Multiplying impact with unique perspectives with Damaune Journey, Global Chief Growth Officer @ 72andSunny 

Damaune Journey’s leap into advertising was inspired by purpose. A lack of representation across media inspired his mid-career pivot, and since then, he's made historic strides as the Global Chief Growth Officer at 72andSunny. Damaune has helped lead the agency to global recognition, award-winning campaigns, and an internal creative culture rooted in optimism. From filming Super Bowl spots in Ghana to co-founding Sport Beach at Cannes, he’s proving that advertising is bigger than driving sales. 

In this episode of Question Everything, Damaune unpacks his formula for impactful advertising, 72andSunny’s internal litmus test used to judge their work, and the agency’s unique process for democratizing culture-shifting campaigns. 

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

• The power of Purpose x Perspective x Persistence

• Damaune’s charge for advertisers to consider representation

• Why agencies should seek perspectives from every department

• 72andSunny’s “Murph Meter” and what it means for their work

• Why it’s crucial to think beyond the traditional TV spot 

• Why AI won’t replace your job, people who know how to use it will

• The most star-studded names at Cannes Sport Beach

• Damaune's career moments that his daughter is most proud of

 Resources:

• Learn more about 72andSunny on their website

• Watch 72andSunny’s “Run With It” campaign

• Watch 72andSunny’s “Born To Play” campaign

• See more on Tinder’s “Swipe Night” campaign

• Connect with Damaune on LinkedIn

 Breaking and Entering's Media’s Geno Schellenberger is writing Gen Z’s ad industry playbook

Geno Schellenberger’s Breaking and Entering Media takes pretension out of the press by using Gen Z-native content strategies to keep advertisers entertained and in the know. 

In this episode of Question Everything, Geno opens up about the power of personal brand building in the age of AI, the most impactful Gen Z marketing strategies, and trends the industry should retire. It’s a party, and Geno’s inviting the industry’s newest talent to dance.

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

• How Breaking and Entering Media started

• The best way to stand out as a Gen Zer in an AI-fueled world

• An outdated adland mindset that should retire

• The most surprising thing Geno has learned about the ad industry  

• How theater and improv can boost presentation skills

• What agencies get wrong with their positioning 

• What CMOs still get wrong about Gen Z

• The brand campaign that first made Geno say, “I want in.”

• The most overused breakthrough tactic right now

• What it really means to be authentic, and why it’s non-negotiable

Resources:

• Connect with Geno on LinkedIn

• Learn more about Breaking and Entering Media on their website

Oliver McAteer shares Mischief’s secrets to successful disruptive creative campaigns

Oliver McAteer is in the business of making brands unignorable. As Partner and Head of Development at Mischief @ No Fixed Address, he’s helped shape one of the world's most talked-about and awarded creative agencies.

In this episode of Question Everything, Ollie gets candid about how Mischief arrives at their disruptive creative strategies, how agency culture fuels talked-about campaigns, and what it takes to get CMOs outside their comfort zone. From viral cheese pulls to deepfake diplomacy, he shares what it takes to earn attention and keep it.

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

• What award Mischief has received means the most to Ollie

• Mischief’s response when a spot was pulled from networks at the last minute

• How Mischief gets CMOs to trust that the stir is worth it

• How Mischief helped Chili’s make its comeback 

• How Mischief’s agency culture shapes their success

• The truth behind the rumor about presenting 24 briefs to Greg Hahn

• Mischief’s approach to the pitch process

• Ollie’s recent favorite non-Mischief campaign

• Who in the industry Ollie wants to grab a Coors Light with

Resources:

• See more about Mischief and RepresentUs “Dictators” campaign

• Ollie’s recent favorite non-Mischief campaign from DoorDash

• Connect with Ollie on LinkedIn

• Learn more about Mischief on their website

PJ Pereira schools us on the best AI tools for CMOs and overcoming AI anxiety.

PJ Pereira is an industry legend whose success is fueled by creatively embracing eras of extreme innovation. Starting his career when the internet was in its infancy, he has conquered the digital age of marketing and is setting his sights on taming the AI giant in the room. His third agency, Silverside AI, has already solved creative problems for some of the biggest brands in the world using AI. Most of all, PJ is fiercely passionate about helping creatives facing AI anxiety head-on by retooling their skillsets for the next generation of advertising.

Must-hear moments for this episode include: How a CMO can avoid paralysis when integrating AI into their business, why the future of big ideas is actually small ideas, and why ad professionals need to embrace AI or risk losing relevance.

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

• How agency and in-house creative teams can work together

• Why an underdog mindset wins more Cannes Lions

• The one time a Cannes Lion jury got it wrong

• How a CMO can implement AI into their operations ASAP

• Where the ad industry is headed in the next five years

• What AI for agencies looks like

• PJ’s reaction to the Coca-Cola AI-generated campaign backlash

• Why the industry must embrace AI-driven creative to survive

• How industry professionals can overcome their AI anxiety

• PJ’s incredible story of overcoming his first 6 months in America

 Resources:

• Learn more about Silverside AI on their website

• See Silverside’s AI Coca-Cola campaign 

• Get a copy of PJ’s latest novel, The Girl from Wudang, on Amazon

• Connect with PJ on LinkedIn

‍Don’t let the name fool you: Frownies, the miracle wrinkle patch, has delivered cheese-worthy results for over 100 years. Helen Morrison, Frownie’s Chief Marketing Unicorn, has breathed new life into the family-owned brand thanks to her best-in-class organic social media approach. The secret? She prioritizes building a true community around her audience’s shared goal – not just to sell product.

Can’t-miss moments for this episode include: how brands can win the trust of their target, key do’s and don’ts for building a community on social, and how your brand can sustain success for over a century. 

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

• How to scale a smaller business and remain authentic

• Ways to show your audience you truly care about them on social

• Steps to building a community on social 

• How Frownies is targeting the increasing number of men investing in skincare

• The moment Frownies went viral and what happened 

• The secret to keeping a brand relevant for over 100 years

• How CMOs can make a big impact with a smaller marketing budget

• The perks and oddities of working with family 

Resources:

• Learn more about Frownies on their website

• Join the Frownies community on Instagram

• See Frownies on TikTok

• Connect with Helen on LinkedIn

• Message her on her personal Instagram

• See Helen’s latest beauty obsession: Anastasia’s facial massage methods on Instagram

Jordan Howell’s tips on strengthening your brand and facing cultural headwinds.

You can always count on a sweet meetup when Splenda’s Sr. Director of Marketing Jordan Howell is in the building. Known for his strong data skills, Jordan is trailblazing a new era of social for Splenda after epic stints as Global Marketing Director for brands like Glade and Ziploc at SC Johnson. Plus, his confidence navigating consumer pushback has led him to notable marketing wins across four continents.

Must-hear moments for this episode include: How to turn cultural headwinds into tailwinds, why data should be the backbone of any brief, and how his team reacted to Nicholas Spark’s viral chicken salad recipe. Yes, it contains 16 packets of Splenda.

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

• The challenges of being well-known for one product despite a full portfolio

• Why chemistry is critical in every client agency relationship

• Why data serves as a strong foundation for any brief 

• How Jordan’s global experience shaped his marketing POV

• How Splenda is navigating the “Make America Healthy Again” movement 

• How brands can leverage viral social media mentions

• How  Splenda built trust within the diabetic population

• The most iconic campaigns Jordan led at SC Johnson and Crayola 

 Resources:

• Learn more about Splenda on their website

• See Nicholas Spark’s viral chicken salad recipe

• Connect with Jordan on LinkedIn

Christine Olivas has changed the way many agencies think about strategy. Since 2021, her business No Single Individual emphasizes that strategy is no small deal, providing a team of strategists to “team-lance” for agencies and their client projects. She and her team have worked with dozens of agencies – racking up experience working with hundreds of clients. 

Must-hear moments from this episode include: why CMO-agency teamwork is essential for a good brief, what goes into an effective strategy presentation, and how to turn your agency ownership dreams into reality. 

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

• Why improv is the secret ingredient for an effective brief

• Why the presentation is just as important as the brief

• When it’s appropriate to break the template

• When to sprint and when to walk for a strategic process

• What defines “good strategy” 

• Advice for aspiring women agency owners

• How an American Idol audition made Christine a better leader 

Resources:

• Learn more about No Single Individual on their website 

• Connect with Christine on LinkedIn

Curiosity owners share their learnings, friendship, and journey after six years of leading an independent creative agency. 

Question Everything host Ashley Walters sits down with fellow owners President Trey Harness and Chief Creative Officer Jeff Warman. Besides being long-time partners, they’re also long-time friends – and in this episode – they share the most defining moments from their six years of ownership. Plus, they give a sneak peek at what we’re cooking up for 2025.

Must-hear moments from this episode include: feedback that changed the trajectory of their careers, why Curiosity views special creative as “Art in Overalls,” and what Curiosity is bringing to the table in 2025 – including a brand new office space.      

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

• The incredible Curiosity origin story

• Impactful feedback that will propel anyone forward in their career

• Why Curiosity decided to buy and design a new office space

• The most meaningful ways all three have leaned in as owners

• What the Shelf Theory is and where Curiosity sits

• Jeff’s creative philosophy: Art in Overalls

• Moments where Curiosity’s culture went above and beyond 

• What the industry can expect from Curiosity in 2025

Resources:

• See more of what Curiosity is about on our website

• Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn

• Connect with Trey on LinkedIn

• Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn

Dan Jeffries shares how agency and client relationships can get off track and how to get the chemistry back.

Dan Jeffries is a seasoned consultant who has worked with some of the most recognizable brands in the world, including Samsung, PetSmart, Capital One, Sonic, and AutoZone. His consulting firm doesn’t stop at matching CMOs with agencies, he offers a comprehensive agency management program to maintain top-notch performance throughout the client-agency relationship. 

Must-hear moments from this episode include: How CMOs can repair broken client-agency relationships, why the pitch will never fully be ditched, and how to end a client-agency relationship with grace.      

What you'll learn in this episode: 

• How CMOs can repair a broken client-agency relationship

• The number one reason why clients and agencies butt heads

• Why agencies should never rewrite their own brief  

• The difference between agency compensation models 

• Dan’s POV on the ditch the pitch movement 

• How clients can be better clients 

• How an agency can end a client relationship with grace

Resources:

• Learn more about Dan and Jeffries Consulting on his website

• Connect with Dan on LinkedIn

Doug Zanger unpacks why the industry is in its indie agency era and the power of asking great questions.

Doug Zanger, or Uncle Advertising, as he likes to call himself, is the founder of Indie Agency News: A global platform for independent agencies to connect, collaborate, and promote their best work. Before founding Indie Agency News, Zanger was a student of the industry, cutting his teeth at Adweek, The Martin Agency, Nike, and more – helping him develop the underrated skill of asking better questions to uncover better insights.

Must-hear moments from this episode include: why CMOs should pay attention to independent agencies, stumping Oprah with a killer question, and some of the best ads from indies in 2024.    

What you will learn in this episode: 

• Why the best creative work is coming from independent agencies

• The power of asking great questions 

• The power of a light-up question

• How to embody a top CMO’s voice

• The Indie Agency News sister agency program

• What the next generation can teach the industry about marketing

• Some of the best independent agency campaigns from 2024

• What goes into the perfect VO read

Resources:

• Indie Agency News site

• Indie Agency News Top 40 list

• Alzheimer’s Research UK “Change The Ending”

• Dude Wipes “Drop Your Drawers”

• Manscaped “The Boys”