The Digital Marketeer

Simon Davis, Founder and CEO of Secret Sauce Labs, joins host Stefanie Beach to discuss how generative AI is transforming brand content creation at scale. Drawing from his 25-year background in media, music, and gaming, including leadership roles at companies like King and Ubisoft, Simon explains how his team originally built AI tools to solve severe creative drift issues in video game production. That internal solution evolved into a dual-offering platform that helps brands generate consistent, high-quality, on-brand creative content. In their conversation, Stefanie and Simon explore the necessity of quality assurance models like "Secret Sauce Guardian," the value of forward-deployed creative teams for enterprise clients, strategies for keeping humans in the loop, and how marketers can adapt to rapid AI-driven shifts as content transforms into a live, daily service.

About Simon Davis: Simon Davis is the Founder and CEO of Secret Sauce Labs, bringing over 25 years of experience across the music, video game, and digital media industries. Prior to founding Secret Sauce Labs, he held key leadership roles at major entertainment and gaming studios, including Ubisoft and King (creators of Candy Crush), before co-founding a successful Singapore-based game development studio that partnered with Apple, Disney, and Razer. Driven by a passion for solving complex creative workflow challenges, Simon led the development of proprietary computer vision and AI systems designed to enforce strict brand consistency at scale. A former music teacher holding a degree in music, he frequently shares strategic insights on navigating the intersection of generative technology, marketing operations, and human creative oversight.

About Secret Sauce Labs: Secret Sauce Labs is an AI-powered media technology company that enables brands to produce high-performing, brand-consistent content at scale. The company operates two primary models: "Secret Sauce" (a self-serve platform accessible via trysecretsauce.ai) and "Secret Sauce Labs" (an enterprise service offering embedded, forward-deployed creative and engineering teams). Designed to solve issues like visual drift, brand dilution, and slow campaign approval cycles, Secret Sauce Labs leverages advanced computer vision, automated quality assurance frameworks, and daily competitive analytics to help organizations optimize creative assets in real time.

Learn more at https://trysecretsauce.ai/.

Mark Pappas, EVP of Innovation at CMI Media Group, joins Stefanie Beach to discuss how he is pushing the boundaries of healthcare marketing within a historically cautious and heavily regulated industry. They explore how pharma is becoming "the new CPG" through unconventional consumer partnerships with organizations like Uber, the NHL, and NASCAR, and detail the mechanics of executing unbranded versus branded campaigns while navigating strict legal and fair balance requirements. Mark breaks down cutting-edge approaches to media targeting, including CMI's use of real-time municipal wastewater data to track viral outbreaks and dynamically adjust localized search and programmatic ad spend. He also shares his perspective on search and AI in healthcare, highlighting physician platforms like Open Evidence, OpenAI integrations, and why he strongly advocates against generative AI imagery in pharma creative, before concluding with how returning to live events and experiential marketing can combat industry AI fatigue.

About Mark Pappas: Mark Pappas is the Executive Vice President of Innovation at CMI Media Group, where he has spent a decade translating emerging technologies and cultural trends into media strategies for global healthcare brands. Starting his agency career in 2008 with a deep background in search engine optimization and paid search, Mark transitioned into leading innovation by continuously pioneering new channels and ad formats, ranging from early Amazon Alexa custom skills to industry-first pharmaceutical campaigns on Reddit and Uber. A frequent speaker at major industry events like South by Southwest, Cannes Lions, and Advertising Week, Mark focuses on bringing impactful, business-driving partnerships to healthcare clients while cutting through technology hype. Outside of his career in media, he is an avid, self-described obsessive bread and pizza maker.

About CMI Media Group: CMI Media Group is a leading healthcare media agency dedicated to driving innovation and strategic growth for global pharmaceutical and wellness brands. Recognized for fostering high employee retention in an industry known for rapid turnover, the agency empowers its teams to adapt quickly to changing technology and develop first-to-market solutions. CMI specializes in advanced data-driven targeting strategies, including proprietary physician-level audience tools and real-time environmental data integration, as well as high-impact partnerships across sports, entertainment, and digital platforms. By balancing core, proven channels with dedicated test-and-learn budgets, CMI helps healthcare marketers deliver meaningful, compliant messaging to both patients and healthcare providers.

Learn more at https://cmimediagroup.com/.

Mindie Kaplan, Executive Vice President at MediaMint and Creator of The Million Mammogram Challenge, joins host Stefanie Beach to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October. Mindie opens up about her 2019 early-stage breast cancer diagnosis and double mastectomy, detailing how a private post-surgery recovery photo shoot transformed into the "Million Mammograms Challenge,” a nationwide movement in partnership with OUTFRONT Media and BreastCancer.org targeting 1 million scheduled mammograms. They discuss the mechanics of driving a large-scale awareness initiative without a media budget, leveraging out-of-home inventory across Times Square, subways, and national markets, and the creation of "Mammosas," a scheduling tool designed to make booking mammograms a supportive, shared experience between friends. Mindie also reflects on how overcoming the taboo of personal illness and sharing her story shaped her leadership approach, professional network, and personal perspective, before closing with advice for women navigating recent diagnoses and her vision for expanding healthcare screening discussions through technology and new ventures.

About Mindie Kaplan: Mindie Kaplan is the Executive Vice President at MediaMint and the founder of MaleRoom Podcast. With an extensive background in executive leadership across advertising, media, and digital platforms, Mindie transitioned her personal health experience after a 2019 early-stage breast cancer diagnosis into an impactful national health advocacy movement. She spearheaded the "Million Mammograms Challenge" using out-of-home advertising platforms to encourage early detection, resulting in widespread visibility in major national markets, including Times Square, subways, and major print publications. A featured speaker at industry events such as Advertising Week and corporate summits, Mindie actively integrates marketing strategy, emerging technology, and healthcare advocacy to empower women in business and healthcare.

About Million Mammogram Challenge: We’re on a quest to schedule a million mammograms together for early prevention to save lives! Since knowledge is power, we created a movement to encourage everyone to take our health into our own hands. No one should go through cancer alone...especially not on our watch! We started this to ensure that each and every one of us look after each other.

Learn more at https://www.millionmammogramchallenge.com/

In Episode 72 of The Digital Marketer, host Stephanie Beach welcomes Carolyn Lowe, founder of ROI Swift, to discuss how to optimize your Amazon strategy and stop losing money. Carolyn shares her expertise in helping brands thrive on the platform, emphasizing the importance of understanding Amazon's fee structure and SKU-level profitability. She reveals common pitfalls that brands encounter when launching on Amazon and offers actionable tips on creating compelling product pages that convert. Together, they explore the balance between organic optimization and paid advertising, highlighting strategies to enhance brand visibility and customer engagement. Join us for valuable insights that can transform your approach to selling on Amazon.

In Episode 71 of The Digital Marketeer, I sit down with Alex Strickland, who leads publisher relationships at FreeWheel. With a rich history in the media industry, Alex shares insights on how FreeWheel successfully integrated real-time programmatic advertising during the 2024 Paris Olympics, achieving a remarkable 90% increase in advertiser participation. We delve into the challenges of premium video commoditization and discuss the importance of maintaining quality in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Alex emphasizes the need for robust partnerships and the critical role technology plays in driving effective advertising strategies. Tune in to discover how to navigate the complexities of programmatic advertising while ensuring content remains engaging and valuable for viewers.

In Episode 70 of The Digital Marketer, I have the pleasure of welcoming back Daphne Subar, the visionary behind Subar Sweets. Join us as we explore her innovative approach to business gifting, where intentionality meets creativity. Daphne shares insights on how her company has transformed the gifting experience into something personal and memorable, moving away from the transactional nature of traditional gifting. We discuss the significance of thoughtful gestures in cultivating lasting relationships, particularly in the corporate space. Daphne also reveals her journey of scaling a product-based business, the unique flavors of her cookies, and how she navigated challenges in the evolving market. Tune in to discover how gifting can foster genuine connections and elevate your business strategy.

In Episode 69 of The Digital Marketer, I host an enlightening conversation with Rosie O'Meara and Kate Scappaticci, two dynamic leaders from GroundTruth, recorded live from Cannes. We dive into the transformative impact of connected TV and digital out-of-home advertising on performance marketing. Rosie and Kate share their insights on bridging the gap between brand awareness and tangible outcomes, emphasizing the importance of measurable results in today's digital landscape. With their expertise, we explore how innovative strategies can effectively connect brands with their audiences and drive real sales. Join us for a discussion filled with actionable takeaways and a glimpse into the future of digital media.

In Episode 68 of The Digital Marketer, I, Stephanie Beach, engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Brendan McCarthy, CMO of Criteo. We explore Criteo's remarkable evolution over two decades from a retargeting company to a leading commerce media platform. Brendan shares insights on the brand's new tagline, "For the Love of Commerce," highlighting its mission to enhance the online shopping experience through innovative AI-driven solutions. We discuss how Criteo aims to bring joy back into commerce by creating engaging, personalized shopping journeys that resonate with consumers. Tune in to discover how Criteo is navigating the future of commerce and the transformative impact of AI on the industry landscape.

In Episode 67 of The Digital Marketer, I sit down with Jason Kramer, founder and CEO of Cultivize, to explore his innovative CRM strategy that generated over $1 million in just four months. With over 20 years of experience, Jason shares his insights on the complexities of CRM and how to transform these systems into powerful lead generation tools. We discuss common pitfalls businesses face when implementing CRM solutions, the importance of data-driven decision-making, and how personalization can enhance customer engagement. Tune in for actionable strategies to maximize your CRM's potential and drive substantial growth for your business.

In Episode 66 of The Digital Marketer, titled "The Measurement Maze with Angelina Eng: Why Having Standards Isn't Enough," I engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Angelina Eng, VP of Measurement at the IAB. We explore the complexities of digital advertising, focusing on the critical challenges of measurement and data fragmentation that marketers face today. Angelina shares her extensive experience and insights into the evolving landscape of addressability and the necessity for robust measurement standards. We also delve into the impact of AI on campaign management and the importance of data quality. Join us as we uncover actionable strategies for navigating the intricate world of digital marketing measurement and how to leverage innovation for better outcomes.