BRAVE COMMERCE

Unilever’s Ken McFarland: Driving eCommerce Innovation and Growth in the Home Care Sector


Listen Later

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, hosts Sarah Hofstetter and Rachel Tipograph sit down with Ken McFarland, the Global Head of Digital Commerce for Unilever Home Care. Ken shares insights from his unique career journey, beginning with his leap from 7th Generation to Unilever, and how he has navigated the challenges of scaling from a nimble, values-driven company to one of the largest global consumer goods companies. He reveals how he balances his adventurous spirit, as evidenced by his bungee jumping experience, with the structured processes required in a massive organization like Unilever.


Ken dives deep into the role of creativity and data in digital commerce, highlighting how Unilever leverages innovative content and media strategies to engage with consumers online. He discusses the critical role of category management and the analytical mindset that underpins successful eCommerce operations. Ken also explores how he keeps the human touch alive within the vast, process-driven environment of Unilever by fostering strong internal communities and ensuring the eCommerce team remains tightly connected and effective.


Listeners will gain valuable insights into the intersection of creativity and data, the importance of storytelling within the organization, and how to champion the relevance of eCommerce in a company where it may only represent a small percentage of overall sales. Whether you're leading a small team or managing digital commerce for a global giant, Ken's experiences offer lessons in leadership, innovation, and the power of pushing beyond your comfort zone.


Key Takeaways:

  • The importance of blending an analytical approach with creativity in digital commerce.
  • How to successfully navigate the cultural and operational shifts from a small company to a global corporation.
  • The value of internal storytelling to drive eCommerce adoption within large organizations.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

BRAVE COMMERCEBy Adweek

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

106 ratings


More shows like BRAVE COMMERCE

View all
NPR News Now by NPR

NPR News Now

14,190 Listeners

HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

HBR IdeaCast

199 Listeners

The McKinsey Podcast by McKinsey & Company

The McKinsey Podcast

378 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,073 Listeners

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch by Harry Stebbings

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

522 Listeners

Pivot by New York Magazine

Pivot

9,265 Listeners

Adspeak by Adweek

Adspeak

148 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

110,824 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

55,990 Listeners

Marketing Vanguard by Adweek

Marketing Vanguard

121 Listeners

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard by Armchair Umbrella

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

69,215 Listeners

The Best One Yet by Nick & Jack Studios

The Best One Yet

9,594 Listeners

The CMO Podcast by vYve & Jim Stengel

The CMO Podcast

345 Listeners

Fiction - Comedy Fiction by The Sunset Explorers

Fiction - Comedy Fiction

6,448 Listeners

The Great Fail by Debra Chen

The Great Fail

126 Listeners

Consider This from NPR by NPR

Consider This from NPR

5,986 Listeners

Dwarkesh Podcast by Dwarkesh Patel

Dwarkesh Podcast

424 Listeners

The Garage: Tools For Retail Media Innovation by Adweek

The Garage: Tools For Retail Media Innovation

16 Listeners

TechMagic with Cathy Hackl by Adweek

TechMagic with Cathy Hackl

55 Listeners

Champions of Change: Shattering Ceilings in Sports by Adweek

Champions of Change: Shattering Ceilings in Sports

4 Listeners

The Speed of Culture Podcast by ADWEEK & Suzy

The Speed of Culture Podcast

49 Listeners

Adweek Presents... by Adweek

Adweek Presents...

5 Listeners

Young Influentials by Adweek

Young Influentials

10 Listeners

Off Madison by Adweek

Off Madison

5 Listeners

Home / Work by Adweek

Home / Work

2 Listeners

Brandweek: The Podcast by Adweek

Brandweek: The Podcast

4 Listeners

Touch of Truth with Jackie Cooper by Adweek & Edelman

Touch of Truth with Jackie Cooper

0 Listeners

Good Hang with Amy Poehler by The Ringer

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

7,679 Listeners