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Marketing Vanguard

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The word “vanguard,” is defined as “a group of people leading the way in new development or ideas.” Marketing Vanguard: the podcast, spotlights the people who are driving the industry forward. It will feature valuable, must-listen nuggets of marketing-leadership wisdom, humility, stories, strategic insights, and growth opportunities in an era of ever more complex industry pressures and realities. Together we’ll dive into what's driving the decision-makers of today to move the needle of some of the world’s most exciting brands in incremental or monumental ways.

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32 episodes
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S1 · E184
Tuesday · 16 min
Brandweek 2026: Why Brand and Performance Should Stop Fighting ft. Nick Fairbairn
Brand or performance? That’s the wrong question for marketers to ask, according to Nick Fairbairn. Live from the Marketing Vanguard stage at Brandweek 2026, Jenny Rooney sits down with Chime’s SVP of Growth to unpack why brand lift and direct-response accountability belong in the same system, why buying an AI tool does not amount to AI transformation and why scrappy creative may do more brand-building work than marketers want to admit. Nick also gets into TV’s messy shift from linear to streaming, executive conversations around brand investment and why creators should perhaps be a part of every channel. Nick Fairbairn is Senior Vice President of Growth at Chime, where he leads a broad growth organization spanning paid media, organic growth, go-to-market, lifecycle, product, engineering and onboarding. His career started in media buying, including television and radio, before he moved into agency entrepreneurship and then brand-side marketing. Along the way, he’s worked at ProFlowers, helped build acquisition at Dollar Shave Club during the DTC era, led startup growth and later joined Chime to build its product marketing capabilities before moving into his current growth role. What You'll Learn: Why AI adoption needs active leadership instead of waiting for teams to figure it out themselves Why buying another AI tool rarely changes how a marketing organization actually works How Nick measures TV with the rigor of a performance channel Why brand lift and direct-response accountability should sit in the same conversation How data can turn a defensive budget discussion into a stronger case for brand investment Why lower-production testimonial creative can still move brand equity and consideration Why Nick thinks creators should eventually become part of every marketing channel This episode is part of a special vidcast series that was recorded live during Brandweek 2026 and presented in partnership with Tatari. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E183
October 1 · 28 min
The Great Brand Secret: Know Exactly Who You Are ft. Grace Kao, CMO of Snap
When every company starts looking like a tech company, a media company and an entertainment company at the same time, brand clarity becomes mission critical. In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, host Jenny Rooney sits down with Grace Kao, CMO of Snap, to talk about what it takes to build a brand people actually understand and want to spend time with. Plus: a breakdown of Snap’s push toward chat, real-world connection and why marketers should be asking the question, “How do we actually add something?” Grace Kao is Chief Marketing Officer of Snap, where she leads marketing across Snapchat and the company’s broader brand portfolio. Her career began almost by accident after she stepped away from graduate school and joined BBDO as an executive assistant on the Apple account. From there, she built a career across agency and brand roles spanning PlayStation, Yahoo, Pandora, Instagram, Spotify, and Snap. Across those chapters, Grace has consistently gravitated toward brands with strong identities, youth audiences, and clear points of view. At Snap, she is focused on keeping the brand rooted in friendship, creativity, and real connection while exploring new ways for brands, creators, and communities to participate on the platform. What You'll Learn: Why brand clarity becomes more valuable as businesses stretch across categories How relationships and people can shape a career more than a perfect plan Why challenger brands and youth culture have more pull How Snapchat is moving beyond passive consumption toward active participation Why brand marketing has to match the creative standard of the community How chat, Maps, and IRL experiences can create new roles for brands Why unexpected partnerships can make audiences see a brand differently Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#182
September 29 · 32 min
Why CMOs Get Fired Fast ft. Jessica Apotheker, CMO of BCG
CMOs are being asked to do something increasingly absurd: deliver more growth, with less budget, while marketing gets more complex and more expensive. In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, host Jenny Rooney sits down with Jessica Apotheker, CMO of Boston Consulting Group, to unpack what it actually takes to survive and matter in the modern C-suite. Jessica Apotheker is Chief Marketing Officer of Boston Consulting Group, where she leads the BCG brand while continuing to work directly with clients on marketing, digital transformation, and growth. Before joining BCG, Jessica worked in product marketing at L’Oréal. Her approach is grounded in one principle: strategy only matters if it survives execution. Whether she is advising clients or leading BCG’s own marketing agenda, Jessica focuses on measurable impact, stronger capabilities, and making sure marketing earns its place as a growth driver. What You'll Learn: Why granular execution is what turns strategy into actual impact How to think about marketing through orchestration, art, and science Why BCG increasingly sees itself as a force multiplier, not just a consultancy How the impact, asset, and muscle model creates measurable client value Why CFO and CIO relationships can determine whether a CMO succeeds What makes the CMO role uniquely vulnerable in the C-suite Why AI should be positioned as a growth lever, not just an efficiency play Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E181
September 24 · 23 min
An Accountant’s Playbook to Great Marketing ft. Mary Yee
Mary Yee, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Sony Interactive Entertainment, started her career in accounting, not marketing. And, yet here she is. In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, host Jenny Rooney sits down with Mary to unpack how a career that moved from finance to Clorox to PlayStation to the CEO seat at Tatcha (and back to PlayStation) shaped her view of what great brand building actually requires. Mary Yee is Senior Vice President of Marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment, where she oversees the PlayStation brand globally across hardware, peripherals, network services, subscriptions, digital retail, and games. Her career began in public accounting before she moved into brand marketing at Clorox. She later joined PlayStation during the PS4 era, helping build the brand through a major period of category growth and digital transformation. In 2021, she became CEO of Tatcha, where she helped expand the luxury skincare brand across channels and into 34 countries before returning to Sony Interactive Entertainment. Across gaming, beauty, and CPG, Mary’s approach is rooted in the same core idea: understand the business, understand the consumer, and build brands around real human connection. What You'll Learn: Why financial literacy can make marketers stronger brand builders How analytics and creativity should work together, not against each other How Tatcha used communities, creators, and retail to fuel growth Why Mary defines herself, first and foremost, as a brand builder How cross-media IP expands reach beyond a brand’s core audience Why PlayStation anchors products, games, and IP under one master brand How curiosity helps leaders move successfully across categories and roles Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E180
September 18 · 28 min
Why AI Can Never Replace Great Agencies ft. Andy Lopez, CMO of Behr Paint
What happens when consumers love the idea of your product but freeze when it is time to choose? In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, host Jenny Rooney sits down with Andy Lopez, CMO of Behr Paint, to unpack how Behr is turning consumer friction into brand opportunity. Andy shares why “color paralysis” is one of the biggest pain points in the paint journey, how Behr uses insight to build confidence at the point of decision and why the strongest marketing ideas start by solving something real. Sparks President and Chief Client Officer Melissa Levy also joins Jenny for a mid-episode sidebar discussion on trust, measurement, and the future of experiential marketing. Sponsored by Sparks. Andy Lopez is Chief Marketing Officer of Behr Paint, where he leads an integrated marketing organization spanning brand, product marketing and commercialization. He began his career agency-side, including at Saatchi in Los Angeles working on Toyota, before moving to Behr more than nine years ago. At Behr, Andy has expanded across brand marketing, product and broader marketing leadership, bringing together consumer insights, innovation and go-to-market strategy. His perspective is shaped by experience on both sides of the agency-brand relationship, as well as Behr’s long-standing exclusive partnership with Home Depot. What You'll Learn: Why the best agency partners behave like extensions of the brand team What AI still cannot replace in strategic marketing relationships How to use AI to create capacity instead of simply cutting costs Why consumer confidence matters as much as consumer inspiration How Behr identifies and solves “color paralysis” How exclusive retail partnerships work when both brands plan together How Behr’s Color of the Year connects trend forecasting to actual consumer behavior Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E179
September 10 · 24 min
Why Agency Leaders Are Craving Community ft. Jessica Henrichs, Ross Martin & Chioma Aduba
What do agency leaders need right now? According to Ross Martin, maybe “a sanity check and a lobotomy.” Funny, yes. Also not entirely wrong. In this special episode of Marketing Vanguard, host Jenny Rooney spotlights the launch of Adweek’s Agencies Vanguard program with three founding members: Jessica Henrichs, CEO of DonerColle Partners; Ross Martin, President of Known; and Chioma Aduba, President of Droga5. Together, they unpack why agency leadership has become one of the most complex jobs in business, why competitors need spaces for radical honesty, and why the future of agencies cannot be solved in isolation. Jessica Henrichs is the CEO of DonerColle Partners and one of the founding members of Adweek’s Agencies Vanguard program. In this episode, she brings a clear perspective on adaptive leadership, the value of peer support and why agency leaders need to build belief through change rather than pretend they have every answer. Ross Martin is the President of Known and a founding member of Agencies Vanguard. Known for his candid take on the agency industry, Ross brings a sharp view on the structural challenges facing agencies today, from outdated business models to the bigger question of what the industry wants to stand for next. Chioma Aduba is the President of Droga5 and a founding member of Agencies Vanguard. In this conversation, she speaks to the value of transparency, cross-agency community and creating an industry that feels like it is in good hands for the next generation of creative talent. What You'll Learn: Why agency leaders need perspective, not just certainty How leaders can build organizations that adapt through change Why agency executives need safe spaces for honest conversation How competitors can collaborate on shared industry challenges Why agency business models are facing structural pressure What diverse agency models can learn from one another Why the industry needs to decide what agencies should be known for next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E178
September 8 · 30 min
How to Modernize Marketing in a Legacy Industry with Danielle Wuschke Paige
Some of the biggest opportunities for marketing leaders exist in industries where marketing has historically had the least influence. In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, host Jenny Rooney sits down with Danielle Wuschke Paige, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at Nixon Peabody, to explore what it takes to modernize marketing in a complex, relationship-driven industry. Danielle shares how her B2B and agency background prepared her for legal marketing, why trust and content matter more than flashy creative, and how she is evolving the function through stronger business strategy, thought leadership, and AI adoption. Danielle Wuschke Paige is the Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at Nixon Peabody, an Am Law 100 firm with offices across the United States and internationally. She leads the firm’s marketing and business development organization, with responsibility spanning brand strategy, communications, client engagement, strategic pursuits, digital, design, industry marketing, and practice growth. Danielle began her career in technology sales before moving into strategic marketing and then spending more than 15 years in the agency world, including leadership roles at FleishmanHillard and MSL. What You'll Learn: Why strong B2B marketing fundamentals can transfer across industries, even when the category itself is completely unfamiliar How to turn marketing into a more strategic business function by helping stakeholders understand its impact on firm performance, reputation, and growth Why legal marketing is content-first and how timely expertise can build trust with clients who want more guidance from their advisors How to balance a law firm’s overall brand with the individual reputations of attorneys whose personal credibility often drives business Why AI should enhance junior marketers rather than replace the foundational skills of writing, creative thinking, and communication Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E177
August 27 · 33 min
Why Live Sports Is Marketing’s Biggest Growth Engine ft. NBCU CMO, Jennifer Storms
What’s it going to take to build relevance in a brutal attention economy? In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, host Jennifer Rooney sits down with Jennifer Storms, Chief Marketing Officer of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, to break it down. Jennifer traces her path from Olympic dreams to sports marketing to PepsiCo to NBCUniversal, sharing how NBCUniversal thinks about brand salience across NBC, Peacock, Bravo and NBC Sports, why the Olympics needed to be rebuilt as a year-round franchise and how Legendary February turned three separate live events into one unified cultural moment. Jennifer Storms is Chief Marketing Officer of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, where she leads brand strategy, integrated marketing, media and consumer engagement across NBC, Peacock, Bravo and NBC Sports. Her career spans the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Turner Broadcasting, PepsiCo and NBCUniversal, giving her a rare perspective across sports, media, entertainment and consumer brands. At NBCUniversal, Jennifer focuses on building distinct brands, driving audience growth across platforms and turning major cultural moments into year-round franchises. What You'll Learn: Why a strong career north star should allow for strategic zigzags How CPG experience shaped Jenny’s view of consumer behavior and brand building Why brand salience matters when consumers have endless content choices How NBCUniversal turns campaigns into year-round franchises Why creators and athletes should be treated as storytellers, not just reach vehicles How AI makes human storytelling and live experiences more valuable Why live sports should be planned before, during and after the moment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E176
August 20 · 27 min
How AI is Changing Tech Marketing with Sam Allen, CEO of Iterable
The best journeys have the most unexpected turns. That’s Sam Allen’s story, and he’s sharing it in this episode of Marketing Vanguard. Tune in as host Jenny Rooney welcomes Sam, CEO of Iterable, to explore how AI is reshaping marketing technology, the future of the CMO role, and why strategic focus beats market-wide expansion for high-growth companies navigating unprecedented transformation. Sam Allen is the Chief Executive Officer of Iterable, a leading customer engagement platform transforming how enterprises leverage AI-driven personalization at scale. With nearly three decades of experience in technology, including prominent roles at Salesforce, where he managed a $100 million marketing technology budget and served as COO of the global marketing organization, Sam brings deep expertise in enterprise operations, marketing technology infrastructure, and strategic growth. His perspective on balancing human expertise with AI capabilities makes him a valuable figure in the marketing space, especially for senior marketers navigating digital transformation. What You'll Learn: How to position your company for a billion-dollar exit by identifying the right market conditions Why CMOs should expand their seat at the table rather than pivot roles The "Define the Moment" leadership principle and why it’s so important to move decisively How to interrogate AI recommendations using human context and expertise The verticalization and focus strategy for scaling Why the future of knowledge work belongs to practitioners who become experts in AI tools Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E175
August 13 · 21 min
Marketing Vanguard at Cannes: Saying No Is the New Power Move ft. Mainardo de Nardis & Rani Al Hajji
Marketing Vanguard continues live from Cannes as Jenny Rooney hosts a special Adweek House conversation with Mainardo de Nardis, Global President and COO of Edelman and Rani Al Hajji, Chief Growth and Transformation Officer, Personal Care at Unilever. This conversation cuts straight into one of marketing’s biggest modern problems: everyone has infinite opportunities, infinite channels and infinite reasons to do more. But the best marketers are not winning by doing more. They are winning by making sharper bets and doing less for more. Mainardo de Nardis is Global President and Chief Operating Officer of Edelman, with deep experience across full-service marketing, PR, digital, media, startups, AdTech, MarTech and global agency leadership. His perspective centers on how brands earn relevance and trust in a world where attention cannot simply be bought. Rani Al Hajji is Chief Growth and Transformation Officer, Personal Care at Unilever. With more than 25 years in marketing and consumer goods, including roles at L’Oréal, Colgate and Unilever across Europe, the U.S. and China, Rani focuses on redefining how brands create connection moments that matter. In this conversation, he brings that lens to Unilever’s personal care portfolio, cultural relevance and the FIFA World Cup. What You'll Learn: Why visibility is not the same thing as attention How brands can move from attention to real engagement Why saying no is now one of the hardest and most important marketing skills How clear KPIs make distractions easier to spot Why cultural relevance starts with knowing what each brand actually stands for How Unilever is building around FIFA without buying its way into the moment Why paid should amplify earned relevance, not replace it This episode is part of a special vidcast series that was recorded live during Cannes 2026 and presented in partnership with Edelman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E174
August 11 · 15 min
Marketing Vanguard at Cannes: How IBM Became Its Own AI Case Study ft. Jonathan Adashek of IBM
Are marketers making a fatal mistake by treating AI as just a cost-cutting tool? The Marketing Vanguard Cannes series continues as host Jenny Rooney sits down with Jonathan Adashek, SVP, Marketing and Communications at IBM, to unpack how marketers should be treating AI, today. He breaks down how at IBM, it is becoming a way to rethink processes and drive measurable growth, their “client zero” approach, $4.5 billion in savings over three years and why the company now does half the number of events it did two years ago. Jonathan Adashek is SVP, Marketing and Communications at IBM, where he leads marketing, communications, and CSR. He joined IBM in January 2020 as Chief Communications Officer and took on the marketing portfolio in January 2022. In his role, Jonathan helps shape IBM’s global narrative as the company sharpens its focus around hybrid cloud, AI and open technology. His background in communications and politics gives him a distinct view of marketing: build a clear story, bring people on the journey and connect brand work more closely to business outcomes. At IBM, he has helped drive AI adoption across processes, event strategy, customer segmentation and internal operations through the company’s “client zero” approach. What You'll Learn: Why AI should be measured by effectiveness and growth, not just cost reduction How IBM uses AI to improve event targeting, personalization and lead generation Why training, workflow design and tool discipline matter in AI adoption How to avoid runaway AI agents and fragmented tools inside a large organization Why unifying marketing and communications can bring brand narrative closer to revenue How IBM balances 115 years of brand equity with sharper hybrid cloud and AI positioning Why customer segmentation and team structure can change go-to-market effectiveness This episode is part of a special vidcast series that was recorded live during Cannes 2026 and presented in partnership with Edelman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E173
August 7 · 12 min
Marketing Vanguard at Cannes: AI Is Becoming the Daily Job ft. Mark Kirkham of PepsiCo
Marketing Vanguard continues live from Cannes. Host Jenny Rooney sits down with Mark Kirkham, Chief Marketing Officer at PepsiCo Beverages US, to break down why Cannes only works when CMOs show up with clear intention. Mark explains how AI has moved from tech hype to operational reality, why disruption cycles collapsed from five years to five months, and why honest peer debate is the only way marketing leaders stay ahead. Mark Kirkham is Chief Marketing Officer of PepsiCo Beverages US, where he leads brand, category, and marketing programs across Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Starry, Bubly, and Mug. A 15-year PepsiCo veteran, Mark has held global and regional marketing leadership roles including Chief Marketing Officer, International Beverages, VP of Global Sports, Juice and Energy, and Head of Marketing & Innovation for Western Europe. His work has included Pepsi’s UEFA Champions League partnership, the global Pepsi Taste Challenge, expansion of Gatorade and Mountain Dew across international markets, and award-winning brand and innovation programs. Before PepsiCo, Mark held roles at P&G, Nielsen, and Forrester Research. What You'll Learn: Why AI is shifting from hype cycle to everyday marketing work How CMOs should evaluate AI through growth, efficiency, insight, and discoverability Why disruption now happens in months, not years How peer learning and open debate help the entire industry move forward Why Cannes works best when CMOs prioritize quality over quantity How teams can learn from challenger brands and organic social-first thinking Why the industry has a role to play in making Cannes more curated and creatively valuable This episode is part of a special vidcast series that was recorded live during Cannes 2026 and presented in partnership with Edelman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E172
August 4 · 14 min
Marketing Vanguard at Cannes: AI Is Moving From Fear to Confidence ft. Lara Balazs of Adobe
The Marketing Vanguard Cannes series continues as host Jenny Rooney sits down with Lara Balazs, Chief Marketing Officer and EVP of Global Marketing at Adobe. In this episode, Lara breaks down why enterprise AI adoption is shifting toward tangible workflow wins. She highlights how heavyweights like the NFL, Disney and L’Oréal deploy Adobe Firefly to automate manual asset scaling while protecting proprietary IP. Learn why human empathy, brand trust and strategic judgment remain irreplaceable in the age of generative AI. Lara Balazs is Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Global Marketing at Adobe, where she leads global marketing and communications, drives profitable growth and helps build Adobe’s brand in the AI era. Before joining Adobe in 2024, Lara was Chief Marketing Officer and General Manager, Strategic Partner Group at Intuit, where she led marketing and communications across the company’s brands and also served as general manager of Intuit’s ProTax group. She has also held marketing leadership roles at Amazon, Visa and Nike, with experience spanning B2C, B2B and B2B2C models. Lara has been recognized on Forbes’ World’s Most Influential CMOs list, Forbes’ Entrepreneurial CMO 50 and received Adweek’s CMO Vanguard Award. What You'll Learn: Why the AI conversation has moved from fear to confidence How AI can augment human insight, empathy and brand visibility Why real case studies matter more than speculation How Firefly helps creative teams reduce repetitive production work Why being a CMO now requires humility, curiosity and constant learning How the multi-hyphenate marketer applies fundamentals across different business models Why taste, trust and judgment still require customer empathy and human decision-making This episode is part of a special vidcast series that was recorded live during Cannes 2026 and presented in partnership with Edelman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E171
July 30 · 14 min
Marketing Vanguard at Cannes: Why Joy Makes Better Marketing ft. Todd Kaplan of Kraft Heinz
Marketing Vanguard continues its Cannes 2026 series as host Jenny Rooney sits down with Todd Kaplan, Chief Marketing Officer of North America at Kraft Heinz. In this conversation, Todd makes a sharp case for something the industry has almost talked itself out of - marketing is supposed to be fun. He shares why the best work often comes when teams are loose, curious and plugged into culture, not buried under PowerPoints and over-serious process. Todd Kaplan is Chief Marketing Officer, North America at The Kraft Heinz Company, where he leads marketing across a $25B food and beverage portfolio spanning more than 70 brands and 50 categories. His remit includes creative, strategy, innovation, media, digital, insights, sports and entertainment partnerships, portfolio marketing and Kraft Heinz’s in-house creative content studio, The Kitchen. Before Kraft Heinz, Todd served as Chief Marketing Officer of Pepsi, where he helped bring the brand back into the cultural zeitgeist through platforms like the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show, innovations such as Nitro Pepsi and Pepsi x Peeps, and the creation of a new Pepsi logo and visual identity system. His work has earned Cannes Lions recognition, and he has been named to Forbes’ “World’s Most Influential CMOs” list, Business Insider’s “Top 25 Most Innovative CMOs in the World” and Adweek’s “Brand Genius” and “Marketing Vanguard” honors. What You'll Learn: Why marketing has become too serious and what that does to creative work How joy, looseness and creative energy can unlock better ideas Why cultural fluency matters more as paid media becomes easier to ignore How Kraft Heinz is rebuilding brand fundamentals across a complex portfolio Why empathy matters for both consumers and teams during organizational change How portfolio marketing turns 70 brands into a stronger retail and consumer solution What Cannes-winning work reveals about silliness, strategy and cultural attention This episode is part of a special vidcast series that was recorded live during Cannes 2026 and presented in partnership with Edelman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E170
July 28 · 13 min
Marketing Vanguard at Cannes: Why Sports Marketing Starts With Identity ft. Uzma Rawn Dowler of MLB
The Cannes 2026 series of Marketing Vanguard continues as host Jenny Rooney sits down with Uzma Rawn Dowler, CMO & SVP, Global Corporate Partnerships at Major League Baseball. In this conversation, Uzma shares why fandom is not a behavior. It is identity. And why, for MLB, that changes the entire marketing equation. She gets into how baseball’s eight-month season creates a daily storytelling engine, why partner integration needs to feel organic to the fan experience and how MLB thinks about brand building through commercialization, culture and community. Uzma Rawn Dowler is the CMO & SVP, Global Corporate Partnerships at Major League Baseball, where she leads marketing for one of the world’s most iconic sports leagues. After more than a decade working across sponsorships and partnerships at MLB, Uzma stepped into the CMO role with a rare dual perspective: how to protect and build the MLB brand while also helping partners solve real business problems through baseball. Her work sits at the intersection of fan identity, brand storytelling, cultural relevance and commercial growth. From player storytelling to brand partnerships with companies like Mastercard, Adobe and Mountain Dew, Uzma’s approach is rooted in making marketing feel native to the moments fans already care about. What You'll Learn: Why fandom should be treated as identity, not just consumer behavior How MLB balances brand building with revenue-driving marketing Why top-of-funnel storytelling matters if you want bottom-of-funnel conversion How 4,200+ games create daily moments for authentic partner integration Why MLB frames partnerships as solutions, not sponsorship assets How player storytelling helps the league understand what will resonate with fans Why hiring smart people and relinquishing control is essential for modern CMO leadership This episode is part of a special vidcast series that was recorded live during Cannes 2026 and presented in partnership with Edelman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E169
July 23 · 8 min
Marketing Vanguard at Cannes: The Smart Ring That Made Wellness More Useful ft. Doug Sweeny of ŌURA
Marketing Vanguard continues its Cannes 2026 series as host Jenny Rooney sits down with Doug Sweeny, CMO of ŌURA. In this conversation, Doug shares how ŌURA has evolved from a sleep-focused wearable into a broader health and readiness platform, helping people understand what is happening inside their bodies before it shows up in their day. He gets into how ŌURA’s mission-led positioning, hardware innovation, and partnership ecosystem are helping the brand define what the next phase of wearable health looks like. Doug Sweeny is the Chief Marketing Officer at ŌURA, a leading smart ring and wearable health technology company. With 15 years of agency experience and leadership roles across brands like Levi’s, Nest and One Medical, Doug has built a career around mission-driven companies that combine technology, usefulness and real-world impact. At ŌURA, Doug leads marketing for a brand that has moved beyond sleep tracking into a wider health platform spanning stress, resilience, cardiovascular health, metabolic health and women’s health. His work focuses on positioning ŌURA not just as a device, but as a way for people to better understand their bodies, build readiness and make smarter decisions about their wellbeing. What You'll Learn: How ŌURA evolved from sleep tracking into stress, resilience, and broader health insight Why younger female consumers are the brand’s fastest-growing segment How women’s health features are expanding ŌURA’s relevance and category position Why stress and resilience are becoming core reasons people stay with ŌURA How ŌURA Ring 5 removes friction through smaller hardware and longer battery life Why mission-driven brands attract leaders who want to build products with real utility How “readiness” connects elite athletes, executives and everyday consumers This episode is part of a special vidcast series that was recorded live during Cannes 2026 and presented in partnership with Edelman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E168
July 21 · 17 min
Marketing Vanguard at Cannes: Why Forcing AI Adoption Backfires ft. Rafa Flores of Treasure AI
If you think the story behind AI is a productivity-led one, you’re wrong. Our series from Cannes 2026 continues as host Jenny Rooney sits down with Rafa Flores, Chief Product and Growth Officer at Treasure AI. In this one, Rafa cuts through the noise around AI adoption and AI-selling and gets into the real issue CMOs are facing: teams are not just unsure about AI; they are scared of what it could mean for their roles. He reveals how forcing AI adoption from the top can backfire, royally and why real AI success should be measured through revenue and conversion impact. Rafa Flores is the Chief Product and Growth Officer at Treasure AI, where he brings nearly two decades of experience across product development, engineering, growth strategy and partnerships. With an engineering background and a deeply practical view of how enterprise teams adopt technology, Rafa works at the intersection of AI, product-led growth and human-centered transformation. At Treasure AI, Rafa helps global brands rethink how AI can be adopted without creating fear, confusion or organizational resistance. His perspective is especially valuable for CMOs navigating pressure from boards, teams and vendors at the same time. What You'll Learn: Why fear of AI is real and should not be ignored by marketing leaders How to measure AI success through revenue, conversions and churn mitigation Why forcing AI adoption creates anxiety and resistance inside teams How CMOs can set guardrails that protect the business while empowering teams Why modern tech buyers expect to try products, not just sit through demos How product-led growth changes the customer journey in an AI-first market Why creativity in the AI era means orchestrating systems, agents and human judgment This episode is part of a special vidcast series that was recorded live during Cannes 2026 and presented in partnership with Edelman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E167
July 20 · 12 min
Marketing Vanguard at Cannes: Stop Forcing Marketing Into False Binaries ft. Jill Kramer of Mastercard
Marketing Vanguard continues its Cannes 2026 series as host Jenny Rooney sits down with Jill Kramer, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mastercard. In this conversation, Jill reveals the false binaries marketing keeps boxing itself into: AI vs. creativity, brand vs. performance, strategy vs. execution, “what’s in” vs. what’s "dead." Her point is clear: the strongest marketing does not live at the extremes. It lives in the gray area where accountability, emotion, creativity, and business outcomes all have to work together. Jill Kramer is the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mastercard, bringing deep experience across brand strategy, creative leadership and enterprise marketing transformation. Before joining Mastercard, she held senior leadership roles at Accenture, where she progressed from Head of Advertising, then brand, and finally, to Chief Marketing and Communications Officer. Earlier, she also built her foundation on the agency side at BBDO. At Mastercard, Jill brings a perspective shaped by both sides of the table: the agency instinct for creative craft and the brand-side understanding of business complexity, accountability, and internal alignment. Her leadership is rooted in balance: brand and performance, creativity and AI, strategic vision and hands-on involvement. What You'll Learn: Why AI should sharpen creative focus, not replace the human craft How brand and performance marketing became a false choice Why the best marketing happens in the “soft emotional middle” How prioritization can become a creative act for a new CMO Why leaders now need to go high and deep at the same time How to shift from doing everything yourself to enabling the team Why the industry needs to stop arguing in extremes and talk more about the work This episode is part of a special vidcast series that was recorded live during Cannes 2026 and presented in partnership with Edelman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E166
July 15 · 11 min
Marketing Vanguard at Cannes: How Saying No Made LEGO Stronger ft. Julia Goldin of LEGO
The “Marketing Vanguard at Cannes” series continues as host Jenny Rooney sits down with Julia Goldin, Chief Marketing and Product Officer at LEGO. In this conversation, Julia shares how LEGO has grown from a children’s toy company into a global experience brand loved by kids, teens and adults, without losing the creative system that made it iconic in the first place. She offers insights into the discipline behind that growth: knowing what to say no to, protecting authenticity, taking calculated risks and treating mistakes as part of the work. Julia Goldin is the Chief Marketing and Product Officer at LEGO, where she has spent 11 years helping shape the brand into a multi-generational creative experience. Under her leadership, LEGO has grown across children, teens and adults, while expanding its connection with girls and women builders. From LEGO SmartPlay to high-profile partnerships with Formula 1 and World Cup campaigns, she has helped LEGO push into new spaces while staying grounded in authenticity, trust and the limitless possibilities of the LEGO system in play. Her leadership philosophy is clear: creativity grows when teams are curious, willing to make mistakes and disciplined enough to protect what the brand stands for. What You'll Learn: How LEGO expanded from a toy brand into a multi-generational creative experience Why saying no is one of the most important brand-building decisions a CMO can make How to balance innovation risk with consumer trust and brand authenticity Why mistakes are essential to learning, unlearning and relearning How LEGO SmartPlay uses technology to enhance physical play without adding more screens Why human creativity is the real competitive advantage in the age of tech How partnerships like Formula 1 and World Cup campaigns become bigger than product launches This episode is part of a special vidcast series that was recorded live during Cannes 2026 and presented in partnership with Edelman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E165
July 9 · 22 min
Marketing Vanguard at Cannes: Why the Experience Is the Brand ft. Nathan Rosenberg
This episode of Marketing Vanguard comes straight from Cannes 2026 as host Jenny Rooney sits down with Nathan Rosenberg, Chief Marketing and Brand Experiences Officer at Virgin Voyages. They discuss why the best and most real marketing happens when a customer is telling their friends the story of what they experienced, how Virgin Voyages turns crew culture into customer loyalty, and why repeat rate should sit much closer to the center of marketing strategy. Nathan Rosenberg is the Chief Marketing and Brand Experiences Officer at Virgin Voyages, where he has spent 14 years building one of the most distinctive experience-led brands in travel. With 26 years across the Virgin organization, Nathan brings a deeply human-centered approach to marketing, culture, and brand strategy. At Virgin Voyages, his work spans far beyond campaigns. He champions the full experience of the brand, from how guests feel when they step onto a ship to how crew members are supported to deliver memorable service. His philosophy is simple but demanding: if you take care of your people, they take care of your customers, and customers take care of the outcomes. What You'll Learn: Why marketing is irrelevant if the experience does not hold up How repeat customers can lower acquisition costs and change the growth equation Why crew experience directly shapes customer experience and brand memory How Virgin Voyages turned an adults-only cruise model into its clearest differentiator Why marketers need to stop drowning in reports they will never act on How AI can amplify creative teams instead of replacing them Why soft skills like empathy, vulnerability and listening are now the hardest leadership skills This episode is part of a special vidcast series that was recorded live during Cannes 2026 and presented in partnership with Edelman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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