Consumer goods company
POPULARITY
Categories
What happens when a simple idea to connect with other moms becomes a national brand, secures major retail partnerships, and launches a new mission to help women entrepreneurs grow smarter? In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Lindsay Pinchuk, Founder and CEO of Lindsay Pinchuk Marketing + Consulting. She shares how she turned a $500 investment into a seven-figure brand, partnered with major companies such as Target, Nordstrom, Huggies, and Unilever, and ultimately navigated the challenges of selling her company. She also discusses the power of partnerships, staying authentic while scaling, and how she now helps women small business owners build meaningful, sustainable businesses. Key Takeaways:→ Strategic local partnerships with retailers, experts, and community leaders can help companies quickly build trust.→ Maintaining trust with your audience means saying no to products, brands, and partnerships that don't align with your values. → How to turn brand interest into formal sponsorship through national partnerships with major brands. → Finding brand ambassadors in new cities lets you scale your business while keeping your brand personal and community-driven. → Simple marketing fundamentals still work for small businesses. Lindsay Pinchuk is an award-winning entrepreneur and one of fewer than 1% of female founders to lead her company through an acquisition. After nearly 25 years in marketing and sales, she left corporate America to found Bump Club and Beyond, bootstrapping it from $0 to seven figures for six consecutive years, turning a profit in year one, and building partnerships with brands like Target, Nordstrom, Huggies, ULTA, and more. She grew the community to 3M+ monthly users and led the company's acquisition in under a decade. Today, Lindsay supports women business owners (especially 40+) through Dear FoundHer…, a podcast-turned-movement with a Substack, community, mentorship, and events. She consults, teaches, and speaks on simple, cost-effective marketing using her SWEEP framework. Connect With Lindsay:Website: https://www.lindsaypinchuk.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindsayPinchuk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaypinchuk/https://www.linkedin.com/company/lindsay-pinchuk-marketing-consulting/
Erichsen Geld & Gold, der Podcast für die erfolgreiche Geldanlage
Wir sprechen heute über die top defensive Dividendenaktien der letzten Jahrzehnte. Dabei geht es um Unternehmen wie McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Hershey, Constellation Brands und viele weitere große Namen, mit denen Anleger in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten in der Regel gut gefahren sind. Diese Unternehmen haben sich insbesondere dadurch ausgezeichnet, dass sie selbst in Krisenzeiten zuverlässig Dividenden gezahlt und diese in den meisten Fällen sogar kontinuierlich erhöht haben. Doch nun zeichnet sich ein immer stärker werdender Trend rund um GLP-1-Medikamente ab. Die entscheidende Frage lautet daher: Könnten diese Medikamente dazu führen, dass die Erfolgsära dieser Dividendenstars ihrem Ende entgegengeht? ► Hole dir jetzt deinen Zugang zur brandneuen BuyTheDip App! Jetzt anmelden & downloaden: http://buy-the-dip.de ► An diese E-Mail-Adresse kannst du mir deine Themen-Wünsche senden: podcast@lars-erichsen.de ► Meinen BuyTheDip-Podcast mit Sebastian Hell und Timo Baudzus findet ihr hier: https://buythedip.podigee.io ► Schau Dir hier die neue Aktion der Rendite-Spezialisten an: https://www.rendite-spezialisten.de/aktion ► TIPP: Sichere Dir wöchentlich meine Tipps zu Gold, Aktien, ETFs & Co. – 100% gratis: https://erichsen-report.de/ Viel Freude beim Anhören. Über eine Bewertung und einen Kommentar freue ich mich sehr. Jede Bewertung ist wichtig. Denn sie hilft dabei, den Podcast bekannter zu machen. Damit noch mehr Menschen verstehen, wie sie ihr Geld mit Rendite anlegen können. ► Mein YouTube-Kanal: http://youtube.com/ErichsenGeld ► Folge meinem LinkedIn-Account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erichsenlars/ ► Folge mir bei Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErichsenGeld/ ► Folge meinem Instagram-Account: https://www.instagram.com/erichsenlars Die verwendete Musik wurde unter www.soundtaxi.net lizenziert. Ein wichtiger abschließender Hinweis: Aus rechtlichen Gründen darf ich keine individuelle Einzelberatung geben. Meine geäußerte Meinung stellt keinerlei Aufforderung zum Handeln dar. Sie ist keine Aufforderung zum Kauf oder Verkauf von Wertpapieren. Zum Zeitpunkt der Erstellung dieses Beitrags war der Autor, Lars Erichsen, in folgenden der besprochenen Finanzinstrumente selbst investiert: Diageo, Unilever. Geplante Änderungen: Keine. Weitere Informationen entnehmen Sie bitte unserem Transparenzhinweis zum Umgang mit Interessenskonflikten: https://www.lars-erichsen.de/transparenz-und-rechtshinweis
Aubrey Masango sits down with Sithembile Sefako, Unilever’s Executive Director of Corporate Affairs for Southern Africa and East West Africa, to unpack how policy becomes real impact and how big business can help shape a more inclusive economy. Tags: 702, Aubrey Masango show, Aubrey Masango, Sithembile Sefako, Unilever The Aubrey Masango Show is presented by late night radio broadcaster Aubrey Masango. Aubrey hosts in-depth interviews on controversial political issues and chats to experts offering life advice and guidance in areas of psychology, personal finance and more. All Aubrey’s interviews are podcasted for you to catch-up and listen. Thank you for listening to this podcast from The Aubrey Masango Show. Listen live on weekdays between 20:00 and 24:00 (SA Time) to The Aubrey Masango Show broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and on CapeTalk between 20:00 and 21:00 (SA Time) https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk Find out more about the show here https://buff.ly/lzyKCv0 and get all the catch-up podcasts https://buff.ly/rT6znsn Subscribe to the 702 and CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfet Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Negen maanden CEO. Toen brak de zwaarste crisis sinds de Tweede Wereldoorlog uit — in het hart van de brandhaard van Nederland. Honderd mensen ontslaan in een familiebedrijf waar iedereen elkaar kent. Dat is Peer Swinkels, zevende generatie aan het roer van een van de oudste familiebedrijven van Nederland: €1,2 miljard omzet, een brouwerij in een Ethiopische burgeroorlog, en het geheim achter 344 jaar overleven. Met de code 'Doorzetters' krijg je 10% korting op McGregor kleding
Fred Laluyaux has spent 25 years on the same problem: enterprises are drowning in decisions no human should be making. With 50 million digitized decisions across companies like Unilever, Exxon, and Hershey, he now has the data to prove it. When operators override the machine, performance goes down. Not sometimes — in aggregate, every time. In this episode, Fred breaks down the agentic vs. deterministic tradeoff most CIOs are getting wrong, why the software stack most companies rely on today is heading for collapse, and what a company whose entire stack is just SAP and Aera tells you about where enterprise software is going. Hit play. 3 Takeaways: After 50 million digitized decisions, the data is clear: when operators override the machine, performance drops. One Aera customer runs their entire operation on SAP and Aera. Nothing in between. That's where the stack is going. Fred calls them "born in digital" decisions — they can't be made by humans because the value is gone before the meeting starts. Chapters: [03:08] Fred's Career Journey and Lessons Learned [05:17] Why Aera Was Created [05:45] The Vision for a Self-Driving Enterprise [08:28] The Decision Memory Problem in AI [10:28] The Reality of AI ROI [11:58] From Analytics to Decision Intelligence [12:56] Humans vs Fully Autonomous Systems [15:28] What It Means to Digitize Decisions [18:42] How Aera Actually Works [22:42] Trust, Governance, and the Waymo Analogy [27:51] Deterministic vs Agentic AI [29:13] The Cloud Capacity Wake-Up Call [30:15] Where Aera Fits in the Enterprise Stack [31:54] Fast ROI and the “4-4-4” Framework [32:55] Why the Software Stack Is Collapsing [36:21] Delayering Organizations and New AI Roles [39:02] Born-Digital Companies and Micro-Decisions [43:57] Explainability, Governance, and Feedback Loops About Fred: Fred Laluyaux is Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Aera Technology, the leader in decision intelligence and creator of Aera, the first decision intelligence agent. An entrepreneur and Silicon Valley veteran, Fred brings an impressive track record building successful startups and driving technology innovation. Prior to launching Aera, Fred was the CEO of Anaplan, which he grew to a $1 billion valuation. He has held several executive positions at SAP, Business Objects, and ALG Software. As a thought leader on the future of work and host of the Decision Intelligence podcast, Fred frequently shares his vision with influencers through media interviews and speaking engagements at industry conferences. His views have been published in business and trade publications. A technology and startup advisor, Fred is an investor and active board member of several startups in the U.S. and Europe. Guest Highlights: "We're in 2026, and the reality is that our models have not changed for 100 years. We're still relying on people to decide how to forecast, how to allocate inventory, how to change a plan." "We've got enough data, I mentioned the 50 million decisions, to demonstrate that whenever the humans are touching the system and are messing with the recommendation, they actually degrade the performance." "The autonomy is not another version or better version of my planning tool or my replenishment tool. It replaces the need to have a human touch with that software, and therefore I don't need that software anymore." Get Connected: Ian Faison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianfaison Fred Laluyaux: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flaluyaux/ Our Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Aera Technology. Enterprise AI has hit its stride. Across industries, companies are moving beyond pilots and proofs of concept, and into real, enterprise-wide results: better decisions, faster execution, and meaningful bottom-line impact. Aera's agentic decision intelligence is built to help you seize the opportunity. Aera dynamically composes decision flows using unified decision data and multi-engine orchestration to drive action at scale. It continuously senses what's happening across your enterprise, recommends and executes the best course of action within your transaction systems, and learns from every outcome to keep improving. Leading global companies are already using Aera across supply chain, inventory, logistics, and finance, delivering rapid ROI through reduced costs, lower working capital, and better customer outcomes. This is the self-driving enterprise. And it's here now. Visit AeraTechnology.com to book a demo Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Some people don't just achieve, they achieve as though their life depends on it. In this deeply honest episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sit down with Esther Marshall, former global gender diversity leader at Unilever and founder of Sophie Says, to ask a question so many of us avoid: who are you when achievement isn't enough?This is a conversation about grief, high achievement, emotional resilience, and the pressure of holding everything together when life refuses to cooperate. Esther shares her story with extraordinary openness: losing her sister Rebecca to suicide, caring for grandparents through Alzheimer's, a miscarriage during IVF, and losing her mother to pancreatic cancer, all while building a business and refusing to stop proving herself. It is also the story of the breakthrough that finally let her stop failing quietly and start succeeding loudly. If you have ever tied your worth to what you achieve, this one will stay with you.If you or someone you know is affected by anything discussed in this episode, you can contact Samaritans free, 24/7, on 116 123 or at samaritans.org.What We Cover:00:00 Intro01:30 Why "High Achiever" Can Tip Into "Never Enough"04:41 Climbing the Ladder at Unilever, and Being "Hard to Manage"10:14 Leading a Team When Your Standards Are Sky High11:37 The Maternity Leave Project That Became Sophie Says14:29 Losing Rebecca to Suicide16:34 The Book Written the Night She Passed Away20:21 The Rainbow, and Learning to Let People In21:29 Carrying a Legacy, and the Weight That Comes With It23:08 Alzheimer's, and Grief That Wouldn't Stop24:18 IVF, Miscarriage, and Learning to Keep Going25:48 The "Miracle" Baby, and a Mother's Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis30:13 Why She Chose to Run a Marathon the Day Her Mum Died34:52 The Therapy Breakthrough That Changed Everything38:46 "I'm Failing Quietly, but I Want to Succeed Loudly"41:00 Building Sophie Says Into a Movement for Generational Change48:53 Learning to Walk Before Running Again50:13 A Message for Anyone Sitting in Fear, Ready to Begin51:40 What Courage Really Means to EstherKey Reflections:• Why high achievement can quietly become a form of self-harm• Why grief isn't something you "get over," and why returning to normal too quickly often makes healing harder• How to separate your self-worth from your achievements and results• Why asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness• How changing the way you frame a failure can completely reshape your life• Why children need emotionally safe parents, not perfect onesEsther's honesty is a reminder that courage isn't the absence of pain, it's getting up and showing up through it. If this episode moves you, I'd love to hear your biggest takeaway in the comments.Find out more about Sophie Says: https://www.sophiesaysofficial.com/Follow Esther Masrshall:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiesaysofficial/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegrievingfounder
How do you market the biggest sporting event on Earth? For Bettina Garibaldi, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York/New Jersey Host Committee, the answer goes far beyond advertising. It's about uniting communities, coordinating thousands of stakeholders, and creating experiences that millions of people will remember for the rest of their lives. After more than two decades leading global campaigns for brands like P&G, Unilever, Pfizer, and Gillette, Bettina stepped into what she calls a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: helping bring the FIFA World Cup to North America. She shares how marketing sits at the center of everything, from fan engagement and city storytelling to transportation, public safety, tourism, and local business participation. She also reveals why the best marketing often happens behind the scenes, long before fans ever arrive at the stadium. Whether you're a Marketer, sports fan, business leader, this episode is for YOU. Wrike brings structure, visibility, and accountability to work, so companies can make better business decisions, improve efficiency, and reduce risk. Learn more at https://wrike.com/tmm Follow Bettina: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettina-garibaldi/ Follow Daniel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themarketingmillennials/featured Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Dmurr68 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-murray-marketing Sign up for The Marketing Millennials newsletter: www.workweek.com/brand/the-marketing-millennialsDaniel is a Workweek friend, working to produce amazing podcasts. To find out more, visit: www.workweek.com
In this episode of Better Advertising with BTR Media, Destaney sits down with Ana Sviatschi, Director of Digital Commerce at Future Beauty Brands, to talk about what it really takes to grow in today's beauty and ecommerce landscape.Ana shares her journey from Unilever to Bayer to Future Beauty Brands, and breaks down why brands often chase the “next shiny thing” before fixing the basics. From content and catalog health to SKU economics, TikTok Shop, AI, and leadership alignment, this conversation gets into the unsexy but essential work that actually drives growth.Connect with Ana on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-laura-sviatschi/ Connect with Destaney on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/destaney-wishon/
Former Dove CMO Alessandro Manfredi joins That's What I Call Marketing to discuss Dove Real Beauty, brand fundamentals, AI, creative effectiveness and why marketing may be losing some of its professionalism. Alessandro spent 28 years at Unilever and played a major role in the growth of Dove, one of the most famous examples of long-term brand building in modern marketing. In this conversation, he explains why Dove's success was not built on purpose alone, but on product quality, emotional connection, research, innovation, communication architecture and strategic rigour. Thanks to the Marketing Society of Ireland for organising this event. Tracksuit cares deeply about marketing professionalism and have introduced Tracksuit University to close the gap between Marketing and the C Suite and you can get 20% Off with an exclusive TWICM Discout - use the code thatswhaticallmarketing at https://university.gotracksuit.com/This episode is for marketers, CMOs, brand leaders, strategists and agency teams who want to understand what it really takes to build brands that last.What you will learn:Why marketing is losing some of its professionalism and trainingHow Dove Real Beauty moved the brand from product love to emotional connectionWhy “people don't buy beautiful ideas” without strong products behind themWhat Alessandro means by brand fundamentalsWhy AI is powerful for execution, but not a replacement for strategyHow CMOs can reclaim strategic influence without making it a power grabWhy brands need to shape culture rather than chase trendsHow purpose can work when it is grounded in a real human tensionWhat smaller marketing teams can learn from Dove's approach to creativity, insight and rigourChapters:03:35 From academia to Unilever and Dove06:22 The origins of Dove Real Beauty09:37 Why marketing is losing strategic discipline12:03 How Dove grew over 20 years14:23 Research, insight and emotional connection19:30 Why people do not buy beautiful ideas alone20:41 Brand fundamentals and communication architecture22:54 Why AI is not strategy24:32 Working with agencies and strategic planners25:48 The three elements of bulletproof brand fundamentals29:34 Purpose, North Star and shaping culture33:09 Creative effectiveness: culture, talent and rigour36:50 What smaller marketing teams can learn from Dove37:26 Handling criticism of Real Beauty39:04 Social media, mental health and marketers' responsibility41:23 Life after Dove and Unilever44:37 Where to find Alessandro ManfrediGuest: Alessandro ManfrediHost: Conor ByrnePodcast: That's What I Call MarketingFind out more about Alessandro Manfredi: aleikigai.comLearn more about Tracksuit: gotracksuit.comSubscribe for more conversations with leading marketers, CMOs, brand builders, strategists and creative leaders. https://www.thatswhaticallmarketing.com/#Marketing #BrandBuilding #Dove #RealBeauty #CMO #BrandStrategy #CreativeEffectiveness #AIInMarketing #Unilever #MarketingLeadership #PurposeMarketing #BrandFundamentals #ThatsWhatICallMarketing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How do you lead a company into the future without losing its identity? In this episode of the LEITWOLF® Podcast, Stefan speaks with Stefan Leitz – an internationally experienced leader who knows both global corporate environments and traditional family-owned businesses from the inside. After many years at companies such as Procter & Gamble, Gillette, Wella and Unilever, his career later took him to Kühne and Faber-Castell. It is exactly this experience between two very different business worlds that makes this conversation so valuable. Together, they explore what distinguishes great leadership in global corporations and family-owned businesses – and what both worlds can learn from each other. The conversation touches on tradition and transformation, brand and responsibility, long-term thinking, speed, and the question of how leaders need to evolve when environments, cultures and expectations change. Stefan Leitz shares how he recognizes leadership talent, what has shaped him as a leader, and why great leadership always means balancing future readiness with identity. ––– Do you like the LEITWOLF® Leadership podcast? Then please rate it with a star rating and review it on iTunes or/and Spotify. This will help us to further improve this LEITWOLF® podcast and make it more visible. ––– // Stefan Leitz LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-leitz-69255b24/ Book your access to the LEITWOLF® Academy NOW: https://stefan-homeister-leadership.com/link/leitwolf-academy-en Would you like solid tips or support on how to implement good leadership in your company? Then please get in touch with Stefan via mail: homeister@stefan-homeister-leadership.com Or arrange a free phone call here: https://stefan-homeister-leadership.com/link/calendly-en // LINKEDIN: https://stefan-homeister-leadership.com/link/linkedin // WEBSITE: https://stefan-homeister-leadership.com ® 2017 STEFAN HOMEISTER LEITWOLF® ALL RIGHTS RESERVE ___ LEITWOLF Podcast, Leadership, Management, Stefan Homeister, Podcast, Business Leadership, Successful Leadership, Organizational Management, Leadership Skills, Leadership Development, Team Management, Self-leadership, Leadership Coaching, Leadership Training, Career Development, Leadership Personality, Success Strategies, Organizational Culture, Motivation and Leadership, Leadership Tips, Leadership Insights, Change Management, Visionary Leadership, Leadership Interviews, Successful Managers, Entrepreneurial Tips, Leadership Best Practices, Leadership Perspectives, Business Coaching
Join us for this week's Defender Fridays as Bobby Ford, Chief Strategy and Experience Officer at Doppel, talks about open-source labs, MITRE ATT&CK, and real-world defender workflows.At Defender Fridays, we delve into the dynamic world of information security, exploring its defensive side with seasoned professionals from across the industry. Our aim is simple yet ambitious: to foster a collaborative space where ideas flow freely, experiences are shared, and knowledge expands.About Our GuestBobby is a globally recognized cybersecurity “geek” with almost three decades of experience, including the last 14 years as a CISO, protecting some of the world's most complex and operationally intensive enterprises. His career began in the military as a founding member of the Pentagon Computer Incident Response Team. Bobby built and led cybersecurity programs in the Aerospace and Defense industry. He was the first CISO at Exelis Inc. and was the architect of ITT's global cybersecurity audit function under DOJ oversight.Transitioning from public to private sector, Bobby served as the first CISO at Abbott Labs, was CISO for Unilever, and most recently was SVP and Chief Security Officer at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). Known for his collaborative style and empathetic leadership, Bobby fosters an inclusive culture that empowers entire security organizations to excel.Register for Live SessionsJoin us every Friday at 10:30am PT for live, interactive discussions with industry experts. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just curious about the field, these sessions offer an engaging dialogue between our guests, hosts, and you, our audience.Register here: https://limacharlie.io/defender-fridaysSubscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the notification bell to never miss a live session or catch up on past episodes on our website!Sponsored by LimaCharlieThis episode is brought to you by LimaCharlie, the Agentic SecOps Workspace (ASW), where AI agents operate security infrastructure using the same controls and authority as human analysts, with every action visible, governed, and auditable.Why LimaCharlie?Eliminate vendor sprawl and tool complexityDeploy and scale effortlessly on native multi-tenant architectureReduce costs with intelligent data routing and free 1-year retentionBuild custom solutions with 100+ security capabilities on-demandAccelerate response with agentic AI that acts directly within predefined workflowsTry the Agentic SecOps Workspace free: https://limacharlie.ioLearn more: https://docs.limacharlie.ioFollow LimaCharlieSign up for free: https://limacharlie.ioLinkedIn: / limacharlieioX: https://x.com/limacharlieioCommunity Discourse: https://community.limacharlie.com/Host: Maxime Lamothe-Brassard - Founder at LimaCharlieGuest: Charles Grandjean - CTO and Co-founder at Hexiagon AI
China hat der FIFA bei der Vergabe der WM-Rechte 2026 einen kleinen Denkzettel verpasst. Bei diesem ging es sicherlich mehr als nur um Fußball und Geld. Meine Interpretation und die genauen Hintergründe gibt es in dieser Periode. Erwähnte Begriffe und Namen: - Xiaohongshu ("kleines rotes Buch") - China Media Group - CCTV - Mengniu Dairy ► Hier kannst du dich kostenlos für meine neue Plattform C2I-Express (App + Report) anmelden: https://china2invest.webflow.io/express ► Hier kannst Du meinen YouTube-Kanal abonnieren: https://www.youtube.com/china2invest ► Folge mir gerne auch auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericnebe/ Über eine positive Bewertung und ein Abo auf deiner Podcast-App würde ich mich sehr freuen und natürlich ebenso, wenn du meinen Podcast weiterempfiehlst. Die verwendete Musik wurde unter AudioJungle - Royalty Free Music & Audio lizensiert. Urheber: Alexiaction. Hinweis: Aus rechtlichen Gründen darf ich keine individuelle Einzelberatung geben. Alle Beiträge auf diesem Kanal spiegeln lediglich meine eigene Meinung wider und stellen keinerlei Aufforderung zum Kauf oder Verkauf von Wertpapieren dar. Zum Zeitpunkt der Erstellung dieses Beitrags war der Autor, Eric Nebe, in folgenden der besprochenen Finanzinstrumente selbst investiert: Lenovo, Adidas, Visa, McDonald's, Unilever. Geplante Änderungen: Keine. Weitere Informationen entnehmen Sie bitte unserem Transparenzhinweis zum Umgang mit Interessenskonflikten: Sie bitte unserem Transparenzhinweis zum Umgang mit Interessenskonflikten: https://www.china2invest.de/transparenz-und-rechtshinweise
My guest for today is Anne Hilhorst, CEO of Wakker Dier, a Dutch animal welfare organisation. She joined Wakker Dier when she left university 15 years ago and plans to be there for another 15 years!Besides the impressive longevity of their staff, Wakker Dier is a really impressive and interesting organisation that I knew very little about. Thanks to them, no supermarket in the Netherlands has sold eggs from caged hens since 2006, no fast-growing breeds of chicken since 2021 and over 90% of the retail sector has a meat reduction goal. This is already an amazing list of accomplishments, and far from all of what they've achieved too. There seem to be a few things about them that helped, which I'll unpack with Anne in this episode. Some key themes include that they spend over 90% of their effort & resources in getting companies in particular to stop supplying the cruelest products, spending around one third, yes that's 33%, of their budget on advertising for campaigns and they even read books about the companies they are targeting, to learn what makes them tick.Chapters:(00:00:00) - Cold intro: going big on advertising(00:05:24) - Recent rollbacks by retailers(00:10:51) - What Wakker Dier does(00:14:43)- How long it took Wakker Dier to end fast-growing chickens(00:21:52)- Pressure through spending millions on advertising(00:31:52) - The importance of praise(00:36:33) - Plofkip: the origin(00:47:23) -When to ask for full commitments vs immediate implementation(00:52:12) - Asking supermarkets for meat reduction - how is it going?(01:06:22) - Closing 3 questionsResources:Wakker Dier's websiteBook: The lonely Quest of Unilever's CEO Paul Polman Enjoy the episode! With thanks to Tom Felbar (Ambedo Media) for amazing video and audio editing!If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating and review us - it means a lot to us!
Wie führt man Unternehmen erfolgreich in die Zukunft, ohne ihre Identität zu verlieren? In dieser Folge des LEITWOLF® Podcasts spricht Stefan mit Stefan Leitz – einer international erfahrenen Führungskraft, die sowohl globale Corporate-Welten als auch traditionsreiche Familienunternehmen von innen kennt. Nach vielen Jahren in Unternehmen wie Procter & Gamble, Gillette, Wella und Unilever führte ihn sein Weg unter anderem zu Kühne und Faber-Castell. Genau diese Erfahrung zwischen zwei sehr unterschiedlichen Unternehmenswelten macht dieses Gespräch besonders. Gemeinsam sprechen die beiden darüber, was gute Führung in globalen Konzernen und in Familienunternehmen unterscheidet – und was beide Welten voneinander lernen können. Es geht um Tradition und Transformation, um Marke und Verantwortung, um langfristiges Denken, Geschwindigkeit und die Frage, wie Führungskräfte ihre eigene Haltung weiterentwickeln müssen, wenn sich Umfeld, Kultur und Erwartungen verändern. Stefan Leitz teilt seine Perspektive darauf, woran er Führungstalent erkennt, was ihn selbst als Leader geprägt hat und warum gute Führung immer auch bedeutet, die Balance zwischen Zukunftsfähigkeit und Identität zu halten. ––– Nimm gerne an dieser anonymen Umfrage teil, damit wir diesen Podcast für Dich optimieren können: https://forms.gle/WTqCeutVXV2PsjBH9 Gefällt Dir dieser LEITWOLF® Leadership Podcast? Dann abonniere den Podcast und beurteile ihn bitte mit einer Sternebewertung und Rezension bei iTunes und/oder Spotify. Das hilft uns, diesen LEITWOLF® Podcast weiter zu verbessern und sichtbarer zu machen. ––– // Stefan Leitz LINKEDIN**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-leitz-69255b24/) Buche Dir JETZT Deinen Zugang zur LEITWOLF® Academy: https://stefan-homeister-leadership.com/link/leitwolf-academy Möchtest Du konkrete Tipps oder Unterstützung, wie gutes Führen in Deinem Unternehmen definiert und umgesetzt werden kann, dann schreibe Stefan eine Mail an: homeister@stefan-homeister-leadership.com ODER Vereinbare hier direkt ein kostenloses Beratungsgespräch mit Stefan: https://stefan-homeister-leadership.com/link/calendly // LINKEDIN: https://stefan-homeister-leadership.com/link/linkedin // WEBSITE: https://stefan-homeister-leadership.com ® 2017 STEFAN HOMEISTER LEITWOLF® ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ____ LEITWOLF Podcast, Leadership, Führung, Management, Stefan Homeister, Podcast, Business Leadership, Erfolgreich führen, Unternehmensführung, Führungskompetenz, Leadership Development, Teammanagement, Leadership Skills, Selbstführung, Leadership Coaching, Leadership Training, Karriereentwicklung, Führungspersönlichkeit, Erfolgsstrategien, Unternehmenskultur, Motivation und Leadership, Leadership-Tipps, Leadership Insights, Change Management, Visionäre Führung, Leadership Interviews, Erfolgreiche Manager, Unternehmer-Tipps, Leadership-Best Practices, Leadership-Perspektiven, Business-Coaching
AI is everywhere…but what's actually working for brands today? In this latest episode of Limited Supply, we're jumping into a panel discussion from last year's Ecom AI Summit, featuring leaders from DTC powerhouses like Unilever, True Classic, Jones Road Beauty, and Athena. This session cuts through the hype and shares how these market leaders are putting AI tools to work across marketing, ecommerce, customer experience, operations, and search. From AI-powered personalization and creative testing to AI search optimization, autonomous agents, and team-wide AI adoption, this conversation explores the practical applications brands are implementing right now and where the technology is heading next. Whether you're overwhelmed by the pace of AI innovation or looking for actionable ideas you can bring back to your team, this episode is packed with real-world insights from operators on the front lines. And don't miss your chance to sign up for this year's Ecom AI Summit, taking place on June 25 at Webster Hall in NYC: https://ecomfounders.com/pages/ai-summit What's Instant? It's the secret weapon to triple your email revenue with AI-powered flows and campaigns. Instead of sending the same cart reminders to everyone, Instant gives every shopper a personalized email experience: Copy, products, and offers that adapt to your shopper's behavior and purchase history in real time. Emails sent at the exact moment each shopper is most likely to buy. 11+ abandonment flows and smart multi-step campaigns live in minutes. Built for DTC marketers. Made for revenue growth. See why brands are replacing their ESP with Instant: instant.one/sharma. --- Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips. And if you're looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the Limited Supply Slack Channel for Nik's most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts. Check out the Nik's DTC newsletter Follow Nik on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma
The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Matt Gregory, EVP & Chief Customer Officer North America at Unilever.Follow Matt on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-gregory-b702567Follow Unilever online at: http://unilever.comMatt answers these questions:As Chief Customer Officer, what are your top priorities for Unilever's customer partnerships this year, and how have those priorities evolved from your previous roles?Unilever spans many categories and channels. How do you balance a single, coherent customer strategy with the diverse needs of retailers, wholesalers, and direct-to-consumer partners? What makes for a truly effective retailer collaboration from a customer-first perspective? Can you share thoughts on what constitutes a partnership that delivered measurable value for both a CPG brand and retailer? How has Unilever adapted its customer strategy to omnichannel realities—store visits, digital marketplaces, and social commerce? What role do retailers play in orchestrating that journey?In times of supply chain disruption, what are the key lessons for maintaining strong customer relationships, and how do you collaborate with retailers to mitigate risk for both sides?When a brand is already as big and established as Dove, growth typically gets harder—not easier. Yet, Dove is experiencing approximately double-digit growth in the U.S. over the last year. What's the unlock that allows brands like Dove to continue deepening relevance and sustaining that level of momentum?What competencies and capabilities do you prioritize when building and leading a high-performance customer organization? How do you foster cross-functional collaboration with sales, marketing, and supply chain?Looking ahead 3–5 years, what are the biggest shifts you anticipate in retailer-CPG partnerships, and where should brands and retailers collaborate most closely to win in the evolving landscape? You've had a career that spans GM roles and commercially focused leadership positions. What have you learned in your personal and professional history that you find yourself using most in your role today?What's something the industry is still doing today that you think we'll look back on in five years and wonder, “why were we doing it that way?”What excites you most about agentic AI and how it could reshape the shopping experience? And what, if anything, gives you pause?If you could make one singular change to positively impact the CPG industry, what would it be and why?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comSheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/Rhea Raj's Website: http://rhearaj.comLara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual's use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.
Thomas Pokorn is an Austrian-born Creative Strategist and Copywriter. He specializes in creative concepts and verbal identity for branding and advertising, always finding ways to express distinct personalities and connect with audiences through narrative. He's worked with brands including Google, Red Bull, New Balance, Dove, Porsche, Herman Miller, Unilever, Pernod Ricard, Coinbase, and many more. Thomas worked with us on AYOH!, Quip, and a few other brands that are yet to launch. Thomas Pokorn is a beast. Prolific, thoughtful, funny, efficient, giant, quick wit it, lightning rod for ideas; are just a few words I could say to describe the man with whom we've had the pleasure of working many times over now. He's simply the best.In this casual conversation, we learn about Thomas' background and how he got into copywriting and strategy through his journalism studies. He tells us where he finds all of his words. (you'll never guess where) We endure some technical difficulties, riff, and talk about Batman before we discuss Thomas' ethos and approach to work. It's a freaking weird, funny, and unpredictable ride. Enjoy!
El analista de Apta Negocios examina los títulos de Inditex, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Easyjet, Fuelcell energy y Deutsche Post, entre otros
Most women in leadership got there by working twice as hard as the men around them. And it's quietly destroying their health.In this conversation, Dr. Mira Brancu sits down with executive coach Duygu Alpteka Gursu, who spent nearly three decades climbing the corporate ladder at companies like Coca-Cola and Unilever before her body finally forced her to stop. Duygu shares the moment she realized the rules of leadership were never written for her, including the day a male colleague with less experience got promoted two grades above her immediately after returning from nine months of military service.She and Mira walk through the three career moments where most women either lean in or quietly check out. They get into the messy stuff nobody talks about at the office, like burnout recovery, motherhood penalties, and the menopause years that hit right when women are at the peak of their careers. If you've ever felt like you have to choose between your career and your well-being, this one is for you.Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, burnout, and women's leadership in the real world.Find our guest here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/duygualptekingursuhttps://www.instagram.com/duygualptekingursu/ IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR?We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you!Subscribe to my free newsletter at: mailchi.mp/2079c04f4d44/subscribeWork with me one-on-one: calendly.com/mira-brancu/30-minute-initial-consultationConnect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/MiraBrancuLearn more about my services: www.gotowerscope.comGet practical workplace politics tips from my books: gotowerscope.com/booksAdd this podcast to your feed: www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-hard-skills-dr-mira-brancu-m0QzwsFiBGE/
Adani Airports locked in revenue share battle, Unilever's keeping a keen eye on India, global market-cap rankings under pressure, Madhya Pradesh to raise Rs 200 crore via temple bonds, apparel retailers roll out unseasonal sales, luxury car market expands beyond metros, and travellers look to Southeast Asia for holidays. Also inside: an interesting interpretation of “cousin” in corporate governance, India-Oman trade deal could help secure fertilizers, Noel Tata's pushback against funding request for Tata's digital business, and MC Pro research on whether FIIs have written off India or are planning a return. Tune in for all this and more in the day's edition of Editor's Picks.
In this episode, we speak with Tendayi about the importance of flexibility in career planning. He shares his journey from academia to innovation consulting, emphasizing the value of seizing opportunities and staying open to new directions. Tendayi differentiates between incremental, adjacent, and transformative career innovation, highlighting the risks of rigid planning and the need to adapt to changing environments. He also stresses the importance of reputation and storytelling, and introduces the concepts of “career theater” and “innovation theater.”Tendayi Viki is an author and advisor to corporate leaders. He specializes in creating buy-in for innovation, transformation and breakthrough ideas. He holds a PhD in Psychology and an MBA. As Partner at Strategyzer, he has worked with leaders and teams to navigate the human elements of innovation, ensuring their initiatives gain the trust, support, and active participation from stakeholders. He has delivered keynotes, led workshops, and advised global organizations including Novartis, Standard Bank, Unilever, Airbus, Pearson, Pfizer, Lufthansa-Airplus and The British Museum.Links from the episode: Tendayi's booksTendayi's personal websiteTendayi's LinkedIn profileThanks for listening!Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.comIf you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast
"Send me a text"Grüns went from founding to a Unilever acquisition in three years. IM8 grew from $600,000 a month to $6.6 million a month in nine months. The industry press says it's about gummies, greens, celebrity co-founders, and hot trends. That's the surface story. In this episode, we kick off a new mini-series by laying out the real pattern underneath these exits and what it means for supplement brands doing $500K to $20M a year. The brands commanding the biggest valuations didn't just have better products. They solved a psychological problem that most of their competitors didn't even know existed.Learn more about The Supplement Business Accelerator Group at https://creativethirst.com/groupIf you're interested in working with me and my team to improve your supplement business. You can learn more at my website https://creativethirst.comClick here to grab your copy of the Health Supplement Ad Swipe Guide.Discover what really works in funnel marketingNeed help increasing sales on your own? Click hereStuck at $1 - $5M in revenue? Click HereCase Study on how Creative Thirst added over $200,000 for one supplement brand
In this Focus Core podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Steve Bleistein, CEO of Tokyo-based Relansa, Inc., and author of Dauntless Leadership, about rapid growth and leadership for international companies in Japan. Steve argues Japan is “no enigma” because value and leadership fundamentals are universal, and “we can't do this because this is Japan” is an excuse that abdicates agency. He cites skincare company Takami's fast growth by bucking department-store conventions, using limits to drive innovation, and focusing on direct customer acquisition and lifetime relationships. On leading change, he advises leaders decide the “what” while teams help with the “how,” cater to the vanguard, take action before buy-in, and ignore or remove naysayers. He also discusses hiring leaders who speak truth to power and think strategically, building internal leadership benches, poaching external talent, keeping HR from pre-vetting executives, understanding real decision-making dynamics, defining empowerment, and adapting to demographics through customer/market shifts and productivity-enhancing technology.The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary GuideIn this episode you will hear:Why universal business values succeed in Japan and beyondBusting the myth of Japan's business market being 'slow' or 'encrypted'The role of innovation in breaking traditional market normsHow to implement industry-defining leadership strategiesAddressing and adapting to the needs of an aging Japanese marketOvercoming the ‘Japan barrier' in multinational corporationsAbout Steve:Steve is the CEO and founder of Tokyo-based Relansa, Inc., and a recognized expert on rapid business growth for international companies in Japan. He works closely with CEOs and senior leaders to help organizations achieve faster and more sustainable business results in complex cross-cultural environments.A fluent Japanese and French speaker, he is known for bridging Western and Japanese business thinking, advising global brands including Adidas, Godiva, Novo Nordisk, Danone, BMW, LVMH, L'Oréal, Lenovo, and Michelin, among many others.He is the author of seven business books, including Strategy On Your Own Terms, Disrupt or Be Disrupted, Dauntless Leadership, Indomitable Selling Capability, Rapid Culture Change, Charismatic Disruption, and Rapid Organizational Change.He has appeared on Bloomberg News as a commentator on Japanese business issues and has contributed articles to all three of Nikkei's leading business publications in both English and Japanese.In addition to his consulting work, he serves as President of the Entrepreneur Committee at the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan, where he leads the popular “Conversation With” leadership series featuring senior executives from companies such as Danone, Lenovo, BMW, Unilever, Cartier, and Domino's Pizza Japan. He has also served on the board of Tsukuba International School since 2014.He holds a Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales, an International MBA from the University of South Carolina, and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Michigan.Connect with Steve:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenbleistein/Website: https://stevenbleistein.net/Newsletter: https://stevenbleistein.net/#newsletterregoGrowth Zone podcast: https://stevenbleistein.net/feed/podcast/the-growth-zoneApple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-growth-zone/id1892800069.Podcast: https://stevenbleistein.net/podcast-2/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejpFacebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda.“Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.
Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Intro (02:21) Meet today's packaging industry panel (05:03) Graduation, family, and taekwondo stories (08:30) Building Virginia Tech's packaging program (10:41) Marta finds her packaging passion (14:10) Marta's Unilever packaging internship experience (16:24) Mike's journey from weather to pallets (18:59) Remembering Tyson Steffens' industry impact (21:02) Virginia Tech sustainable packaging programs (23:12) Hands-on packaging projects and sustainability (24:45) Marta's Virginia Tech student experience (26:32) Excitement about packaging industry careers (27:31) Why packaging culture feels exciting (28:16) Sustainable packaging without sacrificing design (28:49) How Pallet Alliance supports manufacturers (31:15) The hidden operational cost of pallets (32:25) Why Virginia Tech graduates stand out (34:25) Strong culture creates long-term employees (38:02) Tyson Steffens' humor and lasting legacy (39:09) Tyson Steffens memorial scholarship program (43:04) AI, sustainability, and packaging's future (47:36) Career advice for future packaging leaders Additional Links & Resources: Connect with Mike Jones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-jones-a97797b5/ Connect with Dr. Laszlo Horvath: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laszlohorvathremeczki/ Connect with Marta Ghigo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-ghigo22/ Learn more about The Pallet Alliance: https://tpai.com/ Learn more about Virginia Tech: https://www.vt.edu/index.html Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now's NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/ WEBINAR- From AI Pilots to Performance: How Supply Chain Leaders Are Scaling Agentic AI: https://bit.ly/49hCqIq WEBINAR- Amazon Supply Chain 101: Enabling efficiency and growth for businesses everywhere–and everywhere they sell: https://bit.ly/49r8N7D WEBINAR- The Expanding Role of Supply Chain Optimization Teams in Driving Business Impact: https://bit.ly/3PHRAAf This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/investing-now-generation-supply-chain-leaders-1589 The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The future of supply chain may depend on the things most people never think about.Pallets, materials, unit load design, transportation systems, and sustainability decisions quietly determine how products move through the world, yet packaging is rarely treated as strategic infrastructure.In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton is joined by Mike Jones, CEO of The Pallet Alliance, Dr. Laszlo Horvath, professor and department head at Virginia Tech's Department of Sustainable Biomaterials, and graduating senior Marta Ghigo for a conversation on packaging innovation, workforce development, sustainability, and the future of supply chain leadership.Dr. Horvath shares how Virginia Tech's packaging program prepares students through hands-on projects and industry collaboration, while Marta reflects on entering the field with curiosity, creativity, and a focus on making sustainability practical without sacrificing performance or design. Mike brings the business perspective, explaining how The Pallet Alliance helps companies rethink pallet procurement, standardization, visibility, and long-term value.Together, they discuss why packaging is far more central to modern commerce than it appears and why the next wave of talent in the field could reshape global supply chains at their core.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Intro(02:21) Meet today's packaging industry panel(05:03) Graduation, family, and taekwondo stories(08:30) Building Virginia Tech's packaging program(10:41) Marta finds her packaging passion(14:10) Marta's Unilever packaging internship experience(16:24) Mike's journey from weather to pallets(18:59) Remembering Tyson Steffens' industry impact(21:02) Virginia Tech sustainable packaging programs(23:12) Hands-on packaging projects and sustainability(24:45) Marta's Virginia Tech student experience(26:32) Excitement about packaging industry careers(27:31) Why packaging culture feels exciting(28:16) Sustainable packaging without sacrificing design(28:49) How Pallet Alliance supports manufacturers(31:15) The hidden operational cost of pallets(32:25) Why Virginia Tech graduates stand out(34:25) Strong culture creates long-term employees(38:02) Tyson Steffens' humor and lasting legacy(39:09) Tyson Steffens memorial scholarship program(43:04) AI, sustainability, and packaging's future(47:36) Career advice for future packaging leadersAdditional Links & Resources:Connect with Mike Jones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-jones-a97797b5/Connect with Dr. Laszlo Horvath: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laszlohorvathremeczki/Connect with Marta Ghigo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-ghigo22/Learn more about The Pallet Alliance: https://tpai.com/Learn more about Virginia Tech: https://www.vt.edu/index.htmlLearn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/aboutLearn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comWatch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-nowSubscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/joinWork with us! Download Supply Chain Now's NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/WEBINAR- From AI Pilots to Performance: How Supply Chain Leaders Are Scaling Agentic AI: https://bit.ly/49hCqIqWEBINAR- Amazon Supply Chain 101: Enabling efficiency and growth for businesses everywhere–and everywhere they sell: https://bit.ly/49r8N7DWEBINAR- The Expanding Role of Supply Chain Optimization Teams in Driving Business Impact: https://bit.ly/3PHRAAfThis episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/investing-now-generation-supply-chain-leaders-1589
Unilever's new global innovation center will now be in downtown New Haven. The republican candidate for New York governor weighs in on the new state budget. A Long Island firework show was cancelled over concern for nearby bald eagles. Plus, the latest from WSHU's The Making of U.S. and Birdsong Break.
Ilya Mikin is Vice President of Technology M&A at Corum Group, one of the leading technology M&A advisory firms globally. His background spans more than two decades across enterprise marketing at Intel and Unilever, executive and CEO roles at companies including iHerb, multiple founder exits across AdTech, MarTech, and FinTech, and now advising founders through acquisitions. He has been on every side of the M&A table, which makes his perspective unusually grounded.This episode gets into what has fundamentally changed about how technology and e-commerce companies are built, valued, and sold. The old playbook of raising VC money, growing at all costs, and gunning for IPO has largely collapsed. What replaced it is a market where M&A has become the primary liquidity event for founders, and where the rules for what makes a company attractive have shifted significantly.Eitan and Ilya dig into what acquirers actually look at today: why NRR, GRR, and low churn have become the cornerstones of valuation, why private equity now represents up to 40-50% of buyers in some sectors, and what it means to be an AI-native company versus an AI-enabled one. They also cover the mechanics of the M&A process itself — the four to eight week preparation phase, how Corum builds competitive tension among buyers, why the narrative around a business often matters more than the financials, and the internal deal killers that founders rarely talk about openly.Ilya also shares his take on where shoppable video sits in a world increasingly shaped by agentic AI, why he believes emotional product categories are protected from agent-driven purchasing, and what he is personally watching in the space. Founders who are building toward an exit, or who have never seriously thought about timing one, will find this conversation both practical and clarifying.Website: https://www.vimmi.netEmail us: info@vimmi.netCommerce Untold: https://vimmi.net/commerce-untold/Eitan Koter's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eitankoter/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VimmiVideoCommerce/featuredGuest: Ilya Mikin, Vice President Technology M&A, Corum Group, Ltd.Ilya Mikin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilyamikin/Corum Group, Ltd.: https://www.corumgroup.com/Watch the full Youtube video here:https://youtu.be/2lFD9JXIjIgKey Takeaways:VC investment in D2C e-commerce collapsed more than 90% from its 2021 peak, while M&A deals in that same sector grew 47% in 2025 — the exit path has fundamentally shiftedIPO is no longer the default liquidity event for most founders; M&A is now the primary outcome to plan aroundAcquirers today prioritize NRR, GRR, and low churn over raw growth rate — the stickiness and profitability of your customer base drives valuation more than top-line momentumPrivate equity now represents up to 40-50% of buyers in some sectors, and PE buyers lead with EBITDA, not vision — a minimum of $2-3M ARR and $500K EBITDA is roughly where serious interest startsBeing an AI-native company can increase your valuation by 20-30% or more; for true AI-native businesses, multiples can reach up to 20x EVFor AI companies, proprietary data sets matter more than the technology itself — the model is the moatMarket consolidation follows a cycle: the first quartile of a consolidation window has the most buyers, the most competition, and the highest multiples. Waiting too long means the music stopsThe narrative you build around your company matters more than your financials in the early stages of a buyer conversation — buyers need to feel fear of missing outRunning a competitive process with multiple interested buyers is the single most powerful lever a founder has in an M&A negotiation — inbound interest from one buyer puts the founder in a weak positionDeal fatigue and co-founder misalignment are the two most common internal reasons M&A deals collapse before closingAgentic AI will likely commoditize purchasing for basic, emotionally neutral products — but shoppable video remains essential for fashion, luxury, and any category where emotional decision-making drives the purchaseMore than 20% of WallID's customers now come through AI search channels like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, with zero marketing spend — a real signal of how discovery is changingChapters:[00:00] Introduction and Guest Background[00:57] Ilya's Path from Intel and Unilever to E-Commerce and M&A[02:07] How the Approach to Building and Exiting Startups Has Changed[03:29] Why VC Investment Collapsed and M&A Deals Are Rising[04:40] What Acquirers Actually Look at Today: NRR, GRR, and Profitability[05:58] The Rise of Private Equity as a Buyer and What PE Wants[07:20] How AI-Native Companies Command a Valuation Premium[08:47] Where E-Commerce Multiples Stand Today[10:32] The Sell-Side Process: Preparation, Positioning, and Narrative[12:06] The Consolidation Window and Why Timing Your Exit Matters[13:38] How Corum Prepares Founders for Market[14:17] Technology Evaluation: AI vs. Non-AI Companies[17:00] Building the Story, Outreach, and Creating Competitive Tension[20:02] How Long a Typical M&A Process Takes[21:44] Deal Fatigue and Co-Founder Misalignment as Internal Deal Killers[23:28] Shoppable Video and Agentic Commerce: Where Emotion Still Wins[26:09] WallID: Solving Checkout Friction and Fraud at Scale[28:13] Managing Multiple Ventures and the Side-Hustle Mindset[29:44] What Ilya Is Watching in E-Commerce Right Now: Know Your Agent[31:04] How to Connect with Ilya and Corum Group
Unilever CMO Leandro Barreto unpacks how he gets the most out of Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity every year and why awards and creativity still matter for CMOs. He also discusses the evolution of Dove's enduring 'Real Beauty' campaign and how it inspires the playbook of other Unilever CPG brands such as Vaseline, which has seen success with its 'Vaseline Verified' campaign.
When Ben & Jerry's ice cream held its annual Free Cone Day in April, it had to contend with an unlikely protester: Ben Cohen, the company's co-founder, was standing on the site of the original scoop shop in Burlington, urging customers to Free Ben & Jerry's.“Ben & Jerry's itself has not given up on” its values, Cohen told me, but its current owner “has prevented Ben & Jerry's from acting on its values and has destroyed the governance structure” of the company. Cohen founded the ice cream company with his friend Jerry Greenfield nearly 50 years ago. The two men ran the company until 2000, when it was acquired by Unilever, a multinational company that owns Dove soap, Hellmann's mayonnaise and Vaseline, among other global brands. Ben & Jerry's succeeded in getting Unilever to agree that the iconic Vermont company could continue to pursue its social mission, which would be overseen by an independent board. Cohen and Greenfield remained as employees of the company, but they had no management authority. The company continued to be a strong supporter of racial justice, LGBTQ rights, the Occupy Wall Street movement, climate activism and other issues.But relations between the ice cream company and its corporate masters began to sour, then curdled in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's announced it would stop selling ice cream in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Unilever opposed the move, then sold its Israeli business to an Israeli-owned company that has continued to sell the ice cream in Israel and the occupied territories.Ben & Jerry's sued Unilever in 2024, accusing it of muzzling the company's support for Palestinian rights and silencing its criticism of President Donald Trump. In March 2024, Unilever spun off its ice cream businesses to Magnum, which is now one of the largest ice cream companies in the world.The hippy-themed Vermont brand may be associated with peace and love, but that does not characterize its current relations with its owners. In March 2025, Ben & Jerry's CEO David Stever was ousted, allegedly over the company's progressive activism. In September 2025, Greenfield quit the company in protest. Cohen, who is 75, is now waging a battle to save the soul of Ben & Jerry's and possibly buy it back, though Magnum says the company, which is valued at over $1 billion, is not for sale.“They've prevented the company from calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. They prevented the company from supporting the student [Palestinian solidarity] protesters, and they've prevented the company from using the word ‘Trump' in its posts,” said Cohen. “Magnum has become Trumpified.”“The very thing that has built the brand, this values-led way of doing business, is the very thing that they're destroying. So they're taking this investment and reducing the value of it,” Cohen said.When I asked him whether Ben & Jerry's might leave Vermont, he replied, “It's possible.” He said that Ben & Jerry's independent board had earlier prevented Unilever from closing the Waterbury ice cream plant. But Ben & Jerry's could be moved to a central factory where other Magnum ice cream brands are made. “I don't know what's in Magnum's mind, but I don't think there would be anything to prevent them from doing that.”Cohen urged concerned consumers to boycott other Magnum ice cream brands, but not Ben & Jerry's, which he said “would be harmful to the people who work at Ben & Jerry's.”“We want to support Ben & Jerry's — that's the issue — but to stop buying the other stuff that Magnum makes.”Cohen continues his brisk pace of activism. He was arrested last year at a U.S. Senate hearing featuring Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accusing Congress of slashing Medicaid for poor children in the U.S. to pay to bomb children in Gaza.Cohen said he has given up on the Democratic Party. “Both parties have presided over this system that drives all this money up to the top. The system is working the way it's designed, and both parties are guilty of that.”But he remains hopeful. “Action is the antidote to despair,” he said, quoting folk singer Joan Baez. “When you're confronted with situations of injustice, you can ignore it, you can complain about it, or you can work on changing it. And personally, I prefer to do that.”
Sponsored by Blacklight Blonde Science https://blacklightblondescience.com/?srsltid=AfmBOor-mQtvOkVGYeXl48cyxurkTC5BGf6qtzG4M2oPNamFy4DdseW7 Interview with Shay Hoelscher Shay Hoelscher, a 37-year veteran of the Professional Beauty Industry, has built an impressive career in senior leadership positions with several multinational beauty brands, including Sebastian International, The Wella Corp, Nioxin Research, all COTY companies and TIGI, a Unilever company. Her journey is characterized by a deep commitment to excellence, innovation, and fostering relationships within the industry. Today, she is the CEO and Founder of privé products, a company dedicated to creating high-quality, clean, vegan and cruelty free haircare solutions. Under her leadership, privé blends a passion for beauty with generosity, focusing on using business as a force for good and helping to make our world a better place. Shay's leadership is driven by her belief that "Beauty is Kindness," a mantra that reflects her desire to make a positive impact through her work. Her entrepreneurial spirit has led her to embrace education, networking, and inspiration as cornerstones of her professional philosophy, helping to create lasting emotional experiences in the beauty world. In addition to her beauty industry accomplishments, Shay has also made significant strides in empowering women. Shay is passionate about sponsoring and championing women. She is about celebrating women's achievements and demonstrating how empowerment builds a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Hoelscher sponsors a female racing driver Sabré Cook in Porsche Carrera Cup North America series, forming the 'privé Power Couple' to break barriers in male-dominated fields. It's more than racing, it's a challenge to the status quo. Together, they aim to inspire future generations of women to chase their dreams and embrace their inner strength and show that anything is possible. Her career is not only about success in business but also about empowering others, leading by example, and making a lasting impact in both the beauty industry and beyond. Links: https://www.instagram.com/privehair/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/shayhoelscher/?hl=en News from TheTease.com: https://www.thetease.com/meet-the-2026-aura-salonware-scholarship-winners/ Obsessed or Over It? Off Campus Side Quest Client firing More from TheTease.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readthetease/ (readthetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volumeupbythetease/ (volumeupbythetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers/ / (KellyEhlers) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eljeffreycraig/ (eljeffreycraig) Web: https://www.thetease.com (TheTease.com) Email: VolumeUp@TheTease.com Credits: Volume Up is a Tease Media production. This episode was produced by Monica Hickey and Madeline Hickey. James Arbaje is our editor and audio engineer. Thank you to our creative team for putting together the graphics for this episode. Thank you to the team who helped create our theme song. Show them some love and check out their other work! •Josh Landowski https://www.instagram.com/josh_landowski/
Let's know what you liked and learnt! What does it really take to become a modern CMO?In this episode of The Super CMO Show with Swami, Megha Agarwal shares why she calls herself a “non-traditional CMO” — one who goes beyond brand campaigns to think about growth, monetization, P&L, consumer obsession, and business building.Drawing from her journey across Table Space, WeWork, Unilever and CavinKare Megha speaks about startup chaos, building categories from scratch, the future of agencies, creativity in the AI era, mentorship, leadership, and why marketers must constantly reinvent themselves. A sharp, insight-packed conversation on what marketing leadership truly demands today.About MeghaMegha Agarwal is a marketing leader, growth strategist, and business builder with close to two decades of experience across FMCG, consumer brands, startups, and enterprise workspaces. Currently the Chief Marketing Officer at Table Space, she has built her career at the intersection of brand building, growth, customer experience, and business transformation.⭐ 5 Key TakeawaysThe modern CMO must understand business, not just marketing: Megha argues that marketers who do not understand P&L, monetization, and cross-functional business impact risk becoming irrelevant in today's environment. Consumer obsession is still the strongest competitive advantage: One of her biggest learnings from was that true marketing begins with deeply understanding consumers — not through dashboards, but through immersion, humility, and lived observation. Building brands from scratch requires a completely different mindset: Moving from FMCG to startups taught her that scaling brands is very different from creating foundational systems, processes, tools, and teams from zero. AI will commoditize marketing science — creativity becomes the differentiator: As AI automates research, analytics, and execution, original thinking, creativity, and human insight will become the most valuable capabilities for marketers. Sustainable growth requires support systems, not perfection: Megha challenges the myth of perfect work-life balance, emphasizing intentional trade-offs, communication, asking for support, and building ecosystems both at work and at home. ⏱️ Timestamps00:03:20 — Why Old-School Marketing Thinking Is Breaking Down00:09:50 — Brands Are Built in Years, Judged in Quarters00:12:17 — Nobody Prepares You for Real Decisions00:13:54 — The Consumer Is Still the Most Important Person in the Room00:18:01 — Big Brands Cannot Afford Recklessness00:20:59 — Building Is More Exciting Than Managing00:23:21 — Growth Fails Without Foundations00:25:49 — You Cannot Scale Chaos Forever00:28:19 — Big Companies Hide How Difficult Things Really Are00:31:52 — Most Career Limits Exist Only in the Mind00:39:24 — Execution Is Common. Thinking Is Rare.00:41:45 — The Future Belongs to Hungry Agencies00:44:35 — AI Makes Creativity More Valuable, Not Less00:47:31 — Perfect Balance Is a Myth00:53:41 — The Best Mentors Don't Give Answers00:57:44 — Your Strengths Matter More Than Your Weaknesses01:00:25 — AI Can Analyze Consumers. It Cannot Love Them.01:02:39 — The Best Marketers Constantly Reinvent ThemselvesThis episode was made possible by the great folks at MovingWalls. Moving Walls provides a global Adtech platform built by Out-of-home advertising experts, automating the process of planning, buying, executing and measuring OOH campaigns, with a presence across four continents and seven markets. Visit https://www.movingwalls.com to learn more.
Marketing and insights teams waste millions speaking different languages. Nataly Kelly and Steven Phillips, Zappi's CMO and Chief Innovation Officer, reveal the five breakthrough patterns that emerged from interviewing leaders at NFL, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Visa. They share Unilever's "100-hour consumer passport" rule, the CMO-CFO partnership framework that drives real business growth, and why AI's biggest win isn't productivity. It's freeing up time for human relationships that turn consumer truth into market advantage.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The studies and articles aren't new. In fact, the first workplace gender research started in the 1960s and 1970s. Men and Women in the Corporation by Rosabeth Moss Kanter was considered one of the first academic studies on gender differences in work behavior and opportunity, and this was in 1977. This conversation is as old as me, but I would like to remind you that women at work is not a construct of the early world wars and industrial revolutions as you may have been taught. Women and men working together started with creation in Genesis 1. Men and women were created to work together. In Genesis 1:26-27, we see the beautiful work of unity in creation. Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and every other creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. When we read the verses about creating man, he created both male and female in his own image. Not men exalted above women or women above men, but creation in his image, in unity. If we don't look to the beginning, it is easy to look at the ways that culture and society have created norms about work. The reality is these are not God's norms for men and women. The next verses in Genesis 1: 28-29 further frame God's plans for man and woman: And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.' God gave man and woman an equal command to work in unity. You already know that once sin crept in, this unity was forever broken. Sin impacts this sacred creation in every way, and our cultural norms which have been forming since the 70s continue to impact how men and women work together. What does this sin look like within the context of work? What is causing the continued gender bias issues for women? The answer doesn't start with work; it really begins outside of the office and is part of the cultural and societal brokenness between men and women that has systematically and year after year found its way into our work. With my aim being unity between men and women as advocates to solve this issue, I wondered, who were the leading male voices for gender equality at work. One name that came up was Tony Porter. Tony is the founder and CEO of A Call to Men. He seeks to teach systemic change for between men and women in society. In an article published on his website, “Is your Organization Unintentionally Reinforcing Gender Bias at Work,” Tony states this, “…the workplace is a microcosm of society—a society where men and boys are collectively socialized to view women as objects, as property and as having less value than men.”[1] This blanket statement is not felt by all women, of course, but as a whole, it sums up that sin and the brokenness of not seeing men and women created equally in the image of God is at the root of the issues still facing women today. Fortunately and unfortunately, the Bible is full of cultural examples of both unity and brokenness between men and women. If we look at the Word of God, we will all struggle to understand some of the terrible injustices women faced including being taken by force into marriage, raped, and being cast out of society. Again, at the moment of the fall, the unity and sacred relationship between men and women fell, and it fell hard. But, for every hard-to-read passage of Scripture about injustices for women, there are beautiful examples of how God used women and work for the glory of his kingdom. Women played an important role in the formation of the early church where they not only served the disciples with hospitality but also provided money for the ministry and teaching of the good news to their families. The grandmother and mother of the disciple, Timothy, are mentioned by Paul. 2 Timothy 1:5 reads, I am reminded of your sincere faith which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded, now lives in you also. Today we live in a culture not so different than biblical times. Women around the world still face terrible injustices, not only at work, but in society. Harassment, gender pay gaps, interviews and promotion biases all still exist, but there are people trying to drive change. Another name that came up as an advocate for women at work is the former CEO of Unilever, Paul Polman. He spoke about visiting a tea plantation where female workers were being abused or sexually harassed. When policies failed, he put female supervisors in place so that the women no longer needed to go to an unsafe work environment. This was within the last 5 years. What are some of the more nuanced impacts women face at work? In a Forbes Women article from May 15, 2025, by Eva Epker the continued gaps between men and women at work are highlighted. With parenting and caregiving still being a primary responsibility of the mother, a study found that three years after childbirth, 90% of fathers were in full-time work, versus only 27.8% of new moms. Another study noted 41% of female participants experience discrimination in a hiring process including gender-biased and inappropriate questions. Mental health and the lack of mentorship opportunities for women, continue to be part of this conversation.[2] These examples remind me of some data from the 2023 McKinsey study on “Women in the Workplace” that discussed the large impact microaggressions can have on women at work.[3] Microaggressions are defined as demeaning or dismissing comments or actions rooted in bias, directed at a person because of their gender, race, or other aspects of their identity. Women experience these more than men. For example, a woman is two times more likely to be interrupted in a meeting and spoken over than a male counterpart. We keep having the same conversations, and the results of the studies improve but not in a significant enough way to truly make change. One of my observations is that both secular and faith-based organizations often take a one-gender approach to gender biases. More specifically, women are talking to women about the lasting issues and implications about gender bias at work, and men are rarely part of this conversation. Working women, and more narrowly, Christian working women aren't having the conversations needed to redeem this sacred unity at work, and they aren't having them at church either. I have been to women's leadership conferences, both secular and faith based, and at only one was there a focus on women in the workplace where men were part of the discussion and workshops. This was a faith-based conference. I was able to find one opinion article in Time from July 18, 2023, titled “Modern Gender Equality Must Include Men.” The lead heading “Gender equality can only happen when women and men are advancing toward that goal together.”[4] Shelley Zalis conducted online research about men's attitudes and the results showed that 53% of men believe that workplaces in the US should be doing more to eliminate bias in the workplace. I agree that we need unity between men and women that lead to solutions. As Christian leaders, how do we work on this unity while at the same time navigate the current brokenness in the workplace for women, Christian or not? First, we need to remember we are called to address the issues of the poor and oppressed; we should not turn a blind eye to this matter. Isaiah 58:6-7 exhorts: Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Are you hiding yourself by simply being unaware? We are called to care. What are some of the ways we can continue this conversation? Perhaps shining a light on the benefits of women at work can be a start. Companies with gender-diverse leadership show an increase in average revenue. The McKinsey study notes that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on their executive teams are 25 percent more likely to have above average profitability. Women have always been wise, and, as Christian leaders, we should tell these Bible stories about the working women God used for his kingdom. Perhaps these examples can inspire and show God's plans for women and work to others. And we can see how women and men worked together through their examples. Deborah was a judge and a leader. She worked in unity with Barak to go into war for Israel (Judges 4 & 5). Miriam was a leader of worship and worked in unity with Moses and Aaron to lead the people of Israel during the Exodus (Exodus 15). The Proverbs 31 woman embodies a long list of attributes that benefit her husband including: rising while it is still night to provide for her family, investing wisely, dressing well, being confident in her merchandise, caring for the poor, and being strong and wise. Mary was the first to see the resurrected Jesus and bring word to the male disciples (John 20). Lydia, in Acts chapter 16, was a seller of purple cloth and worked in unity with Paul to help the early church. This is not an exhaustive list! Women have always worked, and they have done so alongside men. I know most of you may not be in a place to share these examples of Bible stories as inspiration at work, but you can start this change within Christian spaces. Men and women can lead by sharing these examples of unity in God's plan with other Christians. We need to start having more conversations about how God used men and women in our faith-based spaces. We can explore these issues together to find ways to lean into and lead the change in our workplaces. Even if we cannot share the stories, we can share facts, and choose to engage: First, pay attention to the data and actually care about the data! All these studies include a what can we do about it section, and the advice centers around providing women resources to engage with including development, mentoring, counseling for stress, benefits that support caregiving, and more. Next, think about how you may be contributing to this issue as a man or a woman. Are you engaging in behavior that may be considered microaggression? Did you know that simply commenting on what another woman is wearing to work can impact her? Or assuming a female colleague's mental state or home situation? If we are honest, as women, we have absolutely contributed to our own issues with gender equality at work simply by tearing each other down. Most importantly, lead with love! As a believer in Jesus Christ, we are called to love our neighbors, and an easy love checklist is found in the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Both women and men can act on this! For the women, engage in a conversation with men about this topic. For men, engage in a conversation with a woman on this topic. Let's lead by the biblical examples of unity! — [1] Kay, M. (2020, August 17). Is Your Organization Unintentionally Reinforcing Gender Bias at Work? A Call to Men. https://www.acalltomen.org/is-your-organization-unintentionally-reinforcing-gender-bias-at-work/ [2] Epker, E. (2025, May 14). What's Holding Back Working Women In 2025? Same Obstacles, More Anxiety. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/evaepker/2025/05/14/whats-holding-back-working-women-same-obstacles-more-anxiety/ [3] Mckinsey & Company. (2024). Women in the Workplace. McKinsey; McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace [4] Zalis, S. (2023, July 18). Modern Gender Equality Must Include Men. Time. https://time.com/6295453/modern-gender-equality-must-include-men/
In this special Future of Film conversation, Alex Stolz is joined by three leading voices exploring how storytellers can build work that sustains in a rapidly changing creative landscape: Jeff Gomez, pioneer in worldbuilding and transmedia storytelling HaZ Dulull, filmmaker and creator working across film, games and emerging technologies Brian Newman, strategist and producer focused on audience, creator sustainability and new creative models Together, they explore: • Why filmmakers can no longer think only in terms of single projects • The shift from “audience after” to “audience throughout” • How creators can build worlds that expand across formats and platforms • Ownership, IP and sustainable creative careers • AI, games and emerging storytelling tools • Why emotional resonance matters more than ever From Kickstarter and creator-funded IP to transmedia storytelling, audience feedback loops and the future of story worlds, this conversation explores how screen storytellers can adapt and thrive in an era of fragmented attention and rapidly evolving technology. A must-listen for filmmakers, writers, producers, worldbuilders and creators thinking about the future of storytelling. And if this resomates for where you are heading in your creative work, then you may want to consider applying to Story Founders. the new accelerator by Future of Film. Story Founder is designed to help storytellers build projects - and creative practices - that can endure. Applications are now open: 👉 futureoffilm.live/storyfounders/ About the Speakers Jeff Gomez Jeff Gomez is an architect of large-scale narrative systems, internationally recognized for designing the storyworld architectures and canon governance behind some of the most enduring global franchises of the modern era. For more than 25 years, Jeff has pioneered long-horizon narrative frameworks that enable intellectual properties to expand across platforms, cultures, and decades while maintaining coherent identity. His work has shaped global franchises including Pirates of the Caribbean, Avatar, Halo, Transformers, Spider-Man, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, contributing to billions in franchise value across media, licensing, and global markets. Brian Newman Brian Newman, founder of Sub-Genre, consults on content strategy, development, distribution and marketing for some of the top brands in the world. Current and former clients include: The Climate Pledge (Amazon), IBM, Keen, Merck KGaA, New York Times, Oatly, Patagonia, REI, Shopify Studios, Sonos, Stripe, Sundance, Unilever, Vulcan Productions, Yeti Coolers, and Zero Point Zero. Brian is also an independent film producer and has served as CEO of the Tribeca Film Institute, president of Renew Media (known for the Rockefeller Fellowships) and executive director of IMAGE Film & Video (producers of the Atlanta Film Festival & Out on Film). HaZ Dulull HaZ Dulull started his career in video games on titles such as Colin Mcrae Rally (Codemasters) and Battlion Wars (Nintendo) before moving to a VFX career on films like The Dark Knight before becoming a director / Producer known for merging cinematic storytelling with real-time technology. He made his debut with the live action indie sci-fi feature films The Beyond, and 2036 Origin Unknown (both licensed on Netflix), followed by Disney's Fast Layne (where he served as Director + Exec Producer), Universal's prequel animated short - 47 Ronin: The Samurai Spirit, and Disney's Under the Sea: A Descendants Story. In 2024, he directed / Produced MAX BEYOND, an animated feature made entirely in Unreal Engine (with co-financing by Epic Games Mega Grant) before hired to be the cinematic's director for Chapter 1 of the in-game cinematics for triple A game - Dune Awakening (Funcom / Tencent).
Roland Peralta had $500 in the bank, a bankruptcy on his record, and rheumatoid arthritis flaring up. What he also had was a formula he'd developed in his rent-controlled apartment one that accidentally started regrowing his hair. That formula became Nutrafol. The #1 dermatologist recommended hair growth supplement in the U.S. Acquired by Unilever. In this episode of Common Denominator, Moshe Popack sits down with Roland to unpack the full journey from Colombian immigrant roots and a failed fashion company, to building a billion-dollar brand, to using his exit to take on corporate polluters through a democratized litigation platform called When Justice. What you'll take away: - How a personal health crisis became a billion-dollar idea - Why Roland bet on a clinical study with almost no cash - How they sold to Unilever while keeping 51% of the company - Why most founders who exit end up miserable - What it means to build from a mindset of abundance - How When Justice is democratizing corporate accountability - Why purpose and profit don't have to be in conflict◾️Timestamp:0:00 Growing Up With Nothing And Why That Was the Advantage4:30 15 Years in Fashion and the Morning He Walked Away10:00 I Left $10M on the Table Then Lost Everything Else15:30 Arthritis, Hair Loss, and the Discovery That Started a Billion-Dollar Brand21:00 $50K, a Handshake, and 18-Hour Days How Nutrafol Was Born26:30 The Tequila Night They Decided to Build a Billion-Dollar Company31:30 13 Suitors, 51% Control, and Selling to Unilever36:30 Why Most Founders Are Miserable After the Exit39:30 When Justice: A GoFundMe to Sue Corporations43:00 How to Get Involved whenjustice.org
Harry Duran, founder of Fullcast and creator of Podisphere, joins Jeff Mains to explore what it really takes to build a sustainable podcast, grow a content brand, and stay ahead in a rapidly AI-shaped media world.Harry shares his journey from corporate marketing at JPMorgan Chase and E-Trade, to launching his first podcast Podcast Junkies in 2014, to building Fullcast — a podcast production and marketing consultancy that has helped over 130 business owners launch and grow shows. He also dives deep into his newest ventures: Podisphere (a G2-style SaaS directory for podcast tools) and Podclaw (an agent-first podcast hosting platform built for AI agents, not humans).The conversation covers the seismic shift happening in content creation right now — from vibe coding and Claude Code to autonomous AI agents that market products while you sleep. Harry and Jeff also discuss why long-form human conversations are becoming more valuable in an era flooded with AI-generated content, the power of niche podcasting, and why the most important skill for the next decade may simply be learning how to talk to robots.Key Takeaways0:00 — Intro: What it takes to build a podcast and a business around it in an AI-driven content landscape4:40 — Recap of previous guests: Justin Trombold on AI strategy and Rick Delisi on The Effortless Experience6:10 — Welcoming Harry Duran — how he helped launch SaaS Fuel and what Fullcast does9:50 — Harry's origin story: From JPMorgan Chase and Unilever to electronic music, DJing, and discovering podcasting at New Media Expo in 201413:30 — Meeting Pat Flynn and Amy Porterfield; pivoting from a DJ podcast to Podcast Junkies; recognizing podcasting as your own personal stage17:10 — How Harry's first paying client (a $1,000 PayPal from John Livesay) launched Fullcast in 201522:10 — Introducing Podisphere: A G2.com-style directory for podcast tools — the inspiration, the build journey, and why traffic is the only metric that matters to sponsors27:30 — Building with no-code tools (Airtable, Webflow, Bubble), the frustrations of non-technical founding, and how vibe coding changed everything in 202531:30 — Claude Code, Agent OS, and spec-driven development: how Harry built more in six months than in five years combined37:50 — SEO strategy for Podisphere: Fathom Analytics, Ahrefs, programmatic blog posts, Google Search Console, and hitting 7,000 page views/month without a press release45:20 — The power of founder relationships: How 12 years of Podcast Junkies led to meeting Andrew Mason (Descript), the SquadCast acquisition, and building a network that fuels Podisphere51:00 — Why every founder should have a podcast: relationship-building, opening doors, and earning "street cred"54:40 — Introducing Podclaw: An agent-first podcast hosting platform built for AI agents, not humans1:01:30 — Moltbook: The AI agent social network, digital wallets for agents, and autonomous marketing via cron jobs1:08:00 — The "agent economy" and why SaaS companies that block agents are "dead men walking"1:15:30 — Why the most important future skill is learning how to talk to robots; parallels to the dot-com era of 19991:21:30 — The future of podcasting: AI-generated shows, long-form authentic conversation, niche doubling down, and why human voices are becoming more valuable1:28:00 — NotebookLM and the rise of AI podcast hosts; the disclosure debate1:33:20 — Harry's personal operating system: morning meditation, written intentions, strength training, and protecting attention before screens1:37:30 — Where to find Harry: fullcast.co, thepodisphere.com, podclaw.ioTweetable Quotes"The most important skill in the future is learning how to talk to robots." — Harry Duran"You can't speak to someone for an hour and forget their face. That's the magic of podcasting — it builds relationships that nothing else can replicate." — Harry Duran"The people who made money in the gold rush were the ones who sold the picks, the shovels, and Levi's." — Harry Duran"Companies that block agents are dead men walking. If agents can't get the data from you, someone else will build what they need." — Jeff Mains"It never feels done — you just have to ship it. Get it out there." — Harry Duran"AI is like having the vision in your head and finally being able to build at the speed of thought." — Harry DuranSaaS Leadership Lessons1. Build Your Distribution Before You Need ItHarry spent over a decade building Podcast Junkies before it became the foundation of Podisphere. His relationships with founders like Andrew Mason (Descript) and the SquadCast team weren't accidental — they were built over 500+ interviews. Leaders who invest in platforms, relationships, and audiences compounding quietly are the ones who have leverage when they need it.2. Sell Picks and Shovels — Build for the EcosystemRather than fighting for space in a crowded software category, Harry positioned Podisphere as the infrastructure layer (the G2 of podcasting). Great SaaS leaders ask: What does this entire ecosystem need that nobody is building? Being a connector and aggregator often outlasts being just another point solution.3. Non-Technical Founders Must Learn to Build at the Speed of ThoughtHarry's journey from Airtable → Bubble → Fiverr developers → Claude Code is a roadmap for any non-technical founder in 2025. The bottleneck is no longer code — it's vision and prompting. The founder who can articulate their product clearly to an AI builds faster, iterates faster, and maintains greater ownership of the product direction.4. Traffic Is the Only Metric That Converts to Revenue — Build for Discovery FirstPodisphere hit 7,000 page views/month organically before a single press release by treating every page as an SEO asset. Harry obsessed over internal links, programmatic blog posts, and AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) for AI search. SaaS leaders building content or marketplace products should think like search engines think — not just build pretty interfaces.5. Agent-First Is the New Mobile-First — Design for It NowHarry didn't build Podclaw for human users. He built it for AI agents, complete with clean APIs, no unnecessary dashboards, and agent-friendly architecture. As agent economies emerge (complete with digital wallets and autonomous purchasing), SaaS products that block or ignore agents will be displaced. Build your API surface today like agents are your power users tomorrow.6. Protect Your Peak Performance Hours — Your Best Output Comes from Taking Care of Yourself FirstHarry meditates 20 minutes every morning, writes intentions in the present tense, and strength trains three days a week before opening a laptop. He's explicit: this is not a nice-to-have. The onslaught of screens, AI noise, and constant stimulation hijacks your nervous system. The leaders who perform at the highest level over the longest runway are the ones who treat personal maintenance as a non-negotiable operating system.Guest Resourceshttps://fullcast.co/hdbioEpisode SponsorThe Futureproof Series - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfkXKUPZ5xuOqMPR7_gzGybncTtavyR1NThe Captain's KeysSmall Fish, Big Pond – https://smallfishbigpond.com/ Use the promo code ‘SaaSFuel'Champion Leadership Group – https://championleadership.com/SaaS Fuel ResourcesWebsite - https://championleadership.com/Jeff Mains on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkmains/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jeffkmainsFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/thesaasguy/Instagram - https://instagram.com/jeffkmains
How does a 125-year-old brand still manage to feel fresh? Daniel talks with Dawn Hedgepeth, a Marketing Strategist who has previously worked with consumer brands like Unilever and Hanes. She shares her unfiltered take on modern Marketing, brand love, and the art of staying relevant. From once dreaming of becoming a lawyer to now leading marketing for one of the most iconic brands in the world, Dawn reflects on two decades of lessons in curiosity, creativity, and change. She dives into how Hanes continues to evolve - from influencer collabs and TikTok Shop to uncovering real consumer insights that drive product improvement. Plus, how do you keep a 125-year-old brand meaningful? Dawn reveals how using empathy and curiosity are the basis of every good Marketing campaign. If you've ever wondered how to build brands with good bases and a great mission, this episode is for you. Wrike brings structure, visibility, and accountability to work, so companies can make better business decisions, improve efficiency, and reduce risk. Learn more at https://wrike.com/tmm Follow Dawn: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-hedgepeth/ Follow Daniel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themarketingmillennials/featured Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Dmurr68 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-murray-marketing Sign up for The Marketing Millennials newsletter: www.workweek.com/brand/the-marketing-millennials Daniel is a Workweek friend, working to produce amazing podcasts. To find out more, visit: www.workweek.com
THE Leadership Japan Series by Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo, Japan
Motivating people is not about shouting slogans, pushing harder, or demanding enthusiasm on command. Real leadership motivation comes from building relationships, shaping culture, and creating a work environment where people can motivate themselves. For leaders in Japan, Australia, the United States, Europe, and across Asia-Pacific, this is now a central management challenge. Post-pandemic teams expect trust, flexibility, psychological safety, and career development, not command-and-control supervision. The leader's job is to know people deeply enough to understand what drives their effort, loyalty, creativity, and pride. How do leaders motivate people without forcing motivation? Leaders motivate people by creating the right environment, relationship, and culture for self-motivation to emerge.Telling someone to "be motivated" is about as useful as yelling at a plant to grow faster. In organisations from Toyota and Rakuten in Japan to global firms like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Unilever, the best leaders understand that motivation is personal. Some people want mastery, some want recognition, some want autonomy, and others want security, promotion, purpose, or belonging. The leader's role is not to manufacture motivation like a factory output. It is to remove friction, clarify meaning, and connect individual aspirations with company goals. Do now: Stop asking, "How do I motivate my people?" Start asking, "What environment would help each person motivate themselves?" Why do managers fail to really know their people? Most managers only know their people at a surface level because they are busy, task-driven, and overly dependent on formal reviews. They may know job titles and KPIs, but not the person behind the role. Many leaders interview team members when they first take over a department, then slip back into meetings, deadlines, dashboards, and performance reviews. In Japanese companies, multinational regional offices, startups, and SMEs alike, this creates a polite but shallow relationship. The manager knows what people do, but not why they care, what frustrates them, what they value, or where they want to go. Performance reviews rarely reveal this because employees often protect themselves in formal settings. Do now: Replace one purely transactional check-in each week with a genuine conversation about work, goals, interests, or career direction. What is an "innerview" and how is it different from an interview? An innerview is a gradual, trust-based way of understanding a person from the inside, not a one-off managerial interview. It happens through casual, authentic conversations over time. An interview is usually structured, scheduled, and often linked to hiring, onboarding, or performance management. An innerview is different. It may happen over coffee, lunch, a short walk, or a relaxed conversation after a meeting. The leader has intention, but not manipulation. The aim is to understand what matters to the team member so the leader can help them succeed. This matters in post-pandemic workplaces where retention, engagement, hybrid work, and career mobility are constant issues. Do now: Build a habit of small, natural conversations. Do not turn curiosity into interrogation, and do not use personal information as leverage. What questions help leaders understand employees better? Leaders should start with factual questions, then gradually move toward deeper causative and values-based questions. Trust determines how deep the conversation can go. Factual questions explore background: where someone grew up, studied, travelled, worked, or developed interests. These are not checklist questions; they should surface naturally. Causative questions go deeper: why they chose a career path, why they left a previous company, why a hobby matters, or what kind of work gives them energy. Values-based questions are deeper again, touching pride, regret, mentors, resilience, fairness, ambition, and contribution. In cultures with strong privacy norms, including Japan, timing and tone matter enormously. Do now: Use three levels of curiosity: facts for context, "why" questions for motivation, and values questions only after trust exists. Why are values so important in leadership motivation? Values reveal whether a person's deepest drivers align with the leader, the team, and the organisation. Without values alignment, motivation becomes fragile and short-term. A person may accept a job for salary, title, brand prestige, or convenience, but they usually stay engaged because the work connects with something deeper. That may be craftsmanship, customer impact, learning, family security, social contribution, professional pride, or loyalty to colleagues. Leaders who understand these values can assign work, give recognition, coach performance, and discuss career paths more effectively. Leaders who ignore values often rely on money, pressure, or fear, which rarely builds sustainable performance. Do now: Ask reflective questions such as, "What work are you most proud of?" or "What advice would you give someone going through a tough patch?" How can leaders avoid sounding manipulative when getting to know staff? The difference between care and manipulation is intention, or what Japanese leadership thinking might call kokorogamae. People quickly sense whether a leader is genuinely trying to help or merely trying to use them. If a manager asks personal questions to extract productivity, employees will feel it. If the manager asks because they want to create common ground, understand aspirations, and support career growth, the relationship strengthens. Time, place, and occasion are critical. A rushed corridor question before a deadline is not the same as a thoughtful conversation over coffee. Leaders need patience. They should not force intimacy, overstep privacy, or convert every conversation into a management tactic. Do now: Check your intention before every deeper conversation. Ask yourself, "Am I trying to help this person grow, or simply trying to get more out of them?" Final summary Motivation is not a speech, slogan, or performance-review checkbox. It is the result of leadership trust, cultural design, and personal understanding. When leaders know their people beyond job descriptions and KPIs, they can create conditions where employees choose to bring more effort, ownership, and creativity to the work. The practical leadership shift is simple but demanding: move from interview to innerview. Learn facts, explore causes, understand values, and hold every conversation with the right intention. FAQs Can leaders really motivate employees? Leaders cannot force motivation, but they can create the conditions where motivation becomes more likely. That means building trust, clarifying purpose, removing obstacles, and connecting work to personal goals. What is the best way to understand employee motivation? The best way is through consistent, casual, trust-based conversations over time. Formal reviews help with performance tracking, but deeper motivation usually emerges through natural dialogue. Why are values-based questions sensitive? Values-based questions touch identity, pride, regret, ambition, and belief, so they require trust. Leaders should build up gradually through factual and causative conversations first. Is this approach relevant in Japan? Yes, especially because trust, intention, and relationship quality are central to effective leadership in Japan. The idea of kokorogamae reinforces the importance of sincere purpose behind the conversation. Quick actions for leaders Schedule more informal one-on-one conversations. Ask fewer checklist questions and more thoughtful "why" questions. Listen for values, not just tasks and complaints. Avoid rushing trust. Use what you learn to support career growth, not to manipulate output. Author Bio Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He is a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie "One Carnegie Award" in 2018 and 2021, and recipient of the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2012. As a Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg is certified to deliver globally across leadership, communication, sales, and presentation programmes, including Leadership Training for Results. He has written several books, including three best-sellers: Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, and Japan Presentations Mastery, along with Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. His works have been translated into Japanese, including Za Eigyō(ザ営業), Purezen no Tatsujin(プレゼンの達人), Torēningu de Okane o Muda ni Suru no wa Yamemashō(トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのはやめましょう), and Gendaiban "Hito o Ugokasu" Rīdā(現代版「人を動かす」リーダー). Greg also publishes daily business insights on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, and hosts six weekly podcasts. On YouTube, he produces The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show, Japan Business Mastery, and Japan's Top Business Interviews, which are widely followed by executives seeking success strategies in Japan.
Dit wordt het jaar van de executie bij Prosus. Maar het lijkt erop dat aandeelhouders liever de topman ̶e̶x̶e̶c̶u̶t̶e̶r̶e̶n̶ boos aankijken. De tech-investeerder stuurt een brief naar de aandeelhouders vol goed nieuws. De omzet- en winstdoelen voor het afgelopen jaar zijn gehaald, en alle onderdelen zijn winstgevend. Maar beleggers maken zich vooral zorgen om de winst van Prosus. Het bedrijf moet namelijk extra gaan investeren. Zijn die zorgen terecht? Dat hoor je in deze aflevering. Verder hoor je over het meest succesvolle aandeel van de S&P 500 op dit moment. De bomen groeien tot in de hemel voor chipmaker Intel, zo lijkt het. Toch zijn er ook genoeg beleggers die daar hun twijfels bij hebben. Want het percentage shortsellers staat - net als het aandeel - ook zo ongeveer op een all-time-high. We hebben het nog over goudkoorts in Zuid-Korea. Daar tuimelt het geld op rap tempo binnen bij chipmakers Samsung en SK Hynix. Dat zet ook de regering aan het denken. Een belangrijke adviseur oppert een plan om die inkomsten te belasten en te gebruiken voor sociale voorzieningen. Tot afgrijzen van beleggers. En we vertellen je ook nog wat 'tokenmaxxing' is. Te gast: Stan Westerterp, van Bond Capital Partners BNR Beurs is een journalistiek onafhankelijke productie, mede mogelijk gemaakt door Saxo. Over de makers: Jelle Maasbach is presentator van BNR Beurs en freelance financieel journalist. Zijn favoriete aandeel om over te praten is Disney, maar daar lijkt hij de enige in te zijn. Sinds de eerste uitzending van BNR Beurs is 'ie er bij. Maxim van Mil is presentator van BNR Beurs en journalist bij BNR, waar hij zich focust op de financiële markten en ontwikkelingen in de tech-wereld. Je krijgt hem het meest enthousiast als hij kan praten over ASML, of oer-Hollandse bedrijven zoals Ahold of ABN Amro. Jorik Simonides is presentator van BNR Beurs, economieredacteur en verslaggever bij BNR. Hij wordt er vooral blij van als het een keer níet over AI gaat. Milou Brand is presentator van BNR Beurs, freelance podcastmaker en columnist bij het Financieele Dagblad. Jochem Visser is presentator van BNR Beurs, maakt Beursnerd XL en is redacteur bij de podcast Onder Curatoren. Vraag hem naar obscure zaken op financiële markten en hij vertelt je waarom het eigenlijk nóg leuker is dan je al dacht. Over de podcast: Met BNR Beurs ga je altijd voorbereid de nieuwe beursdag in. We praten je in een kleine 25 minuten bij over alle laatste ontwikkelingen op de handelsvloer. We blijven niet alleen bij de AEX of Wall Street, maar vertellen je ook waar nog meer kansen liggen. En we houden het niet bij de cijfers, maar zoeken ook iedere dag voor je naar duiding van scherpe gasten en experts. Of je nu een ervaren belegger bent of net begint met je eerste stappen op de beurs, de podcast biedt waardevolle inzichten voor je beleggingsstrategie. Door de focus op zowel de korte termijn als de lange termijn, helpt BNR Beurs luisteraars om de ruis van de markt te scheiden van de essentie. Van Musk tot Microsoft en van Ahold tot ASML. Wij vertellen je wat beleggers bezighoudt, wie de markten in beweging zet en wat dat betekent voor jouw beleggingsportefeuille. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Muy buenos días, nueva semana, un paso atrás nuevamente en el intento por solucionar el conflicto en Medio Oriente. Traemos los datos a la mesa, a partir de lo que traería un ciclo escolar interrumpido a los niños y a las madres también. Hay fiebre por las fibras E, Televisa está a un escalón del bono basura y Airbnb se perfila con buenas ganancias al cierre de año. Presentado por Unilever | Conoce la estrategia multi-marca de Unilever para capitalizar el mayor evento global del fútbol aquí:
Ryan Cohen wants to buy eBay with half cash, half stock. Parker Card raised $200M and vanished overnight. OpenAI shipped a full ads manager. Shopify, Meta, Mercury, and Spotify all launched AI connectors in the same week. Stripe Atlas data shows new AI-era companies are 2x the size of last year's cohort. Plus: why Unilever is betting on 300K creators, and the one skill creative strategists are missing.This is ADSN — the ad tech and media show for operators who want signal, not noise.Sponsors: AdQuick, Thrad, Beehiiv, The Farm LLP
What does it actually take to be seen, selected, and supported in your industry?In this episode of Meanwhile, She, Aisha Beau sits down with Brianna Wright, Head of PR & Influencer Marketing at SheaMoisture, for an honest and insightful conversation on identity, access, self-investment, and what it really takes to stand out.Having worked her way through Unilever with intention and clarity, Brianna now leads one of the most influential and culturally relevant brand ecosystems for creators—shaping not just who gets chosen, but how they're seen.Together, they discuss the mindset and habits required to step into a bigger life, why visibility and proximity matter just as much as talent, and how creators can position themselves for long-term opportunities.Brianna also shares insider perspective on what brands are actually looking for, how she evaluates creators beyond numbers, and what it takes to get on SheaMoisture's radar.This episode is a powerful reminder that success isn't just about being good—it's about becoming someone who is seen, valued, and aligned with the opportunities you want.
Helayna Minsk is an experienced executive leader who has led major organizational transformation for brands like Unilever, Walgreens, and Johnson & Johnson. Helayna's work encompasses general management, P&L leadership, portfolio evolution, and revitalization campaigns, both domestically and internationally. Her approach to brand stewardship and cross-functional collaboration has led to an extensive track record of profit expansion, scalable growth, and strategic implementation for some of the largest CPG companies in the world. Helayna joins Roy to discuss leadership lessons learned during periods of immense change, how communication is the cornerstone of high-performance teams, the upside of ambition, and much more. Highlights from our conversation include: - Core values that have become part of Helayna's leadership playbook (3:07) - Mentors and learning opportunities that helped shape her leadership philosophy (5:16) - How Helayna's leadership developed and evolved as she took on different roles (7:44) - The role talent plays in driving growth and impact (10:17) - Tips for navigating changing market dynamics and consumer behavior (14:10) - How Helayna developed an aptitude for hiring top performers and building high performance teams (16:05) - Comparing the approach to talent and hiring at different brands (18:25) - What Helayna looks for when she's hiring for her own leadership teams (20:09) - How she approached leading a turnaround for J&J in China (22:17) - Cultural differences when working in China that adapted her thinking -(25:27) - Advice Helayna has for people early in their careers (28:33) - What's next for Helayna (30:29)
The Do One Better! Podcast – Philanthropy, Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship
Sustainability has shifted from corporate aspiration to financial reality, but how do companies actually measure its impact on value creation? In this episode, Alberto Lidji speaks with Michel Driessen about the evolving relationship between sustainability, ESG, corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions. Drawing from the themes explored in Green Gold: How Sustainability Creates Deal Value, Michel explains how businesses and investors are increasingly translating sustainability into measurable financial outcomes. The conversation examines why sustainability has become more politically charged in recent years, while simultaneously becoming more embedded inside corporate operations, investment decisions, and supply chains. Michel argues that although the public conversation around ESG may have cooled, many companies continue advancing sustainability initiatives behind the scenes because the financial and operational implications are too significant to ignore. A major focus of the discussion is the role of CFOs and financial leaders. Michel explains how sustainability responsibilities are shifting away from standalone ESG teams and becoming central to finance, strategy, and investment committees. The episode explores how organizations can assess sustainability risks and opportunities at the business unit level, rather than relying solely on broad company-wide ESG ratings. Alberto and Michel also unpack: • How sustainability factors influence valuation, EBITDA, cash flow, and cost of capital • Why materiality and maturity assessments matter in transaction due diligence • The growing influence of investors, pension funds, banks, and regulators • The connection between reputational risk and financial risk • Why governance issues are often underestimated compared to environmental topics • The complexities and unintended consequences of ESG decision-making across industries and geographies • How new disclosure and reporting standards are reshaping corporate accountability • Why MBA students and future executives are increasingly focused on sustainability regulation and financial integration The discussion also touches on examples from global business, including Unilever's sustainability leadership, investor expectations, supply chain resilience, and the practical realities of balancing profitability with long-term responsibility. Ultimately, this episode explores how sustainability is becoming integrated into mainstream financial decision-making, not simply as a reputational exercise, but as a core component of business performance and enterprise value. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 350+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.
H&M just listed on a US online marketplace for the first time, and they picked Nordstrom. Rick Watson and Nick Kaplan break down what that signals about both brands, and why marketplaces with no inventory commitment keep working when standalone marketplaces keep dying.Next up, GLP-1 hits the bridal industry. 10% of couples planning weddings this year are on a GLP-1, and more than half started the medication specifically for the wedding. Some users drop a clothing size every two to three weeks, which is a problem when a wedding dress takes nine months and costs five figures. Bridal shops are now asking buyers to sign waivers. Rick and Nick widen the conversation into plus-size assortments, the longevity boom in CPG, and why protein and creatine are having a moment.The Watson Weekly Weekend edition is sponsored by Avalara - the agentic AI platform automating global tax and compliance for leading eCommerce brands. For more details: https://avalaratax.watsonweekly.comThen the big one: the e-commerce organization of the future. Unilever cut from 3,000 agencies to under 800, saving half a billion dollars. P&G in-housed media for $750M in fee reductions. A retail "season" is now two weeks. Where does the merchant sit in all of this, and is ChatGPT a better buyer than a human? Nick argues the merchant role contracts but never disappears. Rick pushes on whether the 2026 merchant is really just one person editing algorithms instead of product.Subscribe to the Watson Weekly newsletter at watsonweekly.com.
In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from World Retail Congress 2026 in Berlin, Chris Walton sits down with Judith McKenna, the former CEO of Walmart International and current Board Member at Delta Air Lines and Unilever, to discuss leadership, frontline retail culture, board governance, and how AI is beginning to reshape the retail industry. Drawing from her experience overseeing Walmart's global operations across dozens of markets, Judith explains why employee experience remains one of the most important drivers of customer experience, how strong store managers can transform frontline culture, and why great retail organizations still succeed by making people feel valued. The conversation also explores what effective board leadership looks like after transitioning from executive roles, how companies should think about AI adoption beyond isolated use cases, and why retailers need a much clearer vision for how technology, operations, and customer experience ultimately connect together. Key Topics Covered: • Why frontline employee experience directly impacts customer experience • How retail leadership changes at the board level • Judith McKenna's perspective serving on Delta and Unilever's boards • Why store managers remain critical to retail success • The role mentorship plays at World Retail Congress • How AI is changing retail, customer experience, and operations • Why many retailers are still thinking too narrowly about AI • The importance of solving real customer problems with technology • Lessons from Walmart's people-first leadership culture • What retailers can learn from Delta's customer service approach Thank you to Vusion for supporting Omni Talk Retail's live coverage from World Retail Congress 2026. #WRC2026 #WorldRetailCongress #OmniTalkRetail #JudithMcKenna #Walmart #RetailLeadership #AI #RetailInnovation #CustomerExperience #FrontlineWorkers #RetailStrategy #BoardLeadership
What happens when a global brand hands over its creative control to unfiltered customer feedback? In this episode of The Digital Marketing Podcast, Daniel Rowles speaks with Emily Barfoot, Head of Dove Beauty at Unilever, about a bold and unconventional campaign built on Reddit conversations. At a time when trust in polished marketing is eroding and AI is reshaping how content is discovered, Dove leaned into one of the internet's most unpredictable platforms. By amplifying genuine, unedited user reviews, both positive and negative, the brand not only drove awareness but also delivered measurable commercial impact. This episode explores how marketers can rethink control, embrace transparency, and tap into community-driven credibility. In This Episode How Dove identified an organic Reddit conversation and turned it into a multi-channel campaign Why Reddit's "unpolished" nature makes it a powerful platform for trust and insight The strategy behind publishing the first 50 real user reviews without editing or filtering How Dove balanced positive and negative sentiment to build credibility The role of social listening in shaping campaign direction and optimisation How Reddit content was extended into out-of-home, influencer, and experiential marketing Why transparency and respecting platform culture were critical to success How the campaign delivered over 260 million impressions and triple-digit growth in the product category The importance of many-to-many marketing in modern brand building How Reddit insights fed directly into product innovation and development Key Takeaways Authenticity is not a tactic. It is a strategic commitment that requires letting go of control User-generated content can outperform traditional creative when it reflects real experiences Reddit is not just a media channel. It is a rich source of customer insight and product feedback Brands must respect platform norms and community expectations to earn participation Balanced sentiment, including negative feedback, increases trust and credibility Social listening should be continuous and actionable, not just observational Experiential marketing can amplify digital engagement when it creates shareable moments AI-driven discovery makes community-led content more valuable than ever Strong products and existing brand trust are essential before taking transparency risks Marketing success increasingly depends on enabling conversations, not controlling them
Grüns landed a $1.2 billion acquisition less than three years after launch. Added protein still dominates shelf space – but how much runway does the trend really have left? Meanwhile, bottled water is facing growing scrutiny as its long-standing "health halo" begins to crack. We unpack the headlines and trends shaping innovation across food and beverage – and what they reveal about where CPG is headed next. Show notes: 0:20: Brad Is Back. Big Green Deal. Do We Need Protein In This? On To Austin. The Plastic Problem. – BevNET and Nosh senior reporter Brad Avery joins the show as the hosts unpack Unilever's acquisition of fast-growing functional gummy brand Grüns, and why strong repeat purchase and DTC momentum can drive outsized valuations even without broad retail distribution. From there, the conversation turns to the still-surging "protein in everything" wave, with a look at new protein-forward launches spanning chips, pasta, soda, and coffee, and a candid debate over which formats feel intuitive versus engineered. The hosts also dig into how brands are factoring in the rise of GLP-1 drugs when shaping innovation pipelines. Ray thanks attendees of Taste Radio NYC Meetup, highlights the upcoming Austin meetup, and previews BevNET Live NYC 2026. Brad shares insights from his recent reporting on the bottled water category, where concerns around microplastics and packaging are beginning to chip away at its long-standing health halo – though behavior change remains early. The episode wraps with a tasting of sour innovations, from date-based candy alternatives to low-sugar gummies. Brands in this episode: Grüns, Goli, Athletic Greens, Liquid I.V., Koia, Khloud, Purely Elizabeth, Kaizen, Protein Pints, Pop Tarts, Laird Superfoods, Crisp Power, Poppi, Olipop, Culture Pop, C4, Bloom, Ballpark, Essentia, Path Water, Open Water, Icelandic Glacial, DADDL, Behave, Warheads
Episode 824: It's Tax Day! Neal and Toby talk about the IRS losing its auditing powers, which has led to taxpayers looking to cheat the system. Then, JPMorgan has a strong showing for its Q1 earnings but CEO Jamie Dimon issues a warning from the uncertain geopolitical landscape. Also, United CEO has reportedly pitched a takeover of American Airlines, sparking antitrust issues. Meanwhile, Unilever plans to acquire Grüns gummies as it bets big on the wellness industry. Learn more at https://www.schwab.com/oninvesting Vote for MBD at the Webby Awards!!! https://wbby.co/57452N Join us for trivia! https://events.morningbrewinc.com/mbdtrivianight-april2026 Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here: https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note Watch Morning Brew Daily Here: https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week: OpenAI completed a $122 billion investment round. Felix Salmon, Elizabeth Spiers, and Emily Peck discuss what this deal says about the private and public markets and try to wrap their heads around the astronomical valuations of OpenAI and SpaceX. Then, Maryland-based spice company, McCormick, announced it will merge with Unilever's food division to create a new spice and sauce mega-company. The hosts discuss the unusual case of a smaller company absorbing a larger one, and why Unilever's stock is currently plummeting. Finally, the hosts break down the WNBA's landmark collective bargaining agreement and why Nobel laureate Claudia Goldin was the MVP of the negotiation. In the Slate Plus episode: The largest single home sale on record. This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock weekly bonus episodes of Slate Money—you'll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Slate Money show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/moneyplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.