In Clear Focus

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Professor Mohamed Zaki of Cambridge University discusses his new book “Data-Driven Customer Experience Transformation.” Mohamed explores the shift from product-centric to customer-centric business models, distinguishing customer satisfaction from delight, and leveraging AI and data analytics to predict customer behavior. Mohamed also shares his insights on omnichannel experiences, personalization strategies, and real-world case studies, including Caterpillar's CX transformation.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Honorable Paul Johnson and Larry Aldrich, authors of "What's Right with America," challenge fear-driven narratives dominating media. They discuss how optimism drives innovation, the power of individual agency over collective thinking, and the economic strengths of the United States. The conversation explores marketing lessons from their data-driven approach to countering pessimism, the importance of entrepreneurship, and how brands can tap into shared American values rather than divisions.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Recorded at Coverings 2025, North America's largest tile and stone trade show, Seth Segura discusses Bigeye's creative direction for the event branding. Interior designers Marc Thee and Carmina Ozeata explore innovative materials, sustainability trends, and evolving design approaches. Marc explains his "positive energy" tile collection, while Carmina highlights artisanal techniques. The conversation reveals how Coverings inspires professionals and supports their design practice.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Peter Wilken, known as "the father of Brand DNA," shares insights from his 30+ years of experience, working with iconic brands like Coca-Cola, BMW, and Disney. Peter explains his "Dim Sum Strategy" approach to brand building, the concept of "owning territory in the mind," and the vital components of Brand DNA. He discusses balancing long-term brand building with short-term performance marketing, adaptable frameworks for different market stages, and navigating business turbulence.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Chris Peterson, author of "Red & Blue Customers" and co-founder of Lifemind.ai, explores how worldviews influence consumer behavior. Chris outlines purchase values that distinguish liberal and conservative customers, how popular brands align with different perspectives, and reveals the secrets of effective ad creative strategies for both groups. Chris also reveals how fear shifts buying patterns and discusses how understanding these dynamics builds stronger brand connections.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jean-Éric Pelet, author of "Consumer Behaviour: Understanding Consumers in a Digital Landscape," explores technology's impact on consumer psychology and decision-making. Jean-Éric shares insights on website color psychology, sensory marketing, and China's advanced digital ecosystem. He also discusses emerging technologies, such as voice commerce and AR, and previews his new biometric hospitality project, which adjusts environments based on guests' physical and emotional states.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Nick Valenti, CEO of NYC and San Diego-based agency Mādin, shares successful marketing strategies for bringing European sports to American audiences. Nick discusses launching San Diego FC without traditional brand assets and reveals how their Chrome Ball Tour unified 18 cities. Nick also reveals the strategy behind the "Sensory Overload" campaign for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix and reflects on why emotional brand storytelling and community-building are crucial for sports marketing.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Tom Woodnutt of Feeling Mutual discusses the evolution of online qualitative research. Tom explains how asynchronous methods yield authentic insights by allowing participants to share in real-world contexts without the social pressure of focus groups. He explores maintaining engagement, AI's impact on research, and the “qual at scale” trend. While embracing AI as a powerful tool, Tom emphasizes the irreplaceable human intuition that makes great qualitative research possible.

Scott Smith and Susan Cox-Smith, co-founders of Changeist and experts in strategic foresight, dive into Foom, an immersive simulation that reveals the real-time consequences of decisions in AI futures. They discuss how this innovative approach differs from traditional planning, allowing teams to better navigate uncertainties. The duo emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives in governance and the complexities of evolving AI technologies, all while exploring the role of design in shaping meaningful discussions around potential futures.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Emeric Ernoult, the CEO of Agorapulse, discusses social media management. From pioneering the first social inbox to developing ROI tracking tools, Emeric shares insights on measuring social media effectiveness, leveraging employee advocacy, and achieving 4-10x reach through strategic content distribution. Learn how this bootstrapped company grew to $20M+ revenue, helping brands streamline multi-platform management while proving social media's impact on bottom-line results.