Future Proof

By Kantar & Saïd Business School, Oxford UniversityBusiness Technology Marketing

Future Proof episodes

October 28 What is the Role of Unprompted Thought in the Era of AI?
In this Cannes special episode of Future Proof, Jane Ostler speaks with Kelly Ryan, Global Chief Brand Officer at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), about building distinctive brands in the age of AI. Kelly explains how TCS is helping organisations navigate AI transformation, why marathons have become a powerful expression of the brand, and why trust, creativity and "the power of the unprompted thought" will be critical for achieving cut-through in an increasingly automated world.
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15 min
October 21 Can Great Experiences Create Lasting Brand Growth?
In this Cannes Lions special episode of Future Proof, Rachelle Minnis sits down with Dan Reynolds, SVP of Global Marketing at Hilton, to explore how one of the world's most recognisable hospitality brands is building long-term brand growth in an increasingly competitive market.

Whether it's rescuing travellers from disastrous bookings, empowering creators to tell authentic stories, or using AI to remove friction across the customer journey, this episode offers practical lessons for marketers looking to build brands that people actively choose and remember.

Because in a world of endless choice, the brands that win are the ones that stay top of mind long before the purchase decision is made.
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29 min
October 14 You Can't Build a Brand in Two Seconds. Or Can You?
For years, marketers believed brand building required long-form storytelling. But new evidence is challenging that assumption.

Meta's Andy Childs and Konnie Fichtner join Jane Ostler to discuss why short-form video is proving effective for both brand growth and performance, how advertisers should rethink attention metrics, and why creator-first strategies are helping brands like Vaseline connect with new audiences. Plus, what AI and messaging platforms could mean for the next era of marketing.
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32 min
September 30 Trust, AI and the Future of Media: Why Credibility Matters More Than Ever
In this special Cannes edition of Future Proof, Nicole Jones is joined by Phillipa Leighton-Jones, SVP, Global Head of Studio & Creative and Chief Custom Anchor at The Wall Street Journal, to explore how AI is transforming the way people discover information, consume media and engage with brands.

Drawing on new research from WSJ Intelligence, Phillipa shares insights into changing consumer behaviours, the growing role of AI-powered search, and why trust, credibility and quality journalism remain critical in a world increasingly shaped by machine-generated answers. Together, they discuss the evolving relationship between publishers, platforms and brands, and what marketers need to do to remain visible, relevant and trusted as the media landscape continues to change.
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53 min
September 23 How Canva Is Reimagining Marketing for the AI Era
In this special Cannes edition of Future Proof, Duncan Southgate sits down with Rory Dolan, International CMO at Canva, to discuss how one of the world's most recognisable brands is navigating an AI-driven future.

From democratising creativity to building a globally consistent yet locally relevant brand, Rory shares how Canva is embedding AI across its platform while keeping people at the centre of the creative process. Together, they explore what marketing effectiveness looks like in an era of algorithmic discovery, changing media consumption and increasing pressure for short-term results, and why strong creativity, meaningful measurement and a long-term brand-building mindset matter more than ever.
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22 min
September 16 Are Brands Measuring Project Success the Right Way?
In this Cannes special episode of Future Proof, Jeff Herman, EVP of Tech & Telco at Kantar, is joined by Menaka Gopinath, Chief Marketing Officer at the Project Management Institute (PMI), to explore what success looks like in an era of constant transformation.

Drawing on PMI's latest research, they discuss why delivering value matters more than simply being on time and on budget, how organisations can bridge the gap between strategy and execution, and why uniquely human skills such as curiosity, empathy and critical thinking are becoming even more important in an AI-driven world
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30 min
September 09 You Win or You Learn: How Carlsberg Is Innovating in the Age of AI
In this Cannes special episode of Future Proof, Dr. Nicki Morley is joined by Marcella Wiwe, VP Marketing Denmark at Carlsberg Group, to explore how AI is changing the way brands innovate. From accelerating innovation cycles from months to days to identifying growth opportunities through consumer insight and real-world testing, Marcella shares how her team is using AI, experimentation and category understanding to bring new ideas to market. Together, they discuss the "you win or you learn" mindset, building innovation from strong brand foundations, and why human judgement remains essential in an AI-driven world.
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26 min
September 02 What Can Marketers Learn from TikTok's Growth Engine?
In this Cannes special episode of Future Proof, Jane Ostler speaks with Dina Liu, Global Head of Brand Product Marketing at TikTok, about how AI is reshaping brand discovery and growth. From creator-led marketing and AI-powered content recommendations to the challenge of building salience in a fragmented media landscape, Dina shares how TikTok is helping brands stay relevant in an increasingly automated world.
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22 min
August 26 Tentacles of Excellence: Why is Managing Customer Experience Even More Important for Brands Today?
In this Cannes special episode, Jane Ostler talks with Charlotte Snelgrove from Octopus Energy (winner of the Blueprint for Brand Growth Experience Award 2026) and Peter Aitken from Kantar about the connection between customer experience and brand growth. From building a culture of agility to staying close to customer needs in an increasingly AI-driven world, they share practical lessons for businesses looking to create meaningful and different experiences.
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30 min
August 12 The Goodness of Milk: How Arla Foods use Intelligence to Spark Innovation and Find Growth
In this Cannes special episode of Future Proof, Dr Nicki Morley sits down with Michael Swaisland, Vice President of Consumer Intelligence and Marketing Transformation at Arla Foods, to discuss how curiosity, consumer understanding and AI can work together to drive innovation. They explore turning insights into action, identifying the right growth opportunities, and why human judgement remains essential in a world increasingly shaped by AI.

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25 min

About Future Proof

From the publisher's feed

Future Proof is the marketing podcast from Said Business School, Oxford University, and Kantar, the world’s leading marketing data and analytics company. In each episode, we’ll have a frank discussion…