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

The way Shazi describes it, she had a magical childhood. Living in the motel her family owned and operated, she had no shortage of things to keep her busy-- from hanging out with cooks to watching new customers to adopting a pet duck. But how did someone who always dreamed of being a painter end up founding Happy Baby, the number one organic baby food company in the world? Shazi and Bob discuss how her parents' drive and optimism led her to believe anything was possible; how she was able to pivot once she realized her grand idea wasn't in the right supermarket aisle; and why listening to your gut really matters when it comes to VCs. Plus, Bob gets a sneak preview of Shazi’s new company healthynest!   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a kid, Macy's CMO Rich Lennox had two dreams: to be the next Chuck Yeager, or to be a veterinarian. But after a “bizarre series of accidents,” he took a different path: joining J. Walter Thompson before leading a series of incredible brands. Listen to Rich as he discusses why hypnotizing a focus group might be a good idea (spoiler: it helped him crack an entirely new diamond market for De Beers!); why he's been so effective at turnarounds at places like Zales ("you have to be the type who runs towards fires rather than away"), and what it means to be responsible for not only the Macy's brand, but also one of America's most beloved traditions: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Judy McGrath wanted to do when she grew up was to write for Rolling Stone. Instead, the storied CEO of MTV Networks now sits on the board of Amazon. Discover how the creative giant got seduced by management, why she learned to love a P&L (spoiler: it was to make room for wildly creative programming like Rock the Vote, and South Park), and how she convinced advertisers to get behind The Daily Show. Plus, learn why you probably need to recruit a knife thrower/improv comedian to your staff.   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From The Breakfast Club to Nickelodeon, Bobbi Brown to CoverGirl, there’s no question these brands and personalities have shaped culture. But how did they get their big breaks? And how did they turn opportunities into success stories? Tune in to learn why Charlamagne tha God’s passion for radio probably saved his life; how Gerry Laybourne transformed Nickelodeon into the top network for tweens -- while proving herself as one of TV’s first female executives; and how makeup industry mogul Bobbi Brown created her own luck. Plus, hear Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer of Proctor & Gamble, discuss how his daughters helped him realize the importance of keeping your marketing true to your core values. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BusinessWeek once called him “the James Bond of the media world.” The Columbia Journalism Review declared “No other reporter has covered the news communication business as thoroughly.” And the truth is, there’s a lot about the world that we wouldn’t understand if it wasn’t for journalist Ken Auletta—from his profiles of powerful people to his keen instincts for industry reporting. But how did working in politics lead him to journalism? Why does he think the press can be such a motivator for good? And what’s his trick for landing so many high-profile interviews? Tune in as Bob and Ken discuss. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a child in Hyderabad, India, Raja Rajamannar figured he'd study hard and grow up to be a chemical engineer. But when a twist of fate led him to marketing, he realized he'd found his calling. Today, Raja is MasterCard's Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Content Officer, and President of Healthcare Business...and he's used the perch to make some incredibly bold decisions! Listen to Bob and Raja as they discuss why he took the words MasterCard off of the company's logo, how he's reimagining the company's famous ad campaign and the new ways he's thinking about sonic branding. Plus, hear how meditation and a love of dogs keeps Raja grounded as he pushes the company to new branding heights. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Bobbi Brown couldn't find a major she wanted, she created her own at Emerson College. When she didn't want to conform to the style of the times, she innovated a more natural make-up look. And when she couldn't find the make-up she wanted to purchase, she created her own. Tune in as Bob and Bobbi chat about what it takes to launch an insanely successful brand, why young entrepreneurs should be a little more patient before looking for that Series A, and why she wore jeans every time she was invited to the White House! Plus, hear about Bobbi's new pursuits, from opening a hotel, diving into the wellness industry, where she sees green space in the make-up industry and why she's launching a new podcast-- Beyond the Beauty with Bobbi Brown-- with iHeart! (You should tune in to that one too!)   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Marian Goodell first pulled up to Burning Man in 1995, two men in the desert-- one with a machine gun, and another wrapped in a white sheet holding a plastic flamingo, told her to drive straight toward a mountain peak for 15 miles, then turn right and drive another two. But the experimental community that welcomed her that day, changed her life. As a founding member of Black Rock City, LLC, and Burning Man's first CEO, Marian oversees an operating budget of $45 million, while protecting the Burner culture and helping it thrive across continents. Hear how she discovered Burning Man through a friend's photograph, why founders of Black Rock City LLC were nervous at first about publishing 10 guiding principles, and how a community built on radical inclusion, radical self-reliance and gifting (among other things) has spread across the world.    Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 44 years of trading, Paul Tudor Jones has built an enviable career as a hedge fund manager. But the way he uses that success to improve the world is even more admirable. As co-founder of  the Robin Hood Foundation, Paul has helped to curb New York City’s AIDS epidemic, fight poverty and improve the education system. But his charity work extends way beyond New York. Tune in to hear why playing bridge as a child informed his finance career, why he turned down a chance to attend Harvard Business School, and how his Bed-Stuy charter schools are continuing to beat the odds.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charlamagne tha God is one of the most powerful people in media, reaching millions of ears every week as co-host of the nationally syndicated The Breakfast Club morning show. But he’s also a New York Times bestselling author, an outspoken advocate for mental health, and an unapologetically tough interviewer who has no time (or patience) for celebrity spin. This week, Bob sits down with Charlamagne to talk about how a simple piece of advice from his mom helped him transcend the circumstances of his childhood, why presenting his authentic self to the world is so important to him, and why hip hop culture is pop culture. Plus, Charlamagne shares his thoughts on the power of podcasting and why he prefers the intimacy of audio over TV. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.