Strategy Sessions

Carrie Rose runs Rise at Seven, the Search-First creative agency from the UK that’s taking over America. In this episode we discuss: Business is just business Positioning for fast fashion Saying no to new business Using values in your agency When to say no to clients The Rise at Seven story The role of data in decision making Strategy v tactics Strategy Masterclass with Seth Godin I’m doing a series of strategy masterclasses with Seth Godin in 2025. If you use code Eximo (capital E) then you’ll be able to grab a ticket for £195 instead of the full rate of £265. See the link below for full details. The show notes, links and transcription can be found on the Eximo Marketing website.

Aaron Ahuvia PhD is the world’s leading scientific expert on brand love. In this episode we discuss: How the brain works and what we know about love What it’s like working with Philip Kotler How we define love and why it matters to marketers How to build brand love What to do when brand love isn’t something you should aspire to  Anthropomorphism and why brands talk to us Why stories matter Why the IKEA effect works (but not for me!) What Lisa Marie Presley can teach us about B2B marketing (really) What to do if people fall out of love with your brand Aaron Ahuvia Dr. Aaron Ahuvia is a Professor of Marketing at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and holds an appointment in the College of Engineering’s program on Human Centered Design as well as at the UM-Ann Arbor’s Penny W. Stamps School of Art and Design. He completed his Ph.D. in Marketing at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management, where he worked with Professor Philip Kotler (‘the father of modern marketing’). Strategy Sessions Host - Andi Jarvis If you have any questions or want to talk about anything that was discussed in the show, the best place to get me is on LinkedIn or Instagram. Make sure you subscribe to get the podcast directly or sign up for it here to have it emailed when it's released. Recommendations Aaron’s book, The Things We Love Creating Superfans by Brittany Hodak Lidia Infante on the Strategy Sessions talking about using data on dating apps

Rachel runs marketing at Equitas and her own fashion brand, Ivy Haven. We explore the similarities and differences! This is the final episode in the 2024 Black History Month mini series. In this episode we discuss: Setting the ambition for a DEI in NI event Celebrating small wins SaaS marketing for a start up Positioning the right message to the right customer Talking to customers Not copying your competitors Similarities between running a B2C fashion brand and marketing a B2B SaaS brand A full transcript and show notes can be found on the ep homepage.

Blessing is the Business Inclusion Programme Manager at NatWest, where her role focusses on breaking down barriers to enterprise for Ethnic Minority owned businesses across the UK. We talk about the challenges and opportunities for Ethnic Minority owned businesses and the impact on the country. This is the second episode in the 2024 Black History Month mini series. Escaping the clutches of the British Army in Zimbabwe The challenges faced by ethnic minority entrepreneurs The 4X impact that ethnic minority businesses could have in the UK The power of talking to customers Ensuring your activity aligns with the overarching business strategy How and why NatWest is supporting entrepreneurs across the UK Fitting in and belonging when moving countries Blessing Mutamba Blessing is also a co-lead of the NatWest Group Global Multicultural Network which promotes inclusion and allyship for employees working within NatWest across all the offices in Europe, India, UK, USA and Asia.  Full show notes are on the Eximo Marketing website.

This episode was recorded live at Ulster Bank as part of our mini series for Black History Month. It features David Levin and Charmaine McConville. In this episode we discuss: The early days of social media The challenges of growing a start up Acting on advice from loved ones The best petrol station in Ireland Whether Bradford or Leeds is better (it’s Bradford) How race and identity overlap

Miracle is the Head of Search at John Lewis Finance, with over a decade of experience helping global and national brands increase their visibility. In this episode we discuss: • Organic and paid search playing nicely together • The importance of brands in search • Working for the darling of the British high street • Building effective teams • The difference between Nigerian and British education • A future career for Miracle Find a full transcript and links for Miracle on the Eximo Marketing website.

Allen Adamson is an industry expert in all disciplines of branding. He has worked with a broad spectrum of consumer and corporate businesses in industries ranging from packaged goods and technology to health care, financial services, hospitality, and entertainment. In this episode we discuss: Why Skype died The joy of a 1 page document Switching from client to agency side HBO’s great approach to working with interns Why diversity is important and why we need to think beyond optimisation The lessons we learn from talking to customers How Ford changed how they think The lessons from Apple’s Genius Bar How to spot problems in business What we learn teaching students Find all the show notes, including Allen's contact details, on the main episode page.

Dave Birss is an educator, a recovering creative director and man used to spelling his last name over the phone. In this episode we discuss: Why producing unique work is hard What a creative director really does How Dave became a leading voice in AI Where AI can really help companies Where AI shouldn’t be used Why Dave won’t ever be employed by the Belfast Tourist Board Recommendations Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us by Daniel Pink Dave’s LinkedIn Learning courses Dave's books Dave Birss Dave Birss has quickly established himself as the top AI instructor on LinkedIn Learning. His first AI course on the platform has attracted over 100,000 students and receives rave reviews daily. Beyond teaching, Dave advises numerous companies on practical AI implementation, including leading Fortune 500 firms. He has launched the Sensible AI Manifesto to provide organizations of all sizes with guidance on incorporating generative AI into their activities in the most effective ways. In addition to his AI expertise, Dave is an acclaimed author, speaker, and broadcaster on the topics of innovation, creativity, and ideation. He speaks professionally at events around the world, wowing audiences with his insights and humour. Dave has authored several bestselling books dissecting the creative process, including “How To Get To Great Ideas,” “A User Guide To The Creative Mind,” “Friction,” and “Iconic Advantage.” Find them all here. His upcoming book will focus on applied AI. Dave has taught university courses on multiple continents, from Singapore to Santiago and New York to Newcastle. He is an occasional broadcaster, having written, directed and presented the 6-part TV series “The Day Before Tomorrow” in the UK. Dave also wrote and presented the world’s first Virtual Reality history documentary “Secret Spaces.” And he has lent his expert commentary to news programs on the BBC and Channel 5. With his prolific output across books, courses, speaking, advising, and broadcasting, Dave Birss has established himself as a leading global authority at the intersection of creativity, innovation, and AI. He’s currently working on more courses, a video series, a couple of books and releases content on an almost daily basis. Find Dave on LinkedIn or at DaveBirss.com Host - Andi Jarvis If you have any questions or want to talk about anything that was discussed in the show, the best place to get me is on LinkedIn or Instagram. Make sure you subscribe to get the podcast directly or sign up for it here to have it emailed when it's released. If you enjoyed the show, please give it a 5* rating.

Ikram Mohideen is the Chief Strategy Officer at Shift Integrated, an independent agency in Sri Lanka. In this episode we discuss: Why quant doesn’t tell you everything The importance of testing and radical thinking Focus on effectiveness Marketing and advertising in a difficult economic climate Lessons from judging awards Does positioning exist Recommendations LondonSEOXL ⁠ - use code Andi20 to get 20% off a ticket Good Strategy / Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt Social Class in the 21st Century by Mike Savage The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable Paperback by Nassim Nicholas Taleb Other links James Hayhurst on agency client relationships JP Castlin on why language matters in marketing Ikram Mohideen Ikram currently leads strategy at Shift Integrated – an independent, fully-fledged creative agency based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. At Shift he is the custodian of the “effectiveness culture”, focused on creating a culture that combines rigour, creativity, and data, to help make work that really works. He previously worked at Nielsen in consumer insights, specializing in brand equity research, and afterwards at Leo Burnett, helping to grow brands in CPG, telco, banking, finance, and real estate. Working together with clients and research partners, he is currently engaged in establishing a brand and advertising strategy practice built upon marketing science. Find Ikram on LinkedIn Strategy Sessions Host - Andi Jarvis If you have any questions or want to talk about anything that was discussed in the show, the best place to get me is on LinkedIn or Instagram. Make sure you subscribe to get the podcast directly or sign up for it here to have it emailed when it's released. If you enjoyed the show, please give it a 5* rating. Find the full audio transcription here: https://eximomarketingstrategy.com/focus-on-effectiveness-with-ikram-mohideen-strategy-sessions-podcast/

James Hayhurst is former MD of Leagas Delaney, Global Brand Equity Director for OMO/Persil at Unilever and the Founder of the Magic Sauce Course. In this episode we discuss: What makes great creative Why the agency / client relationship break down The importance of talking to your customers The Parents Promise LondonSEOXL ⁠ - use code Andi20 to get 20% off a ticket How Brands Grow by Bryon Sharp James started his career agency-side BMP DDB (now Adam&Eve DDB) as a grad trainee. During his time there he worked on award-winning campaigns for Volkswagen, Channel 4 and the Teacher Training Agency amongst many other UK and international clients. In 2012 James joined Leagas Delaney as Managing Director running the London office, and managing brands including Glenfiddich, Patek Philippe and Timberland. James decided to try his hand at client-side marketing by joining Unilever in October 2014 as the Global Brand Equity director for OMO/Persil, Unilever's third biggest brand and sold in 80 countries globally. James was attracted by the brand positioning of Dirt is Good and Unilever's commitment to sustainable living and during his four years James helped position the brand as one of Unilever's fastest growing purposeful brands. Whilst there James was struck by what he 'didn't know he didn't know' when he'd been an agency MD about client culture and decision making. He also began to appreciate how alien agency culture appeared to many clients, and that they hadn't been given the instruction manual of how to 'operate' their agencies. There was an empathy gap on both sides that needed bridging.  The Magic Sauce Programme was the result. The Magic Sauce programme helps clients and agencies to work more effectively, efficiently, enjoyably and profitably together.  It does this by improving the understanding and importance of relationship dynamics, communication and wider team chemistry.  It also offers a behaviour change and measurement framework to improve relationship quality over time. Find James on LinkedIn or visit the website https://magicsaucecourse.co.uk/ If you have any questions or want to talk about anything that was discussed in the show, the best place to get me is on LinkedIn or Instagram. Make sure you subscribe to get the podcast directly or sign up for it here to have it emailed when it's released. If you enjoyed the show, please give it a 5* rating. RecommendationsJames HayhurstStrategy Sessions Host - Andi Jarvis