Send us Fan Mail

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.

Send us Fan Mail

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.

Send us Fan Mail

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. 

Send us Fan Mail

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.

Send us Fan Mail

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.

Send us Fan Mail

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.

Send us Fan Mail

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.

Send us Fan Mail

In this special Talent Wrap episode of Your Future in Sales and Marketing, Andrew and Ben look ahead to 2026 and unpack what’s next for sales and marketing professionals.

From evolving hiring trends to shifting employer expectations, they share their predictions on how the talent market is set to change - and what that means for both businesses and individuals. The conversation explores the broader market forces shaping recruitment, including economic conditions, business confidence, skills shortages, and the growing demand for adaptability in commercial roles.

Andrew and Ben also dive into how career pathways are evolving, what high-performing candidates will need to stand out, and how organisations can position themselves to attract and retain top talent in an increasingly competitive landscape.

If you’re hiring, job hunting, or simply planning your next career move, this episode offers practical insight into what 2026 could hold - and how to get ahead of it.

Send us Fan Mail

Back by popular demand - our review of the [axr] 2026 Salary Guide! 

In this episode, Andrew Cannock & Ben Carnegie give you a deep dive into our latest salary guide, including: 

• What to expect from Sales, Marketing, Category and Commercial Excellence roles in 2026
• Market trends and industry insights 
• What the numbers mean
• What we are looking for as recruiters when recruiting these roles and how we refer back to this guide  
• Role scope and in-demand skills for each role type 
• How to level up in your career and make great career decisions

It's a great listen, so tune in now, and don't forget to download our 2026 salary guide here: https://www.axr.com.au/salary-guides

Send us Fan Mail

In this AXR How-To Series special of Your Future in Sales and Marketing, we flip the recruitment lens and speak directly to hiring managers. Mike is joined by Beth Holgate, Ben Carnegie, and Andrew Cannock, this episode breaks down how to get the most out of your recruitment process - whether you’re hiring for the first time or looking to level up your approach.

The conversation covers the fundamentals of recruiting well, from getting the basics right and building a clear hiring brief, to stepping up your process as roles become more senior or specialised. The team share practical insights on working effectively with specialist recruiters, running structured and meaningful interviews, and delivering candidate feedback that’s timely, constructive, and human.

The episode also dives into one of the most delicate stages of hiring: negotiating the offer. You’ll learn how to balance commercial realities with candidate expectations, while protecting both your employer brand and long-term retention.

Packed with real-world advice and actionable tips, this episode is essential listening for sales and marketing leaders who want to hire better, faster, and with confidence.