The CMO Corner

The CMO Corner

By Thabani KhumaloBusiness
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The CMO Corner episodes

  • S5 E1: The Odd Number, Loeries Independent Agency of the Year 2024's , Chief Creative Officer & Co-Founder - Sbu Sitole

    In 2024, The Odd Number won the prestigious Loeries Independent Agency of the year award. Founded by Sbu Sitole and his partner and childhood friend Xola Nouse this agency has worked and shaped some of the leading brands in just a space of 10 years. Sbu and I reflect on his journey, the journey of The Odd Number, and the work they have managed to execute in the industry. Sbu Sitole is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Director of The Odd Number, South Africa’s Agency of the year 2017 and 2019 respectively. Since it’s founding in 2015, The Odd Number has consistently won awards in all South Africa’s major award shows including The Creative Circle, the Loeries Awards, as well as the Pendorings Awards - most recently ranked 2nd most awarded agency to feature in the show. In 2018, Sbu was voted most admired Executive Creative Director in Johannesburg, and second most admired Executive Creative Director in South Africa 2019, in a local poll amongst South African Creative leaders. Most recently The Odd Number won its first 4 One Show Merits, becoming the first 100% Black Owned Agency to ever garner this accolade. The Odd Number, is currently at second place in the Creative Circle Rankings. Sbu has recently been appointed as Chairman of the Loeries Africa Middle East, as well as judged major international award shows including The Cannes Lions, The Dubai Lynx as Jury President and The One Show Awards.

    50 min
  • S4 E10: Founder, Institute for Real Growth (IRG) - Frank van den Driest

    I brought the legend of the Marketing business, what urban culture refers to as the OG. For those that don't know (no judgement) OG, short for “original gangster” or “original gangsta,” is a slang term for someone who's incredibly exceptional, authentic, or “old-school".
    Frank and I spoke about how we got here, how we got to the place of how we stopped being considered. But we do two critical things as well, we define humanized growth and what we can do to get ourselves back to the main table, the main room, the boardroom. Frank talks about what we can do, how we do it and why we need to drive it and most important, who needs to drive this!

    16 min
  • S4 E9: Ex-Google Country Director, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist - Dr. Alistair Mokoena

    My guest is Dr. Alistair Mokoena who has recently decided to "semi retire" in corporate as he puts it and go the entrepreneurship route. A Marketer by trade, Mokoena has spent time in many blue chip organisations like ABSA, Mondelez and Unilever leading marketing for those businesses and some of their brands. His last corporate stint was as the Country Director (CEO) for Google South Africa.
    Servings of Self-Mastery is his first book and we dive into what Marketers can take from this book as it was the centre of his key note address at the 2024 Nedbank IMC Conference. Africa's Largest Marketing Conference in the Continent.

    20 min
  • S4 E8: Retroviral, Chief Creative Officer: Mike Sharman - Challenge Yourself to Challenge AI

    If you want your brand to go viral, I guess Mike Sharman is your guy! My guest is the founder and Chief Creative Officer for Retroviral. I've seen some amazing work from that business and they are what the industry needs, BRAVERY! Mike and I spoke about exactly that, what the marketing world needs... DISRUPTION, the award winning work they have managed to do for brands that has undeniably made them famous. Lover of PR and the power it has, challenger of AI in the marketing world and the bravery of Mike and his team inspire us to be better, do better, and challenge AI and all tech, but use it to start the conversation through show and sell!

    27 min
  • S4 E7: Founder, EDC Squared Scott Thwaites on Redefining Influence and Influencer Marketing
    Former Tik Tok executive and X employee, Scott Thwaites is pioneering a new way to drive influence and influencer marketing with his newly launched EDC squared, Thwaites aims to use his vast experience from TikTok and Twitter to introduce a refreshing perspective on Everyday Creators and Everyday Content by unlocking the true impact of short-form video. I got to speak to him on where influencer marketing is going and what that means for influencers, brands and content.
    This series is brought to you by Nedbank IMC.
    16 min
  • S4 E6: Group Chief Executive Officer, Brave Group - Musa Kalenga on The Next 100 years and FORGE

    I got to catch up with Musa Kalenga post his inspiring keynote from the Nebank IMC 2024 conference, marketing expert Musa Kalenga took the audience on a journey through the last 100 years of marketing innovation and reveals what the future holds for the next century. From traditional advertising to the digital age, Musa explored the rapid evolution of marketing and introduced FORGE by Brave—a cutting-edge AI marketing technology set to revolutionize how brands connect with their audiences. FORGE is the future. Discover how AI, automation, and creativity will shape the future of marketing, driving more personalized, data-driven, and impactful campaigns.
    This episode is brought to you by Nedbank IMC

    13 min
  • S4 E5: Founder, SoloUnion and Chief Creative Advisor for AB InBev and Kraft Heinz - Matthew Bull

    Like most if not every creative, Matthew Bull, walked into the studio and owned the room. Matthew, became an advertising copywriter, then a creative group head, then a creative director, then a CEO, then a global chief creative officer, then a chairman, then a creative director again. He has a story to tell!
    In his own words he says: "I've worked in, and created work for, every conceivable market in the world, from Johannesburg to London to New York to Shanghai to Bangkok to San Paulo to Mumbai to Mexico City to Lagos...you get the picture, I've done work for banks, paint, beer, computers, margarine, cellphones, political parties, soda, charities galore, chocolate, fitness clubs and on and on and on"
    If you attended the Nedbank IMC you will be able to watch his keynote on the event app. If not, wait for an updated link once all presentations have been released to the public. This series is brought to you by the Nedbank IMC
    #CMOCornerAtNebankIMC

    18 min
  • S4 E4: Kantar, Commercial Growth Director - Stacy Jayne Saggers

    In this episode, I hosted Stacy Jayne Saggers who is the Commercial Growth Director at Kantar. Stacy leads the commercial team for Kantar, the world’s largest consumer research agency. Stacy has over 20 years experience in research, across FMCG, banking, retail, financial services, sports and telco’s.

    Stacy is passionate about bringing the human voice to brands and businesses in South Africa, to enable the type of change and innovation that serve the needs of people and our country, while driving the bottom line. Stacy hosts two podcasts which form the basis of her keynote addresses, leadership integration sessions and workshop engagements.
    She also hosts two podcasts of her own and the details are below:
    FUTURE PROOF MZANSI focuses on the changing decisions and behaviours of South Africans as they adapt to the evolving macro and domestic circumstances; from loadshedding and the rise of subscription programmes, to household finances and online shopping, to media and social media adoption.
    COLOUR-FULL is hosted by Stacy, white mom of adopted children, living in Cape Town, and Sena (black woman, living in Johannesburg). Together, they explore how race shapes our experiences. The vision is to spark candid and open dialogues for a more inclusive South Africa, through the use of personal stories and uncomfortable conversations that challenge complacency, apathy and injustice.
    If you are looking for the reports discussed in this interview, please email: [email protected]

    46 min
  • S4 E4: Kantar, Commercial Growth Director - Stacy Jayne Saggers

    On this episode, I hosted Stacy Jayne Saggers who is the Commercial Growth Director at Kantar. Stacy leads the commercial team for Kantar, the world’s largest consumer research agency. Stacy has over 20 years experience in research, across FMCG, banking, retail, financial services, sports and telco’s.
    Stacy is passionate about bringing the human voice to brands and businesses in South Africa, to enable the type of change and innovation that serve the needs of people and our country, while driving the bottom line. Stacy hosts two podcasts which form the basis of her keynote addresses, leadership integration sessions and workshop engagements.
    She also hosts two podcasts of her own and the details are below:
    FUTURE PROOF MZANSI focuses on the changing decisions and behaviours of South Africans as they adapt to the evolving macro and domestic circumstances; from loadshedding and the rise of subscription programmes, to household finances and online shopping, to media and social media adoption.
    COLOUR-FULL is hosted by Stacy, white mom of adopted children, living in Cape Town, and Sena (black woman, living in Johannesburg). Together, they explore how race shapes our experiences. The vision is to spark candid and open dialogues for a more inclusive South Africa, through the use of personal stories and uncomfortable conversations that challenge complacency, apathy and injustice.
    If you are looking for the reports discussed in this interview, please email: [email protected]

    46 min

About The CMO Corner

From the publisher's feed

On the CMO corner, Thabani Khumalo (CM SA) chats to some of the best Chief Marketing Officers (CMO's) and Marketing Executives that are leading your favourite brands on topics around brand building,…