In Clear Focus

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Professor Mohamed Zaki of Cambridge University discusses his new book “Data-Driven Customer Experience Transformation.” Mohamed explores the shift from product-centric to customer-centric business models, distinguishing customer satisfaction from delight, and leveraging AI and data analytics to predict customer behavior. Mohamed also shares his insights on omnichannel experiences, personalization strategies, and real-world case studies, including Caterpillar's CX transformation.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Honorable Paul Johnson and Larry Aldrich, authors of "What's Right with America," challenge fear-driven narratives dominating media. They discuss how optimism drives innovation, the power of individual agency over collective thinking, and the economic strengths of the United States. The conversation explores marketing lessons from their data-driven approach to countering pessimism, the importance of entrepreneurship, and how brands can tap into shared American values rather than divisions.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Recorded at Coverings 2025, North America's largest tile and stone trade show, Seth Segura discusses Bigeye's creative direction for the event branding. Interior designers Marc Thee and Carmina Ozeata explore innovative materials, sustainability trends, and evolving design approaches. Marc explains his "positive energy" tile collection, while Carmina highlights artisanal techniques. The conversation reveals how Coverings inspires professionals and supports their design practice.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Peter Wilken, known as "the father of Brand DNA," shares insights from his 30+ years of experience, working with iconic brands like Coca-Cola, BMW, and Disney. Peter explains his "Dim Sum Strategy" approach to brand building, the concept of "owning territory in the mind," and the vital components of Brand DNA. He discusses balancing long-term brand building with short-term performance marketing, adaptable frameworks for different market stages, and navigating business turbulence.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Chris Peterson, author of "Red & Blue Customers" and co-founder of Lifemind.ai, explores how worldviews influence consumer behavior. Chris outlines purchase values that distinguish liberal and conservative customers, how popular brands align with different perspectives, and reveals the secrets of effective ad creative strategies for both groups. Chris also reveals how fear shifts buying patterns and discusses how understanding these dynamics builds stronger brand connections.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jean-Éric Pelet, author of "Consumer Behaviour: Understanding Consumers in a Digital Landscape," explores technology's impact on consumer psychology and decision-making. Jean-Éric shares insights on website color psychology, sensory marketing, and China's advanced digital ecosystem. He also discusses emerging technologies, such as voice commerce and AR, and previews his new biometric hospitality project, which adjusts environments based on guests' physical and emotional states.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Nick Valenti, CEO of NYC and San Diego-based agency Mādin, shares successful marketing strategies for bringing European sports to American audiences. Nick discusses launching San Diego FC without traditional brand assets and reveals how their Chrome Ball Tour unified 18 cities. Nick also reveals the strategy behind the "Sensory Overload" campaign for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix and reflects on why emotional brand storytelling and community-building are crucial for sports marketing.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Tom Woodnutt of Feeling Mutual discusses the evolution of online qualitative research. Tom explains how asynchronous methods yield authentic insights by allowing participants to share in real-world contexts without the social pressure of focus groups. He explores maintaining engagement, AI's impact on research, and the “qual at scale” trend. While embracing AI as a powerful tool, Tom emphasizes the irreplaceable human intuition that makes great qualitative research possible.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Strategic foresight consultants Scott Smith and Susan Cox-Smith discuss Foom, an immersive strategic simulation for exploring AI futures. Unlike static scenario planning, Foom creates environments where teams experience real-time consequences of decisions. As participants navigate progress toward Artificial General Intelligence, this "escape room for strategy" reveals insights about decision-making, coalition-building, and managing uncertainty in emerging technology landscapes.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Emeric Ernoult, the CEO of Agorapulse, discusses social media management. From pioneering the first social inbox to developing ROI tracking tools, Emeric shares insights on measuring social media effectiveness, leveraging employee advocacy, and achieving 4-10x reach through strategic content distribution. Learn how this bootstrapped company grew to $20M+ revenue, helping brands streamline multi-platform management while proving social media's impact on bottom-line results.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Alan Barker, author of “The Complete Copywriter,” explores the evolving craft of copywriting. Alan shares four core competencies: curiosity, mental mobility, design thinking, and objectivity. He distinguishes between copy, which sells - and content, which informs. He discusses managing creative risk and emphasizes customer-focused conversations over interruption marketing. Hear why human imagination gives copywriters an edge over AI in crafting compelling marketing narratives.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Satej Sirur, CEO of Rocketium, discusses how AI is transforming creative operations for brands like Amazon and Walmart. Satej explains how Rocketium combines creative automation, brand governance, and analytics to streamline content production while maintaining brand consistency. Satej also shares insights on using AI to improve creative workflows, how performance analytics reveal unexpected insights, and why autonomous AI agents may soon monitor campaign performance 24/7.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Andrew Geoghegan, CMO at William Grant & Sons and author of the new book "Effective Brand Building," shares frameworks for brand growth. Andrew explains why consumers don't care about brands, the importance of organizational awareness, his 6C's audit approach, and strategies for different brand stages. Using case studies, he illustrates principles for balancing short-term results with long-term brand equity while navigating measurement challenges and media consolidation.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Mona Kinal, CMO at G2A.com, discusses digital entertainment marketing. She shares the strategy behind G2A's evolution from gaming to a broader marketplace and the use of the Explorer and the Caregiver archetypes in brand communications. Mona discusses the uses of AI at G2A.com, key partnerships, and combining traditional media with innovative channels. Mona also highlights opportunities using AR to create, immersive marketing experiences that engage digital engagement audiences.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Lisa Avvocato, VP at Sama, explores AI in retail and how it's reshaping customer experiences. She outlines five key areas where AI drives revenue and cuts costs: personalized recommendations, search relevance, virtual fitting rooms, inventory management, and AI agents. Lisa contrasts luxury retailers Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's with Amazon, emphasizing brand-aligned implementation. Hear why Lisa advises marketers to prioritize solving specific problems over chasing AI trends.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: This week's guest, Corey Morris, the CEO of Voltage and author of "The Digital Marketing Success Plan," discusses his START planning framework for effective digital marketing. Corey explains why strategy must precede tactics, the dangers of "checklist SEO," and how to connect marketing metrics to business outcomes. He shares insights on AI's impact on search marketing, the importance of brand foundation, and a case study where an investment of $80K generated $1.2M in revenue.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: William Beutler, founder of Beutler Ink, explores the role of Wikipedia for brands. He explains why brands must approach Wikipedia ethically, how to navigate its guidelines, and best practices for managing a company's presence. Bill shares insights on WikiWatch, AI's impact on Wikipedia, and the risks of misinformation. Learn why Wikipedia remains a critical, yet challenging, platform for brand reputation management.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Nick Bennett, co-founder of TACK and author of "B2B Influencer Marketing," discusses the evolution of creator partnerships in B2B marketing. Nick shares insights on building authentic relationships, measuring ROI, and leveraging LinkedIn effectively. He emphasizes the growing importance of micro-influencers, video content, and maintaining authenticity in an AI-driven landscape. Learn how B2B brands can develop successful influencer strategies and foster a creator-first mindset.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Guest Shaheen Samavati, CEO of VeraContent, discusses multilingual content marketing. She shares insights on the challenges brands face managing global content, the importance of cultural adaptation, SEO considerations, and AI's impact on the industry. Our conversation also covers quality control, influencer marketing, and how best to measure campaign success. Learn how Shaheen's team at VeraContent helps brands navigate the complexities of international content.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jeff Greenfield, co-founder and CEO of Provalytics, discusses AI-driven marketing attribution in a privacy-first world. As third-party cookies and user-level tracking decline, Jeff explains how the Provalytics platform combines marketing mix modeling with the granularity of multi-touch attribution. Learn how marketers can measure effectiveness across channels, including "no-click" media like CTV and podcasts, while maintaining privacy compliance and gaining actionable insights.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Marketing expert and futurist Rohit Bhargava makes a return appearance to discuss his latest book, “Non-Obvious Thinking: How to See What Others Miss.” Discover how Rohit's SIFT framework (Space, Insights, Focus, Twist) uncovers hidden opportunities and innovative solutions. Rohit shares compelling examples of non-obvious thinking in action, from questioning map accuracy to leveraging AI in creative work, while offering practical strategies for seeing beyond conventional wisdom.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jordan Morrow, SVP of Data and AI Transformation at AgileOne and the "Godfather of data literacy," discusses the intersection of AI and data literacy. Jordan shares insights on the four levels of analytics, the "three C's" of data literacy, and practical steps for organizations to build data confidence. As the author of "Be Data Literate," Jordan emphasizes that while not everyone needs to be a data scientist, understanding data is crucial in today's AI-driven business world.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Ron Levac, Chief Innovation Officer at Spectrio, explores the transformation of retail through digital signage and Retail Media Networks (RMNs). As brick-and-mortar stores influence 80 percent of purchases, Ron reveals how retailers can leverage digital displays, AI, and data analytics to enhance customer experiences. Learn how emerging technologies like MicroLED are revolutionizing in-store advertising, and why RMNs are projected to capture over 20% of media spend by 2027.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Peter Benei, remote work expert and AI marketing practice lead at Intercept Scale, explores the evolution of marketing leadership. Benei shares frameworks from his book "Leadership Anywhere," including the Transparent Leadership Triangle and Asynchronous Communication Matrix. He discusses AI adoption in marketing, highlighting implementation challenges and opportunities. Learn how transparency, remote leadership strategies, and AI are transforming modern marketing teams.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Rich Kahn, co-founder and CEO of Anura.io, delves into ad fraud, projected to cost businesses $100B this year. Rich shares insights on identifying fraudulent traffic, including Sophisticated Invalid Traffic (SIVT), using advanced detection techniques. He emphasizes third-party certification, cohesive fraud prevention strategies, and why marketers must reject fraud as a business cost. Explore how vigilance and Anura's solutions can protect budgets and improve ad performance.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Lynn Daniel, founder and CEO of The Daniel Group, shares insights on differentiating B2B customer experiences. He discusses building trust through communication, leveraging feedback with phone surveys and AI tools, and improving frontline engagement. Learn how understanding the 'why' behind customer satisfaction and responding promptly can transform business success. Lynn describes actionable strategies for growth and shares a real-world success story of improved loyalty.    

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Cairo Kenan Marsh, founder of Tokyo-based marketing consultancy relativ*, explores evolving consumer loyalty trends and relationship-driven marketing strategies. Drawing from his experience with Fortune 500 companies and independent brands, Cairo discusses the shift from transactional marketing to authentic brand relationships. He shares insights on balancing data science with creativity and demonstrates how relationship-focused strategies drive successful outcomes.  

IN CLEAR FOCUS: In this week's episode, Carolyn Lowe, the founder and CEO of ROI Swift, shares practical Amazon marketplace strategies for brand success. Drawing from her own experience managing a $2B division at Dell and advising established e-commerce businesses and startups, Carolyn discusses profitability tactics, advertising approaches, and emerging opportunities on the platform. Learn how brands can optimize listings, protect against competition, and leverage Amazon's B2B potential.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Kian Bakhtiari, the author of December's Bigeye Book Club selection, “Marketing for Social Change,” discusses how brands can drive meaningful social impact. Kian explores moving beyond performative activism to authentic change, strategies for maintaining momentum, and the evolution of marketing from driving consumption to creating positive social outcomes. He shares practical insights for marketers seeking to balance stakeholder interests while remaining true to their values.  

IN CLEAR FOCUS: A conversation with Simon Kingsnorth, the author of November's Bigeye Book Club selection, “Marketing in Web 3.0.” Discover how AI, the metaverse, and Web 3.0 are reshaping marketing strategies. Simon shares insights on effective AI implementation, community building in decentralized platforms, and practical steps for brands entering virtual environments. Hear why human creativity remains essential as marketing evolves and how to prepare for the future of digital engagement.  

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Northwestern University professor and former Baxter International Chairman and CEO Harry M. Kramer, Jr. discusses his new book "Your Values-Based Legacy," examining how legacy building is a lifelong journey. Drawing from executive and academic experience, Harry shares how connections, community, and choices shape meaningful impact. The conversation explores generational approaches to social impact, value-driven leadership, and practical steps for creating lasting positive change.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Benjamin Johnson, CEO of Particle41, discusses technology optimization for business growth. From a periodic table of business tools to application modernization, Ben shares insights from his 20+ years of experience, including tech stack assessment, custom solutions versus off-the-shelf software, fractional CTO services, and practical approaches to legacy system updates. The conversation includes case studies, AI, and how emerging technologies can impact business transformation.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Kyle Roof, noted SEO expert and creator of Page Optimizer Pro, discusses the science of SEO. We hear his journey from attorney to SEO innovator, including his "Lorem Ipsum" experiment. Kyle discusses insights from 400+ tests, emphasizing SEO's mathematical nature and balancing technical optimization with quality content. We examine his testing methods, findings on grammar and links, e-commerce platforms' impact on SEO, and AI's role in the field, plus advice for SEO beginners.  

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Swag.com co-founder Jeremy Parker has transformed the promotional products industry. We explore his entrepreneurial journey, Swag.com's growth strategies, and insights on market research and product curation. Jeremy shares how he adapted his marketing approaches and used customer feedback. We also discuss how Swag.com grew to $40 million in sales and his new venture, Swag.Space. Jeremy also shares his views on the future of branded merchandise in corporate culture and marketing.  

IN CLEAR FOCUS: In the first episode of our seventeenth season, guest Stefan F. Dieffenbacher discusses innovation strategies for business growth. With 90 percent of innovation initiatives failing, Stefan shares insights from his book, "How To Create Innovation" and introduces us to the UNITE framework. We learn why Stefan favors the Jobs To Be Done approach over traditional Buyer Personas, how the Culture Canvas fosters innovation, and ways that AI can be used to support true differentiation.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jason Greenwood of Greenwood Consulting discusses B2B e-commerce, highlighting its complexities compared to B2C. He notes many B2B brands lag behind in digital capabilities, facing challenges like outdated data management and internal resistance. Jason shares a case study that illustrates how streamlining processes can improve efficiency. Hear why Jason predicts rapid B2B e-commerce growth, driven by Millennial buyers' digital expectations and today's B2B customer demands.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Tom Burgess, president of SnippMedia, discusses how financial media networks (FMNs) leverage banks' first-party data to present targeted offers within banking apps, creating unique advertising opportunities. Tom explains SnippMedia's campaign process and performance metrics, sharing insights on targeting capabilities and A/B testing. He also explores the future of FMNs, encouraging marketers to explore this innovative approach for reaching new audiences and driving brand growth.  

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Brett Townsend, SVP of Strategy at Quester and co-author of "Insights on the Brink," discusses today's consumer research. He emphasizes the need to evolve beyond academic approaches, improve storytelling, and leverage emotional data. Brett advocates for better collaboration between insights professionals and agency teams, and shares strategies for capturing consumer narratives, integrating System 1 and System 2 thinking to drive more impactful insights and business decisions.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Xenia Muntean, CEO of Planable, discusses effective strategies for streamlining content review and marketing collaboration. She explores common challenges in social media management, the importance of accurate content previews, and effective workflow solutions. Xenia shares insights on entrepreneurship and the integration of AI in marketing tools. Fresh perspectives for marketers, agencies, and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to optimize their content creation processes.  

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Michael Begg, CEO of AMZ Advisers, discusses effective strategies for launching and scaling brands on Amazon. He explores common challenges brands face, the importance of setting appropriate budgets for advertising, and effective pricing strategies. Mike shares insights on international expansion, particularly into Latin American markets, and the complexities of multi-platform e-commerce. The episode offers valuable perspectives for brands looking to thrive on Amazon and beyond.  

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Greg Brooks, CMO at SearchTides, explores SEO's future in the AI era. He discusses evolving strategies, AI's impact on content and search, and the importance of expert-driven material. We examine e-commerce SEO challenges, social search trends, and the rise of AI-powered small firms. Greg also offers fresh insights on adapting to algorithm changes and using AI to stay competitive. This episode provides key perspectives beyond SEO for marketers in today's digital landscape.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Gordon Glenister, the author of "Influencer Marketing Strategy," discusses the evolution of this dynamic field. He shares effective campaign development tactics, success stories, and legal considerations. Gordon examines employee advocacy as an emerging trend and offers insights on leveraging internal talent as influencers. Learn how brands can navigate the influencer landscape, maximize ROI, and prepare for future developments in this increasingly important area of marketing.  

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Barbara Wardell and Ernesto Cullari discuss geofencing advertising for small and medium-sized businesses. They explain practical applications, benefits, and misconceptions of GPS-based targeting. Barbara and Ernesto share their insights on foot traffic studies, ad creative importance, and effectiveness metrics - offering tips for successful pilot projects. Expert perspectives on leveraging geofencing technology to drive customer visits and make data-informed business decisions.  

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jeff Umbro, CEO of The Podglomerate, discusses podcast marketing for brands and businesses. He explores advertising strategies, host-read ads, and branded podcasts. Jeff shares insights on audience growth, measuring success, and cross-promotion. He also addresses common mistakes, thought leadership, and AI's impact on podcasting. Listen for fresh perspectives on maximizing podcast strategies for brand awareness and engagement, emphasizing clear goals and targeted content.  

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Michael Beach, CEO of Cross Screen Media and author of "Screen Wars," discusses the evolution of convergent TV advertising. He explains the shift from linear to streaming, audience-based planning, and the role data analytics plays in convergent TV. Michael also shares practical advice for maximizing reach and data-driven insights that point to the future of TV consumption. Valuable perspectives on navigating the changing landscape of video advertising and audience engagement.  

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Caroline Florence, author of our featured book "Data Storytelling in Marketing," discusses transforming data into compelling narratives. She outlines a five-step roadmap for effective data storytelling, emphasizing emotion's role in persuasion. Caroline offers advice for marketers to enhance their skills, sharing a De Beers case study to illustrate data-driven insights' impact. Learn how to leverage data storytelling for more effective marketing communication and decision-making.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Mitch Duckler, Managing Partner at FullSurge, discusses his book "The Future-Ready Brand." He explores how CMOs navigate societal trends and emerging technologies, including brand purpose, wellness shifts, and Gen Z marketing. We discuss AI in marketing, extended reality, and Web3 opportunities. Mitch emphasizes the need for CMOs to experiment with new technologies and adapt to rapid changes. Learn innovative strategies for future-proofing brands in a rapidly evolving landscape.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Praveen Nara, CEO of Tech.us, explores AI's impact on retail marketing and advertising. Praveen discusses leveraging AI for personalized consumer experiences, ethical use guidelines, and AI's future in marketing. He shares insights on hyper-personalization strategies for retailers, AI's role in engaging different generations, and its broader societal impact. A conversation bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and practical applications in retail and advertising.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Dr. Sachiko Scheuing, Acxiom's European Privacy Officer and author of our featured book, "How to Use Customer Data," discusses effectively balancing data protection and marketing. Sachiko shares insights on navigating complex privacy laws, implementing robust data security, and fostering collaboration. Sachiko introduces the MaRCS protection check and recommendations for thriving in the evolving data regulation landscape, bridging the gap between marketing and privacy concerns.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: To celebrate Global Focus Group Day, an interview with consumer behavior strategist Jeanne Corrigan. Jeanne discusses focus groups' history and their enduring relevance in brand strategy and advertising research. We explore how technology and COVID-19 have transformed qualitative research, and Jeanne considers the role AI will play in shaping market research's future. Jeanne also shares insights from recent focus groups and offers advice for brand managers and aspiring researchers.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Our guest this week is Nick Asbury, one of the UK's most-awarded copywriters, discussing his new book, "The Road to Hell: How Purposeful Business Leads to Bad Marketing and a Worse World." We explore the history of purpose in business, its detrimental impact on advertising effectiveness over the past 15 years, and the potential risks for brands aligning with causes. Nick shares fresh insights on shifting from purpose-led branding towards more effective, humor-based advertising.