Marketing Vanguard

Latest Episodes:

Timeless Marketing Principles in the AI Era: A Conversation with Meta's CMO, Alex Schultz Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast. Today, Jenny Rooney speaks with Alex Schultz, Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Analytics at Meta, about his newly released book "Click Here: The Art and Science of Digital Marketing and Advertising

As Jenny's repeat guest, Alex brings battle-tested insights from his 18-year tenure at Meta, where he's witnessed digital marketing's complete transformation. He reveals his motivation for writing "Click Here" - the definitive guide to online marketing that fills a critical gap left by classic texts like Claude Hopkins' "Scientific Advertising." Alex argues that while technology evolves at breakneck speed, the core principles that drive marketing success remain surprisingly constant across decades.

What You'll Learn:

Alex's 18-year journey at Meta and his unique dual role in marketing and analytics
The writing process and inspiration behind "Click Here: The Art and Science of Digital Marketing and Advertising"
Why incrementality measurement is the key to marketing success
The importance of North Star goals versus metrics
How AI will enhance rather than replace marketing roles
The timeless principles that have guided successful marketing for decades
Team structures that work across different marketing eras

Unlocking the Creator Economy with Awin

Did you know influencer marketing drives twice as many sales as display advertising, with a 37% higher retention rate?

Awin helps brands harness this potential with tailored influencer management solutions that drive measurable results. Whether you're looking to grow your creator roster, foster long-term relationships, or track full-funnel performance, Awin’s expertise and platform integrations make it easy to scale campaigns and optimize impact.

With partnerships across CreatorIQ, LTK, ShopMy, and more, brands gain access to powerful discovery tools and seamless tracking capabilities, ensuring transparency and efficiency at every stage.

Here’s how brands can maximize their influencer marketing:

Find the right creators – Access a diverse network of influencers, even in niche markets.
Track performance with full transparency – Measure impact from awareness to conversions in real time.
Incentivize influencers effectively – Commission-based rewards through affiliate links and coupon codes keep creators engaged.
Blend influencer & affiliate marketing seamlessly – Awin’s integrations create a streamlined, results-driven approach

Unlock the full potential of influencer marketing. Visit awin.link/adweek to start building high-impact partnerships today!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building Authentic Marketing in Baby Tech with Elizabeth Teran of Owlet Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast. Today, Jenny Rooney speaks with Elizabeth Teran, Chief Parent Officer at Owlet. In this compelling conversation, Elizabeth shares how she's transforming marketing at the baby tech company that revolutionized infant monitoring with medical-grade pulse oximetry technology.

Elizabeth brings extensive experience from her 10-year tenure at Skullcandy in product marketing, followed by over 5 years at Owlet where she led the company through significant challenges and growth. She discusses the unique positioning of marketing medical-grade technology to parents, the company's journey from FDA warning letter to full medical clearance, and her philosophy of authentic, education-based marketing.

What You'll Learn:

Navigating FDA regulatory challenges while maintaining brand trust
Building product-first marketing strategies in healthcare technology
The power of authentic community over paid influencer partnerships
Transforming crisis into opportunity through strategic pivots
Balancing medical credibility with accessible parent communication
Using AI as a tool to enhance rather than replace human creativity
Building global medical clearances across multiple markets

Unlocking the Creator Economy with Awin

Did you know influencer marketing drives twice as many sales as display advertising, with a 37% higher retention rate?

With partnerships across CreatorIQ, LTK, ShopMy, and more, brands gain access to powerful discovery tools and seamless tracking capabilities, ensuring transparency and efficiency at every stage.

Here’s how brands can maximize their influencer marketing:

Find the right creators – Access a diverse network of influencers, even in niche markets.
Track performance with full transparency – Measure impact from awareness to conversions in real time.
Incentivize influencers effectively – Commission-based rewards through affiliate links and coupon codes keep creators engaged.
Blend influencer & affiliate marketing seamlessly – Awin’s integrations create a streamlined, results-driven approach

Unlock the full potential of influencer marketing. Visit awin.link/adweek to start building high-impact partnerships today!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Heritage to Innovation: Building a Global Energy Brand with Francis Perrin, Chief Brand and Sustainability Officer of Rehlko Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast. Today, Jenny Rooney speaks with Francis Perrin, Chief Brand and Sustainability Officer at Rehlko, about brand transformation and B2B marketing innovation.

Francis discusses his career from P&G and L'Oréal to leading the transformation of Kohler Energy into the independent company Rehlko. He shares the strategic thinking behind the rebrand, including how they created the name Rehlko as an anagram of Kohler to maintain heritage while establishing independence. The conversation explores the opportunity in residential power generation, competing as a challenger brand against industry giants, and why Francis believes B2B marketing offers more opportunities than consumer marketing.

Best Buy CMO, Jennie Weber also joins Jenny in a mid-episode sidebar discussion on the latest innovations for the Best Buy Ads retail media network and their latest campaign "We Got Next." Sponsored by Best Buy Ads.

What You'll Learn:

How to successfully rebrand and spin off from a heritage parent company
Strategies for competing as a challenger brand in established B2B markets
Why embedding sustainability directly into brand leadership creates business impact
The untapped potential in residential power generation and data center markets
How to build marketing organizations from scratch with enterprise-level thinking
Why B2B marketing offers unique creative opportunities for CPG-trained marketers
Methods for maintaining brand heritage while driving innovation and growth
The importance of focus and purpose-driven messaging in industrial marketing

Learn more about miniMBA courses HERE

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building the Future of Marketing Leadership: Insights from Marketing Vanguard's Founding Members Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to this special episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast. Today, Jenny Rooney speaks with the founding members of Marketing Vanguard membership at ADWEEK: Soyoung Kang, President of eos Products, and Vineet Mehra, CMO of Chime. They discuss their unique career journeys, the evolving CMO role, and why they joined forces to help rewrite the narrative around marketing leadership. From efficient capital allocation to building trust in the C-suite, these leaders share candid insights about what it really takes to succeed as a modern CMO.

These marketing leaders delve into their distinct career paths, the evolving responsibilities of a CMO, and their collaborative effort to reshape the perception of marketing leadership. They offer frank perspectives on the true requirements for success as a contemporary CMO, covering topics from effective capital allocation to fostering C-suite trust.

What you'll learn:

How non-linear career paths can lead to CMO success
Why "efficient growth" should be every CMO's unifying mandate
Strategies for building trust and credibility in the C-suite
How to understand different "love languages" of PE, VC, and public companies
Why experience trumps traditional education in marketing leadership
How to navigate the constant platform shifts that make marketing uniquely challenging
What makes Marketing Vanguard's approach to CMO community building different

Learn more about miniMBA courses HERE

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marketing Evangelism and B2B Transformation: Insights from Sangeeta Prasad, CMO of Slalom Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast. Today, Jenny Rooney speaks with Sangeeta Prasad, Chief Marketing Officer at Slalom, about her unique journey from classic consumer products marketing to B2B transformation leadership. Sangeeta shares her experiences transitioning from well-established brands like P&G, American Express, and JPMorgan Chase to becoming the first CMO at professional services firms.

She explains why she calls herself a "marketing evangelist" rather than just a marketer, emphasizing her role in converting organizational skeptics into believers. The conversation explores the unique dynamics of B2B marketing versus B2C, particularly in professional services where trust, credibility, and relationships are paramount.

What You'll Learn:

How to transition from consumer marketing to B2B leadership roles
Strategies for overcoming marketing skepticism in sales-driven organizations
Ways to position marketing as a revenue generator rather than a cost center
Methods for building emotional connections with B2B customers through "customer love" metrics
How to navigate the rapid pace of AI transformation in marketing teams
Key differences between B2B and B2C marketing approaches and when each applies
Techniques for aligning sales and marketing organizations for better results
Future plans for sales and marketing alignment and personalization at scale

Learn more about miniMBA courses HERE

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADWEEK x MiniMBA Brings Mark Ritson’s Masterclass to U.S. Marketers Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast live from Cannes. Today, Jenny Rooney speaks with Mark Ritson, world-renowned marketing professor and founder of MiniMBA, about his controversial views on brand purpose, the importance of running great ads for years, and why American marketing has lost its edge. Discover Mark's partnership with ADWEEK, his strategy of saying "no" to America for a decade, and why he believes killing brands is more productive than creating them.

What You'll Learn:

Why Mark Ritson avoided the American market for 10 years and his strategic partnership with ADWEEK
The uncomfortable truth about brand purpose and why the data doesn't support the hype
Why running great creative for 2-3 years drives better results than constant campaign changes
The "pornography of change" and why AI won't transform marketing as quickly as predicted
Why killing brands is more productive than creating them (Mark's killed 200+ in his career)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Future of Play in a Digital World: Insights from Jason Bunge, CMO of Hasbro Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

"If you're constantly viewed as the ad team, the ad person, I think we lose. I think we're going to continue to struggle to dig out of the relevancy hole."

Welcome to this episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast. Today, Jenny Rooney speaks with Jason Bunge, CMO of Hasbro, in a conversation that challenges traditional notions of marketing leadership and explores the future of play in a digital world.

Jason brings experience from technology companies including Skype, Microsoft, Riot Games, and EA before joining Hasbro two years ago. The conversation explores Hasbro's transformation from a traditional toy company to a diversified entertainment portfolio spanning physical toys, digital gaming, and trading cards through Wizards of the Coast. Jason discusses how the company navigates generational shifts in play patterns and how marketing must adapt to serve different audiences across multiple business lines.

What You'll Learn:

The evolution of marketing from tactical execution to strategic leadership
Building marketing credibility within organizations
Hasbro's transformation across toys, gaming, and trading cards
Generational shifts in play and consumer behavior
The challenge of building franchises versus individual brands
Portfolio marketing strategy for diverse business lines
The future of physical versus digital play experiences

Jason Bunge serves as Chief Marketing Officer at Hasbro, where he leads marketing strategy across the company's diverse portfolio of toys, games, and entertainment properties. Previously, he held senior marketing roles at EA Games, Riot Games, Microsoft, Trulia, and Skype. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and brings experience across both B2B and consumer marketing in technology and entertainment industries.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Community Intelligence and the Future of Reddit Marketing: Insights from Roxy Young, CMO of Reddit Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

What if you could tap into 20 years of authentic consumer conversations to transform your marketing strategy?

In this special Cannes edition of Marketing Vanguard, host Jenny Rooney sits down with Roxy Young, CMO of Reddit, to explore the power of community intelligence and why brands need to embrace authentic engagement. From Reddit's evolution as a marketing platform to their groundbreaking AI-powered insights tools, this conversation reveals how marketers can harness the power of genuine community feedback. Tune in to discover why Reddit's unique approach to brand safety, open communities, and real consumer dialogue is driving 60% year-over-year revenue growth and changing the future of marketing.

What You'll Learn:

How Reddit transformed from 9 people with no space to a marketing powerhouse hosting 4,000+ visitors at Cannes
Why Reddit is fundamentally different from social media and what that means for your marketing strategy
The three-layer brand safety approach that protects your brand while maintaining authentic community engagement
How to turn negative brand conversations into powerful customer wins
Reddit's game-changing Community Intelligence platform that delivers insights in minutes instead of weeks
Why being the 6th most searched term on Google makes Reddit conversations crucial for your brand
The evolution from Don Draper-style messaging to brave community marketing that requires giving up control

Stream the new episode below and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or find it on Spotify

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Innovation or Die: How Pepsi's Mark Kirkham Masters the Duality of Marketing Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast live from Cannes. Today, Jenny Rooney speaks with Mark Kirkham, CMO of PepsiCo Beverages US, about the relentless pace of innovation in the beverage category, the art of balancing core brands with new acquisitions like Poppi, and why every challenge is an opportunity. Discover how PepsiCo continues to cultivate world-class marketing talent, the role of AI in building capabilities versus outsourcing them, and why making "simple special" is the key to success

What You'll Learn:

Why "if you're not innovating, you die" defines the beverage category and how to balance core brands with new ventures
The secret behind PepsiCo's legendary talent cultivation system that has produced CMOs across the industry
How to think about AI as a capability-building tool rather than outsourcing technology
The "core and more" strategy for growing established brands while pursuing new opportunities
Why every challenge should be viewed as an opportunity and every opportunity as a challenge

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI as Your Creative Detective: Emily Ketchen on Leading Marketing in the Intelligence Era Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

What if you could transform your organization’s approach to AI while building a global brand?

In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, host Jenny Rooney speaks with Emily Ketchen, CMO of Lenovo’s Intelligent Devices Group, live from the Cannes Lions Festival. Together, they explore how to lead AI integration within marketing teams, navigate global brand building across 180 markets, and leverage purpose-driven storytelling for genuine business growth. Whether you're a CMO navigating emerging technologies or a marketing leader seeking to balance global reach with local relevance, this conversation offers invaluable insights into the future of tech-driven marketing.

What You'll Learn:

How to use AI as a creative catalyst and personal detective for marketers
Strategies for building AI governance councils and education programs
The difference between transcreation and translation in global marketing
Gen Z and Gen Alpha's impact on brand purpose and authenticity
The evolution of search from SEO to AEO (AI-Optimized Search)
Lenovo's "Global Might, Local Fight" strategy
The role of purpose in driving both meaning and business growth

Unlocking the Creator Economy with Awin

Did you know influencer marketing drives twice as many sales as display advertising, with a 37% higher retention rate?

With partnerships across CreatorIQ, LTK, ShopMy, and more, brands gain access to powerful discovery tools and seamless tracking capabilities, ensuring transparency and efficiency at every stage.

Here’s how brands can maximize their influencer marketing:

Find the right creators – Access a diverse network of influencers, even in niche markets.
Track performance with full transparency – Measure impact from awareness to conversions in real time.
Incentivize influencers effectively – Commission-based rewards through affiliate links and coupon codes keep creators engaged.
Blend influencer & affiliate marketing seamlessly – Awin’s integrations create a streamlined, results-driven approach

Unlock the full potential of influencer marketing. Visit awin.link/adweek to start building high-impact partnerships today!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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