How The F**k Did You Get That Job?

In this episode of "How the F**k Did You Get That Job," our host sits down with James Thompson, the COO of Heineken. With a background in English literature and a flair for business, James takes us through his unconventional journey. Starting from his university days, he discovered a passion for persuading people and quickly found his niche in marketing. James shares his experiences from Unilever to Diageo, Avon, and ultimately landing at Heineken. He delves into the intricacies of alcohol advertising, the art of standing out, and the power of relationships in the corporate world. James reflects on his leadership style, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, collaboration, and embracing strengths. He highlights Heineken's vision for balanced growth, inclusivity, and environmental responsibility. As the conversation unfolds, James provides insights into his innovative strategies for expanding Heineken's brand reach, digitizing the business, and introducing new product concepts.

0:00 Intro 

1:03 Deciding to study English literature 

1:50 First business in university 

2:23 When did you realize not only that you enjoyed it, but you were good at it

2:47 How does reading play in to your narrative

3:36 What was your first campaign that stood out 

4:30 Take me back to getting your first job at Unilever

5:00 How did you show leadership at a young age 

5:30 What were some things you didn’t expect working at a global brand 

6:17 How did you start managing red tape that comes when working with a brand 

6:55 Mentorship, who taught you a lesson you hold onto now 

8:00 How did the opportunity to go from Unilever to Diageo come about 

9:23 What is one thing with Diageo that worked really well that you didn’t expect and vice versa 

10:35 What was the transitionary period going to Avon like

12:51 How did you find yourself as COO at Heineken 

14:21 What do you look for in talent when making teams 

15:13 Type of metrics that exemplify success in your position at Heineken 

15:53 Where do you see Heineken going in the next couple years 

16:55 How has travel affected you and your personal life

17:42 Something you’re proud of in your personal life 

18:32 OpenFortune sponsorship 

19:28 Quick question round 

20:30 Outro

In a captivating episode of "How the F**k Did You Get That Job," Diana Scholz, a seasoned communications executive at Bayer, takes listeners on a journey through her unconventional career path. From her humble beginnings and transformative internship to her current leadership role, Diana emphasizes the power of embracing opportunities with a learning mindset. She shares insights into Bayer's impactful projects, its unique purpose in healthcare and nutrition, and her strategies for maintaining creativity within a corporate environment. The episode touches on personal aspects as well, with Diana discussing her enduring long-distance relationship and the importance of daily routines. As a woman in leadership, she emphasizes the significance of vulnerability and adapting to change while offering advice on navigating non-linear career paths. Listeners gain inspiration from Diana's insights into leadership, innovation, and personal growth, leaving them with valuable takeaways for their own professional journeys.

0:00 Intro

1:43 Take me back to your university decision 

2:17 A moment when you realized this was the right path for you

4:05 How did living in Berlin and your travel shape you as a person 

6:20 Landing her first job 

8:00 What made Bayer special to you 

8:51 What was a project you felt you had a big impact on 

10:35 Culture of the company 

11:57 How has being a woman in a leadership role affected your trajectory 

13:20 The reality of moving somewhere new 

15:06 What advice would you give to someone about moving to a new place 

16:05 How do you balance being creative within a big corporate company

17:23 Leadership style and past mentorship 

19:30 How would you define your market, how does it define your marketing stagey

21:33 What’s a product you’re trying to push more 

22:15 Personal life 

25:12 OpenFortune sponsorship 

25:44 Quick question round 

30:00 Outro

In this insightful episode, we dive into the remarkable journey of Dr. Joel N. Myers, the visionary Founder and Executive Chairman of AccuWeather. From his early fascination with weather to the founding of AccuWeather, Dr. Myers shares his challenges and triumphs in establishing accurate weather forecasting as a critical industry. He recounts the pivotal moments that led to AccuWeather's growth and its life-saving impact, citing examples such as Hurricane Katrina. Dr. Myers' dedication to mentoring, fostering a culture of excellence, and following one's dreams shines through as he discusses his personal philosophy and legacy. The episode concludes with a lively lightning round, offering a glimpse into Dr. Myers' thoughts on various topics. Listeners are left inspired by his commitment to accuracy, innovation, and making a positive difference in people's lives.

0:00 Intro 

1:08 Early interest in weather 

2:50 College decision 

3:50 Early weather forecasts

6:50 What did it look like getting your first customer 

8:58 What did it look like growing the company 

10:21 How did you know you could do it better than those around you 

15:02 What was the moment you realized this could change the world 

16:20 Some of the ideas you’ve led with through time

17:44 Some things you are proud of with Accuweather 

19:52 Campaigns that have allowed you to get more of a user base than competitors 

20:37 Where do you see the business going in the next 5 years 

21:24 What are some things you’re proud of in your personal life 

24:55 OpenFortune sponsorship 

25:57 Quick question round

28:00 Outro

In this riveting episode of "How the F**k Did You Get That Job?," we sit down with Dot Levine, Director of Communications at Vevo. Host David Jaffin delves into Dot's remarkable career journey, tracing her path from studying American Studies to becoming a driving force in the music industry. Dot's narrative showcases the power of embracing unconventional paths and the significance of genuine connections in her role at Vivo. She recounts heartwarming stories of working with artists like Wolf Alice and Billie Eilish, revealing the impact of original content and authentic engagement. Through her insights, listeners gain a unique perspective on the ever-evolving world of public relations, the transformation of content creation, and the essence of fostering meaningful connections. Tune in to uncover Dot's inspiring journey and discover how the fck she got that job.

Episode Highlights:

0:00: Introduction to the podcast and guest Dot Levine

1:27: Early exposure to the music industry

2:43: Background in American studies

4:08 First job upon graduation

5:20 Fusing music and politics

6:27: Leveraging core competencies and building your skillset

8:18 What are qualities of hires you’ve made?

12:50 Biggest takeaways that led you to working in the music industry

15:14 Advice you give to people working in front of the cameras

17:35 Advice for those hoping to break into the music industry

21:17 Why Vevo, first role on the communications team

25:55 Tell me about an artist that loved the user experience at Vevo

31:32 One person that if you met you’d still get butterflies 

34:27 How has PR changed

40:00 What’s something you’re really proud of

42:35 What’s something you’re proud of outside of work

43:17 OpenFortune sponsorship

43:53 Quick question round 

46:24 Outro

How the f**k did Neda Whitney manage to seamlessly blend her profound understanding of marketing with her passion for luxury fashion? After graduating from college, Neda embarked on a determined journey through agency work, tirelessly climbing the corporate ladder to reach her dream role. She recalls the sheer sense of destiny she felt when she finally took on her title as a CMO in a luxury fashion firm, attributing her success to the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai - the intersection of what you love, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs. Neda also touches on the importance of advocating for other women in professional settings, emphasizing the power of using one's voice for collective success. But beyond her professional achievements, the episode provides listeners with an intimate look into her personal beliefs and preferences. Curious about how Neda perceives the world, or how her journey can inspire your own career trajectory? Dive into this episode for a rich blend of professional wisdom and personal anecdotes.

Navigating the tumultuous tides of the advertising world, especially in a powerhouse like Amazon, is no small feat. This illuminating conversation with Jo Shoesmith of Amazon's advertising team provides a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the dynamic world of advertising campaigns. Diving deep, she touches on the nuances of teamwork, the pressure of high-risk projects, and the marriage of creativity with evolving technology. Additionally, her candid discussion on being a woman in a predominantly male industry offers invaluable insights for aspiring young professionals. Anecdotes, both humorous and revealing, pave the way for a deeper understanding of the advertising cosmos. This conversation paints a vivid picture, not just of the technicalities of advertising, but of the human touch that drives it.

How the f**k did Sheri Bachstein evolve from a newsroom intern to the helm of The Weather Company? Sheri's journey began in the trenches of the newsroom, a humble intern with grit. A major test came during the 1996 Olympics bombing incident - a challenge she met head-on, fortifying her resilience.

Later, her path twisted towards digital media, where she made waves at weather.com. Embracing this new arena, she sparked creativity and leveraged partnerships to boost viewership and fortify The Weather Company's brand.

So, how does one rise from covering stories to directing the narrative at a major media company? Brace yourself as we unravel the storm of Sheri Bachstein's remarkable ascent.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 Intro 

1:57 When you were a child what did you want to do 

2:54 Standing out as an intern 

4:30 Landing first job 

5:21 Becoming producer 

6:30 Working her way up 

8:32 Transitioning to digital out of home job 

9:22 Creating and producing for a music show 

11:05 I had to make a huge pivot in my life 

12:54 What made you want to go back 

14:55 Moving into digital 

16:50 How do you pick up new skills 

18:22 Tactics that allowed you to grow 

19:48 Incorporating Watson and AI

22:16 Creating weather insights for marketers 

24:15 Leadership style, what mentors have taught you 

26:33 Advice for young women

27:54 I want to ask about your personal life 

28:55 Open Fortune sponsorship 

29:58 Quick question round 

31:42 Outro 

How the f**k did Jason Falovitch go from managing Evander Holyfield as a young adult to doing business with the legendary Mark Cuban? Jason graduated from York University in 2007. In 2011, he was named Director of Muhammad Ali’s Global Village Champions Foundation. Then in 2012, Jason began managing four-time heavyweight champion boxer, Evander Holyfield. After two years with Holyfield, he became the president of the digital television network, URshow.tv. After two years there, he began representing UFC Middleweight Champion, Michael Bisping in 2016. Shortly after, in 2017, he co-founded Playline.com, the largest sports lottery in the world, with Bisping and Roy Hibbert. In March of 2020, he co-founded Leverage Game Media with Mark Cuban. Today, he is still active with Playline, Leverage Game Media, and representing Michael Bisping. So what’s it like to travel with Evander Holyfield? And how does one play the leverage game in order to advance in their own careers?

How the f**k did Andrew Stallings go from working on a morning golf show at SiriusXM to owning and running his own successful marketing agency? Andrew graduated from Marymount University with a degree in Communication and Media Studies. During his time in school, he interned with Sirius XM. Shortly after finishing school in 2010, he came on full time as a producer on Sirius’s NASCAR Radio Channel. In 2015, Andrew began work with the sports marketing agency behemoth, Octagon. He left Octagon in 2017 and that eventually led to him founding his own sports marketing agency, Athelo Group. Today, in addition to being the CEO and Founder of Athelo Group, he is the Head Coach of Stamford Public Schools Women’s High School Ice Hockey Team and the sponsor of a Firecracker 400 champion eSports car. So how close are Andrew and John Legend, or as Andrew calls him, Johnny Legend? And what drives Andrew to be so successful in his role as CEO?

How the f**k did Adam Faris go from having an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age to now running multiple businesses and providing content to over 800 thousand TikTok followers? Adam graduated from the University of Oregon with a Business Administration degree in 2020. During his time in Oregon, Adam interned with IOTAS, Arcimoto, and LinkedIn. As a student, he also co-founded two groups, Oregon Blockchain and Duck Ventures. Today, he is a co-founder of Shred and FleetNurse. He’s also a Growth Marketer at The Mobility House. On top of all that he runs two TikTok accounts with over 800 thousand combined followers. So how did Adam start his entrepreneurial journey? And how has he been successful across multiple areas including automotive, sports, medical and lifestyle experiences?