
Future Proof
Future Proof is the marketing podcast from Said Business School, Oxford University, and Kantar, the world’s leading marketing data and analytics company. In each episode, we’ll have a frank discussion with an expert, to help brands and business leaders navigate the changing landscape of marketing… and hopefully dispel some myths and misconceptions along the way. Looking at big industry question through both a market research and an academic lens, we can help prepare marketers for the future (with proof). All episodes and more info at https://www.kantar.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Jun 4, 2025 • 25min
Kantar BrandZ Insights from Brand Builders 2025: A conversation with Marcel Marcondes, Global Chief Marketing Officer, AB InBev
For the 20th anniversary edition of BrandZ’s global report, Adele Jolliffe, Head of Brand Consultants, Kantar talks with Marcel Marcondes, Global Chief Marketing Officer, AB InBev about the evolution of marketing and brand-building over the past two decades and the importance of brand in driving growth.Marcel joined AB InBev in 2005. Prior to becoming the company’s Global Chief Marketing Officer, he held a variety of roles at AB InBev, including Global President of Beyond Beer Co. and Chief Marketing Officer at Anheuser-Busch. He also spent seven years in brand management at Unilever in Brazil.Read the 20th anniversary edition of BrandZ’s global report here: www.kantar.com/brandz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 21, 2025 • 37min
Kantar BrandZ Insights from Brand Builders 2025: A conversation with Abhinav Kumar, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Tata Consultancy Services
For the 20th anniversary edition of BrandZ’s global report, Martin Guerrieria, Head of Kantar BrandZ, talks with Abhinav Kumar, Global Chief Marketing Officer, TCS about the evolution of marketing and brand-building over the past two decades and the importance of brand in driving growth. Abhinav is the Chief Marketing Officer of TCS, leading a team of 700 professionals in 55 countries who oversee the company’s brand, reputation and stakeholder relationships. In a 23-year career at the company, he has performed several leadership roles including CMO for LATAM, Europe and all international markets, winning over 150 brand and communications awards during his tenure. Read the 20th anniversary edition of BrandZ’s global report here: www.kantar.com/brandz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 7, 2025 • 28min
Navigating Consumer Trust in Advertising
In this episode of Kantar’s Future Proof Podcast, Nicole Jones speaks with Jesse Waldele from the Wall Street Journal about the evolving landscape of advertising and consumer trust. They discuss the paradoxical nature of today's consumers, the importance of building trust in a polarized environment, and strategies for engaging diverse audiences, particularly Gen Z. Jessie shares insights on optimizing advertising campaigns, leveraging offline channels, and ensuring brand safety. The conversation highlights the Journal's commitment to providing valuable content and analysis while adapting to the changing needs of advertisers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 23, 2025 • 27min
The Power of Meaningful Difference in Marketing
In this engaging conversation, Koen Pauwels, a marketing guru and professor at Northeastern University, joins thought leader Mary Kyriakidi to dissect the importance of 'meaningful difference' in brand growth. They emphasize how effective differentiation fuels consumer engagement and sales. The duo explores the critical link between brand perception and future sales, sheds light on strategic pricing, and discusses how innovation and AI can revolutionize marketing. Their insights offer brands a roadmap to thrive in a competitive landscape.

Apr 9, 2025 • 35min
Paws and Effect: Marketing Strategies in the Canine World
In this episode Jane Ostler talks to Nick Daniel, former CMO of Dogs Trust and Director of Flying Foxes Consultancy, to explore the unique challenges and strategies in charity marketing. They discuss the importance of brand identity, the competitive landscape of the nonprofit sector, and the growing role of partnerships and influencer marketing. Nick also highlights the challenge charities face in standing out as commercial brands increasingly align themselves with social causes, blurring the lines between corporate and nonprofit impact. As donor behaviours shift and dog ownership trends evolve, he shares insights on how charities can adapt and innovate to stay relevant, offering valuable perspectives for anyone interested in the intersection of marketing, social impact, and the future of charitable giving. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15 snips
Mar 19, 2025 • 42min
The Real Magic Cannes Creative Brand of the year, Coca-Cola with Islam ElDessouky
Islam ElDessouky, Global VP of Creative at Coca-Cola, shares insights on how the brand earned the title of Creative Brand of the Year at Cannes. He emphasizes the importance of emotional connections in advertising, blending creativity with brand consistency across cultures. The conversation touches on navigating marketing challenges in a distracted digital landscape and the shift towards memorable consumer experiences. ElDessouky also highlights the essence of effective leadership and the guiding principle of love in both personal and professional spheres.

Mar 5, 2025 • 21min
From FOMO to Function: How Should Marketers Leverage GenAI?
GenAI dominates marketing conversations, but how does it connect to capability building and the evolving role of marketers? While excitement around GenAI is high, adoption remains low with less than half of those with access use it regularly. So, what’s holding marketers back?In this episode, host Jane Ostler is joined by Thomas Von der Fuhr, Head of Organisational Performance at Kantar, to discuss insights from the newly published report, GenAI in Marketing: Fear or FOMO. They discuss what marketers are saying about the barriers to adoption, the importance of organisational readiness, and how GenAI can enhance, rather than replace, traditional marketing skills.With leading organisations shifting from operational tasks to strategic brand growth initiatives, this conversation offers valuable guidance for marketers looking to move beyond the hype and maximize GenAI’s potential.Tune in to discover how to bridge the gap between GenAI excitement and real-world capability building. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 18, 2025 • 30min
How can marketers get the most out of their digital campaigns?
In today’s episode, we’re exploring the marketing opportunities advertisers have in audio forward environments. Audio is present in nearly every moment of our lives, from weddings to commutes, workouts, and relaxation – and now marketers have more ways to engage their target audience in these spaces, and they aren’t just sound based. In recent years, the rise of podcasts and audiobooks has reshaped how people engage with audio, creating a deeper connection with streaming platforms and shifting public perceptions of media channels. Jenny Haggard, Global Brand Strategy Lead at Spotify, joins Kantar’s Chief Media Commercial Officer, Nicole Jones, to share how marketers can harness this new intimacy in audio-based media and what they can do to better create a multi-sensory experience in these environments and drive meaningful difference for their brands. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 13, 2025 • 25min
Future Proof: Why marketers need to evolve their approach to Brand Performance
Ryan Brendle, Global Director of Marketing Sciences at Reddit, shares insights on evolving marketing strategies. He discusses the importance of merging performance and brand marketing to enhance brand value and revenue. The conversation dives into how structured processes and data can help brand marketers learn from performance techniques. They also explore innovative methodologies for brand measurement through collaboration between Kantar and Reddit, and highlight the growing role of social media in influencing consumer behavior.

Feb 4, 2025 • 33min
How the Streaming Experience is Evolving for Viewers and Marketers
TV and video streaming are two of the most effective ways to reach audiences and predispose more people. According to Kantar Media Reactions, consumers find advertising on TV and TV streaming fun and entertaining and that TV sponsorships have better quality experiences. Marketers too are planning on investing more in CTV advertising experience. And yet, despite this interest, Kantar found that in Q3’24, only 16% of video streamers are happy with the relevance of ads shown to them. Nicole Jones, Kantar’s Chief Media Commercial Lead and Anna Miller, Head of Ad Measurement and Partnerships at Roku join forces to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of advertising in this rapidly changing market and discuss the future of streaming based ads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.