Marketing Today with Alan Hart

Alan B. Hart
Marketing Today with Alan Hart

Alan Hart, marketer and advisor to the world's best marketers and companies, leads intimate conversations with the world's most dynamic chief marketing officers (CMOs) and business leaders. Alan goes further than other marketing podcasts to learn CMO strategies, tips, and advice. Alan and his guests reveal what makes a great brand, marketing campaign, or turnaround. Learn from the personal experience and rich stories of these marketing and business leaders so you can unleash your full potential. Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    442: Navigating E-Commerce Evolution and Shifting Consumer Trends with Chris Carl, the U.S. Head of Marketing at AliExpress

    Christopher "Chris" Carl became the first U.S. Head of Marketing at AliExpress in 2023. Under his leadership, order volume increased by 60%, the brand's share of voice grew by 75%, headcount expanded by 400%, social media following surged by 500%, and brand awareness doubled. Chris’s impressive marketing career began as an intern at Calvin Klein. He then moved to BBDO in Germany, where he worked on pricing strategies, market expansions, and e-commerce development for European brands. Following this, he launched the U.S. office for Pulse Advertising, focusing on influencer marketing, and served as COO and President. He also founded his own men’s grooming brand before taking on his current role at AliExpress, where he continues to make a significant impact. AliExpress is a global online retail platform owned by the Alibaba Group, headquartered in China. Launched in 2010, it connects buyers with a wide range of sellers, primarily manufacturers and wholesalers from China, offering products at competitive prices. AliExpress focus is on facilitating international trade by allowing businesses and individuals to sell a wide range of products to consumers around the world at an affordable cost. On today's show, Alan and Chris discuss what AliExpress is and how it fits within the Alibaba Group. They explore advertising campaigns and partnerships, including the recent collaboration with UEFA and the latest campaign featuring David Beckham. Their conversation also touches on consumer behavior, the future of e-commerce, and how AliExpress plans to capitalize on emerging trends. In this episode, you'll learn:  Strategies to enhance the online shopping experience while driving affordabilityInsights into consumer behavior and its implications for market positioningInnovative approaches to leverage emerging trends for competitive advantage Key Highlights:  [01:35] Story of being brushed with fame in New York[03:13] Career path[07:20] Insights you gained from prior career experiences [11:42] AliExpress’ aspirations in the U.S.[14:00] State of U.S. consumers today[16:30] Where AliExpress is focusing its energy[19:23] Campaign with David Beckham [22:33] What’s next for AliExpress[24:55] Experience of your past that defines you[26:18] Advice to younger self[27:11] A topic that you and other marketers need to learn more about[28:13] Trends or subcultures others should follow[29:37] Largest opportunity or threat to marketers today Looking for more? Visit our website for the full show notes, links to resources mentioned in this episode, and ways to connect with the guest! Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min
  2. OCT 16

    441: How Personalized Marketing Can Evolve Your Companies Value with Dave Edelman

    Dave Edelman is a sought-after advisor on digital transformation and marketing, a professor, and an author. He teaches marketing at Harvard Business School and advises top executives on AI and personalization. Dave began his career as a young consultant at the Boston Consulting Group, where he coined the term “Segment-of-One Marketing.” Dave also guided Aetna (now part of CVS Health) as CMO through its transformation into a digitally oriented, customer-centric brand. Recognized multiple times by Forbes as one of the “Most Influential CMOs in the World” and by AdWeek as one of the “Top 20 Marketing and Technology Executives,” Dave has attracted over 1.1 million followers to his LinkedIn blog. His upcoming book, Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI, will be published by Harvard Business Press in October. On today's show, Alan and Dave discuss Dave’s upcoming book and the importance of personalization for companies. They delve into the '5 Promises of Personalization,' exploring how effective personalization can transform a company's brand and value proposition over time. They also examine the key conditions required for successful personalization marketing, and how the personalization index can be used to assess and enhance a company's personalization practices. Additionally, they discuss how personalization can unlock the growth potential of AI. In this episode, you'll learn:  The 5 Promises of Personalization and how they can add value to your companyHow AI can enhance personalized marketingTips around building trust, a key component to personalization Key Highlights:  [01:40] Dave’s passion as a jazz player & how it parallels business[03:35] How Dave got into personalization[07:13] Why this book and why now? [09:03] Conditions needed for personalization [13:33] The 5 promises of personalization [18:40] Digging deeper into “Reach Me” [23:10] How trust factors in [25:33] How do you get better at “Delight Me”[28:44] Evolving your value proposition[32:00] Experience of your past that defines you[34:05] Advice to younger self[35:12] A topic that you and other marketers need to learn more about[36:27] Trends or subcultures others should follow[38:18] Largest opportunity or threat to marketers today Looking for more? Visit our website for the full show notes, links to resources mentioned in this episode, and ways to connect with the guest! Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
  3. OCT 9

    440: Entering the Consumer Market while Driving Sustainability with Elyse Winer CMO & GM of Consumer at GenPhoenix

    440: Entering the Consumer Market while Driving Sustainability with Elyse Winer CMO & GM of Consumer at GenPhoenix Elyse Winer, CMO and GM of Consumer at GenPhoenix, began her career at Merrill Lynch before transitioning to healthcare consulting at Vynamic, where she gained branding and sales experience. She then moved into startups, leading marketing for Boston-based companies and collaborating with Reebok at MC10. Before joining GenPhoenix full-time, Elyse became a partner at Material Impact, a venture capital fund, where she served as interim CMO for GenPhoenix, overseeing a rebrand and their expansion into the consumer market. Her success in both startups and large companies has earned her numerous accolades, including Forbes' "30 Under 30" in Marketing & Advertising. GenPhoenix, founded in 2007 for the aviation industry, is a market leader in the mass transportation seating category, with over 250 airlines using their material. Their technology breaks down waste leather to the fiber level and uses recycled water to rebuild the fibers, creating a product even stronger than before. This recycled leather has an 86% lower carbon footprint compared to traditional leather. GenPhoenix has since expanded into the leather goods and footwear industries, collaborating with brands like Coach and Dr. Martens. To date, they have diverted more than 10,000 tons of waste from landfills. On today's show, Alan and Elyse discuss the sustainability of the fashion industry and its future direction. They explore how GenPhoenix is adapting, shifting from a predominantly B2B model to expanding into the consumer market. They also highlight partnerships with brands like Coachtopia and Dr. Martens, among others, and discuss strategies for promoting and protecting your brand in collaborations. Additionally, they discuss what early-stage companies and scale-ups, like GenPhoenix, should prioritize when allocating their marketing budgets. In this episode, you'll learn:  Strategies when expanding into the consumer marketHow to protect and promote your brand in a collaborationWhat to prioritize when allocating marketing budgets, on a budget Key Highlights:  [01:37] What Snoop Dogg is like [04:36] Career path to GenPhoenix[11:00] What is GenPhoenix [14:25] What combined role of CMO and GM of Consumer looks like[18:05] Sustainability in the fashion industry[23:45] Expanding into the consumer market[27:49] How to protect your brand in a collaboration[35:22] How being budget constrained can drive creativity[40:47] Experience of your past that defines you[43:40] Advice to younger self[45:19] A topic that you and other marketers need to learn more about[47:35] Trends or subcultures others should follow[50:00] Largest opportunity or threat to marketers today Looking for more? Visit our website for the full show notes, links to resources mentioned in this episode, and ways to connect with the guest! Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min
  4. OCT 2

    439: The Intersection of Humanity and Technology with Larry Weber Founder and Chairman of Racepoint Global

    Larry Weber is the Founder and Chairman of Racepoint Global and the founder of The Weber Group. He also engineered the merger of Weber Shandwick, making it the world’s largest public relations firm. With a career spanning over 45 years, Larry co-founded the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange (MITX). His impressive client list includes industry giants such as AT&T, Boston Scientific, John Deere, General Electric, General Motors, Panasonic, and Verizon, among others. Larry is the author of six books on marketing, technology, and leadership. His seventh book, A New Age of Reason: Harnessing the Power of Tech for Good, was released on August 6. Racepoint Global is an independent public relations agency based in Boston, Massachusetts. They specialize in providing integrated communications services to a wide range of clients, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Their focus is on helping B2B and consumer technology brands engage their audiences in meaningful ways. On today's show, Alan and Larry discuss the valuable insight Larry has learned from working with industry titans. They delve into the key themes of his new book, A New Age of Reason: Harnessing the Power of Tech for Good, examining the intersection of technology and humanity and the complementary forces they create. Exploring the concept of "tech for good", they discuss how traditional marketing has disappeared in today's world. They also talk about the evolving roles of earned, owned, and paid media in modern marketing. In this episode, you'll learn:  How to build long-term customer loyaltyThe future of earned, owned and paid mediaHow to harness tech for good and drive innovation Key Highlights:  [01:40] What is it like to have worked with industry titans [07:40] Career path to PR and Communications[13:10] Why this book and why now[20:40] Are tech and humanity competing or complementary forces[24:15] Tech for good[27:17] Has marketing disappeared[31:03] Earned, owned and paid media[36:12] Experience of your past that defines you[38:00] Advice to younger self[39:09] A topic that you and other marketers need to learn more about[40:35] Largest opportunity or threat to marketers today Looking for more? Visit our website for the full show notes, links to resources mentioned in this episode, and ways to connect with the guest! Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
  5. SEP 25

    438: Critical Milestones for Rebranding Success with Pam Morrisroe CMO of Breakthrough T1D

    Pam Morrisroe is the CMO of Breakthrough T1D, formerly JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Consumer Studies from the University of Vermont and an MBA in Marketing and Media Communication from Fordham University. With over 20 years of marketing experience, Pam has led award-winning campaigns for clients like Ford, American Express, and Volkswagen across multiple channels, including digital activation, experiential, branding, consumer, business-to-business, CRM and omnichannel commerce. As Managing Director at VMLY&R, she spearheaded innovative virtual programming during the pandemic, driving significant growth. Now at Breakthrough T1D, Pam leads campaigns to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes and support the organization's mission to create a world without T1D. Breakthrough T1D, formerly JDRF, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1970 by families affected by type 1 diabetes (T1D). It is now the leading global research and advocacy organization for T1D. Its mission is to accelerate life changing breakthroughs to prevent, cure, and treat T1D and its complications by connecting the brightest minds to advance treatments, influence policy, and improve access to care. On today's show, Alan and Pam discuss what sparked the rebranding from JDRF to Breakthrough T1D. They delve into the research behind the rebrand, the careful selection of the new name, and how it has been seamlessly integrated into their marketing strategy. They also highlight the progress made, what’s working well, and other critical milestones essential for rebranding success. Additionally, Pam highlights the importance of diversifying knowledge across various marketing categories, explaining how this approach has contributed to her expertise and success in the field.  In this episode, you'll learn:  Why research is critical to a successful rebrandHow to effectively integrate a rebrand into every aspect of your companyThe strategic, intentional steps behind a successful rebranding campaign, and how it expands consumer reach Key Highlights:  [02:14] Experience of dropping your oldest son off at college[03:15] Living the only child life[04:10] Pam’s career path[06:50] What is Breakthrough T1D[08:22] What sparked the rebrand[10:30] Critical milestones to rebranding[13:51] How you knew you had the right name[16:40] Why simplicity was so important in the pitch process[18:00] How does the rebrand manifest in the marketing[22:03] Lessons learned[25:42] Experience of your past that defines you[27:13] Advice to younger self[29:05] A topic that you and other marketers need to learn more about[30:05] Trends or subcultures others should follow[32:36] Largest opportunity or threat to marketers today Looking for more? Visit our website for the full show notes, links to resources mentioned in this episode, and ways to connect with the guest! Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
  6. SEP 18

    437: Bridging the Gap Between B2B Marketing and Sales with Jennifer McAdams CMO of Xactly

    Jennifer (Jen) McAdams is a seasoned marketing veteran with more than 25 years of experience within the software industry. Jen went to Northeastern where she graduated with a resume and a business suite, and hit the ground running in her career. She worked closely with Xactly in an advisory CMO role initially as part of Vista Equity Partners’ Value Creation Team – and her partnership and execution of a comprehensive marketing plan that generated increased pipeline and higher quality leads led her to permanently join Xactly as a member of the senior leadership team and CMO. Before Xactly and Vista Equity Partners, she’s previously held senior roles with SAP, Cisco, Progress, Ixia, and Kaseya.  Xactly is a platform “for sales leaders founded by a sales leader”. Their main legacy product is for automating sales compensation and commissions. However, over the years, they have made acquisitions that have allowed them to extend their offerings into sales planning and forecasting tools that live in a single platform and are available as modular pieces that grow with their clients.  On the show today, Alan and Jen talk about how she is bridging the gap between marketing and sales at Xactly and what she has seen work across the different types of companies that she's worked for. Jen gives us practical tips to align around a common goal, how she thinks about organizing teams, and the importance of leading by example. Alan and Jen also discuss how marketing is organized within her group, how that relates to customer marketing as she builds that new function and how AI can be a resource for marketers.  In this episode, you'll learn:  The importance of bridging the gap between marking and sales Tips on how to collaborate, align, and operationalize around a common goals How Jen organizes her team for a focus on customer marketing Key Highlights:  [01:58] Life with a rescue Chihuahua (Biscuit)   [03:20] Jennifer’s career path [08:06] What Xactly does and who they serve [09:13] The gap between B2B marketing and sales[11:22] Aligning goals with compensation[12:15] How to operationalize[15:15] Getting the rest of the team on the same page[16:42] What does marketing look like at Xactly[17:58] What customer marketing looks like[20:38] Experience of your past that defines you[22:39] Advice to younger self[24:37] A topic that you and other marketers need to learn more about - AI[25:47] Trends or subcultures others should follow[27:08] Largest opportunity or threat to marketers today Looking for more? Visit our website for the full show notes, links to resources mentioned in this episode, and ways to connect with the guest! Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
  7. SEP 11

    436: How to Hack Culture, Pick Influencers, and Stay Relevant with Patrick Buchanan, SVP of Marketing at Lulus

    Patrick Buchanan is from Lexington, Kentucky, and went to Western Kentucky University, where he studied journalism broadcasting with the dream of being a VJ. After graduation, Patrick moved to LA to pursue those dreams, but instead fell into marketing through a side hustle as an assistant at Creative Recreation. He found he had a knack for it, embraced his new path, and over the next 7 years, worked his way up to become Marketing Director at Creative Recreation before he moved on to Global Marketing Director at K-Swiss Global Brands, then Senior Director of Brand Marketing for Bravado at Universal Music Group. In 2021, Patrick became Vice President Marketing at GOOD AMERICAN, and today, he serves as Senior Vice President of Marketing at Lulu's, a women's fashion business with a mission to make women feel special and beautiful for all of their life's moments.  On the show today, Alan and Patrick talk about what Lulus does, who they serve, and the kinds of altruistic disruptive campaigns they are implementing to get organic attention. Patrick also tells us how brands should be thinking about the types of partners and influencers they invest in to most effectively and authentically speak to their target audience, as well as his lived experience being a young black head of marketing and what he hopes to do with his platform.  I n this episode, you'll learn: Examples of disruptive campaigns to get organic attention How to pick and leverage the right influence partnersPatrick’s experience as a young black man and head of marketing  Key Highlights: [01:40] A brush with fame alongside Kelly Clarkson [03:10] Patrick’s career path[08:30] What Lulus does and who they serve[10:00] How to get your brand noticed [12:30] Leveraging partnerships to bring brand missions to life[17:35] How to engage with influencer marketing as it evolves [20:10] Patrick’s experience as a young black man and head of marketing [23:30] Learning to maneuver creatively and never accepting no as an answer [25:20] Advice to his younger self [26:55] Always be learning more about your customers and what they like. [28:50] Trends and subcultures to watch [30:30] Opportunities and challenges with AI Looking for more? Visit our website for the full show notes, links to resources mentioned in this episode, and ways to connect with the guest! Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  8. SEP 4

    435: Murder in HR and the Power of Branded Entertainment with Ryan Bonnici, CMO at Wellhub (formerly Gympass)

    Ryan Bonnici is Chief Marketing Officer, Wellhub, previously known as Gympass. Ryan brings over 15 years of experience at places like Salesforce, HubSpot, G2, and Microsoft and was named one of the 2020 World’s Most Influential CMOs by Forbes. Ryan now leads a team of over 300 professionals at Wellhub, where his main goal is to make wellbeing a priority for employees globally.  Wellhub is the world's leading corporate wellness platform. They have over 15,000 clients globally who rely on Wellhub to provide their employees with access to the best wellness partners around the world across fitness, mindfulness, therapy, nutrition, and sleep. Their goal is to make every company a wellness company. On the show today, Alan and Ryan talk about the reason behind the rebrand from Gympass to Wellhub, the logistics of making such a significant change, and differences in their B2B, B2C, and B2P marketing strategies. They also discussed the benefits of entertainment marketing tactics, why Ryan and his team ultimately settled on a fictional podcast called Murder in HR, and the impact it has had on their core businesses. In this episode, you'll learn: The reasoning and logistics behind rebranding from Gympass to WellhubThe differences in B2B, B2C, and B2P marketing strategies Why and how to leverage branded entertainment  Key Highlights: [01:40] How Ryan gets wellness into his week [05:55] Ryan’s career path[10:45] Wellhub’s goal and mission [12:15] Their product is their network.[14:30] From Gympass to Wellhub[19:10] What B2B, B2C, and B2P marketing looks like at Wellhub[21:20] Leveraging branded entertainment [30:00] How self-low esteem as a kid impacted Ryan as an adult[32:10] Advice to his younger self [33:15] Don’t write off social selling in B2B and follow your own behaviors.[35:45] Trends and subcultures to watch [37:15] Threats facing marketers today Looking for more? Visit our website for the full show notes, links to resources mentioned in this episode, and ways to connect with the guest! Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
5
out of 5
363 Ratings

About

Alan Hart, marketer and advisor to the world's best marketers and companies, leads intimate conversations with the world's most dynamic chief marketing officers (CMOs) and business leaders. Alan goes further than other marketing podcasts to learn CMO strategies, tips, and advice. Alan and his guests reveal what makes a great brand, marketing campaign, or turnaround. Learn from the personal experience and rich stories of these marketing and business leaders so you can unleash your full potential. Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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