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On this episode of Your Future in Sales and Marketing, Andrew sits down with Kylie Gleeson, Global Group Executive & CEO - Consumer and Retail at Quantium, who has built her career across some of the most demanding commercial environments in the world, from graduate rotations at Coca-Cola and Nestlé, to strategy consulting at Kantar, to leading commercial teams across Asia, Africa and the Middle East at FrieslandCampina, to the sharp end of AI and advanced analytics at dunnhumby and now Quantium.

Kylie knows what the top job looks like and what it takes to get there. 

In this conversation she talks about why curiosity has overtaken academic pedigree as the trait that separates the people accelerating fastest inside AI-driven organisations. 

Why 3 and 5 year strategies are losing their usefulness. 

What CEOs who are actually getting ROI from AI are doing differently from those who aren't. 

And why the competitive threat to your career isn't AI — it's the person next to you who's using it better.

There's also a sharper conversation in here about leadership: what authentic leadership actually means across cultures and contexts, how to build commercial acumen early, and the leadership lesson that took the longest to earn.

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What actually separates a sales director from a chief commercial officer? For Tanya Pitchforth, it's courage, clarity and humanity, not just hitting budget. 

Tanya is Chief Commercial Officer at McPherson's, the ASX-listed company behind Lady Jayne, Manicare, Swisspers and Dr. LeWinn's, and spent over a decade at Danone building new growth spaces across Paris and Amsterdam before that.

In this episode of Your Future in Sales and Marketing, Tanya talks to Mike Dickson about:

• Why she chases a trajectory, not a destination, and what that's meant for her career choices
• Building a career like a spider web instead of a ladder, and why the pivot is often smarter than the promotion
• What actually separates a sales director from a chief commercial officer
• Leading teams across Europe versus Australia, and the gender diversity gap she thinks Australia still hasn't closed
• Turning down her own dream role in Paris to come home to Australia, and what that transition really cost
• What to do when a career move doesn't go to plan, and why the next step doesn't always have to be up

Sharp, specific and genuinely useful for anyone weighing up their next career move, lateral, sideways, or nowhere near where they expected.

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In this episode of Your Future in Sales and Marketing, Ben Carnegie is joined by Nick Cook, General Manager of Marketing at Mad Mex, for a deep dive into a career shaped by agency creativity, automotive scale, and fast-moving QSR execution.

Nick shares how his early days across multiple agencies - including Euro RSCG (now Havas), DDB, and Saatchi & Saatchi helped him develop a strong foundation in creative craft and brand thinking. While agency life built his appreciation for execution, it was his move client-side to Hyundai that gave him exposure to complex, global marketing environments, including dealer networks, cultural differences in Korean HQ structures, and the early evolution of EV adoption and performance branding.

The conversation then shifts to his current role at Mad Mex, where he leads a broad generalist marketing function spanning product development, pricing, digital, and communications. Nick unpacks what it means to operate in a founder-led, franchise-driven QSR business where speed, clarity, and influence are essential.

He also shares standout campaign stories, including collaborations with Liquid Death and Smith’s Chips, as well as product innovation work like the launch of “Baja Fries” - a deliberately bold move designed to reinforce Mad Mex’s edgy, flavour-first positioning.

Throughout the episode, Nick reflects on leadership lessons from the Marketing Academy, the importance of vulnerability in team culture, and why great marketing leaders must focus on both strategy and the bravery of execution.

A must-listen for marketers navigating agency-to-client transitions, or anyone working in fast-paced, competitive brand environments.

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In this episode of Future in Sales & Marketing, Ben Carnegie is joined by Serge Costi, General Manager of Marketing at Noumi, the company behind leading dairy and plant-based beverage brands including Milk Lab.

Serge shares his journey through some of the world’s most influential FMCG organisations, from early career experiences at George Weston Foods to nearly a decade at Diageo, where he worked across iconic brands such as Bundaberg Rum and Smirnoff in both domestic and global roles. He reflects on what it takes to build world-class brands, scale across international markets, and adapt strategy across vastly different cultural and consumer landscapes.

The conversation explores key career-defining moments, including Serge’s move into global headquarters in New York, and how exposure to emerging markets shaped his thinking on localisation, brand building, and growth strategy. He also discusses major innovation work at Lion, including category-shaping developments in non-alcoholic and gluten-free beer, and the importance of combining consumer insight with bold execution.

Now at Noumi, Serge leads marketing across a diverse portfolio spanning Australia and international markets, overseeing brands like Milk Lab, which has scaled into 24 countries and become a category leader in café channels globally. He breaks down how Milk Lab was built from a niche performance solution for baristas into a globally scalable brand, and why focusing on solving real industry problems has been central to its success.

The episode also covers leadership development through the Marketing Academy, the value of self-awareness in leadership, and Serge’s work as an executive coach, where he sees common challenges across industries including prioritisation, performance conversations, and career progression.

Finally, Serge shares practical advice for marketers looking to broaden their experience across FMCG channels, emphasising the importance of working across retail, food service, and international markets to build a well-rounded commercial skillset.

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In this episode, Andrew sits down with Ben Gibson, General Manager at Mark Anthony Brands Australia, to unpack a career that’s anything but linear.

Ben shares how he went from a traditional accounting start to partnering with sales teams, stepping backwards into field sales to accelerate his growth, and eventually leading national accounts before diving into the entrepreneurial world with VOC Beverages and launching his own seltzer brand.

They explore the power of breadth over hierarchy, why taking risks and side steps can fast-track your career, and how hands-on experience across finance, sales, supply chain, and brand building prepared Ben to launch and lead a scaling business in Australia.

Ben also takes us behind the scenes of building Mark Anthony Brands locally — from setting up the foundations (licenses, teams, systems) to now driving growth, innovation, and long-term market ambition in the RTD category.

If you’re looking to move into leadership, start your own thing, or break out of a “cookie-cutter” career path, this episode is packed with practical insights on how to get there.

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In this episode, Leigh Coppin and Iain Shedden from Real Pet Food, share their career journeys and leadership lessons from within a fast-paced FMCG environment. 

Both highlight the value of non-linear careers—where calculated risks and unexpected moments often shape the biggest growth opportunities. Leigh’s path is defined by pivotal “sliding doors” decisions, while Iain’s takes a particularly wild turn—literally—when he recounts the moment he rolled his car on a country road, climbed out in a full suit, and decided on the spot it might be time to move to Australia. Not your average career pivot. 

A central theme is decisive leadership, captured in Iain’s line: “fast yeses, fast nos, and no slow maybes.” Creating clarity, moving quickly, and removing ambiguity are critical to enabling high-performing teams. 

They also unpack what leadership roles really involve day-to-day: balancing strategy with execution, staying close to customers and teams, and focusing on removing roadblocks to drive progress.

The conversation explores how organisations can evolve from simply hiring talent to actively building it, fostering a culture of agility, collaboration, and continuous development. 

With a rapidly changing FMCG landscape, success comes down to staying consumer-led, adapting quickly, and empowering teams to deliver—while individuals are encouraged to embrace risk and seek stretch opportunities. 

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In this episode of Your Future in Sales and Marketing, we’re joined by Florence Paoli, Marketing Director at Reckitt, whose career spans France, the UK, the Middle East, and now Australia, to explore International career, inclusive leadership and how to embrace AI. 

Originally from Lyon, France, Florence grew up with a strong foundation of respect, trust, safety, and hard work. After completing a business and marketing degree, Florence discovered her love for business and marketing strategy. Determined to build an international career, she later joined Reckitt as a Assistant Brand Manager on Nurofen, beginning a decade-long chapter in the UK.

With a clear vision of going global, Florence later moved to Dubai, where she spent three years working across developing markets - navigating new cultural dynamics and broadening her leadership perspective. 4 years ago she relocated to Sydney to become Marketing Director for the ANZ region, bringing with her a truly international lens on brand building, consumer centricity and inclusive leadership.

In this episode, we explore:

• How apprenticeships can accelerate marketing careers
• What it takes to build a truly international path and how to adapt to the cultural differences between countries
• How to intentionally design a global marketing career
• What being a truly inclusive leader means
• How to develop your authentic leadership voice 

Florence’s story is a powerful example of what happens when strategic ambition meets cultural curiosity - and why stepping outside your comfort zone can fast-track your growth in sales and marketing.

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In this episode of Your Future in Sales and Marketing, we’re joined by Alex Barsley, General Manager at AB World Foods, whose path into commercial leadership proves there’s no such thing as a “typical” sales and marketing career.

Growing up in Shropshire in the UK, Alex was raised between two very different professional influences - a father working on a dairy farm and a mother in sales. That blend of work ethic and commercial instinct would quietly shape her future.

After studying at university in Cardiff and spending time in Toronto, Canada, Alex qualified as a teacher. But when she returned home to find there were no teaching jobs available, she pivoted - taking her first role in sales, selling sweets out of the boot of her car.

What followed wasn’t a traditional route through brand management or classic marketing roles. Instead, Alex built a broad commercial toolkit: working in revenue management, supporting mergers and acquisitions, leading SAP system rollouts, and managing field sales controllers. Each move expanded her perspective and capability - ultimately leading to her current role as General Manager.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why “falling into” sales can be the start of something big
• The value of cross-functional experience in building commercial leadership
• How revenue management sharpens strategic thinking
• What operational projects (like SAP rollouts and M&A) teach you about business
• Why there’s no single blueprint for a successful career in sales and marketing

If you’ve ever worried that your background doesn’t look textbook enough, Alex’s story is a powerful reminder that diverse experience can be your greatest advantage.

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In this episode of Your Future in Sales and Marketing, we sit down with Briar Keenan, Commercial Excellence Leader at Big Rocks Ltd, to explore what it really means to build a career on your own terms.

Originally from New Zealand, Briar grew up surrounded by tourism destinations, nature, and ski fields - eventually settling in Queenstown. With parents working in tourism and hospitality, her upbringing was grounded in service, resilience, and adaptability.

But her career didn’t begin in sales or marketing.

Briar studied Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Canterbury, developing deep skills in problem-solving, modelling, and processing complex data. By the end of her degree, she had developed a strong interest in sustainability - a theme that would continue to shape her thinking. After two years working in tech, she made the move into FMCG, starting in Demand Planning at Unilever.

From there, she built a multi-functional career across major global businesses including Diageo, gaining experience across planning, commercial, and strategy roles. Today, she’s carving out a portfolio career in commercial excellence consulting and contracting - stepping beyond the traditional corporate path to create something more flexible, impactful, and aligned to her strengths.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How an engineering mindset can be a superpower in sales and marketing
• The value of cross-functional experience in FMCG
• What “commercial excellence” actually means in practice
• What it really looks like to go out on your own
• The risks, realities, and rewards of building a portfolio career

If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s an alternative to the corporate ladder - or how to future-proof your commercial career - this episode offers an honest and practical perspective.

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In this episode of Your Future in Sales and Marketing, we sit down with Glen Scarlett, Commercial Director at Pernod Ricard Australia, to explore a career journey that proves there’s no single path to success in sales and marketing.

Growing up in Lowestoft, a small seaside town in England, Glen was certain from the age of 10 that he wanted to join the police force. But when his application was denied and he was told to go and gain “life experiences,” it set him on an entirely different trajectory. Rather than chasing a traditional career ladder, Glen chased experiences - leading him into hospitality, the liquor industry, and even teaching English as a foreign language in Sydney, followed by an extended stint in Cambodia.

It wasn’t until his 30s that Glen began his corporate career, joining Suntory as an account manager. Over six years, he built the commercial foundations that would eventually take him to Pernod Ricard, where he now leads at the highest level in Australia.

In this conversation, Glen shares:

• Why chasing experiences can be more powerful than chasing titles
• The transferable skills hospitality builds for a sales career
• How starting “later” can actually be a competitive advantage
• What it really takes to move from account management to commercial leadership
• Advice for anyone unsure about their next career move

This episode is a must-listen for aspiring sales and marketing professionals who feel pressure to have it all figured out. Glen’s story is a powerful reminder that diverse experiences, resilience, and curiosity can be your greatest career assets.