Episodes
Feb. 5, 2026
The New Path to Purchase: AI, Social Commerce and Measurable Growth (Jack O'Leary, Director, eCommerce Strategic Insights at NielsenIQ)
Before we dive into predictions and trends, can you share a bit about your journey and what led you to the role you are in today? Retail Media is getting more fragmented each year. How should brands measure Share of Voice across channels, and how important will unified measurement be for planning and performance in the coming years? The future of online grocery is evolving fast as fulfillment, speed, and convenience expectations keep rising. What innovations or operational models do you expect...
Jan. 29, 2026
Inside CMX: Scaling Retail Media Without Losing the Consumer (Parbinder Dhariwal, VP, General Manager at CVS Media Exchange (CMX))
To kick things off, can you share a bit about your journey and what led you to your role at CMX, and what experiences have shaped the way you think about omnichannel media today? CMX is known for turning consumer intent into action. Can you walk us through how your team uses precision and scale to thoughtfully connect brands with customers across the entire funnel? You often describe CMX’s approach as fueling meaningful shopping experiences. Can you share a case study that illustrates how full...
Jan. 22, 2026
Scaling Innovation by Empowering People With AI at Walmart (Dave Glick, SVP, Enterprise Business Services at Walmart)
What are the key lessons you've learned about building high-performance teams that actually move the needle? You’ve described the classic “SWAT team” lifecycle: small, focused, agile—and then scale brings complexity and drag. What’s one example from your career where you saw that SWAT energy sustained—or completely lost—when scaling? What was the key difference? At Walmart scale, structure is inevitable. How do you personally balance the need for speed and experimentation with the operational...
Jan. 15, 2026
Progress Over Perfection: How Marketing Leaders Make Smart Risk Decisions (Nick Hammitt, Chief Marketing Officer at Newell Brands)
Your career spans some of the world’s biggest CPG brands, from Unilever to PepsiCo to Newell. Looking back, what pivotal moments or decisions shaped your approach to marketing leadership? Consumers today interact with brands across so many touchpoints—online, in-store, social, and more. How do you approach creating a consistent, meaningful brand experience that resonates across channels while staying true to the brand’s core purpose? You’ve led the launch of major products and platforms. What’...
Jan. 8, 2026
Marketing Where Life Happens: Turning Everyday Moments into Powerful Brand Experiences (Jack Shannon, CEO & Co-Founder at Recess)
Can you walk us through how Recess works — from how brands discover experiential opportunities to how they execute and measure success through the platform?" You’ve worked with powerhouse brands— what’s something happening in the world of brand activations or consumer marketing that genuinely excites you right now? Recess helps brands scale sampling in trusted communities like Equinox, WeWork, and DoorDash. What recent feature, partnership, or trend on the Recess platform are you particularly ...
Dec. 18, 2025
Leading with Purpose: Bryan Santee on Innovation, Trust, and Customer-Centricity at PepsiCo Beverages (Bryan Santee, Chief Commercial Officer at PepsiCo Beverages U.S.)
Can you walk us through your career journey and share a pivotal moment that defined your leadership approach? You’re passionate about fostering high-performing teams. What principles or practices do you prioritize to build a culture of empowerment and innovation? As an omnichannel leader, what strategies have you found most effective for creating seamless consumer experiences across platforms? What are you most excited about within the digital space, and how do you see it reshaping the food a...
Dec. 11, 2025
Leading at Target: Curiosity, Innovation and Thriving in an AI Driven World (Prat Vemana, EVP Chief Information and Product Officer at Target)
· You’ve often been described as a continuous learner and someone who thrives on curiosity and experimentation. How have those qualities shaped your leadership philosophy, and how do you bring that mindset to the teams you lead? · At Target, you’re leading massive teams across technology and product, both of which rely on speed, innovation, and collaboration. What are some of the ways you empower teams to take smart risks and experiment while still driving business outcomes at scale? · Curiosi...
Dec. 4, 2025
Rethinking Retail Reach: IGA’s Blueprint for Smarter Shopper Marketing (Michael La Kier, Vice President, Brand Development at IGA, INC. )
You’ve worked on some of the most iconic consumer-loved brands—how do you translate that big-brand thinking into IGA’s decentralized, independent retail model? How has your direct marketing mindset influenced the way IGA approaches shopper insights, loyalty programs, and CRM in today’s fragmented retail environment? What role does storytelling play in building richer customer relationships across IGA’s network of stores, especially when trying to drive both local and national relevance? With so ...
Nov. 20, 2025
The Lottery Ticket Effect: What Drives True Partnership (Chris Haimbach, North America General Manager at Perrigo)
You’re responsible for driving the global growth strategy across Perrigo’s Skin Healing division—what key consumer trends or unmet needs are shaping that strategy today? Balancing innovation with heritage can be tricky in categories like skin healing—how do you think about modernizing a trusted portfolio while staying true to what consumers love? In a world flooded with skincare claims and health-conscious consumers, how does Perrigo approach trust, transparency, and efficacy in brand building...
Nov. 13, 2025
Rethinking Fulfillment: Amazon’s Big Change and What Comes Next (Rob Hahn, Chief Operations Officer at Pattern)
Amazon's decision to end FBA prep services is a significant shift for sellers. From your perspective, what are the immediate challenges brands should anticipate, and how can they proactively address them? You emphasized the importance of not waiting until the last minute to adapt to these changes. What are some early steps sellers can take now to ensure a smooth transition? Pattern offers solutions to help brands navigate these changes. Can you share how Pattern's services are uniquely positio...
Nov. 6, 2025
Choose Your Own Adventure: Empowering the Next Generation of Commerce Leaders (Gemma Spence , CEO of VML)
You’ve been instrumental in driving growth and implementing transformative models in digital commerce. Can you share what you think are the key elements for success in this space? As the digital commerce landscape continues to evolve, what trends or developments are you most excited about, and how do you see them shaping the industry? Leading a large, diverse team across the EMEA region is challenging. What strategies do you use to ensure alignment, innovation, and consistent results across su...
Oct. 30, 2025
Sending the Elevator Down: Building Culture, Brand, and Empowering the Next Generation (Jeff Durham, CEO & Co-Founder Durham Enterprises)
You’ve built an impressive career leading innovative consumer brands. Can you walk us through your journey—what led you to start Durham Brands and Gimme Beauty? Building a CPG brand that scales globally is no small feat. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced along the way, and how did you navigate them? Gimme Beauty has made waves in the health and beauty space. What innovations or trends in the industry excite you the most right now? With Gimme products in over 25,000 retail loc...
Oct. 9, 2025
Higher Touch, Smarter Tech: How AI is Redefining the Digital Shelf (Betsy Mello, CEO at Midnight Group)
You’ve led e-commerce growth across multiple brands and retailers — what’s been one of the biggest shifts you’ve seen in consumer behavior recently, and how are you adapting to it? When a major platform or retail partner goes through a big change, like a rebrand or acquisition, what’s your approach to keeping momentum and growing sales? Amazon is such a critical channel for so many brands — what are some key ingredients to sustaining long-term success on marketplace platforms? You have manage...
Oct. 2, 2025
From Black Box to Breakthrough: How Ampd is Redefining Retail Media (Joshua Gebhardt, Co-founder & CEO at Ampd)
· Your journey as the co-founder and CEO of Ampd is inspiring. What originally sparked the idea for Ampd, and how has the vision evolved since its inception? · Looking back, what have been the most significant challenges and milestones in your journey to scaling Ampd to serve millions of customers? · What excites you most about the future of Ampd and the role it’s playing in transforming the retail media and commerce space? · How do you see emerging technologies, like AI and machine learning,...
Sept. 25, 2025
Turning Data into Growth: Lessons from Mondelēz International (Cristina Marinucci, VP Global Growth & Omni Commercial Insights at Mondelēz International)
You’ve worked with some of the biggest CPG brands. What key experiences or lessons have shaped your approach as a leader in insights and category growth? You’re passionate about understanding the consumer, retailer, and shopper. Can you share a moment where an insight completely transformed a marketing strategy or category approach? As a retail media crusader and AI advocate, how do you see data, AI, and retail media shaping the future of omnichannel marketing? You call yourself a “Shaker-Up’...
Sept. 18, 2025
From Doing to Partnering: How Brands Win with Simplicity, Community, and Customer Experience (Alex Timlin, Chief CRM and Customer Experience Expert at SAP)
You’ve built and led high-performing teams across multiple industries and geographies. What pivotal moments or experiences have shaped your career as an entrepreneurial executive? Given your focus on customer experience and go-to-market strategies, what trends or innovations in SaaS and personalized marketing excite you the most right now? You emphasize the importance of aligning people, product, and customer focus with company growth metrics. Can you share an example of when this alignment dr...
Aug. 28, 2025
Retail Reimagined: How Walmart Connect is Powering Brands Through AI and Leadership (Lucas Barros, Head at Walmart Connect)
What excites you most about leading Walmart Connect in Chile, and what unique opportunities do you see in the region’s market? How do you approach leveraging data-driven insights to create more authentic connections between brands and consumers? What trends in omnichannel marketing are shaping your strategy at Walmart Connect, and how do you see them evolving in Latin America? What leadership principles guide you in balancing strategic vision with execution, especially when entering new marke...
Aug. 21, 2025
Cracking the Amazon Data Code: Smarter Growth Through Clean Insights (Andrew Hamada, CEO and Co-Founder of Reason Automation)
Your career journey from Amazon to founding Reason Automation is fascinating. Can you share how your experience at Amazon inspired you to create a company focused on data and analytics? You emphasize the importance of mastering data to stay ahead. What are the most common mistakes you see businesses make when it comes to utilizing their data effectively? Reason Automation has evolved from simply extracting data to making it accurate, actionable, and easy to interpret. Can you share an example ...
Aug. 14, 2025
Marketplace Momentum: Scaling Brands in the Fast Lane of E-Commerce (Jamie Roller, Director, Growth Channels at Dr. Squatch)
Your career spans strategy consulting, high-growth eCommerce, and leading CPG brands. Can you walk us through your journey and how these experiences shaped your expertise in scaling challenger brands? At Dr. Squatch, you oversee marketplaces and support omni-channel growth. What’s been one of your proudest accomplishments in this role so far? Profitability and growth strategy are your superpowers. What advice would you give to emerging consumer brands looking to break through the noise on Amaz...
Aug. 7, 2025
Beyond Awareness: Modernizing Iconic Brands for Amazon Profitability (Noah Knoblauch, Head of Ecommerce & Retail Media at Suave Brands Company)
What are the unique challenges and opportunities in integrating iconic brands into a modern eCommerce and retail media strategy? Your career spans roles in major corporations, startups, and private equity. How has this diverse experience shaped your approach to leading eCommerce and digital strategies in the CPG industry? You’re known for being a people-first leader. What strategies do you use to build and motivate high-performing teams, especially in fast-paced, transformative environments? ...
July 31, 2025
The Long Game: Why Brand Building Beats Short-Term Wins (Preston Rutherford, Cofounder of Chubbies)
Having co-founded Chubbies Shorts, you share some insights into building a CPG brand that resonates with consumers and stands out in a competitive market? What strategies do you find most effective for driving growth and building brand loyalty within the CPG sector? Why do brands often become overly reliant on short-term revenue-maximizing strategies, and what are the consequences of this dependence on their long-term growth? What are the advantages of adopting a balanced approach between bra...
July 24, 2025
Data, Distribution & Disruption: Russell Close on What’s Next in Digital Commerce (Russell Close, Global eCommerce Director at Carlsberg Group)
Can you share your career journey and how it led you to your current role as Global eCommerce Director at Carlsberg Group? What were some key milestones along the way? What are you most excited about in the world of eCommerce right now, and how is Carlsberg Group capitalizing on these opportunities? The beer and beverage industry has unique challenges when it comes to eCommerce. How does Carlsberg balance tradition with innovation in the digital space? What role does data and digital transfor...
July 17, 2025
No Shiny Objects: How Costco is Redefining Retail Media with Purpose (Mark Williamson, AVP, Retail Media at Costco)
Costco is known for its unique business model and loyal member base. How has Costco approached retail media differently, and what role does it play in enhancing the member experience and driving sales? Costco operates across physical warehouses, eCommerce, and delivery channels. How do you ensure retail media efforts align seamlessly with the company's omnichannel strategy? With retail media, shopper marketing, and eCommerce marketing increasingly converging, what strategies are you using to c...
June 26, 2025
Beauty Meets the Digital Shelf: Winning Strategies in eCommerce (Chris Chesebro, Global Chief Digital Officer at Wella Company)
As someone deeply involved in the beauty ecommerce space, what emerging trends or shifts are you currently observing in consumer behavior and technology? What do you consider to be the most underutilized levers for optimizing growth on marketplaces like Amazon, and how can brands effectively tap into them? What are the biggest challenges facing ecommerce executives in the beauty space today, and how can they prepare to address these issues in 2025 and beyond? In a data-rich environment, how d...