The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström®: Expert Mode Marketing Technology, AI, & CX

Super Bowl ads are often the pinnacle of advertising creativity and cultural relevance. But with Taco Bell's return after a three-year hiatus, how do you craft a campaign that doesn't just capture attention but also becomes a moment fans will never forget?Joining us today are two creatives reshaping the way we think about food, culture, and branding: Guto Araki, Founder and CEO of Biite, and Alex Jacobs, Co-Founder and COO. Together, they’ve been at the forefront of some of the industry’s most groundbreaking campaigns, including Taco Bell’s much-anticipated 2025 Super Bowl ad and Resy’s upcoming brand campaign. Biite began as a platform for limited-edition collaborations with chefs and restaurants and has evolved into a powerhouse agency creating unforgettable campaigns for some of the biggest brands.About BiiteGuto and Alex originally started Biite in 2021 as a food culture collaboration studio that connects emerging chefs and culinary creatives to drop super limited, one-of-a-kind food items and experiences. This expertise and deep understanding of what’s happening in the food industry coupled with their background in advertising led to brands such as Taco Bell turning to Biite for food-focused campaign ideas.About Guto ArakiGuto Araki, Founder and CEOAward-winning advertising creative behind Taco Moon, Taco Swap, Taco IRL, #IseeATaco, Test Kitchen, Emoji Engine, Quesalupa and others. Former Executive Creative Director of Taco Bell NA & Global.About Alex JacobsAlex Jacobs, Co-founder and COOAlex is a seasoned marketer with 20 years of experience leading iconic brands including American Express, Taco Bell, The New York Times, Google and many more.RESOURCESBiite: https://biite.club/Taco Bell 2025 Big Game Teaser | Photobomb feat. Doja CatResy - Right This WaySuccess of the Taco Bell campaign and other work can be found on Biite’s Instagram.Don't miss Medallia Experience 2025, March 24-26 in Las Vegas: Registration is now available: https://cvent.me/AmO1k0 Use code MEDEXP25 for $200 off registrationRegister now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price.Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.comThe Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnowThe Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Are brands that lack a robust Customer Data Platform strategy losing the ability to deliver seamless, personalized customer experiences in an increasingly data-driven world?Today, we’re joined by Beth Scagnoli, Vice President of Product Management at Redpoint Global, a company at the forefront of data-driven customer experience solutions. Beth’s expertise spans Customer Data Platforms (CDPs), data quality, and marketing automation, making her uniquely positioned to discuss how organizations can harness the power of clean, observable, and composable data to create transformative customer experiences.ABOUT BETH SCAGNOLIBeth Scagnoli is a seasoned technology executive with over 20 years of cross-functional experience driving innovation, growth, and product adoption in the marketing technology space. As Vice President of Product Management at Redpoint Global, Beth spearheads the development and execution of product strategies that empower organizations to connect with their audiences through data-driven insights and personalized engagement.Prior to Redpoint Global, Beth held leadership positions at the Smithsonian Institution as well as Blackbaud. With a proven track record of launching successful platforms and fostering cross-functional collaboration, Beth combines deep technical expertise with a passion for solving customer challenges. A frequent speaker and thought leader in the MarTech industry, Beth is committed to advancing the capabilities of modern marketing tools. Beth resides with her family north of Boston and in her free time enjoys fitness, dance, and obsessively honing her skills in Wordle and other NYT Games.RESOURCESRedpoint Global website: https://www.redpointglobal.com Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromListen to The Agile Brand without the ads. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3ymf7hdDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.comThe Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnowThe Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

With seismic shifts happening across the search landscape, is your brand ready to adapt to the next wave of disruption—or will your competitors leave you in the dust?Today, we’re joined by A.J. Ghergich, Vice President of Consulting Services at Botify, a leading enterprise SEO platform. A.J. is an expert in navigating the ever-changing search and marketing landscape, and he’s here to break down the latest game-changing developments in search engines and their impact on brands. From Google’s AI overviews to Apple’s integration of ChatGPT into Siri, A.J. will share insights to help marketers stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.RESOURCESBotify website: https://www.botify.com Don't miss Medallia Experience 2025, March 24-26 in Las Vegas: Registration is now available: https://cvent.me/AmO1k0Use code MEDEXP25 for $200 off registrationRegister now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price.Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.comThe Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnowThe Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Retailers are sitting on a goldmine of data, but with only 20% leveraging it to its full potential, can AI bridge the gap between potential and action, and drive measurable revenue growth?Today, we’re joined by Cédric Chereau, Managing Director at EagleAI, an industry leader specializing in loyalty, personalized promotions, and omnichannel marketing solutions for retail, travel, and hospitality brands. With extensive expertise in optimizing marketing spend and driving customer loyalty, Cédric has been at the forefront of leveraging predictive AI to transform data into actionable insights that deliver tangible business growth.Cédric Chereau, Managing Director at EagleAI is an industry leader in loyalty, personalized promotions and omnichannel marketing solutions for retail, travel and hospitality brands. From optimizing marketing spend to driving customer loyalty and increasing revenue, Cédric can share valuable insights on the financial impact of AI on retail marketing as well as how retailers can effectively close the implementation gap, and the significant returns on investment (ROI) that AI is already delivering for forward-thinking retailers. Alternatively, we can develop a contributed article on the topic, "The ROI of AI: Assessing the Financial Impact of AI in Retail".RESOURCESDon't miss Medallia Experience 2025, March 24-26 in Las Vegas: Registration is now available: https://cvent.me/AmO1k0Use code MEDEXP25 for $200 off registrationRegister now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price.Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.comThe Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnowThe Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

With over 75% of consumers preferring text messages over email or calls, are brands missing a critical opportunity to connect meaningfully with their customers?Today, we’re joined by Amanda McGuckin Hager, Chief Marketing Officer at TrueDialog, where she’s leading the charge in leveraging SMS to create stronger connections between businesses and their customers. With a wealth of experience in technology marketing, Amanda recently stepped into her role as CMO and brings fresh perspectives on how brands can prioritize meaningful, timely, and effective communication strategies in an ever-evolving digital landscape.Amanda McGuckin Hager has over 25 years of experience in brand, digital, and performance marketing. She has built high-performing teams that drive exceptional business results. As Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of TrueDialog, she leads brand direction and marketing strategy, implementing processes, best practices, and tactics that increase company awareness and grow product demand.With deep experience in brand development, partnerships, product marketing, public relations, performance marketing, research, and sales development, Amanda’s data-driven, repeatable, and scalable approach has been recognized with numerous awards. Amanda has supported four companies through successful exits. RESOURCESTrue Dialog: https://www.truedialog.comDon't miss Medallia Experience 2025, March 24-26 in Las Vegas: Registration is now available: https://cvent.me/AmO1k0Use code MEDEXP25 for $200 off registrationRegister now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price.Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnowThe Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

If we can binge-watch our favorite shows or have groceries delivered with a tap, why does navigating healthcare still feel like a maze? Is it time to rethink the patient experience from the ground up?Joining us today is Adeline Ashley, Director of Customer Engagement at Sitecore and author of the groundbreaking book, Shop Stream Heal: Transforming Patient Care in the Digital Age. With over 20 years of experience leading digital transformation for major brands like Oprah, Anthem, and Southern California Edison, Adeline has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between consumer-grade digital experiences and patient care. Her mission is to create healthcare experiences that are accessible, intuitive, and, above all, human.Adeline Ashley is a digital marketing heavyweight and entrepreneurial force in innovative customer experiences. For over twenty years, working with brands like Oprah, Southern California Edison, Anthem, and major healthcare systems, she has spearheaded pioneering initiatives that merge creativity with data-driven strategies to forge lasting connections.From award-winning entrepreneurial ventures like her gourmet foods line to developing engaging digital platforms, she has a proven track record of identifying gaps and delivering groundbreaking solutions. This entrepreneurial mindset now fuels her role as the global healthcare lead at Sitecore, where she is revolutionizing the digital patient journey in healthcare by seamlessly blending human insights with cutting-edge technologies.RESOURCESShop Stream Heal: Transforming Patient Care in the Digital Age by Adeline Ashley: https://amzn.to/4gfoMGuSitecore: https://www.sitecore.comDon't miss Medallia Experience 2025, March 24-26 in Las Vegas: Registration is now available: https://cvent.me/AmO1k0Use code MEDEXP25 for $200 off registrationRegister now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price.Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.comThe Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnowThe Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Do you know who—or what—created the foundation of your software? And can you trust it?Today, we’re joined by Matt Van Itallie, CEO of Sema Software, a leading code and software analytics platform that has analyzed over $1 trillion worth of software. A lifelong tech expert, Matt has been instrumental in shaping the AI industry with innovations like the GenAI Code Monitor and Generative AI Bill of Materials.He’s here to discuss transparency in Generative AI for software development and how AI is transforming coding practices while introducing new challenges in accountability, ownership, and quality assurance.About Matt Van ItallieAs the CEO of Sema, Matt Van Itallie is passionate about problems that are hard and problems that matter. His career has always focused on a desire to serve the common good. At Sema, he leads a cross-functional team of technologists to build solutions that empower engineers to work with GenAI code. He co-founded Sema Technologies Inc., which he currently leads as CEO, to help organizations drive better outcomes through their software.Sema’s flagship solution, Comprehensive Codebase Scans, has earned a reputation as the leading codebase scanning tool for the technical due diligence process. Having evaluated more than $1T in value for leading private equity firms and enterprise M&A teams, Sema has built one of the most comprehensive datasets to provide actionable suggestions to engineering organizations. With this foundation, Matt is leading the development of the AI Code Monitor, which helps engineering organizations increase developer productivity and address the regulatory risks of generative AI code.When he’s not building the AI Code Monitor or thinking about code as data and CTO dashboards, Matt enjoys hiking with his wife, cooking with his kids, and throwing dinner parties to bring diverse minds together.ResourcesSema Software: https://www.semasoftware.com/Don't miss Medallia Experience 2025, March 24-26 in Las Vegas: Registration is now available: https://cvent.me/AmO1k0 Use code MEDEXP25 for $200 off registrationRegister now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price.Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.comThe Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnowThe Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Are you truly self-reliant, or are you relying on outdated strategies to navigate modern challenges?Today, I’m joined by Maha Abouelenein, author of the best-selling book 7 Rules of Self-Reliance. With over three decades of experience helping global giants like Google, Netflix, and Uber, Maha is a leading expert in modern communication strategies, personal branding, and reputation management. She’s here to share insights into self-reliance, the power of reputation, and how leaders can adapt to a rapidly evolving communication landscape.About Maha AboueleneinCEO and Founder with more than 30 years of PR experience with global corporate giants, high growth tech startups, top governments and high profile thought leaders. Maha leads a global communications consulting firm, Digital & Savvy that spans the USA, Dubai and Egypt. She cultivates the reputations of people and brands through their stories and nurturing relationships and connections with key stakeholders.Raised and educated in the USA to Egyptian parents, she is home in both West and Arab worlds. Maha is about relationships - building, nurturing, and serving them. She thrives on storytelling, building scalable campaigns and thought leadership by understanding what's happening in culture across the world, and what resonates with each audience.Maha is a keynote speaker, featured on stages like Web Summit, SALT, VeeCon, Cannes Lions, Art D'Égypte, Rise Up. She also hosts the top-rated podcast SavvyTalk.In 2020, she was nominated as one of the Forbes power women of the Middle East and sits on the global board of directors of the Associated Press.Passionate about lifelong learning and a big believer in the importance of investing in yourself Maha offers 1-1 workshops on Executive Media Training and How to Build Your Personal Brand.ResourcesMaha Abouelenein: https://www.mahaabouelenein.com/7 Rules of Self-Reliance: https://www.mahaabouelenein.com/bookDon't miss Medallia Experience 2025, March 24-26 in Las Vegas: Registration is now available: https://cvent.me/AmO1k0 Use code MEDEXP25 for $200 off registrationRegister now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price.Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.comThe Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnowThe Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Are you keeping up with the forces redefining loyalty, or are you relying on yesterday’s strategies in today’s fractured landscape?Today, I’m joined by Ian Baer, Founder of Sooth and a seasoned expert with over 35 years of experience leading some of the world’s most prominent advertising organizations, including Publicis, TBWA, and Omnicom’s Rapp Collins.Ian brings insights into how generational shifts, social commerce, and fragmented media are reshaping the concept of brand loyalty. He’s here to share data-driven strategies and real-world examples that will help brands navigate this new loyalty landscape.ABOUT IAN BAERIan Baer has 35 years of experience leading/running some of the largest Ad orgs in the world, including Publicis and TBWA , as the President of Rapp Collins (Omnicom) Chief Strategy Office of Rauxa, the president of social agency Big Fuel, an EVP for Deutch, and the founder of SoothRESOURCESSooth® website: https://www.soothbetold.com/Don't miss Medallia Experience 2025, March 24-26 in Las Vegas: Registration is now available: https://cvent.me/AmO1k0 Use code MEDEXP25 for $200 off registrationRegister now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price.Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.comThe Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnowThe Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Is your business building true customer loyalty—or is it just locking customers into a system they can’t escape?Today, we’re joined by Toya Del Valle, Chief Customer Officer at Cornerstone, a workforce agility company that supports over 7,000 customers, including global leaders like Samsung and UPS. With a unique journey from HR director to CCO, Toya brings a deep understanding of what HR leaders and organizations need to succeed. She’s here to share insights on leveraging AI for customer success, building meaningful relationships between CFOs and customer leaders, and creating loyalty in an increasingly SaaS-driven world.About Toya Del ValleToya Dell Valle is the Chief Customer Officer at Cornerstone, the leading learning and talent management company. She champions a focus on customer centricity to grow and build extraordinary outcomes with our customers. She leads all post-sales functions driving customer value, revenue generation, and operational scale including Customer Success Management (CSM), Professional Services, Support, Education, Partner Success, and Strategy & Operations.RESOURCESConnect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromListen to The Agile Brand without the ads. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3ymf7hdDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.comThe Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnowThe Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company