Children’s online safety is one of the defining tests of how advertising can live its purpose.

In my latest Trendsetters podcast, I speak with Charley Stoney, CEO of EACA, about #Campaign4Good—a pan-European competition created with 5Rights Foundation that invites young creatives to design campaigns protecting children in digital spaces. With support from EU Commissioner Michael McGrath, this initiative shows how creativity, advocacy, and policy can combine to deliver real impact across Europe. 

Hear Charley’s perspective on why purpose still matters, how young talent is driving change, and why #Campaign4Good could reshape the future of advertising.

Most CMOs obsess over purpose, storytelling, or benefits.

But what if the real driver of growth is something simpler—and more powerful?

In my new conversation with Ulli Appelbaum, author of The Science of Brand Associations, we dig into the evidence, the frameworks, and the discipline needed to build brands that stick in the brain—and in the market.

Today, we’re joined by Rogier Vijverberg, founder of SuperHeroes—the independent agency with a mission to save the world from boring advertising. From flying blimps over football stadiums for Netflix to transforming Buicks into modern art, SuperHeroes has mastered breaking through the clutter. We’ll talk with Rogier about how Gen Z tastemakers and AI collectives are reshaping creativity, what it takes to keep an agency fresh, and why the future of advertising might look very different from what we expect.

Sweden’s CMO doesn’t just market a country—he makes it impossible to forget.  

From letting the world call a random Swede to co-writing a horror story with AI, Nils Persson has turned Visit Sweden into a masterclass in bold, creative, and sustainable destination marketing. In our conversation, he shares how humor, cultural insight, and environmental responsibility can work together to win travelers’ hearts—and change their behavior.

How do you keep a 110-year-old brand at the forefront of technology and trust? Joe Prota, Director of Brand Marketing at IBM and a recent Internationalist of the Year honoree, is answering that question daily— by reimagining how brand marketing can blend storytelling, purpose, and AI-powered innovation. As a result, he’s helping IBM stay not just relevant—but resonant.

Rishad Tobaccowala’s marketing roots run deep, but his ideas go far beyond the boardroom. 

He recently marked 250+ published editions of his brilliant "The Future Does Not Fit in the Containers of the Past," a weekly Substack that blends strategy, philosophy, and personal reflection.  I had the chance to ask him about the themes that matter most, the future of marketing, his evolving relationship with technology (including AI), and how writing continues to change him.

According to Robin Bonn, CEO & Founder of Co:definery, the ad agency market is not oversupplied but rather under-differentiated. In an industry where agencies often work harder while margins decrease and talent experiences burnout, he presents a thought-provoking analysis in his new book entitled Market of One: How Your Agency Can Rewrite the Rules and Create a Lasting Competitive Advantage. Today, we examine how agencies can set themselves apart from one another instead of appearing virtually indistinguishable and question the common belief that agency commoditization is unavoidable.

Khalid El Khatib is the CMO of Consumer Reports, the nonprofit advocacy organization and one of the most popular publishing platforms in the country. He oversees CR’s revenue-generating teams, including member acquisition and fundraising, and works to elevate the organization’s profile among new, younger, and more diverse audiences.   Today, we discuss how he has managed to embrace the 89-year legacy of Consumer Reports while also creating a contemporary appeal for a new generation of potential members.

Marriott Bonvoy, the hotel loyalty program of Marriott International, which rewards members at over 7000 locations globally across its brand portfolio, has introduced a new marketing campaign and brand platform. In this initiative, Bonvoy has moved away from traditional hotel advertising clichés, choosing instead to emphasize the emotional appeal of travel experiences. 

Terri da Silva, Vice President, Global Head of Portfolio, Brand and Content Marketing, discusses the inspiration for the “Travel Shapes Us” campaign and why it matters to her personally.