Icons in the Making

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Icons in the Making is a podcast series that goes inside the brands that are shaping our world. In each episode, we talk with the innovative leaders and change agents who are working toward building a more exciting, more equitable and more meaningful future. Join host Heather Stern, Lippincott’s Chief Marketing Officer, to hear stories of transformation—both personal and professional—and the inspiring lessons learned along the way.

Lippincott


    • Jan 23, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 32m AVG DURATION
    • 42 EPISODES
    • 2 SEASONS


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    Latest episodes from Icons in the Making

    Unwrapping transformation with PepsiCo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 20:26


    Dr. Athina Kanioura knows a thing or two about shaking things up. Under her leadership as chief strategy and transformation officer, global giant PepsiCo has evolved how they deliver products, manage their portfolio, leverage technology, and create experiences for consumers, faster than anyone else. Tune into this special episode, recorded live from Davos, to hear more about how Athina has utlilized the power of AI to promote cross-functional teamwork and how she's put her people at the center of the brand.

    Unpacking NVIDIA, smart innovation and what's to come in 2025 with Dawn Hudson

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 41:06


    Whether serving as CEO, CMO, or Chairman of the Board, Dawn Hudson has led a groundbreaking career that has spanned industries. From “Super Bowl Babies” at the NFL to the return of the “Pepsi Challenge” at Pepsi North America, she's no stranger to groundbreaking ideas born of an ability to see what's around the corner. Now, she's on the board of NVIDIA, a company leading the globe in artificial intelligence computing. In this far-ranging conversation, Dawn gives a peak inside NVIDIA's rapid success, what she's learned throughout her iconic career and what marketers should focus on in 2025.

    Coloring outside the lines with e.l.f. Beauty's Kory Marchisotto

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 49:12


    Brands are often taught to color within the lines—but that's never been Kory Marchisotto's MO. So, it was only fitting when she joined e.l.f. Beauty as CMO, a brand with a penchant for disruption and a renegade spirit to match. Five years into her role and she's blown past industry benchmarks, broken records across digital platforms, and brand awareness has doubled. Tune in to this e.l.f.ing fun and inspiring conversation to hear how Kory's drive to disrupt has guided her throughout her career, how e.l.f. has become a billion-dollar brand, and why more women need a seat at the table. Note this episode was recorded in July 2024.

    Cracking open a healthier tomorrow with OLIPOP's David Lester​

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 43:07


    Soda and its high-sugar content have long had a bad rap. But OLIPOP is shaking things up with its better-for-you sodas and fun, nostalgic branding. And consumers are taking note; the brand is set to hit $500 million in sales this year and was recently named one of Time's 100 most influential brands. Join us for this refreshingly honest conversation with David Lester, Co-Founder & President of OLIPOP as he shares the inspiration behind the brand, the importance of embracing failure throughout your career and how he leads by example. ​

    Building a killer brand with Liquid Death's Andy Pearson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 39:51


    Liquid Death isn't just in the business of beverages. It's on a mission to get more people to drink healthier beverages while helping kill plastic pollution. Not to mention bring humor and wildly entertaining content into the world. In this episode, we sit down with Andy Pearson—writer, director, ultra-marathon runner and VP of Creative at Liquid Death. Under Andy's creative direction, the brand has mastered the art of subversive marketing and attracted a cult-like following along the way. This wide-ranging conversation features stories behind the brand's edgy and out-there marketing campaigns and the importance of finding meaning in your work.

    Propelling business aviation to new heights with Bombardier's Ève Laurier

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2024 41:43


    In the world of business aviation, the Bombardier customer experience exists on a higher plane. Loved by the most influential, the brand has redefined industry standards through relentless innovation, purposeful craft and a passion for precision. But at the heart of this Canadian icon are the people behind it, most notably, Ève Laurier, Vice President of Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs. In this episode, Ève discusses spearheading the brand's recent transformation and gives us a peek inside the brand's iconic jets.

    Driving the game of golf forward with Topgolf's Geoff Cottrill

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2024 40:03


    When it comes to golf, country club memberships and strict dress codes are par for the course. But Topgolf is on a mission to change that. ​​As Chief Brand Officer, Geoff Cottrill is pushing the boundaries of marketing innovation and cultural strategy to make golf more accessible—and fun.​ In this episode, Geoff shares how Topgolf is reinventing the sport as well as lessons from his storied career at Converse, Coca-Cola and Starbucks.

    Supercharging growth and cultural relevance with Crocs' Michelle Poole

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2024 43:43


    Fortune favors the bold—especially when it comes to brands willing to take risks, embrace challenges and lean into culture. Take it from Michelle Poole; as the President of Crocs, she's led the polarizing brand to icon status with record-breaking sales in 2023, global expansion, and a spot on Time's 100 Most Influential Companies list. In this episode, we sit down with Michelle to talk her three decades of experience in brand building for global fashion and lifestyle companies, how she embraced the love-hate for Crocs to supercharge growth, and her approach to building teams that deliver in challenging times.

    Designing the future of healthcare with CVS Health's Michelle Peluso

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2024 43:44


    Michelle Peluso likes a challenge. Throughout her cross-industry career, she's steered some of the world's best brands in banking, fashion and travel through successful digital transformations. Now, she's taking on healthcare at CVS Health where she's revolutionizing the end-to-end patient experience across all of the company's care delivery and customer service channels. In this episode, Michelle shares what most companies get wrong about customer-centricity, what she's learned throughout her cross-industry career, how she stays on the cutting edge of technology and the core principles she lives by.

    Live from SXSW Sydney with Zach Kitschke (Canva), Jo Boundy (Commonwealth Bank) and Brent Smart (Telstra)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 48:28


    When SXSW, arguably the world's most iconic conference, expanded from North America for the first time with a new event in Sydney, it was the perfect opportunity to explore future trends and fundamental truths with the CMOs of the biggest brands in Australia. In this panel discussion, live from SXSW Sydney, we sit down with Zach Kitschke from Canva, Jo Boundy from Commonwealth, and Brent Smart from Telstra for a no-holds-barred conversation on what it takes to build an iconic brand.

    Taking creative risks, the future of AI and staying humble with NotCo's Fernando Machado

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 41:33


    Fernando Machado has never been one for resting on his laurels. From brand guru at Unilever, to global CMO at Burger King, to CMO at Activision Blizzard, Fernando's career has been built on the desire to never stop learning. Now, this brand genius is taking on his boldest role yet as CMO of NotCo, a Chilean-based startup that uses AI power technology to develop plant-based foods. In this episode, Fernando pulls back the curtain on his most celebrated creative campaigns, and shares why AI isn't a threat, why more marketers should be the CEO and the importance of staying present.

    Turning Barbie into a state of mind with Mattel's Lisa McKnight

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2023 31:52


    Barbie's journey from iconic toy to cultural phenomenon has been a master class in marketing. But this branding triumph started well before there was Barbiecore and Kenergy—in fact, it has been a decade in the making. At the center is Lisa McKnight, Chief Brand Officer of Mattel and a 25-year veteran of the brand. In this episode, Lisa shares the genesis of Barbie's transformation, how the movie came to be and how Barbie stays top of mind with 165 partnerships and counting.

    Leading by design with Connie Birdsall

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 32:04


    With a career that has spanned 35 years, travel to over 54 countries and iconic projects such as Starbucks, Delta and PBS, Global Creative Director Connie Birdsall has left an indelible mark on the design industry. As a leader, she built Lippincott's design practice to be what is it today: a powerhouse of creativity that touches all facets of brand expression, from digital and social media to video and voice. In this live-recorded conversation on the eve of her retirement, Connie reflects on what has and hasn't changed in the industry and her lessons for the next generation of designers.

    Building a bank for the next generation of investors with Morgan Stanley's Alice Milligan

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 42:34


    How do you transform an 87-year-old financial institution into a modern brand? Through grit and vision—both which come to life in Morgan Stanley's new, buzz-worthy campaign. At the helm of this evolution is Alice Milligan, Chief Marketing Officer of Morgan Stanley. Not just a believer in the vision, she embodies it: she's paved her own path from a young age, putting herself through undergraduate and graduate school while working a full-time job. In this powerful conversation, Alice shares how she's challenging what it means to be a modern bank while staying authentic to the brand, how she engages employees to be the brand's best advocates, why you should own what makes you different, and more.

    Creating culture-defining moments with Airbnb's Nancy King

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2023 33:13


    For most brands, culture-defining moments can be hard to come by. For iconic brands like Airbnb, it's in their DNA. And as its VP of Marketing, Nancy King has been instrumental in helping the brand achieve that status, disrupting the face of tourism as we know it and with initiatives like the “Made Possible by Hosts” campaign. In this episode, Nancy shares the importance of integrating marketing and product within an organization, why brand purpose is more than a business opportunity, what she sees for the future of Airbnb, and more.

    Live from SXSW: Is brand loyalty dead?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 51:06


    There are more brands across more categories than ever before, and a seemingly unlimited supply of reviews, recommendations, likes, aggregators, and now chatbots to help us choose. In a world of endless options, why be loyal when there's so much to explore? In this panel discussion live from SXSW, Heather Stern unpacks this and more, alongside Ari Levin, Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships at Hyatt Hotels, Jonathan Clarkson, Vice President and Head of Marketing at Southwest Airlines, and Georgie Jeffreys, Director of Marketing for Uber Eats North America.

    Designing for a better tomorrow with Uber's Joanna Peña-Bickley

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2023 39:02


    Joanna Peña-Bickley knows what it takes to create a magical brand experience. As both the former global Chief Creative Officer of IBM and the Head of Research and Design for Alexa devices at Amazon, she has imagined and launched some of the world's most transformative inventions used by millions of customers every day. Now, as Director of Product Design at Uber Eats, she's reimagining what mobility means for the brand and for the world. In this powerful conversation, Joanna discusses how she approaches design management with a human-centered mentality, the importance of re-skilling our workforce, why Earth's problems and business problems are inherently linked, and why creating magic and making mistakes come with the territory. ​

    Transforming retail culture with Depop's Peter Semple

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2023 33:58


    Known for its vintage clothing, streetwear and fresh cohort of online influencers, Depop, the peer-to-peer social marketplace, is the epitome of cool. So, it's only fitting that its Chief Brand Officer, Peter Semple, would be too. In this episode, the self-acknowledged sneakerhead and passionate brand builder shares how he's leading Depop's global efforts to drive cultural influence at scale. You'll hear how he and his team maintain an always-on dialogue with the brand's Gen Z consumers and why secondhand fashion is becoming the most credible and viable choice for shopping new.

    Harnessing the power of community with Reddit's Roxy Young

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2023 33:30


    A seasoned marketer with over 20 years of experience, Roxy Young has perfected the art of using the power of brand to inspire connection. Now, as Reddit's Chief Marketing Officer, she has the unique role of doing just that for over 100,000 communities across the platform. In this episode, Roxy shares how Reddit's brand attributes come to life in the experience; the strategy behind going all-in on a winning Super Bowl ad and how brands can benefit by engaging with Reddit users authentically.

    Bridging the design and engineering divide with Netflix's Fonz Morris

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2023 27:24


    What it's like to work for the crown jewel of the streaming world? For Fonz Morris, Netflix's Lead Product Designer, Global Conversion, it's the confluence of everything he's passionate about: Design. Engineering. Finding out what makes customers tick (and click). In this episode, we sit down with Fonz to discuss his career, the Netflix culture and approach to streaming competition, harnessing the power of your own voice, and more.

    Thinking outside the box with Domino's Kate Trumbull

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2023 37:17


    How did Domino's transform itself from a pizza place to a digital disruptor? In this episode, we sit down with the woman instrumental in the brand's pursuit of the unexpected: Kate Trumbull, SVP of Brand and Product Innovation at Domino's. From benchmarking outside of their category, to infusing innovation in everything that they do, to their selective approach to partnerships, Kate shares the brand's recipe for success.

    Reimagining the travel experience with Delta's Molly Battin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2023 27:21


    In the travel industry, a connected customer experience is the holy grail. No one knows this better than Molly Battin, Delta's former SVP of Global Brand Marketing. In this episode, Molly shares how connection is infused in everything the brand does—from customer personalization to department structure, how the airline built back stronger than ever post-COVID, and why a winning brand experience starts with the employee.

    Shaping the future of AR with Snap's Kenny Mitchell

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2023 38:36


    Even before Kenny Mitchell became Snap Inc.'s first-ever chief marketing officer, he had a deep understanding of the platform and the value it delivers. In this fun and unfiltered conversation, Kenny shares how Snapchat is leveraging AR to enhance community engagement; the unique way brands are using the platform to tell their stories; lessons learned from his dynamic career at powerhouses such as McDonald's, Gatorade, NASCAR; and more.

    Mastering global brand building with Nestlé's Aude Gandon

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 35:18


    Aude Gandon is a true global marketer. As Nestlé's first-ever Global Chief Marketing Officer, she oversees the company's vast portfolio of 2,000 brands across 186 countries. In this episode, Aude shares why marketing and digital teams must work together, how she led the charge on the company's 2050 sustainability roadmap, the importance of brand fundamentals, and how she's using her platform to build a more equitable future.

    Stepping into the metaverse with Gucci's Robert Triefus

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2022 26:50


    Despite its 100-year legacy, Gucci has managed to stay iconic while constantly evolving. At the helm is Robert Triefus, who has been instrumental in the brand's exploration of the digital landscape. As the newly appointed CEO of Gucci Vault and Metaverse Ventures, Robert discusses Gucci's brand strategy for empowering self-expression, the yin and yang of business and creativity, and more.

    Taking the cannabis industry to new highs with Houseplant​'s Melissa Greenberg

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 26:41


    In the saturated world of cannabis brands, Houseplant is in a league of its own. Co-founded by Seth Rogen, this cannabis and lifestyle company has set a new bar by offering design-minded products delivered through an elevated customer experience. In this frank and fun conversation, Chief Consumer Officer Melissa Greenberg talks about Houseplant's core customer (from the curious to the connoisseur), its commitment to social impact, and why it's unlike any other celebrity-backed brand out there.

    Creating game-changing conversations with Google's Adrienne Lofton

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 37:51


    Adrienne Lofton is no stranger to breakthrough storytelling. Armed with accolades that include Adweek's Brand Genius Award and Ebony Magazine's most powerful women in business, Nike's former VP, Head of North America Marketing is now shaking things up at Google as Vice President, Global Consumer Marketing. In a candid and powerful conversation, Adrienne unpacks the critical importance of culturally connected content, her experience building a team from the ground up in a tech giant, why she believes companies need a soul, and more.

    Icons in the Making Season 2 Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2022 2:25


    Icons in the Making is a podcast hosted by Lippincott's Chief Marketing Officer, Heather Stern. In each episode, you'll hear from the leaders and change agents at today's most innovative, purpose-driven, and disruptive brands. Tune in every other week for honest and insightful conversations on the brands shaping our world and the people behind them.

    Being unapologetic with NYC Pride

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2022 27:11


    Heritage of Pride, a nonprofit born from the events of the Stonewall Uprising, has cemented itself over the last 30+ years as the foremost LGBTQIA+ Pride organization. In this episode, we talk to NYC Pride Co-Chair André Thomas about the significance of this year's theme ‘Unapologetically Us,' their new inclusive brand identity, designed by Lippincott, and how brands can authentically show up in June—and beyond.

    Starting a brand from scratch

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022


    Kristen Tomlan, Lippincott alum and founder and CEO of DŌ Cookie Dough Confection, shares how she pivoted from a career in branding to founding a company that quickly went viral. Listeners will be inspired by Kristen's endless optimism and her mission to spread joy—one sweet bite at a time.

    The path to decarbonizing aviation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 23:47


    Is hydrogen-powered aviation in our future? According to Jason Chua, co-founder of Universal Hydrogen, carbon-free flight will be a reality sooner than we think. In this episode, Jason talks about how Universal Hydrogen is tackling the issue of hydrogen distribution by doing for clean fuel what Nespresso did for coffee. He also shares his experiences leading agile teams at United Technologies, Airbus, Google and elsewhere.

    Recruiting in the digital age with TikTok

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 26:04


    In this episode, we sit down with Kate Barney—global citizen, entrepreneur, new mom and Head of HR for TikTok's Global Business Solutions in the United States and EMEA. Hear her perspectives on amplifying corporate culture in a virtual world, combating the Great Resignation and attracting the next generation of talent.

    Demystifying the world of NFTs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 28:29


    NFTs have exploded in the last year, with sales volume surging to more than 10 billion and brands across the board jumping on the bandwagon. For many of us, this is a landscape that's exciting, daunting and somewhat confusing. We sit down with Maria Shen, a top NFT thought leader and partner at venture-capital firm, Electric Capital where she discusses the growth of the crypto industry, how brands can tackle NFTs and her predictions for the future—which is closer than we think.

    Designing for diversity with IBM

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 27:47


    Oen Michael Hammonds has conquered design from every angle—graphic, service, information, interactive and environmental design. Today, he brings design thinking to the HR department at IBM, where he focuses on designing impactful employee experiences. In this episode, Oen shares his thoughts on breaking down barriers, creating the conditions for innovation to thrive and building a culture of conscious inclusion.

    Changing the face of medicine with Moderna

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 36:34


    What was it like being on the inside of Moderna in 2020? Lavina Talukdar, Vice President of Investor Relations at Moderna, talks the race to the COVID-19 vaccine, how she landed her dream role with zero prior investor-relations experience and what the future holds for the biotech firm that is changing the face of medicine.

    Doubling down on blockchain with Walmart

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 20:53


    Archana Sristy is a tech guru, an educator and a passionate diversity proponent. She is also at the forefront of blockchain as the leader of Walmart's Blockchain Platform, where she and her team leverage cutting-edge technologies to build transparent supply chains. In this episode, Archana will share the practical ways in which Walmart is leveraging blockchain for the benefit of the customer, as well as her experiences bridging the gap between IT and Business teams at Fortune 500 companies.

    Building a more inclusive platform at Twitter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 25:43


    Lara Mendonça is a designer, educator and ethicist who passionately believes in the power of design to change for the better our relationship to technology. She has been featured as one of Adweek's 2021 Pride Stars and on Fast Company's Queer 50 list and lauded for her work as Bumble's Head of Product Design in the leadup to the company's blockbuster IPO. In this episode, Lara shares how she's bringing her philosophy of designing for inclusivity and safety to her new role at Twitter and how her life experiences lend empathy and authenticity to her work.

    Modernizing a media icon with PBS

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 28:26


    Ira Rubenstein is a media industry pioneer. While at Sony, he established Movielink, a first-of-its-kind on-demand service. At Marvel, he launched the first comic book app, earning the approval of Steve Jobs himself. And now, as Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at PBS, Rubenstein is leading the heritage brand's digital revolution. In this episode, he discusses the daunting task of spearheading a brand transformation and the importance of trust and integrity in today's media and arts landscape.

    Branding in the metaverse with Roblox

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 22:38


    The metaverse has taken the world by storm in the last year, but that's nothing new for Roblox. In fact, the company has been at the forefront of the virtual world for more than two decades and, today, is stronger than ever. In this episode, we talk to Christina Wootton, Vice President of Brand Partnerships at Roblox, about the power of community and her advice to brands looking to authentically come onto the platform.

    Moving sport forward with the WNBA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 30:33


    Women's professional sports are on the rise and, as a result, have created a new generation of iconic athletes. On the heels of the Women's National Basketball Association's most historical season yet, we sit down with the league's first-ever Chief Marketing Officer and 20+ year Nike veteran, Phil Cook. From exponential growth in viewership and social engagement to unique partnerships with Google, Amazon Prime and Coinbase, the WNBA is on fire—yet is only getting started.

    Building the consumer banking platform of the future with Goldman Sachs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 30:07


    A marketing superstar and industry disruptor, Arianna Orpello has been a change agent in financial services for more than a decade and is now breaking new ground at Goldman Sachs as Head of Marketing, Consumer Bank/Marcus by Goldman Sachs. Hear her honest perspectives on being a woman in a male-dominated industry, the future of banking and the secret to owning what makes you different.

    Icons in the Making Season 1 Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2022 1:42


    Want to go inside the brands that are shaping our world? Introducing Icons in the Making, a new series brought to you by Lippincott, the global creative consultancy that specializes in brand and innovation. Join host and CMO, Heather Stern, as we talk with the innovative leaders and change agents who are working toward building a more exciting, more equitable and more meaningful future.

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