Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman

How does one come up with great ideas? Some may think they’re random strokes of genius, but Rob Reilly knows it takes a mix of hard work and creativity–the truest embodiment of math and magic. Now the Chief Creative Officer of WPP, Rob built his stunning reputation on work that is memorable and buzzy, from campaigns for companies like American Express and Burger King to the “Fearless Girl” statue that still stands in Manhattan’s Financial District. These works weren’t strokes of genius. They emerged from decades of Rob tirelessly logging ideas and learning his business inside and out. Listen to hear Rob explain his creative process and reflect on some of the most important moments of his career, from the college party that landed him his first advertising job to the time he took a demotion and pay cut to improve his craft. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Country music is the biggest radio music format and Nashville’s Scott Borchetta knows the genre inside and out. He’s the founder, president, and CEO of Big Machine Label Group and the founder of Big Machine Distillery. Scott has signed deals with artists like Tim McGraw, Jewel, Lady A, Zac Brown Band, Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line, and many others.  Scott sits down to talk about his impressive career, from how he discovered his place in the music industry to when he knew it was the right time to go out on his own. His optimism, strategic thinking, and competitive spirit has helped him master music promotion and he feels more energized than ever to take on the next big thing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Audiences love a spectacle, and Kenneth Feld knows better than anyone how true this is. As the Chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, he’s an acclaimed visionary when it comes to live, family friendly theatrics. He took over the business from his father, who founded it back in 1967 when he discovered the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Kenneth sat down with Bob to describe how he maintains the company’s core principles, from valuing families above all else to championing live entertainment as a way of bringing people together–even during a global pandemic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kellyn Smith Kenny was born to innovate. From her early years, she was a textbook over-achiever, thriving as both an athlete and a mathlete and joining any additional club she could squeeze her way into. Growing up, she watched her mom run a hospital and her dad contribute to groundbreaking work at Bell Labs, inspiring her to dedicate herself to meaningful work. This well-rounded foundation has taken Kellyn far in the world of marketing. Her resume is stacked with giants of business like Microsoft, Hilton, Capital One, and Uber, where she learned to approach work like she’s captain of a sports team. Knowing the game inside and out and fostering a diverse, cohesive team is of the utmost importance. Currently, as the Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at AT&T, she has continued making bold moves to breathe new life into an iconic brand. She sat down with Bob to explain just how she does it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman for the new season of Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing, starting Thursday, February 29th. This season, Bob sits down with leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries across music, film, live entertainment, marketing, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tech pioneer Ted Leonsis is never one to shy away from a challenge. He’s an uncanny trend spotter, from his beginnings at companies like Wang Laboratories and AOL to his current role as Founder and CEO of Monumental Sports and Entertainment. He’s also the ambitious co-founder of investment group Revolution Growth and even did a stint as mayor of a small Florida town. But before college, Ted was a self-described “lazy” student who would just get by. So, what changed? In this conversation, Ted tells Bob about the monumental event that changed the trajectory of his life and ignited his passion for technology. He also explains how a near death experience propelled him to create a list of 101 things to do before he died – a list that guides and motivates him in all aspects of his life to this day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Howard Makler knows how vital small and medium-sized businesses are to the economy. But he also knows not everyone appreciates their value. A successful serial entrepreneur and CEO of Innovation Refunds, Howard is working to make sure smaller businesses are no longer ignored. Innovation Refunds helps small businesses gain access to government funding, along with the knowledge, resources, and technology to succeed. Howard started small too—he founded his first company out of his bedroom at 13 years old—and knows that paths to success aren’t always traditional. Bob sat down with Howard to hear how he went from opting out of college to teaching classes at Wharton. Howard also shares what big businesses can learn from small businesses – and why taking care of your employees should be a priority for every company, regardless of size.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world of media is ever-changing — and no one has played it quite like Jacki Kelley, CEO of the Americas and Global Chief Client Officer of advertising giant, Dentsu. Jacki has been at the center of media and advertising for the last 25 years, with leadership roles at USA Today, Yahoo, Martha Stewart Living, and Bloomberg. Her deep understanding of the media landscape has put her in a valuable position to both manage Dentsu’s global portfolio of clients and lead a team that is always looking to where to go next, from exciting ways to use AI, to more precise messaging that powerfully connects with individuals. But what people may not know is that Jacki comes from a fifth generation cattle ranching family and has been a foster parent for more than 20 children. Bob sits down with Jacki to find out how these experiences have shaped her approach to business, leadership, and company culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jon Bon Jovi is so well known that when his songs play, everyone can sing along – even those born well after they first hit the radio. That kind of success is rare in the music business and a lot of artists would stop there. Yet Jon has tackled a number of ventures, bringing a magic touch to everything he’s involved in, from entrepreneurship to philanthropy. With Hampton Water, he turned a family joke into a top rosé brand. With Soul Kitchen, he created a first of its kind community restaurant for those in need. Live from Miami at the POSSIBLE conference, Jon tells Bob about his secret to remaining timeless – which he credits to ignoring trends and staying true to himself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At its core, radio is a community service. No one knows that better than Angela Yee. She’s been on the airwaves for over a decade as a founding member of The Breakfast Club, host of her midday show, Way Up, and now the podcast, Lip Service. Angela is a friend and mentor to her listeners and she’s no different off the air. As an entrepreneur, she finds creative ways to help others. From juice bars, to coffee, to open conversations about finance, she spreads the wealth of her successful career to communities in need. Recording live from the NAB Show (National Association of Broadcasters) in Las Vegas, Angela recounts this journey to Bob. Listen to hear how she went from Wu-Tang Clan’s assistant to a respected voice in hip hop and beyond. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.