The CPG View

Can you elaborate on how your experience in event marketing, radio, and digital media has contributed to your proficiency in leveraging Retail Media Networks to drive advertising outcomes for retailers?   As someone passionate about learning and continuous improvement, can you share specific instances where you've adapted your strategies within Retail Media Networks to stay ahead of industry trends and deliver exceptional results for clients?   Given your expertise in areas such as programmatic display advertising and e-commerce strategy, how do you tailor your approach within Retail Media Networks to meet the evolving needs and preferences of both retailers and consumers?   How do you envision the future of Retail Media Networks (RMN) evolving with the integration of AI and person-first identity targeting, and what impact do you foresee this having on advertisers, retailers, brands, and publishers?   What are some common challenges faced by retailers when implementing and scaling their RMN platforms, and how can technology partners help address these challenges to drive success in the evolving digital advertising ecosystem?

Ryan, you've had an impressive career journey from NBCUniversal to Amazon, Instacart, and now Walmart Connect. What are some of the key lessons you've learned along the way, and how have they shaped your approach to leadership and sales strategy? You’ve mentioned that Walmart Connect is at an exciting phase of growth with a lot of building and scaling to do. Can you share your vision for Walmart Connect over the next few years and how you plan to navigate and drive this rapid expansion? One of the aspects you're focusing on is omni activation, combining in-store and online marketing efforts. How do you envision this strategy evolving, and what unique advantages does Walmart have in executing this seamlessly? You’ve been pleasantly surprised by Walmart’s tech capabilities, comparing it to top Silicon Valley companies. Can you elaborate on how this technological strength is being leveraged to enhance Walmart Connect’s offerings and overall customer experience? Retail media is growing significantly even as other advertising segments face challenges. What do you think are the driving factors behind this growth, and how can brands best position themselves to capitalize on the opportunities within retail media?  

Retail media is evolving rapidly. How do you see the future of retail media, and what role do you envision Gopuff playing in shaping that landscape? Gopuff continues to innovate in retail media, what opportunities do you see for brands to engage with consumers in new and meaningful ways through your platform? Can you walk us through the key features of the new Gopuff Ads Platform and how it enhances the ad experience for both customers and advertisers? What do you believe is the most important quality for a leader to have in today's fast-paced business environment? What are you most excited about in the near future, whether in your professional journey or the industry as a whole?  

DoorDash's mission is to empower local economies. Can you share how your partnerships with CPG brands like PepsiCo align with this mission, and how these collaborations contribute to the growth and support of local communities? As DoorDash continues to grow rapidly and evolve, what are some of the unique challenges and opportunities you've encountered in managing CPG partnerships like with PepsiCo? How do you ensure that these relationships remain strong and mutually beneficial in such a dynamic environment? DoorDash started as a food and restaurant delivery service but is now expanding into Retail & Grocery. How does a partner like PepsiCo leverage this vis a vis partnership with DoorDash and what new opportunities do you both see in this space? DoorDash emphasizes making intentional decisions grounded in company values. How do you balance the need for logical, data-driven decision-making with the empathy required to serve a diverse range of users, from Dashers to Merchants to Customers?

How do you think Amazon's decision to terminate a significant number of smaller 1P vendor accounts will impact brands, particularly those that rely heavily on the platform? What are the immediate challenges these brands face? For brands affected by this change, what are the first steps they should take to evaluate and adjust their current eCommerce strategy? How can they shift from 1P to 3P or other sales models effectively? With Amazon making changes to its vendor model, how should brands reassess their "where to play" and "how to win" strategies? What key factors should they consider when navigating the changing landscape? Data is a huge driver of success in eCommerce. How does Pattern use data and analytics to help brands optimize their marketplace strategies? Can you share any specific examples where Pattern’s insights led to significant improvements in sales or performance?   As Head of New Partnerships, how are you helping brands navigate these changes in the marketplace? What factors do you consider when forming partnerships with brands looking to expand their presence on platforms like Amazon?

You’ve had a dynamic career leading various aspects of digital commerce and retail media. Can you tell us a bit about your career journey? What experiences have been most pivotal in shaping your leadership style and approach to commerce excellence?   As the leader responsible for driving the vision of commerce capability at Omnicom, how do you stay ahead of evolving retail and eCommerce trends?    What do you believe are the key components of building high-performing, agile teams in today’s rapidly changing digital commerce environment?   As someone who’s had a successful and evolving career, how do you approach lifelong learning? What strategies do you use to continuously grow your knowledge and skills in such a fast-paced industry? What are you most excited about when you think about the future of CPG? Are there any emerging trends or innovations that particularly inspire you?  

You've had a successful track record of reigniting growth in storied brands through strategic brand direction and ecommerce channel development. How do you approach integrating omnichannel strategies to ensure consistent brand growth across both digital and physical touchpoints?   As consumer expectations continue to evolve, particularly in the sporting goods industry, how do you ensure that Rawlings Sporting Goods stays ahead of trends in both digital marketing and ecommerce to meet these changing demands?   With your diverse background in classical CPG functions, including Brand Marketing and Ecommerce, how do you strike the right balance between maintaining brand integrity and driving sales across multiple channels?   How do you leverage data from various channels to inform your marketing strategies and optimize the customer journey from awareness to purchase?   What are you most excited about in the future of omnichannel marketing?   

How have digital strategies and technologies transformed the way companies operate and engage with consumers? Can you highlight some key trends or shifts you've observed? In your role, you handle consumer data from acquisition to monetization. What are some best practices for effectively collecting and utilizing consumer data? How do companies balance the need for data-driven insights with the importance of maintaining consumer trust?  You've successfully launched a breakthrough rewards program at Grupo Bimbo. What elements are crucial for designing a rewards program that truly engages customers and drives loyalty? How can companies continuously innovate to keep these programs fresh and appealing? Doubling an eCommerce business in three years is impressive. What strategies or innovations do you believe are most effective for driving eCommerce growth in the CPG sector? What challenges commonly arise, and how can they be overcome? With your experience in creating omnichannel eCommerce roadmaps, what are the essential components for delivering a seamless omnichannel experience to consumers? Looking ahead, what emerging technologies or trends do you foresee having the most significant impact on the future of retail and consumer engagement?    

With over twenty years of experience across various leadership roles, what have been the key lessons you've learned as an entrepreneur, and how have they shaped your approach to leading Bazaarvoice?    You’ve discussed the evolution of shopping experiences in an omnichannel world. How is Bazaarvoice adapting to these changes, and what role does user-generated content play in this evolution?   As Bazaarvoice has adapted how has your engagement model changed with customers to drive their success?    Bazaarvoice emphasizes values like customer success, authenticity and transparency. Can you share how these values influence your approach to ldecision-making within the company?   What is your long-term vision for Bazaarvoice, and how do you plan to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the retail e-commerce industry?  

Over your 15-year career at General Mills, you've held various roles from field sales to zone operations and now as Customer Vice President of eCommerce. How have you seen the industry evolve over this time, and what has been the most significant shift in your opinion?   As the Senior Customer Manager for Target, your team was responsible for a P&L and budget. Can you share some insights on the strategies you employed to accelerate relationship and Joint Business Plan (JBP) performance, ultimately leading to improved RNS and market share results over three years?   General Mills was recognized as Target's 2020 Food & Beverage Vendor of the Year under your leadership. Can you talk about the key factors that contributed to this achievement and how you fostered a best-in-class engagement with your team, as evidenced by the 96% engagement survey score?   In your current role as Customer Vice President of eCommerce, how do you see the future of the CPG industry in the context of rapidly evolving digital channels and consumer preferences? What strategies is General Mills implementing to stay ahead of the curve in this highly competitive market? As the digital landscape continues to transform, how has General Mills adapted its digital strategy to ensure a seamless customer experience and maintain a competitive edge? Can you share some examples of successful digital initiatives that you have spearheaded or been a part of?   With the increasing importance of data analytics in driving digital strategy, how has General Mills leveraged data to better understand customer behavior and optimize its marketing and sales efforts? Can you discuss any particular insights or trends that have emerged from your data-driven approach and how they have informed your decision-making process?