The CPG View

As the President of NielsenIQ, what strategic initiatives or high-impact projects are you currently spearheading to further advance the company's position in the market and address industry challenges? In your role at NielsenIQ, how do you see the future of data analytics and customer servicing evolving, and what role do you envision NielsenIQ playing in shaping that future? Can you share insights into how your role as the leader of Customer Success and Platform Transformation at NielsenIQ, particularly overseeing customer-facing servicing teams and the global rollout of the self-serve analytics platform, Connect, across 85 countries, has set you up for success in your new role?   4.) How does NielsenIQ leverage its extensive database of consumer buying behavior to offer clients the most comprehensive understanding of shopper and market trends, enabling them to make informed decisions about their strategies?

Andrew Lipsman, Independent Analyst & Consultant at Media, Ads + Commerce, discusses how creators are shaping the future of media, ads, and commerce. Topics include the Creator Era, successful creator traits, challenges faced by creators, and the impact on traditional media and marketing channels.

Can you share some insights into how the evolution of eCommerce has impacted the strategies and approaches in shopper marketing, particularly within the CPG/FMCG sector? Given the proliferation of digital advertising channels, including retail media, how does your agency approach crafting effective campaigns that resonate with consumers in an omnichannel retail landscape? With your extensive experience in media planning, could you elaborate on the role of data and technology in informing decision-making processes, especially in the realm of retail media? In an era where media consumption habits are constantly evolving, how do you ensure your team stays ahead of the curve in terms of media training and adaptation to emerging trends in advertising and retail media?

Can you share a specific example from your experience at J&J, Coke, or General Mills where applying strategic thinking led to a notable success in brand positioning or marketing execution? Your marketing training emphasizes fundamentals like strategic thinking and brand analytics. How do you adapt these fundamentals to the evolving landscape of digital marketing and changing consumer behaviors? In your book "Beloved Brands," you discuss building brands that consumers love. Can you elaborate on a case study or practical advice from the book that our listeners, particularly those in the CPG industry, could apply to enhance their brand building efforts? Given your extensive experience in leading marketing teams for iconic brands, could you share a challenging situation you encountered and how you navigated it to ensure the team produced exceptional work that drove business growth?

E-commerce Evolution in CPG: In your experience with major brands like Reckitt and Coca-Cola, how have you seen e-commerce strategies evolve in the CPG industry over the years, especially in the context of health and wellness products? Could you share insights on how these strategies differed from traditional retail approaches? Digital Marketing Innovations: Throughout your career, you've been at the forefront of digital marketing and campaign strategies. What are some of the most innovative digital marketing tactics you've implemented, and how have they transformed the way CPG brands engage with their consumers online? Cross-Functional Leadership: Leading a team of cross-functional members requires a unique blend of skills. Can you discuss how you've fostered collaboration and innovation within your teams, and how this has impacted business growth and digital transformation in the companies you've worked with? Future Trends and Challenges: Looking ahead, what do you see as the next big trend or challenge in e-commerce for the CPG sector? How should companies prepare to adapt to these changes, particularly in the context of health and personal care products? 

Given your role as an early adopter in the eCommerce channel and your focus on staying ahead of emerging trends, can you share a specific instance where your willingness to embrace new opportunities had a significant impact on advancing your organization within the consumer goods landscape? Could you elaborate on how your commitment to ongoing learning influences your leadership style? Additionally, how do you instill a culture of continuous growth within your team, ensuring they stay updated on the latest industry trends and advancements?  Having held significant consumer goods retail channel sales leadership roles, how do you balance the traditional retail channel strategies with the demands and innovations of the eCommerce space? Can you share insights on effectively navigating and integrating these two distinct aspects of the consumer goods industry? As a lifelong learner, how do you ensure that you and your team stay updated on the latest industry trends and advancements? Are there specific learning methodologies or resources you find particularly valuable in staying informed and enhancing your skillset within the dynamic field of consumer goods?

With experience spanning e-commerce, digital, key accounts, retail marketing, shopper marketing, indirect trade, and cross-functional projectsacross different geographies, how do you approach adapting your skills and strategies when moving between such diverse roles within the CPG industry?   Having led diverse teams of managers, what leadership principles have you found most effective in fostering collaboration and driving high performancewithin your teams? Can you share a specific challenge you faced as a leader and the strategies you employed to overcome it?   Your background highlights excellence in execution. Can you share a project or initiative where your focus on execution played a pivotal role in achieving outstanding results for a CPG brand? What were the key factors that contributed to the success of that particular execution?   Having worked in different geographies and countries, how do you leverage your global experience to develop and implement effective strategies in the ever-changing CPG landscape? Can you provide insights into the importance of understanding local nuances while maintaining a global perspective in the industry?

Reflecting on your time at The Citadel, how do you believe the institution's emphasis on discipline and honor has influenced your leadership style and decision-making throughout your military career? What were some of the key leadership challenges you encountered while commanding 1st Tank Battalion and how have these experiences shaped your leadership approach and growth as a military leader? As a graduate of The Citadel, how do you perceive the institution's role in shaping future leaders,  particularly in instilling values such as discipline, integrity, and service?  Don't want to restrict this to just the military – our young Alumni are in high demand and I have some theories why Considering our shared alma mater at The Citadel, how do you assess the institution's adaptation or consistency in upholding its values and training methods over the years, and how has this impacted the development of military leaders?  I will focus my response on the character crisis in this country and how The Citadel develops character as the cure. Your Book: Marine Maxims: Turning Leadership Principles into Practice (Scarlet & Gold Professional Library) .   Could you share what inspired you to publish a book and how did it come about? Your book has 50 lessons about turning principles into practice, any of those resonate within the Corps of cadets?

Could you share with us some of the key insights into the evolving landscape of supply chain recruitment and the challenges that companies face today when it comes to hiring the right talent? A large portion of our works within CPG and they are keen on staying competitive in a rapidly changing market. How can they leverage innovative recruitment strategies and talent acquisition methods, especially in the supply chain sector, to gain a competitive edge and address the unique challenges they face? The CPG industry often deals with complex and diverse supply chain networks. Could you share insights into how companies can ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion within their supply chain teams, and how this can positively impact their business outcomes in the consumer goods sector? Building CS Recruiting from the ground up and scaling it to a ~40-person team is an impressive achievement. Could you walk us through the strategies you implemented to foster sustainable growth and offer advice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to achieve similar success? ⁠You recently emphasized⁠ in a social post the importance of viewing a group of people working together as a team rather than a family. Can you share some specific strategies or experiences from CS Recruiting that have helped foster a strong sense of teamwork among your employees? You made a compelling point in your ⁠recent post⁠ about DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) being not just a moral imperative but also a smart business strategy. Could you elaborate on how organizations can effectively incorporate diversity, inclusion, and belonging into their business practices to benefit both their employees and their bottom line?

Your journey from studying physics and doing software development to becoming CEO of Grocery TV is quite unique. How have these diverse experiences influenced your leadership style and strategic decision-making at Grocery TV? Grocery TV has seen significant growth by focusing on digital in-store media in key areas of grocery stores. Can you elaborate on how this focus has driven your success and what future strategies you have planned for expanding this platform? You’ve mentioned the increasing importance of place-based retail inventory for advertisers, especially in the context of the grocery shopping mindset. How do you see this trend evolving, and what impact do you think it will have on retail and advertising industries? You highlighted some standout place-based media campaigns, like the Land O’Lakes cheese advertisement. What do you think makes a place-based media campaign truly effective and memorable, and how does Grocery TV contribute to creating such impactful campaigns?