The CPG View

You’ve led the development of e-commerce strategies across multiple markets. What are the key elements of a successful e-commerce strategy, and how do you ensure it is flexible enough to adapt to different consumer behaviors and market conditions globally? With the rise of omnichannel retail and retail media, how do you approach building a seamless experience for customers across both physical and online channels? What are the key factors in optimizing online visibility and conversion? Data-driven decisions are essential in today’s fast-changing e-commerce landscape. How do you use data and experimentation to improve customer experience and drive business results? Can you share any examples of where experimentation led to unexpected insights or success? You’ve played a key role in leading digital transformation by integrating marketing, commerce, and retail media functions. What are some of the biggest challenges in transforming an organization for digital success, and how do you ensure alignment across teams? Looking ahead, what are you most excited about in the e-commerce space? Are there any emerging trends or technologies that you believe will significantly shape the future of online shopping and consumer behavior?

What excites you most about the future of digital commerce, and how do you see Barilla evolving to meet emerging trends?Leading a team across 35 countries must come with unique challenges and opportunities. How do you balance global consistency with local adaptability in your eCommerce acceleration strategy?What innovative strategies or partnerships is Barilla pursuing to capitalize on this trend?Consumer behavior in eCommerce is constantly evolving. How is Barilla leveraging data and insights to anticipate these changes and stay ahead of the curve?What capabilities and skills do you believe are essential for eCommerce professionals in 2025, and how is Barilla investing in education and training to prepare its teams for the future of digital commerce? 

The MACH approach was originally seen as a breakthrough for digital commerce, but VTEX has voiced concerns about how it's evolved. In your view, where did the industry start to veer off course?" You’ve emphasized the importance of simplicity, native connectivity, and minimal middleware. How does VTEX’s philosophy differ from the traditional MACH interpretation, and what benefits does that bring to retailers and brands?" MACH principles like API-first and headless are now widely adopted. What do you think commerce leaders should focus on next to create real business value, beyond the buzzwords?" For companies that embraced composable architectures and are now facing complexity or cost challenges, what advice would you offer as they rethink their approach? You’ve mentioned VTEX would be open to rejoining the MACH Alliance if certain values are embraced. What would a more balanced, business-first version of MACH look like to you?     

GroupM’s mission is to shape the next era of media where advertising works better for people. What strategies do you employ to ensure that bold innovation consistently translates into measurable ROI for your clients? As someone recognized as a top marketer to watch in 2024, what emerging trends or technologies in retail media do you believe will shape the industry over the next few years? As a seasoned media executive and bold innovator, what are you most excited about for the future of retail media, both in terms of technological and data advancements, and their potential to impact people’s lives? Your leadership philosophy emphasizes fostering a supportive environment where team members can thrive.  How do you ensure team well-being remains a priority while navigating the pressures of driving exponential revenue growth and delivering breakthrough client solutions? What does it take to lead successfully in a high-stakes industry where innovation, goal-setting, and maintaining a competitive edge must coexist with building an inclusive and supportive work environment

Chewy has built an incredibly loyal customer base. How do you ensure that advertising remains a helpful and additive part of the shopping experience?Chewy recently launched a newly optimized version of its retail media network, Chewy Ads. What drove the refresh, and what key features or enhancements does it introduce?With new formats like video ads, offsite placements, and deeper performance insights, how are these updates helping brand partners drive discoverability, conversions, and long-term growth?Many CPG brands are expanding into pet care. What advice would you offer to brands looking to break into this highly loyal category—and how can retail media accelerate their success?Chewy’s success is rooted in trust and strong customer relationships. How do you balance the need to grow ad revenue while preserving the authenticity and credibility that pet parents have come to expect? 

As the Global Head of Technology Officers Practice at Russell Reynolds Associates, you’ve guided companies through significant leadership transitions. What are the most notable shifts you’ve seen in the role of top tech executives over the past decade, and how are organizations adapting to these changes? You’ve led searches for pivotal roles, such as CIOs and chief inclusion officers, across diverse industries. What key qualities or traits do you prioritize when identifying candidates for these high-stakes positions? Your involvement in initiatives like the Information Technology Senior Management Forum and education-focused boards highlights your commitment to developing the next generation of leaders. What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges in building a robust pipeline of tech executives? Based in Atlanta, a city experiencing tremendous growth in tech and business, how do you see the region shaping the future of technology leadership and innovation? What role do you think Atlanta plays in the broader tech ecosystem?  With your extensive experience and insights into leadership, technology, and community development, what are you most excited about for the future—whether in tech, leadership, or beyond?

Can you share your journey into the CPG world? What sparked your interest in this field, and how have your experiences shaped your approach to building brands and driving growth within the industry?With nearly two decades of experience working with global brands like Jack Daniel's and Stella Rosa, how do you think the beverage alcohol industry has evolved in terms of eCommerce?You've been crafting omnichannel programs to build strategic partnerships. How does the integration of online and offline sales channels change the way beverage alcohol brands approach their customers?With your experience across different tiers of the industry, how do you see technology, consumer behavior, and regulatory environments shaping the future of eCommerce in the beverage alcohol sector? What role will data and digital transformation play in this evolution?How are you leveraging data and personalization to create more tailored experiences for customers and improve online sales performance?

Can you share the inspiration behind founding Volcanic Retail and some of the key factors that drove its rapid growth, leading it to be one of the fastest-growing retail brands? With your experience scaling over 500+ brands worldwide, what common challenges do you see brands facing in today’s retail landscape, and how do you help them overcome these? You’ve held roles from consultant to CEO, even teaching business—how have these diverse experiences shaped your approach to leadership and innovation in retail? Having collaborated with high-profile names like Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner, what have been some of your biggest takeaways from working with industry icons? With your deep involvement in the retail ecosystem, especially through initiatives like Retail War Games and Retail Collective, how do you envision the future of retail, and what strategies should brands focus on to stay competitive? 

As the Chief Experience Officer overseeing a wide range of teams—Creative, Strategy, CX, Retail Media, and DTC—how do you ensure alignment across these diverse functions to deliver a seamless customer experience?Creative and customer experience are often seen as separate disciplines, but you manage both. How do you balance creativity with customer insights to craft experiences that are both engaging and effective for clients? Retail media and direct-to-consumer channels are evolving rapidly. What trends are you seeing in these areas, and how is OCG adapting its strategy to help clients stay ahead in an increasingly competitive marketplace? With customer experience being more crucial than ever, what innovative approaches or technologies are you implementing to enhance the customer journey? Can you share any recent successes where these innovations made a significant impact? Looking to the future, what excites you the most about the evolving landscape of retail media, DTC, and customer experience? Are there any emerging trends or technologies that you believe will have a lasting impact on how brands connect with their audiences?

Can you tell us more about the specific challenges that Kraft Heinz faced when it comes to reaching consumers through the digital shelf? What was the process like of selecting your tech partner to help address those challenges? How did your team work to create content that would effectively maximize the algorithm across retailers? Looking ahead, what are some of the trends or innovations in the digital marketing and content space that you and your team are keeping an eye on? With the increased demand for quality content from consumers, what are some of the strategies and tactics that you and your team have implemented to ensure that Kraft Heinz is meeting those expectations?