Marketing Vanguard

Episoder

• Making Brand Magic Happen When Everyone’s Doing the Same Thing ft. Deena Bahri of Nutrafol 05.06.2026 28min

  There’s no marketing tool more potent than personal experience, and this episode of Marketing Vanguard explores how that transformed Nutrafol’s brand journey. CMO Deena Bahri joins the conversation to share how she went from a customer of the brand to its CMO, how they’re redefining the hair health conversation, why scientific credibility is your most defensible competitive advantage, and how to balance startup agility with enterprise-scale growth. As she reminds us, the marketing playing field is level. The only real differentiator is your brand expression. Deena Bahri is Chief Marketing Officer at Nutrafol, bringing over 20 years of experience building disruptive consumer brands in wellness and fashion. Known for her expertise in blending science-backed positioning with emotional brand storytelling, Deena has led the transformation of hair health from a fear-based narrative to an empowerment-driven movement. Her insights offer actionable frameworks for those navigating the intersection of performance marketing and brand-building in the nutraceutical and wellness sectors.What You'll Learn:How to pivot from fear-based to empowerment-driven brand positioning in categories historically rooted in insecurity marketingWhy clinical validation and third-party accreditations are non-negotiable trust-builders in the wellness spaceThe "before and after" messaging framework that moves consumers from shame and urgency to hope and accountabilityHow to destigmatize taboo health topics through authentic brand voice The strategic shift from lower-funnel performance marketing to full-funnel brand Why startup DNA within scaled organizations drives competitive advantage Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• How Crocs Turned "Ugly" Into Cultural Cool ft. Chief Brand Officer Terence Reilly 28.05.2026 23min

  How do you make a brand that’s perceived as “uncool” a cultural moment? Terence Reilly, Chief Brand Officer of Crocs, reveals his playbook in this episode of Marketing Vanguard. He reveals how he transformed a meme product into a global phenomenon, why embracing risk and "failing fast" is essential to breaking culture, and the strategies behind building authentic brand narratives in an age of AI and collaboration fatigue.Terence Reilly is Chief Brand Officer at Crocs, renowned for his expertise in brand transformation, cultural relevance and innovative marketing strategy. With a background spanning financial services, retail and consumer goods (including leadership roles at Stanley, Footaction, and Famous Footwear), Terence has a proven track record of being able to elevate iconic brands through bold creative risks and collaborative partnerships. His strategic vision has contributed to making Stanley and Crocs household names globally, with his Stanley car-fire TikTok campaign generating $50 million in additional revenue and 100 million views. His unique marketing insights make him a valuable voice for any marketer (regardless of experience) who’s looking to navigate brand transformation successfully.What You'll Learn:How to flip negative brand perception into a competitive advantage by leaning into criticismWhy the "drive it like you stole it" philosophy for scaling wins fast, and the story behind the iconic Michael Jackson momentWhy collaboration fatigue is real and how to recapture your brand's own narrativeThe power of empowering frontline insights to drive viral moments and the truth about the Crocs-Post Malone moment How to create proprietary eponyms that make your brand synonymous with the categoryThe non-linear career path that builds better marketers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• If You Can Sell Insurance, You Can Sell Anything ft. Tory Pachis of Amica Insurance 21.05.2026 29min

  The power of word-of-mouth and referral-based marketing takes on a whole new meaning in this episode of Marketing Vanguard. Tune in as Amica Insurance EVP and CMO, Tory Pachis, reveals how their Rhode Island–based challenger brand competes against massive incumbents by doubling down on empathy, service, and human-led experiences while building relevance with younger consumers.Tory is Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President at Amica Insurance, the nation's oldest mutual automobile insurance company with 119 years of heritage. With 27 years of experience in the insurance industry and previous leadership roles at Travelers Insurance and Hanover Insurance, Tory brings deep expertise in brand transformation, direct-to-consumer marketing, and building customer loyalty in highly competitive categories. His work modernizing Amica's brand platform while preserving its legendary customer loyalty culture makes his perspectives essential listening for marketing leaders seeking to balance heritage with innovation. What You'll Learn:How to leverage brand heritage as a competitive moatWhy share of voice matters more than market share in commoditized categoriesThe "consumer as hero" creative frameworkHow to use AI for product discovery, not just operational efficiencyThe player-coach leadership model for scaling transformative changeWhy do direct distribution models require different marketing investments Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Mastering Human Centred-Marketing in an AI-Driven World ft. Lauren Weinberg of Supergoop! 14.05.2026 33min

  What if AI could bring more humanity to marketing, instead of taking away from it? In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, Lauren Weinberg, CMO of Supergoop! and veteran CMO at Square, Intuit and Peloton, reveals why brand authenticity matters more than ever in an AI-driven world, how CMOs should lead their teams through rapid technological transformation and the key strategies to balance budget discipline with bold creative thinking.Lauren is an accomplished Chief Marketing Officer with extensive experience leading marketing transformations at industry-leading companies including Square, Intuit and Peloton. Currently serving as the CMO of Supergoop!, Lauren brings expertise in brand strategy, growth marketing and AI integration, offering a unique perspective that bridges creative storytelling with data-driven decision-making. Her proven track record of driving growth while maintaining P&L sensibility, combined with her advisory role at Emory University's Data Science and Decision Department, makes her a trusted voice for senior marketing leaders navigating digital transformation. What You'll Learn:How to position AI as a catalyst for brand authenticity rather than automationThe strategy-first framework for saying "no" in high-intensity environmentsWhy P&L sensibility is now non-negotiable for CMO credibilityThe three C's of hiring for an AI-driven future - conviction, courage and curiosityHow to create organizational AI literacy without overburdening teamsWhy CMOs should shift from efficiency conversations to strategic AI conversations with the C-suite Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• How Keisha Taylor Starr Turned ION Into a Women's Sports Powerhouse in 24 Months 08.05.2026 25min

  EVP, GM, or CMO - why pick one when you can be all 3? In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, Keisha Taylor Starr, EVP, CMO, and General Manager of Scripps Networks, proves that intersectionality and a diverse skill set can take your marketing game to the next level. Tune in for their discussion on how strategic repositioning can drive record-breaking audience engagement, why marketers must balance creative risk with financial rigor and the leadership moves required to shape an industry built for diverse voices. Keisha Taylor Starr is Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, and General Manager of Scripps Networks at The E.W. Scripps Company, bringing expertise in media marketing, brand strategy, and P&L management. With a career spanning agency work at BBDO, leadership roles at CNN, Turner Broadcasting, and Warner Bros. Discovery, as well as experience in collegiate sports marketing, she has consistently driven innovative transformations across news, entertainment, and sports properties. Her leadership in ION's rebrand into a general entertainment network with pioneering women's sports programming has resulted in record-breaking audience engagement and Google TV's most-watched free live channel designation in 2024, demonstrating how CMOs can balance creative vision with financial accountability.What You'll Learn:How to transition from CMO to General Manager by gaining P&L ownershipWhy sports franchises are essential programming investmentsThe strategy behind rebranding a legacy network for new audiencesHow to balance creative ambition with financial rigor as a CMOThe importance of diverse representation in leadership and decision-makingHow to expand sports definition and create inclusive programming Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The Tech Titans Rewriting the Rules of Growth Marketing ft. the CMOs of Meta, Instacart, and Chime 04.05.2026 28min

  A new age of Super Bowl marketing has dawned upon us, and it’s time to embrace it. In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, marketing leaders from Meta, Instacart, and Chime reveal how their brands are redefining Super Bowl marketing by prioritizing social-first strategies, earned media, and authentic creator partnerships over traditional metrics. Tune in to learn why the biggest marketing opportunities now live in subcultures and algorithmic feeds and how to tap into conversations happening off-screen.What You'll Learn:How to shift from awareness metrics to earned social conversation as your primary Super Bowl success measureWhy a social-first strategy is non-negotiable and why niche communities outperform monoculture campaignsHow to design ads that crack culture through hyperbole and surpriseThe strategic partnership framework beyond logo placementHow to unlock innovation by protecting brand fundamentals while experimenting relentlesslyWhy in-house creative teams, powered by AI, can deliver portfolio-defining work at a fraction of agency costsThe non-negotiable marketing-product alignment tactic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Refusing to Become Irrelevant: Victoria Lozano on her Crayola Journey 23.04.2026 15min

  Surely a legacy brand like Crayola has done all it could to grow, right? Wrong. In this episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast, recorded live at Brandweek in Atlanta in November 2025, Victoria Lozano, former CMO of Crayola, proves that the growth work of even the most iconic brands can and should never stop. From how nostalgia can be leveraged to the advantage of expanding into unexpected categories, this conversation covers it all. Victoria Lozano, former Chief Marketing Officer of Crayola, is renowned for her expertise in brand strategy, category expansion and omnichannel marketing across iconic consumer brands. With a career spanning Fortune 500 CPG companies including HBC, beverages and confectionery, she has built a diverse track record in product innovation, location-based entertainment, and educational strategy. Her work at Crayola demonstrates how legacy brands can evolve, redefine brand categories, unlock new consumer segments and build enduring marketing strategies that transcend traditional product boundaries, all while maintaining emotional resonance. What You'll Learn:How to merge nostalgia with future-forward relevanceWhy a CMO's role with high-awareness brands requires category expansionThe framework for segmented messaging across stakeholder groupsHow to unlock hidden revenue streams in plain sight, like recognizing that 57% of Crayola purchases are made by adults without childrenThe power of branded sensory identity as a defensible competitive advantageWhy ecosystem thinking matters more than individual business unit performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Benoit Vatere's Case for Keeping Liquid Death Dangerous at Scale 16.04.2026 19min

  How can you sell water in a can successfully, without making it a gimmick? In this live episode of Marketing Vanguard from Brandweek Atlanta, host Jenny Rooney sits down with Benoit Vatere, Chief Media Officer at Liquid Death, to explore how he, as a non-traditional entrepreneur with an engineering background, is scaling a cult beverage brand through unconventional media strategy, retail partnerships and aggressive upper-funnel investment while protecting the brand's core mystique.Benoit Vatere is Chief Media Officer at Liquid Death, where he drives growth strategy and media planning for one of the most distinctive brands in the beverage industry. With a background as an entrepreneur and engineer who spent 25 years building ad tech products in Los Angeles, Benoit brings unique expertise in bridging creator marketing, retail commerce and consumer conversion. His work at Liquid Death demonstrates how data-driven media strategy, disciplined creative positioning and deep retailer partnerships can scale challenger brands into category leaders while maintaining distinctive brand equityWhat You'll Learn:How to shift from DTC obsession to retail-first strategyThe frequency-over-reach principle for mental availabilityHow to build a tech stack that bridges awareness to retail conversionWhy a CEO-CMO creates organizational competitive advantageThe conquest strategy in competitive categoriesHow to maintain brand mystique while scaling Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• The Art of Making Fintech Cool with Catherine Ferdon of Coinbase 09.04.2026 32min

  Taking risks and having them pay off in an industry as regulated as fintech can seem like an impossible task. But Coinbase’s success in bold and unique marketing proves it isn’t. In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, Coinbase CMO, Catherine Ferdon, reveals why bold creativity matters when it comes to marketing intangibles, how to build financial brands that don't feel sterile and the key strategies behind Coinbase's high-profile Super Bowl and Oscars campaigns.Catherine Ferdon is the Chief Marketing Officer at Coinbase, bringing nearly fifteen years of fintech expertise to one of crypto's most established brands. With a background spanning Square, Cash App and Afterpay, she has built her career giving voice to complex financial products through bold, unconventional creativity. Her work exemplifies how CMOs can translate intangible, complex products into compelling narratives that drive mainstream adoption - a critical lesson for marketers navigating emerging technologies and regulatory constraints.What You'll Learn:Why understanding intangible products in depth is the key to marketing them successfullyThe risk-taking framework for breakthrough creativityWhy educational complexity requires participatory, not didactic marketingHow to design media moments for their environmentThe leadership principle of strong opinions, softly heldWhy AI amplifies human creativity rather than replacing it Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• How Atlanta Became the Hub of Marketing in the US ft. Alex Gonzalez 02.04.2026 20min

  Atlanta, a paradise for CMOs with 70% of Fortune 500 companies, thousands of startups, and immense talent, is often underestimated. Live from Brandweek, Alex Gonzalez, Metro Atlanta Chamber's Chief Innovation and Marketing Officer, explains why Atlanta is a top marketing hub and how brand positioning can shape a city's economic future on this episode of Marketing Vanguard.Alex Gonzales is the Chief Innovation and Marketing Officer at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, leading efforts to brand Atlanta as a premier destination for talent, business and innovation. With a background spanning finance, business development and corporate marketing at industry leaders like GE, Chubb Insurance and Equifax, Alex brings deep expertise in transforming marketing strategies for Fortune 500 organizations and emerging tech ecosystems. His work establishing the "Atlanta Where You Belong" brand and fostering the Atlanta Growth Collective has positioned the region as a model for regional marketing and innovation ecosystems. What You'll Learn:How to leverage a CMO advisory council to build authentic city branding by assembling chief marketersWhy "place branding" requires defining emotional belonging, not just economic benefitsThe talent flywheel strategy and making the most of the city’s academic ecosystemHow to position B2B companies as part of your city's DNAWhy the startup ecosystem infrastructure (Atlanta Tech Village, Russell Innovation Center, South Downtown development) should be central to city marketingThe multi-geography branding challenge and how to solve it  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• John Brockelman’s Unconventional Playbook for Financial Marketing Success 26.03.2026 32min

  Financial services marketing is one of the hardest kinds of marketing to crack. But John Brockelman and his team at State Street Investment Management have proven, campaign after campaign, that it can be done well and done right. Tune in for his playbook on how financial services marketers can drive growth, connection and culture.What You'll Learn:How to align marketing with sales and business objectivesThe importance of simplifying brand architecture for market expansionHow to build intentional talent strategies by mixing specialized and generalist expertiseWhy guerrilla marketing and experiential activations outperform traditional advertising in regulated industriesHow to use strategic partnerships to reach new audiencesHow to scale AI adoption across marketing operations without replacing human creativity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Why the Super Bowl Still Matters ft. Leading CMOs from the SF 49ers, Mars, Comcast & Liquid I.V. 20.03.2026 28min

  The Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages in the world - not just for the game and its players, but for marketers too. So, how do you make sure you win the game? In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, four industry-leading CMOs - Gabrielle Wesley (Mars Wrigley), Stephanie Rogers (San Francisco 49ers), John Gieselman (Comcast) and Stacy Andrade-Wells (Liquid I.V.), reveal their personal playbooks on making the most of the Super Bowl opportunity, cutting through the hype and executing at the highest level. What You'll Learn:How to build a solid business case for Super Bowl marketing investmentWhy you should capitalize on the intersection of creative disruption and brand strategyHow to activate beyond the 30 or 60-second spot through ecosystem thinkingWhy simplicity and cultural relevance are your competitive advantagesThe "uncomfortable gut reaction" test for evaluating creative readinessHow to measure impact across different time horizons without becoming paralyzed by metrics Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• How Archer Roose Is Flipping the Wine Industry on Its Head with CMO, Conley Downing 12.03.2026 19min

  Wine was a gatekept category, suffering from the dreaded perception of being "boring." That is, until Archer Roose, the canned wine company, redefined the category and made it fun for Gen Z. In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, CMO of the brand, Conley Downing, unpacks how they leveraged “fun” marketing (instead of educational marketing) to make wine accessible and interesting again. What You'll Learn:How to reposition a legacy category by identifying and eliminating barriers to entryWhy product format innovation creates distribution and occasion expansion beyond traditional compete setsThe strategic value of celebrity partnerships rooted in authentic brand alignment and commercial acumenHow to build sustainable growth through data ownership and omnichannel funnel strategyWhy founder-led startups must balance rapid scaling with long-term positioning and acquisition readinessHow transparency and ingredient clarity are becoming table stakes in beverage marketing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Disrupting the Marketing Landscape with Purpose with Sarah Leinberger of Yoobi 05.03.2026 17min

  Staying authentic and mission-driven while scaling aggressively may be the toughest problem in marketing to solve. But Sarah Leinberger, VP and Head of Marketing, Yoobi, has a pretty solid take on how to do it. In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, recorded during Brandweek in Atlanta, Sarah reveals how CMOs can build authentic brand equity through strategic collaborations, why agility trumps budget in today's market, and the key strategies to balance rapid iteration with meaningful purpose. What You'll Learn:How to leverage borrowed equity without diluting brand identityWhy speed and flexibility are competitive advantages for challenger brandsThe foundational framework for retail media successHow to build meaningful retailer partnerships that go beyond “exclusive.” The key strategies to optimize high-impact small teamsWhy authentic leadership accelerates team performance and trust Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Acing Brand Experience with Nic Brandenberger, CMO, Mammut Sports Group AG, at the World Economic Forum Event 26.02.2026 12min

  In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, live from the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Nic Brandenberger, CMO of Mammut, the 164-year-old Swiss mountaineering gear company, unpacks why Davos represents a unique opportunity for C-suite marketers and how the experiences brands create matter far more than the products they sell.What You'll Learn:How to shift the definition of “brand” from product provider to experience giverWhy breaking out of the marketing silo is a critical competitive advantage The strategic advantage of being a part of DavosHow to balance wholesale and direct-to-consumer channelsHow consumer-centric foundation separates great marketing from mediocre execution Ways to identify and penetrate niche communities in fragmented markets like US mountaineering Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Successfully Using AI in Business with ClearPrompt CEO, Karin Timpone, at the World Economic Forum Event 20.02.2026 18min

  Podcasting live from the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Karin Timpone, CEO and Founder of ClearPrompt, unpacks how to implement AI with focused, phased approaches rather than sweeping transformations and staying in the center of business strategy. What You'll Learn:Why CMOs are perfectly positioned to lead AI strategy across organizationsHow to break down AI implementation into focused, phased pilots instead of betting the entire farmThe difference between technology adoption and strategic impactHow to build cross-functional alignment in the C-suite around technology and strategyPick one lane and go deep rather than trying to master all of AIWhy it’s important to lean into industry moments that connect you with peers facing similar challenges Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Brandweek 2025: Build-A-Bear’s CEO, Sharon Price John on Claiming Your Place, Being a CEO and More 18.02.2026 37min

  From $0 confidence to CEO of one of the most well-known brands in the world, Sharon Price John’s story is nothing short of inspiring and we’re unpacking it on the latest episode of Marketing Vanguard. In this conversation, straight from the Brandweek 2025 stage in Atlanta, Sharon, CEO of Build-A-Bear, reveals her unconventional career journey and how that evolution directly shaped the turnaround and reimagining of an iconic experiential brand.What You'll Learn:How to transition from functional expertise to CEO-level thinkingWhy CMOs must adopt a "business-first" mindset to advanceThe confidence gap that holds high-potential women back from applying for stretch rolesHow to unlock brand equity by understanding feeling over functionThe critical role of authentic leadership in driving organizational transformationHow to pivot a single-location retail concept into an IP-driven, multi-vertical businessIn an era where the marketing playbook is being rewritten daily, how can brands stay ahead? Joshua Spanier, Google’s VP of AI and Marketing Strategy, pulls back the curtain in “Frontier CMO,” his new podcast and weekly insights letter featuring the marketers, thought leaders, and industry pioneers who are reinventing marketing.Josh previews the tough questions and unfiltered conversations featured on Frontier CMO, including:AI as a leadership test: exploring the "human" side of the AI revolution. As technology and tools advance the challenge becomes equipping marketing teams to leverage these technologiesBrand relevance and connection: writing the next playbook for brand relevance by showing up as a main character in the places and spaces that connect with your audienceAgentic Commerce: understanding the transition from "speed vs. certainty" to a world where shopping is fast and smartThe new marketing organization: knowing where AI makes work faster and smarter and restructuring teams to keep up. Redefining agency partnerships to elevate insights and creativity in real timeEach episode of Frontier CMO features tactical, practical steps all leaders can take to navigate the future of marketing. Find it wherever you get your podcasts: YouTube | Apple | Spotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• CMO Relevance Secrets with Sumit Virmani at the World Economic Forum Event 13.02.2026 15min

  More than ever before, CMOs belong in the C-Suite. And, Sumit Virmani, CMO of Infosys, has a strong case to back this stance up. In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, live from the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Sumit breaks down the necessary evolution of the CMO, what AI has to do with it, and the strategic imperative of aligning with C-suite priorities. What You'll Learn:Why CMOs need to operate within the full C-suite context, not just marketing bubblesHow to position yourself as a transformation partner, not a marketing operatorThe critical difference between using AI to do marketing better versus using AI to expand your business influenceWhy advocating for marketing's "seat at the strategy table" requires complementing creative genius with AI-powered analyticsHow to build an undeniable business case for attending high-level forums like Davos Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• Workday CMO, Emma Chalwin, Discussing the AI Era - World Economic Forum Event 11.02.2026 12min

  CMOs can drive business revenue - this is an established fact. But how can they do it better, bigger, and stronger in the age of AI? We’re unpacking this in the latest episode of Marketing Vanguard, live from the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos. Tune in as Emma Chalwin, CMO at Workday, breaks down the evolving strategic role of CMOs at major enterprises, the intersection of AI and human-centered marketing, and how chief marketing officers can become essential drivers of business growth. What You'll Learn:How to position CMOs as strategic business leaders in the age of AIThe "Art and Science" Framework for modern CMOs to thrive Why AI adoption requires a human-centered brand narrativeHow to reframe customer relationships from acquisition to retentionThe "B2B to B2H" (Business to Human) messaging approach and why it’s critical How to embed brand values as competitive differentiation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• How Rachel Thornton is Making Marketers 10x More Powerful at Adobe - World Economic Forum Event 06.02.2026 15min

  AI has long been thought of as a threat to creativity. But what if they’re not at odds at all? In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, live from the World Economic Forum in Davos, CMO of Adobe Enterprise, Rachel Thornton, reveals why putting human creativity at the center of marketing strategy is more critical than ever and how CMOs should be navigating this tectonic shift. What You'll Learn:How to position AI as "augmented intelligence" rather than artificial intelligenceWhy the core creative concept must remain human-driven while AI handles scalingHow to free your marketers from tactical asset-building so they focus on what they loveThe framework for proving marketing's revenue impact to your C-suiteWhy authenticity and brand definition are now competitive imperativesHow to treat customers as co-creators of your brand experience, particularly with Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.