Modern Marketers

This week on Modern Marketers, Tombras president Dooley Tombras joins Google’s Joshua Spanier and Bethany Poole to discuss being the third generation to lead the family business, what it means to be an independent agency focusing on data and creativity, and the partnership with PODS and Google to create an impossible ad campaign using generative AI. Dooley shares a few favorite campaigns from his 20 years at Tombras, how he balances classic marketing metrics with modern approaches, and what the next five years look like for the agency.

This week on Modern Marketers, McDonald’s VP of Marketing Elizabeth Campbell joins Google’s Joshua Spanier and Bethany Poole to talk about her 20-year career at the company and how the brand keeps consumers at the center of everything it does. Elizabeth shares some of McDonald’s most iconic marketing campaigns and product launches she has worked on over the years, as well as tips for engaging with consumers in a way that feels natural to them and how the brand decides what does and doesn’t need to be tested.

Jim Lecinski, a clinical professor at Northwestern's Kellogg School, shares insights from his shift from tech to academia. He emphasizes the importance of combining creativity and analytics to thrive as a marketer. Jim also discusses the evolving role of marketing leaders and the necessity of adapting to AI's impact on marketing strategies. With a focus on outcome-based marketing, he advocates for collaboration between marketing and finance to ensure strategic investments yield measurable returns.

This week on Modern Marketers, Walmart SVP and CMO William White joins Google’s Joshua Spanier and Bethany Poole to talk about how he empowers his team to stay nimble, using customer insights as a competitive advantage and how the brand breaks through during the busiest time of the year: the holidays. William discusses how brand purpose and values act as a guide, getting to the crux of what’s driving consumer behavior and staying a season or two ahead.

Kipp Bodnar, CMO of HubSpot and B2B marketing expert, shares his wealth of experience in creative marketing strategies. He discusses the balance between quick business results and long-term value, emphasizing the need for risk-taking in leadership. Kipp also touches on the integration of AI in marketing and the importance of differentiation through unique storytelling. His perspective on convincing CFOs about marketing investments adds another layer to understanding accountability in the rapidly evolving marketing landscape.

Brigitte King, the Chief Digital Officer at Colgate-Palmolive, joins Google’s Joshua Spanier and Bethany Poole to discuss transformative leadership in digital marketing. Brigitte emphasizes her five P’s principle for effective planning and decision-making. They explore adapting to AI technologies, highlighting the importance of embracing change and fostering a ‘test and learn’ culture. The conversation touches on Colgate-Palmolive's innovative digital transformation and their impactful Bright Smiles, Bright Futures initiative for children's oral health.

Zach Kitschke, CMO of Canva, discusses the platform’s transformative journey from a small team to a global design powerhouse with over 180 million users. He emphasizes the importance of creating delightful product experiences that empower everyone to communicate visually. The conversation highlights how Canva adapts to user needs through community involvement and data-driven strategies. Zach also dives into the shift from traditional marketing to continuous engagement, showcasing the power of social media in driving brand visibility and user experience.

Evan Hanlon, the CEO of Choreograph, and Bethany Poole, a senior marketing director at Google, dive into the human side of data-driven marketing. They discuss the crucial need for creativity alongside analytics and challenge the notion of AI as a simple solution. The pair also tackle the communication gaps between tech teams and CMOs, advocating for intuitive strategies that align with business goals. Personal shifts to suburban life offer a humorous backdrop to their insights on adapting marketing strategies in an ever-evolving landscape.

This week, Dacy Yee, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer at Experian Consumer Services, joins Joshua Spanier to discuss her consumer advocacy within the organization and the responsibility that comes with marketing its products. Hear how being intentional throughout her career helped Yee become CMO; how Experian approaches meeting consumer needs; and how leveraging a celebrity personality has helped the company break through with its core audience.

Zola CEO & Founder, Shan-Lyn Ma and CMO, Victoria Vaynberg, join Joshua Spanier to discuss balancing their various business models, updating brand positioning to evolve with their offerings, and the importance of their core company values. Hear how Zola got started, how they keep up with the growth they’ve experienced over the years, and ways they work with creators and influencers to share the power of their platform.