Uncensored CMO

Zaria Parvez, a creative social strategist, played a pivotal role in Duolingo's viral social media success. She discusses her transition to DoorDash and the creative freedom she enjoyed at Duolingo, including risky campaigns like Duo's staged death. Zaria shares insights on planning for virality, spotting trends, and how supportive leadership fuels creativity. She also emphasizes the importance of building personal brands and leveraging AI in social media, while highlighting the value of boredom for sparking creativity.

Esi Eggleston Bracey, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at Unilever, shares her remarkable journey from biomedical engineering to leading global beauty brands. She emphasizes the importance of merging creativity with data-driven marketing, highlighting how emotions drive consumer purchases. Esi introduces Unilever's SASSY framework for building brand desirability and discusses innovative campaigns like Dove’s Change the Compliment and Vaseline Verified. She also delves into the role of AI in marketing and how to nurture future billion-euro brands.

Nick Tran, CMO and President of First Round, leads the Diageo joint venture for Ciroc and Lobos 1707. He discusses brand reinvention versus continuation and the importance of cultural relevance. Tran emphasizes product innovation, the declining drinking trends, and the evolving role of social media. He highlights the necessity of creating genuine connections rather than relying solely on celebrity endorsements. Additionally, he shares insights on building a personal brand and navigating the complexities of modern marketing in an AI-driven landscape.

Nils Leonard, Co-founder and Creative Director of Uncommon, shares his bold insights on creativity in advertising. He discusses Uncommon's groundbreaking out-of-home campaigns, including British Airways' evocative 'Reflections' and the emotional storytelling behind B&Q’s approach. Nils contrasts the creative energies of the UK and US, urging a shift from cynicism to belief and experimentation. He challenges creators to find inspiration in pain points and reimagine traditional formats, emphasizing action over apathy to revive authentic creativity.

Gary Vaynerchuk, entrepreneur and CEO of VaynerMedia, shares his insights on marketing in a rapidly evolving world. He emphasizes the power of generosity as a growth strategy and underscores that the customer is always right. Discussions include the undervaluation of podcasts, LinkedIn's role in B2B marketing, and the potential of SMS for community engagement. Gary critiques traditional media like TV while praising social platforms, especially TikTok, for their organic reach. He warns about the trust issues surrounding AI and deepfakes in the future.

Will Guidara, author of 'Unreasonable Hospitality' and former co-owner of the world-renowned Eleven Madison Park, shares insights on blending hospitality with branding. He emphasizes the power of small gestures and the importance of emotional experiences over mere facts. Discussing concepts like intelligent naivety and the 95/5 rule, he illustrates how businesses can transition pain points into memorable moments. Will also reflects on how a mindset focused on hospitality can drive innovation and create extraordinary customer experiences.

Jess Butcher, tech entrepreneur and co-founder of AR company Blippar, dives into the pressing issue of social media addiction and its impact on our wellbeing. She discusses the struggles female founders face in securing funding and offers insights from her experiences at Blippar. Jess highlights how AI is reshaping our brains and behavior, urging brands to take responsibility for the attention economy. Her initiative, ScrollAware, aims to promote healthier digital habits, introducing innovative tools like phone sleeping bags to help people reclaim their time.

Craig Brommers, CMO of American Eagle, shares insights into the controversial Sydney Sweeney campaign. He discusses the decision to partner with her, citing her broad appeal and initial positive reception. Brommers reveals how unexpected backlash escalated due to a pun misunderstanding and reflects on the power of social media misinterpretations. Despite challenges, the campaign attracted a record one million new customers. He emphasizes the importance of data-driven decisions and creativity in navigating marketing crises.

After an illustrious 37-year career in advertising, legend David Droga is stepping down as CEO of Accenture Song and retiring. Under his leadership, Song grew 8% to $20 billion in FY25, up from $19 billion the previous year. A fitting closing act for one of the industry’s most creative leaders.In this second conversation with David, we reflect on his career, the lessons he’s learned, and what he would do if he were starting from scratch. From creativity’s place at the heart of business to the power of simple ideas, David shares the philosophies, failures, and insights that have defined his journey.Timestamps00:00:00 - Start00:02:45 - Lessons from being CEO of Accenture Song00:06:01 - Why creativity needs to be at the forefront of businesses00:11:01 - How technology can enable creativity, rather than kill it00:18:42 - What is David Droga most proud of leaving as his legacy00:27:40 - What what David Droga do if he were starting from scratch00:29:59 - What are the traits of David Droga’s favourite clients00:34:59 - What trends are overrated and underrated according to David Droga00:40:52 - David Droga ideas that never saw the light of day00:43:58 - The business that almost came before Droga500:46:49 - The size of the idea is 50x more important than the budget00:48:10 - Droga’s best campaign on a small budget00:56:31 - Power of building on a campaign platform01:02:06 - The power of simple ideas01:07:48 - The most "Aussie" thing Droga has ever done

Richard Shotton, a behavioural science expert and author, dives into the psychology behind iconic brands. He reveals why the 119.5-second Guinness pour boosts credibility and how 4-star reviews appear more trustworthy than perfect scores. The discussion includes why Liquid Death thrives by breaking conventions and the allure of Aperol Spritz through distinctiveness. Shotton also highlights how humor and jingles enhance brand recall, alongside the secret sauce behind KFC’s dominance and the impactful use of concrete expressions by Apple.