Champions of Growth Podcast

Jerri DeVard, founder and board member of BECA, the Black Executive CMO Alliance, joins host Matthew Schwartz to discuss the apparent backsliding within the marketing and ad industries when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the danger for companies that give diversity short shrift and how CMOs and marketers develop new business models to build a more equitable workplace.

Sandeep Chennakeshu, COO of digital-imaging radar company Uhnder and author of the recently published “Your Company Is Your Castle: Proven Methods for Building a Resilient Business,” joins host Matthew Schwartz for a wide-ranging discussion regarding how marketers can demonstrate their value and spike the top and bottom lines. Chennakeshu, former CTO of Sony Ericsson, discusses why it's crucial that companies develop a common set of metrics for sales and marketing executives, how marketers align corporate culture with business strategy, and the growing onus on CMOs to spot the “gorilla in the room,” or a market disruption that can rattle their company.The Champions of Growth Podcast airs Wednesdays at 2PM EST. For more information about the ANA Podcast Network, visit www.ana.net/podcasts.

It’s okay not to feel okay. It’s part of the overriding message of a $65 million, multi-year mental health initiative by the Ad Council. The effort is mobilizing the advertising, media, and marketing industries to address mental health issues facing communities across the country. About half of Americans (48 percent) say they’re getting help or treatment, according to a study conducted in May to June 2022 and released by the Ad Council, while 43 percent do not feel comfortable talking to people close to them about their emotions and how they are feeling. Heidi Arthur, chief campaign development officer at the Ad Council, joins host Matthew Schwartz to talk about the campaign, working with brand partners to get the message out, and using the power of music to facilitate difficult conversations about mental health.

Jim Williams, CMO of Uptempo, which provides marketing software, joins host Matthew Schwartz to talk about the most effective ways for B2B marketers to update their operating models, align advertising strategy with execution, and communicate the benefits of marketing to an ever-growing number of stakeholders.

Diedre Small-Landau, EVP business equity at Mediabrands and Sheryl Dayija, founder and CEO of BRIDGE, join host Matthew Schwartz to talk about where diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) currently stands throughout the marketing industry, what role CMOs and marketers need to play in driving real change, and why the time for philosophizing about DEI is long past its expiration date.

Luis Romero, SVP of advertising for North America at The Guardian U.S., joins host Matthew Schwartz to talk about a recent deal which will provide The Guardian’s advertisers an unfiltered and fully transparent view of users. Romero also discusses the demise of BuzzFeed News and other websites borne of the internet, the slow yet steady decline of third-party cookies, and what it means for marketers to go beyond “digital advertising.”

Bryan Barletta and Tom Webster, cofounders of Sounds Profitable, join host Matthew Schwartz to discuss their recent study that explores the growing opportunities for using podcasts as an advertising vehicle, the state of industry standards for podcasting, and why it’s a good idea for companies to develop their own podcasts as the business rapidly matures.

Saul Colt, founder of the Idea Integration Co., a Toronto-based agency specializing in comedic advertising, joins host Matthew Schwartz to talk about his “Laugh, Think, Cry” model, why every company is a media company and the reason why CMOs and marketers shouldn’t be so quick to poo-poo marketing stunts.

Richard Parkinson, chief brand officer at Prudential Financial, joins host Matthew Schwartz to talk about the company’s “Now What?” advertising campaign, why the brand has overhauled its marketing strategy in the last few years, and how the lines continue to blur between B2C and B2B marketing 

In the latest episode of Champions of Growth podcast, Marcel Marcondes, global CMO at AB In Bev, joins hoist Matthew Schwartz to talk how the beer company is tapping into new markets, why it ceased its exclusive advertising rights to the Super Bowl, and what the “sober curious” movement means for the owner of Budweiser, Stella Artois and other popular brands.