She Runs It Unscripted

She Runs It has turned the science of mentoring into an art, operating the marketing industry’s most enduring and robust mentoring program. Nearly 500 mentoring pairs participate every year through twice-annual sessions that include live, virtual, and group options available to all She Runs It members. In this conversation, seasoned members (and former chairs) of the mentoring committee – Hanna Gryncwajg, Janine Martella, Allison Doluisio –  discuss how the program works, how to get involved, and what benefits await the mentees and mentors who participate.

How does a ninth-grade biology teacher reinvent herself to become the first woman chief marketing officer for one of the world’s largest financial services companies? It took more than an open mind, aptitude, and a well-placed internship for Elizabeth Rutledge to propel herself into a C-suite role at American Express. In this conversation, Elizabeth talks about her journey from Princeton, to a high school teaching role, to the fourth largest card network in the world.

Elizabeth Rutledge, Chief Marketing Officer, American Express

Twenty years ago, Alicia Waters parlayed an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, a passion for style and design, and a curiosity about human behavior into a marketing career that started with Gap. Today, as CMO for Crate & Barrel Holdings, Alicia applies a digital-first approach across the company’s product portfolio that spans adults, kids, baby, gift registry, and trade, as well as sister company Hudson Grace. How does a girl from the Chicago suburbs evolve from ice cream scooper in high school to CMO for one of the world’s most respected retail brands … with a two-year stop-over in Paris? Listen to learn how Alicia designs her career, balances her life, activates unexpected partnerships, and embraces new tech platforms.

The journey to the C-Suite is often marked with detours, sprints and pivots. For the DEI executive, the journey has also been complicated by corporate America’s assertive response to the tragedies of 2020. As diversity and inclusion have become business imperatives for marketers, DEI execs in the C-Suite have become artful at leveraging action, advocacy and allyship to drive corporate success. In this conversation you will hear from Sara Porritt, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Omnicom Media Group and Daisy Auger-Dominguez, Chief People Officer, Vice Media Group, DEI leaders who are guiding their companies to measurable outcomes.

Sara Porritt, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Omnicom Media Group

Daisy Auger-Dominguez, Chief People Officer, Vice Media Group

When the pandemic was in full swing, EA Games launched a new Madden mode called “The Yard” to reenergize the video game experience. Designed to recreate the impromptu, creative pick-up football games that once happened only in the “back yard,” EA delivered a new experience that let fans create an avatar, line up anywhere, and play both sides of the ball. As the official soup of the NFL, Campbell’s Chunky entered the game with “Champions of Chunky,” featuring in-game challenges for players and opportunities to win vanity. Chunky walked away with a 35% lift in brand favorability and 29% lift in purchase intent among its target audience. In this Inside Look, you will hear the creators kept their discerning audience captivated to the benefit of an iconic brand.

Ebony Jones | Director of Content, Spark Foundry

Marci Raible | Vice President, Integrated Marketing, Campbell’s Soup

Ekta Chopra already had her work cut out for her in 2019 when e.l.f. Beauty decided to pull out of brick-and-mortar stores and go all digital. She was activating a complete digital transformation when the pandemic put an end to foot traffic and closed the doors on retail stores across the world. The fortuitous transformation turned what would have been a difficult year into one that saw triple digit growth in 2020. Listen to learn how Ekta used TikTok as a marketing tool, and how this tenacious C-Suiter used curiosity, empathy and determination to strangle the Covid beast and propel e.l.f. to be the second most preferred brand for GenZ.

Ekta Chopra, Chief Digital Officer. e.l.f. Beauty

The She Runs It 2021 Women of the Year event is an incredible evening of inspiration and comradery, celebrating three leaders who have shaped or changed the course of marketing, media, and tech, and who have lifted others while they have risen. Tune in to hear about the journeys of Lynn Lewis, US CEO, UM; Kimberly Paige, EVP, CMO, BET; and Meredith Verdone, former CMO, Bank of America

Lynn Lewis, US CEO, UM

Kimberly Paige, EVP, CMO, BET

Meredith Verdone, CMO, Bank of America

Leaders who are in or approaching the C-Suite rely on a playbook of strategies for success: how to nurture a network, build a personal board of directors, advocate for elevation, and much more. In this session, three industry leaders shared lessons focused on three essential leadership skills: Diplomacy, Financial Acumen, and Sponsorship/Allyship,

Catherine Davis, industry consultant and former Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Feeding America

Terri Hines, Executive Vice President, Communications,  FOX Sports

Tariq Hassan, Chief Marketing Officer, Petco

The multiple crises of 2020 forced most people to reevaluate their finances: how they spend, save, invest, and earn. The new rules of pandemic life also allowed people to think differently about where they live and work, and how they allocate time and money. Some weathered 2020 as a full-time employee, others as gig workers, others perpetually seeking the next opportunity. As 2021 dawned, it demanded a “leveling up” for most people in marketing, media, and tech. This conversation explored economic strategies that still apply today.

Sally Holmes, Editor In Chief, Marie Claire, Hearst

Kara Stevens, Founder and Content Creator, The Frugal Feminista

Alexandria Streid, Chief Product Officer, Ellevest

Carrie Seifer, General Manager, GWI

At Kellogg North America, Gail oversees end-to-end consumer experiences and leads marketing transformation – including process, structure, talent, and technology. In this virtual session, Gail talked about her journey through executive creative, digital/e-commerce roles at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Time Inc., Conde Nast, Zagat Survey, and the award-winning food site epicurious.com, and how those experiences shaped her approach to problem-solving, navigating disruption, and the culture she is building among the marketers at Kellogg.