In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks, Gordon sits down with Tapas Sharma, Vice President, Marketing and Brand Design Lead at JP Morgan Chase in London. Tapas shares his fascinating journey from a television actor in India to becoming a driving force in brand design across multiple industries. Tapas shares how design is more than aesthetics, it’s a tool to build trust, evoke emotion, and break industry biases.

They explore Tapas’s early days designing Subway posters at Pink Papaya Productions, his evolution through agencies like Ogilvy and Chime, and his in-house leadership roles at Nutmeg and WorldRemit. Tapas reflects on the design-led rebrand and repositioning of Nutmeg that helped pave the way for its acquisition by JP Morgan Chase and what it means to shape a brand within a financial giant while retaining startup spirit.

He talks about the emotional power of design, the thrill of pulling off the “magic trick” of visual storytelling, and how brand psychology influences consumer behavior – the emotion in brand connection, the impact of micro-moments like a smile or a nod, and why experiences, before, during, and after are the future of marketing.

From telecoms to fintech, across continents and cultures, Tapas opens up about what makes brand work meaningful and how curiosity, adaptability, and a passion for deeper symbolism have shaped his path. Whether you're into branding, creative strategy, or global career pivots, this episode is full of insights and inspiration.

Tune in and hear why great design is more than decoration: it’s transformation.

In this episode, Gordon welcomes Scott Redick, Managing Director of Retail Acquisition Strategy and Integration at Charles Schwab. Scott shares how his career—spanning top creative agencies like Heat (now part of Deloitte), Isobar, DDB, and beyond evolved from journalism and PR into a unique strategy role at one of America’s most trusted financial institutions.

They explore how Scott’s nonlinear path—from early influencer marketing to brand strategy shaped his creative thinking.

What it means to answer the question: "What will we be talking about in six months?" and how that differs inside a brand vs. agency world.

His role in orchestrating Schwab’s cross-channel messaging and his work on internal creativity initiatives and nontraditional activations.

Scott reflects on building a career that blends curiosity, creativity, and strategic foresight and quietly crafting what might just be his dream job.

They also dive into the rise of experience-driven marketing with brands like Alamo Drafthouse, where watching a movie with surprise scuba divers becomes a brand story you never forget.

It also gets personal: Scott shares how a sci-fi comic book project came to life with the help of AI as a “thought partner,” why the future of creativity might be more collaborative than we expect, and what we can learn from drum machines and the drummers who embraced them.

Tune in for an honest and insightful conversation about planning, innovation, and the human side of brand strategy.

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks, Gordon sits down with Gina Roughan, Head of Branded Social at Compare the Market—home of the legendary Meerkat campaign.

Originally from Durban, South Africa, Gina shares her journey from growing up around journalism to building standout brand content in the UK.

Gina reflects on her early career as a music editor in post-apartheid South Africa, her transition into advertising, and her deep-rooted love for storytelling—whether in long-form journalism or sharp, impactful short-form social content. They explore her formative roles at Weight Watchers, Channel 4 Food, and Tesco, and how food, emotion, and culture shaped her creative approach.

Plus: Gina shares her personal career highlight — a donut collab featuring Sergey the meerkat — and makes the case for a future where storytelling, silliness, and smart tech coexist.

 From the thrill of innovation to the dangers of robotic storytelling, Gina brings a sharp, thoughtful lens to the rapid changes shaping marketing today.

Tune in, if you’re excited or even a little nervous about where AI is taking creativity.

In this episode, Gordon sits down with David Jacobson, Global Senior Director of Segmentation and Culture Insights at The Coca-Cola Company. From his early days handing out flyers for a Portland bar to helping shape the cultural footprint of one of the world’s most iconic brands, David shares a fascinating journey through storytelling, innovation, and insight.

An expansive conversation on how advertising has shifted from placing ads to crafting experiences. David shares insights from his time at Publicis Sapient, Chiat\Day, and Coca-Cola, reflecting on the industry’s transformation from standardized campaigns to platform-specific storytelling and cultural engagement.

They dive into the evolution of experiential marketing, the rise of influencer collaboration, and why creating content fit for platform and fit for audience is more crucial than ever. David also discusses the importance of loosening brand control to allow authentic, creator-driven narratives to emerge—without losing sight of values and strategic guardrails.

From early digital campaigns to the future of AI-powered personal assistants, this episode unpacks what it means to stay relevant in a world where behavior, technology, and media consumption are constantly shifting. Plus, hear how mentors and creative leaders like Lee Clow, Adam Morgan and Darren McCall shaped David’s thinking around brand, storytelling, and strategy.

Tune in for a refreshingly human take on marketing in the age of machines.

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks, Gordon dives deep into the eclectic and inspiring journey of guest Michael Gross, a music supervisor and creative force who's left his mark at some of the most influential names in advertising and tech—TBWA\Chiat\Day, Droga5, Google, Twitter, and now as a partner at Squeak E. Clean Studios.

Michael shares how his first break came not through a CV but through water polo—a sport he played at UC Berkeley—which surprisingly opened the door to a job at TBWA\Chiat\Day. From there, we follow his path from production coordinator to becoming the go-to music guy at the agency, simply by noticing that no one was opening the endless stream of promo CDs and deciding he would. What started as a side hustle turned into live concerts on the agency basketball court and supervising million-dollar music licenses for global campaigns.

They explore the evolution of the music supervision role, the inspiring culture under advertising legend Lee Clow, and how Michael carved a hybrid path that blurred the lines between producer and creative. You'll hear about the power of surf culture in shaping his creative ethos, his time in London leading music at AllSaints, and the moments of professional jealousy that come with deep admiration for peers in this tight-knit community.

Tune in to hear why music is not just part of the ad – sometimes, it is the ad and how Michael’s story is a masterclass in staying curious and creating your own role.

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks, Gordon sits down with Donata Peksa, Head of Brand Experience at HSBC, one of the world’s most recognized banks. With over 15 years at HSBC and a rich background that spans economics, marketing, and international roles, Donata brings a unique perspective on navigating brand leadership through organizational transformation.

They talk about her journey from a PhD in economics to building global brand campaigns, why airport ads first drew her to HSBC, and how brand work thrives in times of change. Donata also reflects on the mentors and thought leaders who shaped her path and shares how a "squiggly career" became a source of strength rather than doubt.

Furthermore they dive into real-world examples of how humor, authenticity, and empathy drive connection.

Donata also reflects on brand envy and admiration—from the consistent values-driven work of Dove to the multi-sensory genius of MasterCard. The conversation ends up with a powerful look into the future of marketing: creator culture, digital fatigue, and the rising need for brands to offer not just innovation, but reassurance and optimism in an overstimulated world.

Tune in for insights on challenger mindsets, brand storytelling in uncertain times, and the value of embracing nonlinear growth.

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks, Gordon sits down with Donata Peksa, Head of Brand Experience at HSBC, one of the world’s most recognized banks. With over 15 years at HSBC and a rich background that spans economics, marketing, and international roles, Donata brings a unique perspective on navigating brand leadership through organizational transformation.

They talk about her journey from a PhD in economics to building global brand campaigns, why airport ads first drew her to HSBC, and how brand work thrives in times of change. Donata also reflects on the mentors and thought leaders who shaped her path and shares how a "squiggly career" became a source of strength rather than doubt.

Furthermore they dive into real-world examples of how humor, authenticity, and empathy drive connection.

Donata also reflects on brand envy and admiration—from the consistent values-driven work of Dove to the multi-sensory genius of MasterCard.
The conversation ends up with a powerful look into the future of marketing: creator culture, digital fatigue, and the rising need for brands to offer not just innovation, but reassurance and optimism in an overstimulated world.

Tune in for insights on challenger mindsets, brand storytelling in uncertain times, and the value of embracing nonlinear growth.

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks, Gordon welcomes Ewelina Kawnik, Regional Marketing Director for North Region at EssilorLuxottica – the powerhouse behind iconic brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada Eyewear, and more.

With an impressive career spanning nearly two decades in giants like Unilever and Heineken, Ewelina shares what it’s like to pivot into a completely new industry — from global beer campaigns to high-fashion eyewear and vision innovation.

Ewelina opens up about what drew her to marketing in the first place: the unique blend of logic and intuition, psychology and creativity, empathy and business acumen.

They talk about the difference between B2C and B2B marketing, the importance of cross-functional collaboration, and how marketing can truly improve lives — especially when it’s about helping people see better.

Ewelina’s journey is driven by relentless curiosity and a passion for meaningful impact. She also shares the brands she admires most, what she’s learned from working in both sales and marketing, and why empathy might just be the secret superpower of great marketers.

They wrap up by looking ahead: the future of marketing in an AI-powered world, the role of personalization, and how emerging technologies will reshape how brands connect with people.

Tune in for an interesting conversation about  brand building, creativity, and the energy that comes from trying something new.

In this episode of Excitement Talk, Gordon sits down with Terry Seitz, whose career spans two decades across top agencies like IPG, Grey Group, PhD, and a transformative 12-year run at Visa as Vice President of North America Marketing.
Terry shares his journey from aspiring artist to marketing leader, weaving through agency life, multicultural marketing, media strategy, and business school.
They explore how marketing has evolved from pure creativity to a "mad scientist's" search for truth, blending creativity with data and behavioral science. 

Terry reflects on key lessons learned from inspiring mentors, the importance of freedom paired with accountability, and how the discipline continues to change in thrilling ways.

Looking ahead, Terry shares what excites him most about the future: embracing the endless curiosity of the "mad scientist" mindset, thoughtfully navigating the promises and pitfalls of AI in marketing, and rebalancing the perceived divide between brand building and performance marketing into a more holistic, integrated approach.

Tune in for a conversation full of energy, wisdom, and inspiration for anyone passionate about the art and science of marketing.

 In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks, Gordon sits down with David Rosenberg — CMO / CXO, a brand builder and innovation strategist whose career spans from the golden era of ad agencies to the cutting edge of Amazon Health, currently leading the product management.

David’s journey is anything but conventional: from early days at JWT and LBI to launching a startup in the wild west of digital advertising, to redefining fan engagement in the gaming world and managing the brand identities of pro athletes.

They unpack the throughlines in David’s path — a relentless curiosity, a love for systems (and breaking them), and a deep belief in the power of stories to shape both products and perception.

David shares why gaming was his creative playground long before it became mainstream marketing, what it means to work in ecosystems instead of silos, and how he’s now bringing product and brand together in the health space.

They also explore the emotional craft of marketing, the importance of being “multi-lingual” across culture, tech, and storytelling — and what happens when you stop playing by the old rules and start building your own game.

Tune in to hear, how brand lives inside products and why the most powerful moves in marketing often start with a simple question: What if?