🥁 Introducing a new content series called "The DeBrief"! In each episode - we’re going to unpack some of our favourite Canadian campaigns with some of the brilliant minds (client-side & agency-side) behind them.

As marketers - we see some amazing work but rarely have a chance to receive a behind-the-scenes look. What was the insight? Where was there tension? What got left on the cutting room floor? All of those questions & more will be answered in each episode!

First up - we unpacked Skip’s incredible brand refresh (formerly Skip The Dishes) & new “Skip to the Good Part” platform. We had the pleasure of chatting with Phil Sylver (Creative Director at Skip) & Rami Dudin (Executive Strategy Director at Courage). 

Amongst other things - we chatted about: how Jon Hamm found himself back at the centre of their new campaign, the scene that had some of them on edge, the recipe to a great client/agency relationship & how they are continuing to re-insert themselves in the lives of consumers across the country. 

You won't want to "skip" this one😉!

⚾ In this mini-episode, we chatted with Mitch Sharma who is the Sr. Manager of Sports Sponsorships & Regional Marketing at TD. 

Whether it was earlier on his career with the Edmonton Oilers or co-hosting his own podcast called “The Sports Business Life Podcast” - sports marketing has been a through-line in his incredible career. We chat with him about his thoughts on the thriving business of sports & his advice for anyone looking to break into the industry.

Amongst other things - we learned about a game-changing conversation that shaped his career, how his team approaches partnerships, why brands are increasingly looking to invest in sports & the types of roles that are available at TD. Also, we all left feeling the need to watch a Tom Cruise movie marathon 🚁🏃‍♂️ (it’ll make sense once you listen). 

As a quick reminder - in addition to long-form interviews with our incredible guests, we’re releasing short-form content that will answer the most burning questions that we receive from students/new grads. Have any topics in mind? Send us a message: [email protected]. 

🎓 In this mini-episode, we have an “office hours” style chat with Grant Packard, an Associate Professor & the Program Director of the Master of Marketing at the Schulich School of Business! We take a small trip down memory lane but spend most of the time picking his brain on the future of marketing. 

More specifically - we chat about the rapidly evolving marketing world (thanks AI🤖) & hear his timeless tips on how to navigate it. 

We also learn a bit more about the inspiring story on how he got his start in the industry & the lessons that came with it (hint: it involves driving an old truck to NYC, working at the first digital agency & late-night limos).

As a quick reminder - in addition to long-form interviews with our incredible guests, we’re releasing short-form content that will answer the most burning questions that we receive from students/new grads. Have any topics in mind? Send us a message: [email protected]. 

🙌 We had a great time chatting with Christopher Henry who is a Sr. Product Marketing Manager at Google. What is Google, you might ask... 

In all seriousness, Google requires no introduction because it’s so ubiquitous and if you’re like us - you’ve used one of their products/services countless times everyday (including right now). At Google, Chris helps to lead brand marketing on their blossoming hardware business in Canada. He primarily focuses on the Pixel, which is Google's  range of phones, tablets, earbuds, smartwatches/trackers. 

Chris has carved out a remarkable career at Google for the past 10 years having worked in marketing roles across Chromebook, Google Home, Youtube, Google.Org & Google Play Music. Prior to that he spent 3 years at Unilever and is a proud Queens alum. 

Amongst other things - we chatted about his team acting like a challenger brand, how a passion for filmmaking has helped him, the importance of finding a leader that will champion you, what most people get wrong about marketing & a 💯 reasons that JP should switch to #TeamPixel🏃. 

More specifically, Chris shared his thoughts on the following: 

• What was your Marketing Moment? (7:48) 
• What was it like taking a Film Option in addition to your commerce degree?(10:04)
• Can you give us a brief overview of your career in Marketing since you graduated? (11:15)
• Tell us more about what you’ve seen at Google in the ten years that you’ve been at the company. (12:22)
• How has your perception of Marketing evolved since you started at Google?(13:30)
• What was it about tech that made you want to make the switch into the industry? (15:00)
• What are the things you look at when you’re debating a career move? (16:57) 
• What would you look for as your assessing whether the manager you’ll work for is a fit for you? (19:54)
• What resources or tips do you have for students to stay plugged in or to learn more about the industry? (22:02)
• Knowing what you know now, are there things that you look back on in your days in university that were most important or useful to your career today?(25:31)
• Why do you think the Google Pixel Canada team has been so successful in its brand building efforts? (28:17)
• How do you coordinate with other Google brand teams to align your objectives and ensure you’re building the Google Masterbrand? (31:50)
• What does the Marketing team look like at Google Canada? (35:26)
• How does Product Marketing at Google differ from other companies? (37:01) 
• Do you have any cautionary advice for someone who is running towards big tech? (41:06)
• We put Chris in the Hot Seat🔥! (42:27)

🙌In this  mini-episode - we shine a spotlight on the American Marketing Association’s Toronto Chapter! You’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear that the AMA has had roots in Toronto for almost 80 years & since then - have helped countless marketers build their careers. Whether it’s been through hosting events, sharing thought leadership or creating mentorship opportunities. 

One of their flagship programs is the "Career Accelerator" where they thoughtfully pair young marketers with experienced mentors. To help learn more - we chatted with Craig Lund (VP of Leadership Excellence at the AMA) & Maggie Bolt (Program Director at the AMA). We chat through what makes this program special, the myths that exist around mentorship & share some powerful stories of how it can catapult your career. 

We hope you give this a listen, check out their website & apply (it’s live now ⌛)!

Learn More about the AMA !

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🎉As you work towards your new year's wellness goals (wait, we all still are right?) - who better to hear from than a leader who is shaping the health & wellness space? We had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Maria Acevedo, the Head of Marketing & eCommerce at Greenhouse. 

What started as a local cold-pressed juice start-up has now flourished into a plant-based beverage company that is scaling across Canada & the US. From their game-changing fiery ginger shots to their organic oat milks - they continue to live out their mission of making plant-based nutrition more accessible. Maria stewards everything from product innovation to eCommerce & her team of “passionate builders” are actively writing the next chapter in the company’s remarkable story. 

She has spent the past 2 years at Greenhouse. Prior to that - she’s carved out a dynamic career having worked in industries such as CPG, cannabis & alcohol. 

Amongst other things - we chatted about her constant pursuit of “10xing” her skills, her secrets to thriving in a scale-up, why marketing can be the glue that brings it all together, how Greenhouse continues to be a trailblazer & the fiery product that they call “liquid gold”🔥(yes, we can confirm that it’s amazing). 

More specifically, Maria shared her thoughts on the following: 

• How would you describe what you do to a stranger? (6:50) 
• What was your “Marketing Moment”? (9:02) 
• How did you explore that passion for marketing? (11:04)
• Can you walk us through the major stops along your career journey? (14:25) 
• What is the north star that drives your career decisions? (20:17)
• What’s your advice for someone who’s making a large career leap? (22:41)
• What has your experience at Greenhouse been thus far? (27:40)
• What was the brief to you as the leader of marketing? (31:42)
• What are the marketing levers that you’re focused on pulling? (36:18)
• What are the commonalities or differences between the different industries that you’ve been in? (38:38)
• What’s exciting you about the future of Greenhouse? (41:45)
• How do you stay true to Greenhouse's ethos while striving to make it more accessible? (42:50)
• What sort of mentality does prospective talent need to have? (45:45)
• We put Maria in the hot seat! (47:46) 

In this mini-episode, we shine a spotlight on Canada’s largest marketing case competition! Over the past 17 years - the CML has launched countless careers through their program & this year will be no different. If you’re an undergrad or master’s student in Canada - you won’t want to miss your chance at competing for the ultimate prize of $20K (yes, you read that right 🤯) & CML glory. Not to mention the fact that you’ll make long-lasting connections & have a blast along the way.

To help learn more - we chatted with Navjit Dhillon (former CML winner & Senior ABM at Kraft Heinz) & Jeffrey Yateman (former CML Co-Chair & Direct Sales Manager at GM Energy). You’re going to hear their thoughts on what makes the CML special & their insider tips on how to stand out in the competition. 

We hope you give this a listen, check out their website & get that first round application in (it’s due on January 24th⌛)! 

🙌 In this episode - we had such a great time chatting with Tanbir Grover who is the Chief Marketing & Digital Officer at Pet Valu!

Pet Valu is Canada’s leading retailer of pet food & pet-related supplies with over 800 locations across the country. For the past 50 years - they’ve been bringing joy to devoted pet lovers & their pets alike. 

Tanbir joined at what was a critical inflection point in Pet Valu’s journey. He joined during the midst of the pandemic - when they didn’t sell online, our relationships with pets were fundamentally changing, and the company was on the cusp of going public. Since that defining moment - he has helped them to steward their brand build efforts all the way to their digital capabilities. 

Prior to this role - he has a wealth of experience in the retail industry having worked at Lowe’s, Hudson’s Bay, and Sears. 

Amongst other things - we chatted with him about how Pet Valu continues to stand out in a crowded space, the biggest trends shaping the industry, a fateful call that changed his career trajectory, the value of an outsider's perspective, how you can connect the dots in hindsight & his dog Levi’s awesome Halloween costume (hint:🐕🦸‍♂️). 

More specifically, Tanbir shared his thoughts on the following questions: 

• How would you describe what you do to a stranger? (7:34) 
• What was your “Marketing Moment”? (8:50) 
• What did you take away most from those early experiences? (12:32)
• What is your approach to making career decisions? (14:17) 
• Can you take us back to that defining moment where you decided to start at Pet Valu? (19:23) 
• How did you manage the steep learning curve? (24:16) 
• How was your experience trying to lead a cultural shift within the organization? (27:50) 
• Can you unpack Pet Valu’s priorities & its new brand platform? (30:46) 
• What are the trends that you’re seeing & how is your team capitalizing on them? (38:04) 
• How is your team structured? (42:50) 
• We put Tanbir in the hot seat! (47:47) 

🏒🏆 In this episode, we had an absolute blast chatting with Nicole Lee -the Senior Director of Integrated Marketing at the NHL.

The league has been around for over 100 years & has gone through so many eras in that time. By all accounts - they’re in the midst of another golden era. Their revenue is at an all-time high which has been fueled by their captivating stars, intriguing storylines & new partnerships. Nicole's team works alongside their sponsors to help them mutually grow their businesses & the love for the sport. She joined 16 years ago & has helped the NHL grow the scale/impact of those partnerships.  

Prior to that - she has a fascinating story of growing within the US (completing her Masters in Ohio, working at Disney in Orlando & Anheuser-Busch in Virginia). 

Amongst other things - we chatted with her about the NHL’s record-shattering year, what winning partnerships look like, the importance of taking the long-view, the lost art of the handwritten note & whether the Leafs are finally going to win this year 🍾🤞. 

More specifically, Nicole shared her thoughts on the following questions: 

• How would you describe what you do to a complete stranger? (10:12)
• What's the benefit of Partnership Marketing for the NHL? (10:49)
• What was your "Marketing Moment"? (12:08)
• As you've progressed through your career, has there been a north star that has driven your decision making? (16:28)
• How did you think about the trade-offs between career choices? (17:18)
• Can you walk us through your 16-year career at NHL? (21:07)
• How has your view of sponsorship marketing evolved over time? (23:46)
• How does it feel to have been part of the growth of the NHL through your role in partnership marketing? (28:55)
• How do you cultivate strong relationships with your partners? (33:25)
• Can you walk us through an example of one of your partnerships and how that has come to life? (35:08)
• How is your team evaluated for success? (40:10)
• How is the marketing team set up at the NHL? (42:04)
• Do you have any cautionary advice for anyone who wants to enter a Sports Marketing career? (45:07)
• We put Nicole in the hot seat! (47:12)

🎃 👻 In the sixth episode of our mini-series “The Cheat Sheet”, we tackle a scary subject… the interview process (gasps!). Whether you’re in the thick of recruiting season or just thinking ahead - we’re sharing some of our top tricks (and treats) on how to make the most of an interview and how to leave a lasting impression! The goal (ghoul?) is for you to be an eerie-sistible candidate😅!

As a quick reminder - in addition to long-form interviews with our incredible guests, we're releasing short-form content that will answer the most burning questions that we receive from students/new grads. Have any topics in mind? Send us a message: [email protected]