In Clear Focus

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Kathy Guzmán Galloway, a seasoned CPG strategist known to her clients as The Clarity Wizard, shares insights on her unique brand positioning framework and the impact of consumer research on effective brand strategy. Kathy discusses the role of multicultural marketing in brand positioning and future trends shaping the CPG space. Learn how brand positioning can help tell compelling brand stories and stay relevant in today's rapidly changing consumer landscape.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jim Pietruszynski, the CEO of the Chicago-based branding agency Soulsight, explains how to uncover and leverage the hidden, emotional drivers of consumer behavior. With over three decades of experience working with iconic CPG brands, including Nike, Campbell's, and Coors, Jim shares his expertise on some of the ways brands can understand the powerful emotions that drive consumer choices and how MOVE, Jim's new research framework, yields deeper insights for brand development.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Our guest this week is Cody Schneider, the co-founder and CEO of Swell AI. Cody discusses how AI is revolutionizing content creation and marketing and explains how Swell AI's platform automates workflows, repurposes content, and streamlines distribution. Cody believes businesses must become media companies, using interviews and AI tools to build trust and drive discovery, and shares examples of brands implementing this approach. We also preview some upcoming Swell AI features.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Guest Dr. Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel is the author of "Cultural Intelligence for Marketers." Anastasia shares her insights on building inclusive marketing strategies through "the four Cs" of cultural intelligence: culture, communication, critical consciousness, and community. We discuss moving from performative to genuine inclusivity, examining DTC brand Billie and Dove's "Real Beauty" campaigns. Save 25% on Anastasia's book at KoganPage.com by entering code BIGEYE25 at checkout.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Guests Nicole Munsey and Dana Keilman, co-founders of consumer insights consultancy Morning Light Strategy, discuss the largely untapped potential of the 50-plus market, which they characterize as "The NextGen Consumer." Debunking common myths and misconceptions about this audience, Dana and Nicole explain how their research identifies extended ecosystems of family decision-makers, the relevance of emerging trends such as AgeTech, and their new partnership with AARP.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Guest Pat LaCroix discusses his career in advertising and the transition to brand-side roles with CVS Health and Bose. Today, Pat is the EVP of Strategic Partnerships at Seekr Technologies, an AI company that offers content evaluation solutions. Pat discusses how Seekr's AI platform analyzes brand safety and suitability for advertisers and, in this election year, explains Seekr's unique 'civility' score. Pat provides unique insights at the intersection of AI and marketing.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Guest Kate Wolff is CEO of Lupine Creative, co-chair of Do The WeRQ, and co-founder of LumiTerra. Kate shares how her career journey in advertising led her to establish Lupine Creative and co-found Do The WeRQ, an organization dedicated to increasing LGBTQIA+ representation in the industry. Kate also discusses the challenges of launching a new sustainable product, the LumiCup, and offers advice for professionals looking to make an impact aligned with their interests and beliefs.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Matt Bourn and Sebastian Munden, authors of the new book, "Sustainable Advertising," share insights on how agencies and brands can transition to more sustainable practices. Starting with a five-point action plan, our conversation also explores the role of strategy and research in developing sustainable advertising, and how agencies can evaluate partners' sustainability efforts. Listeners save 25 percent when ordering directly from KoganPage.com - use code BIGEYE25 at checkout.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Our guest this week is Jillian Gibbs, founder and CEO of Advertising Production Resources. Jillian discusses the changing landscape of video production and shares insights from her new book, "The Marketer's Guide to Creative Production." Addressing how brands can improve their content creation processes and implement more sustainable techniques, we also discuss the first Production Ready Masterclass, which provides marketers with practical, hands-on learning experiences.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Our guest this week is Jack Shannon, co-founder and CEO of Recess, a platform reimagining sampling for consumer packaged goods brands. Jack shares the platform's evolution and explains how Recess connects brands with experiential marketing events across a broad range of venues, driving targeted and measurable activations. We dive into Recess's targeting capabilities, integration with retail media networks, and new features that can enhance brands' marketing with retailer data.