Creative Network. Together, they reflect on the defining decisions that shape a career, especially the ones that didn’t feel obvious at the time.From transforming Pampers into a purpose-led brand to rebuilding trust and culture at the NFL, the conversation explores what it really means to lead: building teams, earning trust, listening deeply, and creating environments where people can thrive.This is more than a discussion about marketing, it’s a conversation about humanity, mentorship, and the lasting impact leaders leave on the people around them.—This week’s episode is in partnership with Havas. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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  Sherina Smith (American Family Insurance) | Designed to Last 06.05.2026 53min

  What does it take to transform a legacy brand and yourself as a leader at the same time?To celebrate the launch of the streaming series on Hulu, Designed to Last, Jim welcomes Sherina Smith, Enterprise Chief Marketing Officer at American Family Insurance. Founded nearly a century ago in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family, or AMFAM, has grown into one of the largest mutual insurers in the United States. It serves millions of customers and generates more than $15 billion in annual revenue. The company has built its brand around a powerful purpose: to inspire, protect, and restore people’s dreams.Designed to Last is one of the boldest moves in the category, a first-of-its-kind streaming series on Hulu, with the first episode available now.Sherina joined American Family in 2019 as VP of Marketing and is now the Enterprise CMO for American Family and its subsidiary brands. She is responsible for helping guide the company’s flagship brand. She also leads the company’s marketing transformation, as well as customer growth strategies across the organization. Born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, Sherina graduated from Ohio State and earned her MBA from USC. She spent a foundational 11 years at Kraft, which we discuss, before roles at AbbVie Pharmaceuticals and JCPenney.Tune in as Sherina dives into how the show came to life, why long-form content is a powerful way to build engagement, and how brands can create deeper emotional connections in a crowded, competitive space.---Stream Designed to Last on Hulu now! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.