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Uncensored CMO
Jon Evans
230 episodes
2 days ago
The Uncensored CMO was created to explore the good, the bad and quite frankly downright ugly truth about marketing theory & practice.
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Marketing
Business,
Entrepreneurship
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All content for Uncensored CMO is the property of Jon Evans and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
The Uncensored CMO was created to explore the good, the bad and quite frankly downright ugly truth about marketing theory & practice.
Show more...
Marketing
Business,
Entrepreneurship
Episodes (20/230)
Uncensored CMO
Never Mind The Adverts 2025 Review with Orlando Wood

This week’s bonus episode comes from Never Mind the Adverts, hosted by Jon Evans and joined by returning Uncensored CMO guest Orlando Wood. Together, they look back on the biggest marketing stories, debates, and creative moments of 2025. Expect festive cheer, some interesting tipples, and a healthy dose of advertising showmanship.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
00:41 - Starting with some festive cheer
02:04 - The big news stories from 2025
02:20 - The multiplier effect
03:51 - The creative dividend
05:05 - The Cost of Dull Media
07:17 - Les Binet Go Big or Go Home
09:22 - The Wild West of Influencer Measurement
13:00 - How the pause screen has become an advertising channel
14:30 - Sydney Sweeney, American Eagle and Jaguar - The Crisis
16:15 - Mergers and WPP
17:26 - Drinks Trolley Break
19:00 - Jon’s highlight - awards
20:12 - Orlando Wood’s highlight of 2025
21:46 - Rory Sutherland vs Scott Galloway
22:35 - Jon and Alix Earle in Cannes
23:52 - Jon cycles up a mountain with Zwift
25:12 - Becoming trustee for the History of Advertising Trust
26:42 - The History of Christmas Advertising with a special guest
33:10 - Who won Christmas in 2025?
34:27 - Aldi and Kevin the Carrot
35:18 - Waitrose’s strong Christmas showing
36:28 - The most viewed Christmas Ads on YouTube
37:25 - Amazon re-airing their Christmas ad this year
38:20 - The growth of Christmas Ads in 2025
39:47 - The right brained nature of the successful Christmas ads
40:51 - The Coca Cola AI Christmas Ad
43:23 - The Never Mind the Adverts Awards
44:02 - System1 Star of the Year
44:51 - System1 Turkey of the Year
45:32 - Name that ad

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2 days ago
49 minutes

Uncensored CMO
Why we all need to slow down in 2026 - Emma Harris

Emma Harris spent a decade revolutionising Eurostar as its Marketing and Sales Director, leading the brand through years of success and navigating multiple crises. Now the Founder and Chief of Glow London, she works with clients around the world to build brands that are deeply connected to their people and culture.

In this episode, Emma shares her journey through marketing, leadership, and entrepreneurship, and the life-altering moment that forced her to rethink everything. After suffering a cardiac arrest, she reflects on ambition, burnout, and what really matters. We talk about building great teams, leaving safe roles to start something new, bouncing back from the hardest year of her life, and why slowing down might be the most radical, and necessary, leadership move as we head into 2026.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
00:52 - How Emma got into marketing
04:58 - What can sales learn from marketers?
07:36 - How to respond to a comms crisis?
12:17 - Lessons from a 10 year tenure at a company
14:14 - How to get the best out of your employees
16:49 - How to hire great people
18:14 - Why Emma left her safe role to setup her own agency
19:41 - Bouncing back from the worst year of your life
20:42 - Why Emma set up Glow, her agency
21:39 - Advice for being your own boss
22:34 - Emma’s life changing cardiac arrest
25:54 - Life lessons from almost dying
28:06 - Why you need to slow the f*ck down
33:58 - How we should approach the new year
37:04 - The power of accountability

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1 week ago
42 minutes

Uncensored CMO
Mark Ritson's Top Marketing Moments of 2025

As has become a tradition, marketing professor Mark Ritson is back to break down his top 10 marketing moments of the year. We talk fighter brands, the president, Amazon's grannies, deepfakes, mergers and more in this snappy episode. There's nothing more to say - strap in and enjoy the opinionated marketing professor dropping some clangers.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
00:32 - Mark Ritson’s top 10 stories of the year
01:55 - 10. A big year for mergers
04:35 - 9. The painkiller vs the president
09:42 - 8. Tesla’s Fighter Brand Failure
12:56 - Mark Ritson’s advice to Elon Musk
23:05 - 6. Amazon brings back the grannies (compounding)
30:10 - Marketing Buzzwords of 2025
30:20 - Buzzword 1: Hyperpersonalisation
30:54 - Buzzword 2: Onmichannel Marketing
31:44 - Buzzword 3: Growth Hacking
32:38 - 5: The great Cracker Barrel crisis of 2025
39:06 - 4. Starbucks and their positioning
42:10 - 3: New CEOs chasing growth vs gimmicks
43:44 - 2. Deepfake Martin Lewis and fraudulent advertising
48:33 - 1: Maxi-miniflation

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2 weeks ago
53 minutes

Uncensored CMO
Is AI killing SEO? Semrush Spotlight with Andrew Warden

Andrew Warden, CMO of Semrush, joins us to unpack how AI is reshaping search, and what it means for marketers heading into 2026. We discuss whether SEO is really “dead,” the biggest insights from Semrush’s new AI Visibility Index, and how different AI models surface and rank content across industries. Andrew also shares why brand and digital visibility matter more than ever, the growing importance of creators in AI-driven discovery, and practical advice for CMOs trying to stay ahead as search rapidly evolves.


This episode is brought to you by Semrush — your unfair advantage in digital brand visibility. From fast-growing teams to global enterprises, Semrush shows you where you stand, where you can win, and how to stay visible across AI Search and LLMs. With unrivaled data and real AI intelligence, Semrush helps you move faster, grow faster, and make sure your brand is the answer wherever customers ask.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
02:08 - How disruptive is AI for search in 2026?
04:19 - Is SEO dead now because of AI?
08:32 - Biggest surprises from Semrush’s new AI Visibility Index Report
11:04 - How different AI models treat different industries
13:05 - Understanding how AI ranks different sources
15:48 - Why content creators are important in the age of AI search
18:35 - Why you need to be failing fast in AI
21:10 - Why brand matters more in the age of AI
24:20 - Why digital brand visibility matters so much
26:28 - Advice for CMOs for getting on top of AI for search
30:21 - Is AI just making decisions for us?
33:19 - Why humanity, authenticity and emotion are more important than ever
36:12 - What is Semrush One?

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2 weeks ago
39 minutes

Uncensored CMO
Amazon Creative Masterclass with Jo Shoesmith Chief Creative Officer

Jo Shoesmith, Chief Creative Officer at Amazon, joins us for a second time to reveal how one of the world’s biggest brands continues to make advertising that connects emotionally and stands the test of time. She shares what she’s learned moving from agency life to leading creativity inside a global giant, why Amazon still invests in traditional media, and the secret to ads that run for 3–5 years without losing impact.

We also discuss why right-brained storytelling works, the surprising insights about Gen Z, and how Amazon balances scale, agility, and creativity in the age of AI.


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
01:21 - Learnings from going agency side to brand side
04:18 - How much does Amazon spend on advertising each year?
05:02 - Why Amazon still advertises using traditional media
06:21 - Why is Amazon’s creative so effective?
08:57 - Why Amazon’s advertising is so right brained
10:33 - Why Amazon make ads to run for 3-5 years
14:25 - Amazon re-airing the popular “Grannies” ad
17:00 - Why the industry is obsessed with youth
18:33 - The interesting numbers behind Gen Z and advertising
21:00 - Japanese Granny Ad from Amazon
23:07 - The only Cannes Lion Jon has ever won
26:11 - Using production to discover new stories
29:48 - Amazon’s CCO’s thoughts on AI and creativity
32:56 - Is AI used in the creative process at Amazon?
35:29 - How does such a big company stay so agile?
36:24 - What one thing has made the biggest difference for Jo?

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3 weeks ago
41 minutes

Uncensored CMO
The secret to Duolingo's social success with Zaria Parvez - Semrush Spotlight

Zaria Parvez was the creative mastermind behind Duolingo's social media success, having joined the company in 2020 fresh out of University. 5 years later, and after 8 billion impressions, she's left for her next challenge - taking on the social media for Doordash. We speak to Zaria to find out what the secret to the viral success is, and how she plans to replicate this at Doordash.

This episode is brought to you by Semrush — your unfair advantage in digital brand visibility. From fast-growing teams to global enterprises, Semrush shows you where you stand, where you can win, and how to stay visible across AI Search and LLMs. With unrivaled data and real AI intelligence, Semrush helps you move faster, grow faster, and make sure your brand is the answer wherever customers ask.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
00:34 - Why Zaria left Duolingo
01:32 - Why Zaria moved from Duolingo to Doordash
02:44 - Coping with a rapid career trajectory
04:58 - The big moments for Duolingo
07:00 - Can you plan virality?
08:30 - How important was it having Duo as a brand character
11:02 - Why Duolingo killed duo
13:23 - Sending Duo’s ashes to Dua Lipa
14:05 - What are the conditions that make a successful social media campaign
16:01 - How Zaria spots trends and turns them into content
17:41 - Thinking long term through a social media lens
19:39 - How to scale viral social media efforts
21:36 - Why who your boss is matters so much
22:52 - When things go wrong on social media
24:47 - Why Zaria built a personal brand
28:02 - What Zaria is hoping for in the future
28:59 - How is AI changing social media?
31:36 - Social media advice for podcasters
32:20 - How to cope with the intensity of working in social media
34:58 - The best marketers hate marketing
36:25 - Why you need to embrace boredom

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3 weeks ago
38 minutes

Uncensored CMO
Unilever Brand Building Masterclass with Esi Eggleston Bracey, CMO

Esi Eggleston Bracey is the Chief Marketing and Growth Officer of Unilever. Esi joined the company in 2018 and has served as President of Unilever USA and CEO of Personal Care in North America. Prior to this, she led their $5 billion Beauty & Personal Care portfolio for North America as EVP and Chief Operating Officer which included responsibility for brands such as Dove, TRESemmé, Suave, Vaseline, Degree, Axe and more. There's a reason why this is a brand building masterclass


Esi has been recognised with many industry awards including being named as one of Forbes World’s Most Influential CMOs, a Forbes Entrepreneurial CMO 50, Women’s Wear Daily Marketer of the Year, ADCOLOR Legend, Ad Age Vanguard Award and more.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
00:54 - From P&G to Unilever, Esi’s career journey
03:09 - How important is breadth of experience as a marketer
04:54 - How to increase your marketing budget
07:45 - Why Esi has growth in her title and not just Chief Marketing Officer
08:36 - The most surprising thing about running 400 brands
10:37 - What skills do marketers need to be successful today?
12:08 - Esi’s thoughts of AI in marketing
17:14 - How to win the hearts of your consumer
19:48 - Unilever’s SASSY framework for winning hearts and minds
21:45 - Why we buy more when we feel more
23:27 - The secret behind the groundbreaking Dove marketing
26:45 - Why Uniliver are spending 50% of media on social and 20x spend on creators
29:18 - How the Vaseline Verified campaign took off
30:37 - Unilever’s framework for successful social media campaigns
32:29 - Applying the SASSY Framework to innovation
35:19 - Unilever’s collaboration with Crumbl Cookies
37:42 - How Unilever uses AI
39:45 - Which Unilever brand would Esi buy?
41:46 - The power of consistency
42:43 - How do you nurture the next $1b portfolio brand

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1 month ago
46 minutes

Uncensored CMO
How Diageo’s Joint Venture will transform Ciroc & Lobos 1707 - Nick Tran

Nick Tran, is the CMO and President of First Round, leading Diageo’s new joint venture with Main Street Advisors to oversee two of the world’s most culturally driven spirits brands: Ciroc and Lobos 1707. Nick shares how he’s approaching brand reinvention vs continuation, why product innovation and cultural relevance are key, and what goes into long-term brand growth. We also touch on the future of social media, AI’s role in marketing, and what it takes to build a truly modern CMO career.


00:00 - Intro
00:36 - How the Diageo and Main Street Advisors partnership happened?
02:49 - The long term view for Ciroc and Lobos 1707
06:10 - The plan for Ciroc
08:57 - Reinvention vs continuation when transforming a brand
11:31 - Focusing on product innovation and serve for Ciroc and Lobos 1707
14:14 - Is alcohol drinking trending down?
19:00 - How do you become culturally relevant?
22:07 - Using the Liquid Death challenger mindset
24:08 - The role of celebrities and influencers for drinks brands
27:16 - Why Nick is investing in his personal brand
31:53 - What does it take to become a successful CMO?
37:04 - How Nick invests in other companies
41:59 - Nick Tran’s thoughts on AI
45:47 - Have we reached peak social media?
50:39 - Bonus Question

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1 month ago
52 minutes

Uncensored CMO
Nils Leonard: Don’t Confuse S**t Ads For The Death Of Creativity

Nils Leonard, Uncommon Studio's co-founder and Creative Director is back, and the mic is hotter than ever. We're tackling why Uncommon is pushing the boundaries of out of home, including the divisive BA "Reflections" campaign, what Nils thinks of the energy in the US vs the UK, and why we have a lot of work to do if we want creativity to thrive in this country.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
00:52 - How did Uncensored CMO end up at Uncommon Studios
02:33 - What just Jon want to happen as a result of this episode?
04:45 - What does Nils want to happen as a result of this podcast?
06:10 - Nils' advice to founders wanting to start an agency
07:51 - Uncommon’s work with The Ordinary
13:38 - Why Uncommon loves out of home
15:31 - Uncommon’s out of home work with British Airways
22:20 - Uncommon's B&Q out of home
26:51 - Uncommon's Hiscox work
29:55 - Uncommon’s EA work
32:51 - Uncommon’s JD Sports work turning the lens on the community
37:45 - British Airway’s safety video
43:40 - The culture of creativity in the UK vs US
46:40 - Why Campaign’s"Turkey of the Week" is a terrifying reflection on the UK
48:52 - WPP and creativity
51:28 - Who killed creativity?
53:53 - What Brits can learn from Americans to bring creativity back

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1 month ago
1 hour

Uncensored CMO
Gary Vee on the most undervalued and overvalued media

Entrepreneur, investor, and VaynerMedia CEO Gary Vaynerchuk joins us from Wine Library to share his unfiltered take on marketing in 2025. We cover everything from spotting consumer trends to staying authentic in the age of AI. Gary explains why generosity is his most powerful growth strategy, why the customer is always right, and which media channels are over or undervalued in 2025.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
01:03 - Being back at Wine Library
02:38 - Why the customer is always right according to Gary Vee
07:17 - Why Gary Vee doesn’t believe in luck
09:28 - How Gary Vee has managed to have so much reach
13:14 - The power of generosity
17:51 - Gary Vee’s advice on spotting trends
19:31 - Why you need to pay attention to the consumer
21:18 - What does good marketing look like according to Gary Vee
22:01 - Why social media is better than all other media channels
24:08 - Is TV advertising dead?
28:26 - Undervalued or overvalued: media channel edition
29:26 - Undervalued or overvalued: podcasts
31:34 - Undervalued or overvalued: LinkedIn
32:24 - Undervalued or overvalued: Email
33:26 - Undervalued or overvalued: sms/text
34:03 - Undervalued or overvalued: YouTube
35:29 - Undervalued or overvalued: search
38:39 - Undervalued or overvalued: TikTok
40:16 - Undervalued or overvalued: Twitter/X
42:29 - Undervalued or overvalued: New York Jets
44:54 - How do we maintain authenticity in the age of AI
49:00 - Gary Vee’s advice on how to execute on ideas

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1 month ago
54 minutes

Uncensored CMO
Unreasonable Marketing - lessons from the creator of the world’s #1 restaurant - Will Guidara

Will Guidara is the author of Unreasonable Hospitality and co-founder of the world’s #1 restaurant, Eleven Madison Park. He joins us to share how lessons from hospitality can be a huge competitive advantage for your brand. We discuss the power of small but impactful gestures, intelligent naivety, the 95/5 rule and investing in the things that can’t be measured but make all the difference.

Will also reflects on the mindset that took Eleven Madison Park to the top, what businesses can learn from restaurants, and how applying unreasonable hospitality can turn any customer experience into something truly extraordinary.


Timestamps

00:00:00 - Start
00:00:57 - Will’s experience writing his book
00:02:11 - Getting 4 stars from The New York Times
00:04:43 - What marketers can learn from Unreasonable Hospitality
00:08:08 - Where did the term “unreasonable hospitality” come from?
00:14:13 - Why Will is fine being “The Dining Room Guy”
00:16:40 - Why Will added a beer sommelier - reverse benchmarking
00:20:29 - Intelligent naivety and the advantages of youth
00:23:30 - The power of small thoughtful gestures that make a lasting impact
00:27:22 - The 95/5 rule - how to succeed with things that cannot be measured
00:31:47 - Restaurant smart vs corporate smart
00:36:50 - Why you sometimes need conflicting goals
00:41:34 - Is the customer always right?
00:45:55 - Turning pain points into highlights
00:48:06 - How Will Guidara makes getting the bill a memorable experience
00:51:38 - Why nothing in the world can replace persistence
00:53:40 - Never waste a good crisis
00:56:52 - What Will would do at Cannes with no budget
00:59:56 - How Shake Shack kept 11 Madison Park going
01:00:48 - Which fast food chains does Will admire
01:03:51 - Hiring exceptional talent
01:06:17 - Getting siloed teams to work together in harmony
01:09:07 - What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail

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1 month ago
1 hour 12 minutes

Uncensored CMO
From Tech founder to solving the social media addiction crisis - Jess Butcher

Jess Butcher MBE has built a career at the intersection of technology and consumer behaviour. She co-founded AR pioneer Blippar and has since turned her attention to a growing issue: how AI and social media are shaping our brains, behaviour, and wellbeing.

In this episode, Jess shares what she’s learned as a founder, why female entrepreneurs still struggle to access funding, and why she believes brands must take responsibility for the attention economy they help create. We discuss how “More Soul, Less Scroll” is encouraging healthier digital habits, and the practical steps companies can take to drive positive change.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
01:41 - Jess’ background as a female founder
05:56 - How Jon used Jess’ QR code startup
13:19 - Why Blippar ultimately failed
17:34 - The lessons from Blippar’s failure
21:30 - Why female founders struggle to get funding
25:50 - The characteristics of successful founders
31:15 - How AI is re-wiring our brains negatively
34:05 - Why social media is ruining our lives
40:09 - Why is this problem getting worse if we know about it?
44:17 - What ScrollAware is trying to do about the problem
48:38 - Which brands are taking responsibility for this problem best?
54:46 - Less Scroll More Soul sleeping bags

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2 months ago
58 minutes

Uncensored CMO
American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney campaign - what really happened with CMO Craig Brommers

Craig Brommers, CMO of American Eagle, joins us to go behind the scenes of one of the most talked-about campaigns of the year: Sydney Sweeney for American Eagle. We dig into why the reaction was so extreme, why they stuck with the original plan, and what really happened behind the headlines

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2 months ago
43 minutes

Uncensored CMO
David Droga: My greatest lessons from 37 years in advertising

After an illustrious 37-year career in advertising, legend David Droga is stepping down as CEO of Accenture Song and retiring. Under his leadership, Song grew 8% to $20 billion in FY25, up from $19 billion the previous year. A fitting closing act for one of the industry’s most creative leaders.

In this second conversation with David, we reflect on his career, the lessons he’s learned, and what he would do if he were starting from scratch. From creativity’s place at the heart of business to the power of simple ideas, David shares the philosophies, failures, and insights that have defined his journey.

Timestamps

00:00:00 - Start
00:02:45 - Lessons from being CEO of Accenture Song
00:06:01 - Why creativity needs to be at the forefront of businesses
00:11:01 - How technology can enable creativity, rather than kill it
00:18:42 - What is David Droga most proud of leaving as his legacy
00:27:40 - What what David Droga do if he were starting from scratch
00:29:59 - What are the traits of David Droga’s favourite clients
00:34:59 - What trends are overrated and underrated according to David Droga
00:40:52 - David Droga ideas that never saw the light of day
00:43:58 - The business that almost came before Droga5
00:46:49 - The size of the idea is 50x more important than the budget
00:48:10 - Droga’s best campaign on a small budget
00:56:31 - Power of building on a campaign platform
01:02:06 - The power of simple ideas
01:07:48 - The most "Aussie" thing Droga has ever done

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2 months ago
1 hour 11 minutes

Uncensored CMO
The behavioural hacks that create $Billion brands - Richard Shotton

Richard Shotton, author of The Choice Factory and the newly released Hacking the Human Mind, joins us to explore the behavioural science behind the world’s most iconic brands. From Guinness’ 119.5 second pour to Red Bull’s unconventional rise, Richard explains the psychological shortcuts that drive consumer decisions. We cover why 4-star reviews beat 5-stars, the secret behind Liquid Death’s success, and how humour, jingles, and even “concrete expressions” can help brands stick in our minds.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Start
01:07 - Why Richard is launching a new book
02:54 - Why Guinness takes 119.5 seconds to pour
05:46 - Why a 4 star review is better than a 5 star review
07:50 - Why the Pratfall effect is so powerful
11:00 - Why Aperol Spritz has become so popular
18:18 - The behavioural science behind the Liquid Death success
21:06 - Why consistency works according to behavioural science
27:49 - Why Red Bull succeeds while defying convention
34:15 - The labour illusion; Dyson Example
41:03 - Why does the “You’re Not You When You’re Hungry” strapline work
43:01 - Why we need to use humour more
45:12 - Why has KFC dominated the fried chicken market?
49:41 - The secrets behind the success of Pringles
53:58 - Why jingles stick in our heads
58:23 - How Apple used “Concrete Expressions”

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2 months ago
1 hour 5 minutes

Uncensored CMO
70 Years of TV Advertising - why it works & the best ads of all time - Carolyn McCall, ITV

Dame Carolyn McCall OBE is the CEO of ITV, the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster. She was previously CEO of The Guardian Media Group and easyJet, and currently serves as President of The Marketing Society.

This year marks 70 years of TV advertising, celebrated with the launch of the new report, Living Room Legends, which explores the best ads of the past seven decades.

Dame Carolyn joins Jon to discuss the report, why TV advertising is here to stay, and to reflect on some of the greatest ads of all time.

Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
00:42 – 70 years of advertising
02:11 – Carolyn’s vision for the future of marketing
04:15 – Why we need more marketers on boards
05:25 – How a CMO can become a CEO
08:15 – Overseeing the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster
11:35 – How ITV is competing with global streaming giants
13:19 – How ITV collaborates with the streaming giants
15:15 – The recipe for a long-term hit TV show
17:37 – Is TV advertising dead?
22:47 – Is TV effective for Gen Z?
24:31 – The Living Room Legends report, celebrating 70 years of advertising
27:08 – The most emotional ad for Carolyn
28:06 – What ads have made Carolyn McCall laugh
29:10 – Advertising campaigns that have changed culture
31:42 – Airing an ad within 72 hours of Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest
32:23 – Which campaigns have improved over the years
33:34 – The best examples of romanticising the product
35:13 – Why more SMEs are advertising
35:52 – The future of TV advertising

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3 months ago
39 minutes

Uncensored CMO
How to become an extraordinary marketing leader - John Amaechi

What separates an ordinary manager from an extraordinary leader? Psychologist, best-selling author, and former NBA player John Amaechi joins us to explore the qualities that define great leadership in today’s world. From self-awareness and vulnerability to empowering others and giving credit, John shares why intimidation fails, how to harness your personal value proposition, and why leaders must keep learning.

Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:17 - Reflecting on masculinity
00:03:42 - What does “ordinary” actually mean?
00:07:51 - Discovering your personal value proposition
00:09:24 - Going from functional manager to leader
00:15:03 - Misconceptions on leadership
00:17:16 - Is Trump having an effect on how we see leadership?
00:19:22 - Why intimidation is a terrible leadership tactic
00:23:14 - The importance of self awareness as a leader
00:29:56 - Do highly accomplished people lack self assurance?
00:32:58 - The desire to learn and having vulnerability
00:40:37 - The importance of giving people credit
00:44:22 - Accessing your library of experiences
00:51:53 - Reconising our own weaknesses
00:57:03 - The power of empowering others
00:59:41 - Do different generations lead differently?
01:02:49 - How to find time to learn as a leader

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3 months ago
1 hour 7 minutes

Uncensored CMO
CMO masterclass & how to grow billion dollar brands with PepsiCo CMO Jane Wakely and Neil Barrie

What makes a world-class CMO? In this masterclass, we’re joined by Jane Wakely, CMO of PepsiCo, and Neil Barrie, founder of 21st Century Brands, to explore the strategies that drive growth of billion dollar brands. We discuss why CFO partnerships matter, how to reappraise established brands, and why creativity, whether through celebrity campaigns or a giant Cheetos thumb, still drives results. Plus, Jane and Neil share practical lessons on making change happen inside complex organisations.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
01:28 - What are the attributes of a successful CMO?
07:57 - Why Neil created the CMO Thrive Guide
10:32 - Surprising things about Neil’s CMO research
12:44 - How Jane approached the first 90 days at PepsiCo
16:27 - The importance of the CFO and CMO relationship
22:22 - How marketers can influence the boardroom
25:44 - Managing over 20 $1b+ brands
27:52 - Navigating the complexity of a huge portfolio
32:25 - How large brands can “Stay Up”
34:49 - Why you should reappraise brands
41:05 - The impact of celebs in advertising
44:45 - Why the Cheetos giant thumb was effective
47:51 - PepsiCo’s involvement in Women’s sport
52:41 - How to make change happen in an organisation

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3 months ago
57 minutes

Uncensored CMO
Mark Ritson on why everyone is wrong about Sydney Sweeney, the 3 rules of creativity & why strategy always comes before tactics

Returning guest and everyone's favourite marketing professor, Mark Ritson, is back. As usual, Mark comes out firing with some no nonsense advice to all marketers. He talks about AI taking over his Mini MBA, leaving Marketing Week, why pricing is the most important P and some rules for creativity. Sit back and soak up the knowledge from Mr Mark Ritson.

Timestamps
00:00 - Intro
01:06 - Why Mark Ritson sold Mini MBA
02:12 - Mark Ritson leaving Marketing Week
04:19 - Jon’s favourite AI use case
08:07 - Will AI take over Mini MBA?
11:38 - What marketers think is different to what customers think
12:58 - Mark Ritson on that Sydney Sweeney ad
16:15 - The Creative Dividend: what makes great marketing in 2025
27:45 - Why marketers need to be involved in the 4 Ps
30:30 - Why pricing is so important (and why marketers should be involved)
38:28 - The absence of strategy and what to do about it
42:38 - What has surprised Mark Ritson most in 2025
43:09 - Why AI is being marketed so poorly
49:58 - The power of synthetic data

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3 months ago
55 minutes

Uncensored CMO
Deliciously Ella: how Ella Mills turned her personal brand into a global success

Ella Mills is the co-founder of Deliciously Ella, which began in 2012 as a simple blog sharing healthy recipes. What started online quickly grew into bestselling books, a #1 mobile app, and eventually a retail brand of healthy snacks. In 2024, Deliciously Ella was acquired for an undisclosed sum and today Ella is building her next venture, All Plants.

Her journey is inspiring, and in this episode we explore every milestone: from securing her first Starbucks listing, to navigating a failure that nearly sank the business, to proving how an “average” person can create a truly global brand.

Ella's podcast, The Wellness Scoop:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7F6YqGJ06UEuD7qG81tFHw


Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
01:01 - The Deliciously Ella founding story
06:16 - When did the Deliciously Ella blog start to take off
11:22 - Dealing with overnight attention and success
13:33 - How can an average student become so successful?
15:03 - How to nail a successful book launch
17:16 - Scaling a personal brand
21:08 - What’s it like running the business with your husband?
24:00 - Going from recipe blogs to making retail products
24:53 - How Deliciously Ella landed in Starbucks
33:18 - Building out the product range
35:04 - Behind every success is a bunch of failures
41:07 - Managing risk vs return when scaling a startup
45:29 - How to make products that are successful in retail
49:53 - Why Ella took over a new brand after selling Deliciously Ella
52:30 - Where is the plant based market headed?
56:22 - Why Ella started a podcast?

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4 months ago
1 hour

Uncensored CMO
The Uncensored CMO was created to explore the good, the bad and quite frankly downright ugly truth about marketing theory & practice.