The Brand Forum

The Brand Forum

By Jeremy BloomBusinessMarketingCareersManagement
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The Brand Forum episodes

  • How Adobe's Sam Garfield Sees AI, Brand Strategy & the Future of Marketing

    Jeremy Bloom and Josh Palau sit down with Sam Garfield, Digital Strategy Leader for Media & Entertainment at Adobe, to discuss how AI is transforming marketing through AI search, creative automation, personalization, and AI agents. Sam also shares why authentic brand storytelling remains essential and offers practical insights for marketers navigating the future of AI.

    Takeaways

    • Consumer search behavior is shifting from traditional search engines to AI-powered assistants.
    • Brands must optimize their content for AI visibility, not just SEO.
    • Creative automation should eliminate repetitive work while preserving human creativity.
    • AI agents are becoming practical tools for marketing workflows today.
    • Personalization is becoming more achievable through automation and better creative execution.
    • Creative intelligence will help marketers measure and predict creative performance.
    • Strong brand storytelling will become even more valuable as AI-generated content increases.
    • Career growth isn't always linear. Building diverse skills can create more opportunities over time.


      • Chapters

      00:00 Introduction & Meet Sam Garfield

      01:38 Sam's Career Journey from Discovery to Adobe

      03:34 AI Search, SEO & Brand Visibility

      08:25 The Content Production Challenge for Brands

      10:40 Automation vs. Human Creativity

      12:12 Why Personalization Is Finally Becoming Reality

      14:40 AI Agents & Real Marketing Use Cases

      17:45 Creative Intelligence & Measuring Creative Performance

      20:15 Why Brand Storytelling Still Matters

      22:17 Career Lessons & Lifelong Learning

      25:20 The Kobe Bryant Story

      27:28 Final Thoughts & Closing

      28 min
    • Automotive Brand Building: Simon Sproule on Storytelling and Consumer Connection

      Jeremy Bloom and Josh Palau are joined by Simon Sproule, Founder at Newport Communications, to discuss what makes automotive brands memorable. Drawing from his experience at Ford, Nissan, Tesla, and Aston Martin, Simon explores emotional connection, storytelling, dealer relationships, and how brands can engage the next generation of consumers.

      Takeaways:

      • Simon shares branding lessons from Aston Martin, Tesla, Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover, and Ford.
      • Why emotional connection is the foundation of successful automotive brands.
      • How storytelling and brand building outperform short-term tactics.
      • The challenge of balancing dealer marketing with corporate brand strategy.
      • Why younger consumers require brands to engage on their own terms.

      Chapters:
      00:00 Introduction to Simon Sproule
      01:10 Simon's journey through Ford, Nissan, Tesla & Aston Martin
      03:57 What makes an automotive brand successful?
      08:12 Balancing brand building and performance marketing
      12:09 The relationship between automakers and dealerships
      14:39 Why storytelling still matters in marketing
      17:46 Reaching younger generations through culture and gaming
      21:40 Marketing campaigns Simon believes changed branding
      24:03 Simon's career journey into marketing and storytelling
      25:53 Final thoughts

      26 min
    • How Melissa Grady Dias Built Iconic Brands and Why Every CMO Thinks Like a CEO

      Jeremy Bloom and Josh Palau sit down with Melissa Grady Dias, CEO of Measured Wellness and former CMO of Cadillac, to discuss the transition from CMO to CEO, building emotionally connected brands, balancing performance and brand marketing, AI's impact on customer journeys, and the future of marketing leadership.

      Takeaways
      Melissa shares why the best marketers think like business growth leaders.
      Brand and performance marketing should work together, not compete.
      Emotional connections create customers who are significantly more valuable.
      Every customer interaction contributes to a brand's identity.
      Continuous learning is the most important skill for marketers in the AI era.

      Chapters
      00:00 Welcome & Melissa's New CEO Role
      02:08 What Measured Wellness Does
      06:57 From CMO to CEO: Biggest Leadership Shift
      09:43 Brand vs. Performance Marketing
      12:28 Building a Strong Brand Identity
      15:26 What Makes a Marketing Campaign Successful
      17:53 Working with Agency & Media Partners
      21:11 Melissa's Journey Into Marketing
      23:04 Why Marketing Really Works
      25:15 Advice for the Next Generation of Marketers
      26:23 Closing Thoughts

      26 min
    • How Etsy Builds Brand Love Through Storytelling, Culture, and Community Alyssa Collier

      Jeremy Bloom (Marketecture Media co-founder, OhHello.ai founder) and Josh Palau (Media and AdTech executive and America’s favorite plus-one) sit down with Alyssa Collier, Brand Marketing Leader at Etsy, to explore how brands can stand out in a world of shrinking attention spans and endless content. Alyssa shares insights on psychographic marketing, social-first strategies, seller storytelling, cultural trends, and the role of authenticity in building brand loyalty. She also discusses her unique journey from TV sales to Etsy, along with her passions for DJing, figure skating, and podcasting.

      Takeaways

      • Why psychographics matter more than demographics in modern marketing.
      • How Etsy differentiates itself through handcrafted products and authentic storytelling.
      • The importance of seller stories in building brand trust.
      • How social media and cultural trends influence marketing strategy.
      • Why marketers should focus on attention, community, and emotional connection.
      • Alyssa's career journey from television sales to brand marketing at Etsy.
      • Lessons on balancing creativity, data, and performance marketing.

        • Chapters
        00:00 Welcome & Introducing Alyssa Collier
        00:32 Alyssa's Career Journey Into Brand Marketing
        02:02 Figure Skating, DJing & Life Outside Marketing
        06:10 The Biggest Challenges Facing Brands Today
        08:28 Why Etsy's Sellers Are the Brand
        11:29 Audience-First Marketing Across Every Channel
        14:06 Psychographics vs. Demographics in Modern Marketing
        17:31 Using Customer Trends to Shape Brand Strategy
        19:40 Why Storytelling Drives Brand Loyalty
        22:24 What Alyssa Is Watching Right Now
        25:33 Ohio State, New York & Personal Journey
        27:14 Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks

        28 min
      • How Ollie’s CMO Allison Stadd Builds Authentic Brands in the AI Era

        In this episode of The Brand Forum, Ollie CMO Allison Stadd joins Jeremy Bloom (Marketecture Media co-founder, OhHello.ai founder) and Josh Palau (Media and AdTech executive and America’s favorite plus-one) to discuss building authentic brands in an AI-driven world. From leading marketing at Shake Shack, Sweetgreen, BarkBox, Stella Artois, and Shipt to driving Ollie’s "Feed the Obsession" campaign, Allison shares insights on brand identity, customer obsession, first-party data, leadership, career growth, and why human connection remains the foundation of great marketing.

        Takeaways

        • Allison Stadd explains why AI should strengthen, not replace, authentic human storytelling in marketing.
        • Ollie’s brand platform, "Feed the Obsession," is built around the insight that dog parents are deeply devoted to their pets.
        • Strong brands are created when internal brand perception matches how customers experience the brand externally.
        • Customer understanding is more important than any specific marketing channel or tactic.
        • Ollie leverages over 20 million first-party data points to personalize dog nutrition and wellness recommendations.
        • Allison shares career advice for aspiring marketers, emphasizing curiosity, networking, mentorship, and asking for opportunities.
        • The conversation explores balancing creativity, analytics, technology, and leadership in modern marketing.
        • A fun discussion on music, drumming, and favorite concerts closes the episode.

          • Chapters

          00:00 Introduction to Allison Stadd and Ollie
          00:47 Allison's Role at Ollie and the Dog Well-Being Revolution
          02:40 Career Journey: From Shake Shack and Sweetgreen to Ollie
          03:33 Building Authentic Brands in an AI-Driven World
          06:08 Why Human Connection Still Matters in Marketing
          08:45 Drumming, Creativity, and Personal Brand Building
          10:06 Defining a Strong Brand Identity
          11:51 Ollie's Unique Value Proposition in the Pet Food Industry
          13:32 The "Feed the Obsession" Campaign and Dog Parent Devotion
          16:11 Understanding Ollie's Audience and Customer Psychology
          18:22 Creating Authentic Social Content with Real Dog Owners
          19:59 The Most Important Marketing Investment: Customer Understanding
          21:56 First-Party Data, Personalization, and Member Insights
          23:04 Career Advice for Future CMOs and Marketing Leaders
          26:40 Networking, Mentorship, and the Power of Asking
          28:20 Portfolio Careers vs. Full-Time Leadership Roles
          29:50 First Concerts and Favorite Live Music Experiences

          35 min
        • The Invisible Work of Leadership: Blair Brady on CMO Success, Team Narratives, and AI Transformation
          Blair Brady, Co-Founder and CEO of WITH, joins Jeremy Bloom (Marketecture Media co-founder, OhHello.ai founder) and Josh Palau (Media and AdTech executive and America’s favorite plus-one) to discuss the invisible work of leadership, building effective leadership narratives, balancing brand and performance marketing, and navigating AI-driven organizational change. Learn how today's marketing leaders can create clarity, align teams, and prepare for the future of the CMO role.
          Takeaways
          - New leaders should establish their leadership narrative before beginning a listening tour.
          - Teams don't just want to be heard, they want to be led with clarity and consistency.
          - Leaders must define both a leadership narrative and a team narrative to drive alignment.
          - Creating "air cover" for teams is a critical but often overlooked leadership responsibility.
          - Successful organizations balance short-term performance goals with long-term brand building.
          - Teams trapped in a "survive the day" culture struggle to create sustainable growth.
          - AI transformation should be treated as a people and operating model challenge, not just a technology initiative.
          - Effective AI adoption requires alignment across technology, talent, capabilities, ways of working, and external partners.
          - Future CMOs will need broader business experience and cross-functional expertise.
          - The most successful leaders continuously adapt because no one has all the answers in today's rapidly changing environment.
          Chapters
          00:00 Introduction and welcome
          00:48 Blair Brady introduces WITH
          01:28 The advisory gap for CMOs and senior marketers
          02:24 Understanding invisible leadership work
          03:08 Why leadership narratives matter
          04:10 The risk of leading with listening alone
          05:33 Communicating leadership style and expectations
          06:00 Leadership lessons from organizational transitions
          08:25 Marketing the marketing team
          09:16 Creating organizational clarity
          10:26 The balance between brand and performance
          11:28 The importance of long-term brand building
          12:22 Avoiding a short-term mindset
          13:06 Systems that create strategic focus
          14:41 The "what" and the "how" framework
          15:34 How AI is reshaping organizations
          16:16 AI as a people and operations challenge
          17:49 The four pillars of AI transformation
          18:55 Breaking down silos for success
          19:13 How Blair found her niche
          20:09 Preparing future CMOs for success
          21:39 Why marketing leadership is increasingly complex
          22:35 Acting as an unbiased advisor
          23:06 Closing thoughts and sign-off
          24 min
        • From Lay’s to Activia: Linda Bethea on Building Iconic Consumer Brands
          Linda Bethea joins Jeremy Bloom (Marketecture Media co-founder, OhHello.ai founder) and Josh Palau (Media and AdTech executive and America’s favorite plus-one) on The Brand Forum to share lessons from leading some of the world’s biggest food and beverage brands, including Lay’s, Captain Morgan, Activia, and Danone North America. From brand positioning and storytelling to AI search, consumer behavior, and the myth of brand loyalty, Linda breaks down what it really takes to build memorable brands in today’s crowded landscape. She also shares personal stories from her career, insights on marketing leadership, and the meaningful work she does with Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley.
          Takeaways
          - Brand positioning starts with deeply understanding people and their behaviors.
          - Great storytelling creates emotional connections that consumers remember.
          - Brand loyalty is less important than mental and physical availability.
          - AI search is changing how brands are discovered online.
          - Strong creativity is essential to stand out in a crowded media landscape.
          - The best agency partners act as true extensions of the brand team.
          - Curiosity is one of the most important traits for marketers today.
          - Great ideas can come from anywhere, including family conversations.
          - Modern consumers live in a constant loop of discovery across platforms.
          - Marketing success comes from balancing art and science.
          Chapters
          00:00 Introduction to Linda Bethea and her career across iconic brands
          01:40 Why Lay’s remains Linda’s favorite brand experience
          04:27 How consumer ideas can inspire real marketing campaigns
          06:15 The fundamentals of successful brand positioning
          09:00 Repositioning Activia from “regularity” to modern gut health
          10:41 Why storytelling matters more than facts and figures
          12:28 The biggest challenge marketers face today: attention
          14:38 Linda’s controversial take on brand loyalty
          17:00 Balancing art, science, and creative excellence in marketing
          18:08 Building stronger partnerships with agencies and media teams
          22:08 How AI search is transforming brand discovery
          24:46 Linda’s work with Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley
          27:44 How Linda found her path into marketing
          30:35 Career advice for the next generation of marketers
          32 min
        • Fandom as Currency: The Passions and Purchasing Power of the WNBA

          At Marketecture Live III in New York City, Caiti Donovan, Head of Growth Strategy, WNBA, joined Damian Garbaccio, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, Affinity Solutions, to break down how women’s sports fans are reshaping culture, commerce, and brand strategy.

          From first-party data to fan segmentation and the rise of purpose-driven fandom, this conversation dives into how the WNBA is building one of the most engaged audiences in sports and turning passion into measurable business impact.


          Takeaways

          • Women’s sports fans go deep, not wide, creating stronger engagement and loyalty
          • Fandom is measured across consumption spending and interaction
          • NIL and athlete visibility are fueling massive audience growth
          • The curious fan is now a key growth driver for the WNBA
          • First-party data is becoming the most valuable asset in sports marketing
          • Purpose-driven fandom directly influences purchasing behavior
          • Female audiences and younger fans are rapidly entering the ecosystem
          • Behavioral data is more powerful than demographics for targeting
          • Brand partnerships succeed when aligned with fan values
          • Women’s sports are proving to be a real and growing business opportunity


            • Chapters

            00:00 Opening and introduction to fandom as a currency

            01:30 What makes women’s sports fans unique

            03:30 How the WNBA measures fandom consumption, spend, and engagement

            05:30 Key growth drivers behind the WNBA surge

            08:00 The 3C fan segmentation: core, casual, curious

            10:45 The rise and importance of the curious fan

            13:40 Using first-party data to power brand partnerships

            16:00 The Henry segment and behavioral targeting

            18:30 How the WNBA compares to other leagues in data strategy

            20:20 Turning fan data into real business outcomes

            24 min
          • Building a Retail Media Network with Heart Inside Ace Hardware

            Molly Hjelm, Corporate Vice President of Retail Media at Ace Hardware Corporation, joins Jeremy Bloom (Marketecture Media co-founder, OhHello.ai founder) and Josh Palau (Media and AdTech executive and America’s favorite plus-one) to share how she built Red Vest Media from the ground up. She dives into the power of first-party data, the strength of Ace’s co op model, and how local personalization competes with massive retail media networks. From loyalty data to in-store experience, this conversation explores what it takes to scale while staying authentic.


            Takeaways

            • Ace Hardware combines national scale with hyperlocal personalization
            • Strong first-party data is the foundation of effective retail media
            • Most sales still happen in-store, making physical experience critical
            • Simplicity and seamless integration matter most to advertisers
            • Listening to customers drives faster and better product development
            • Retail media success depends on measurable and real-time results
              • Co op structure can be a competitive advantage, not a limitation


                • Chapters

                00:01 Introduction to Molly Hjelm and Red Vest Media

                00:31 Why Ace Hardware’s model stands out in retail

                01:31 Molly’s background and building the network

                02:30 The scale and reach of Ace Hardware

                03:13 How local ownership creates authenticity

                04:54 Staying human in a digital and automated world

                06:48 Ace’s core value proposition

                08:35 Growth of e-commerce and delivery partnerships

                10:10 Challenges of building a retail media network

                12:27 Launch strategy and leveraging partnerships

                13:46 Standing out in a crowded retail media space

                15:47 Advice for marketers building platforms

                17:00 The importance of knowing your customer

                19:01 Building for the next generation

                21:25 Molly’s journey into retail data and marketing

                23:35 Personal insights and closing thoughts

                25 min
              • GLP-1s, AI, and How to Reposition a Brand at Scale

                At Marketecture Live III in New York City, Harry Kargman, Founder and CEO of Kargo, sat down with Julie Rice, Chief Experience Officer at WeightWatchers, to explore how legacy brands can evolve in a rapidly changing world.


                From the rise of GLP-1 medications to the role of AI in personalization, Julie shares how WeightWatchers is blending behavioral science, community, and technology to drive real, lasting change. The conversation dives into experience design, brand loyalty, and the balance between data and human intuition in modern marketing.


                Takeaways

                • Behavioral change is the missing link that makes GLP-1 medications effective long-term
                • Community and human connection remain powerful drivers of retention
                • Great products create loyalty, and marketing amplifies it
                • AI should enhance personalization without replacing human experience
                • Balancing data with intuition leads to better brand decisions
                • Legacy brands win by evolving while honoring their core audience


                  • Chapters

                  00:00 Introduction to Marketecture Live 3 and speakers

                  01:05 Julie Rice’s background and building SoulCycle

                  01:54 Why she joined WeightWatchers and the reinvention opportunity

                  02:37 The role of GLP-1s and behavioral change

                  04:42 Designing experiences that drive retention and loyalty

                  06:41 Beyond medication: building sustainable habits

                  08:50 Creating confidence and long-term lifestyle change

                  11:05 Challenges of modernizing a legacy brand

                  13:36 Listening to customers vs relying only on data

                  14:10 Balancing intuition with analytics

                  20:01 AI, personalization, and human connection

                  24:19 Brand vs performance marketing balance

                  21:22 Final thoughts on the product first growth strategy

                  22 min

                About The Brand Forum

                From the publisher's feed

                Marketecture’s Jeremy Bloom and co-host Josh Palau go deep on what matters to brands. Each week the Brand Forum brings in leading brand marketers to talk advertising, media, and marketing through an insider's lens.