Joel Yashinsky is the SVP and Chief Marketing Officer of Applebee’s. Applebee’s opened its first restaurant in 1980, and now has about 2,000 franchised locations globally. This is his sixth year as Applebee’s CMO, following 18 years in various roles at McDonald's. Joel graduated from The Bowling Green University in Ohio, and then worked for Georgia-Pacific and Southwest Airlines before joining McDonalds.

At Applebee’s, Joel is responsible for all aspects of marketing for the iconic brand, including marketing strategy, brand communications, creative, and beverage & menu innovation. Joel also serves as the brand lead on the Franchise Marketing Committee.

In this episode, Jim and Joel talk about navigating CEO changes and why he loves working for brands in need of a turnaround. He also explains the importance of staying true to your brand while being creative, and why companies must take a beat before sharing new ideas.

Check out the first edition of The CMO Podcast Magazine. In it, host Jim Stengel talks to marketers and executives about how to become an inclusive leader and the ways they're promoting DE&I (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion).This includes discussions about initiatives they're implementing in their company, how they're succeeding, and why DE&I is vital to their bottom line.

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