Strategy Sessions

Allen Adamson is an industry expert in all disciplines of branding. He has worked with a broad spectrum of consumer and corporate businesses in industries ranging from packaged goods and technology to health care, financial services, hospitality, and entertainment. In this episode we discuss: Why Skype died The joy of a 1 page document Switching from client to agency side HBO’s great approach to working with interns Why diversity is important and why we need to think beyond optimisation The lessons we learn from talking to customers How Ford changed how they think The lessons from Apple’s Genius Bar How to spot problems in business What we learn teaching students Find all the show notes, including Allen's contact details, on the main episode page.

In this episode I review Daryl’s incredible hour on the podcast. I could have featured every single word she said, but instead I focused on • Insights being the rocket fuel of marketing • Why diversity matters • How to plan a marketing career (spoiler alert: it’s hard) Links Daryl’s episode Dove Real Women campaign Andi Jarvis If you have any questions or want to talk about anything that was discussed in the show, the best place to get me is on LinkedIn or Instagram. If you want the podcast emailed to you sign up for it on the Eximo Marketing website. Make sure you subscribe to get the podcast pushed to you and if you enjoyed the show, please give it a 5* rating. Andi Jarvis, Eximo Marketing.

Tarek Sioufi is Grey’s Chief Strategy Officer. He has led brand strategy for adidas, The Financial Times, Sainsbury’s, Iceland, Netflix, Cadbury and Coca-Cola.In this episode we discuss:The power of imaginationWhy strategy is simpleDo ideas just ‘find’ strategistsAre strategists the smartest people in the roomThree modes of thought for devising a brilliant strategyThe most debated Christmas ad of all timeThe UK’s super bowlPromoting Iceland – the country, not the supermarketTaking on Google for Iceland (and Sweden)Stella’s new campaignTarek Sioufi  Tarek is a multi-award winning strategist with over 20 years of industry experience. He has held senior roles at some of the world’s most entrepreneurial and creatively awarded agencies including: Media.Monks, Wieden+Kennedy, The Brooklyn Brothers, Fallon and Sid Lee.He joined Grey in 2023 as Chief Strategy Officer and leads some of the agencies key accounts including, Etihad, Sky Bet, Haleon and Vodafone Ireland. Tarek’s work has been celebrated both for its creativity and effectiveness by Cannes Lions, The Effies, D&AD and Contagious Pioneers.And in 2022, Tarek was recognised by Campaign Magazine for outstanding contributions to the industry in their 40 over 40 category and by BIMA (The British Interactive Media Association) as one of the nation’s top strategists and consultants.Find Tarek on LinkedInShow NotesFull show notes, including a transcription andlinks to everything discussed can be found here.

Joe Rampley is the Creative Brand Manager at Forest, London’s homegrown ebike company. He joins the show to talk about their new campaign.In this episode we discuss:Why perfection is overratedThe insight behind Forest’s new campaignWhy they rebrandedHow ad placement is as equally important as creativeHow you measure success when building a brandWhy Ritson’s Mini MBA is worth the moneyFull show notes, including a transcript, links to everythingdiscussed and contact details can be found on the episode page.Joe RampleyJoe leads Forest’s Creative Team, shaping the brand’s voice across everything from campaigns to positioning. He began his career as a freelance designer and illustrator, always with a keen interest in cycling culture. After a design internship with Deliveroo, he moved in-house and now serves as guardian of the Forest brand, overseeing all things creative for Forest. Find Joe on LinkedIn

Tim Donald is the Creative Director at Sneak, the cult energy brand known for its disruptive campaigns, chaotic storytelling, and fiercely loyal fanbase.In this episode we discuss:Why you shouldn’t chase seniorityBuilding from DTC to retailThe power of design for SneakSatanic cults for marketing activationsBuilding a brand around gaming cultureFinding the sweet spot between nerd culture and popular cultureThe creative pressure to stay true to the brand heritageThe impact of price promotion on brandBuilding communities for marketing while not “selling out”Full show notes, including contact details and a transcript can be found here on the show page.

Paul Makaya is the Founder and CEO of Bergast House, one of Zimbabwe’s most progressive integrated advertising agencies, that produces work that fuses insight, design, and purpose to drive both business growth and cultural impact.In this episode we discuss:Being authentically yourselfClients using AIRadio being the dominant media platform across AfricaShooting for greatnessWhy diverse teams perform betterTalk To Your Customers ResearchI'm running a survey at the moment to find out how frequently marketers speak to customers and what they learn if/when they do.All the details and the survey are on this page.A full transcription, contact details and enhanced show notes can be found here: https://eximomarketingstrategy.com/never-average-with-paul-makaya-strategy-sessions-podcast/

Chloë Davies is a multi award-winning founder, a transformation consultant, chef and creative visionary whose work sits at the intersection of creativity, culture and social.In this episode we discuss:Understanding what matters and what doesn’t Reflecting on how culture shapes usHow It Takes A Village Collective came aboutUsing social impact to change the world The story behind Virgin’s ‘See The World Differently’ campaign Why real relationships are essential to the agency / client magic Creating a ruckus in Ad LandThe continuation of poor male behaviour in the marketing industry The challenges of trying to change an industry perspective of Black womenHow you can support It Takes A Village CollectiveTalk To Your Customers ResearchI'm running a survey at the moment to find out how frequently marketers speak to customers and what they learn if/when they do.All the details and the survey are on this page.Show NotesThe full show notes, transcription and links to everything Chloë talks about can be found on the episode page here.

Cynthia Harris, MBA, leads 8:28 Insights, a consumer insights and marketing strategy agency rooted in cultural competence and human understanding.In this episode we discuss:How we deal with change Getting good briefs from clientsThe magic sauce between agencies and clientsHarnessing imagination Speeding up researchLessons from P&GCelebrating client winsCynthia HarrisCynthia Harris, MBA, leads 8:28 Insights, a consumer insights and marketing strategy agency rooted in cultural competence and human understanding. With a pre-agency career spanning Abbott Nutrition, P&G, McCormick, and Bath & Body Works, she blends nearly 20 years of experience with a passion for empathy and human stories. An award-winning industry leader and a distinguished Insights Association Laureate, Cynthia is a sought-after speaker and thought leader, recognized for her contributions to the industry and her ability to make brands more human. A tennis enthusiast and world traveler, Cynthia calls Columbus, Ohio, home. Cynthia also serves as an Insight's Association North Central Chapter Board Director.If you enjoyed the show, please give it a 5* rating.Find the full show notes, transcript and links on the episode page.

Brendan McDowell is the founder of BPerfect Cosmetics and Voduz Hair. He’s built two amazing brands (from a background in sales) by investing in community and social media.  In this episode we discuss:Work life balanceBuilding a community of fansFollowing social trends and social sellingDragons Den and Made Up In Belfast Opening on the High Street when everyone said “the High Street is dead”Staying close to the customer as your role evolves into CEOLaunching in Superdrug Rethinking sales from a strategic perspectiveWhat comes next Brendan McDowell Founded in Belfast in 2012 by visionary entrepreneur Brendan McDowell, BPerfect Cosmetics set out to revolutionise the beauty industry with products that are easy to use, versatile, and transformative. Brendan’s game-changing approach caught the spotlight in 2017 on Ireland’s Dragons’ Den, where he wowed all five Dragons and secured offers from two, to which he later declined.Since then, Brendan has been nominated for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year and earned multiple awards for his bold entrepreneurial spirit. Today, BPerfect is a global beauty powerhouse, stocked in over 2,000 locations across Ireland, the UK, and internationally.Known for its cult-favourite makeup, tanning essentials, and more recently, skincare, BPerfect has also partnered with top makeup artists and influencers to create standout collections like the Stacey Marie Carnival Collection, LMD Collection, and Annalivia Collection.With record-breaking sales on TikTok and a spot among the top five beauty brands in the UK and Ireland, BPerfect is leading the way with exciting new revenue streams and unstoppable growth.Find Brendan on TikTok and Instagram Andi JarvisIf you have any questions or want to talk about anything that was discussed in the show, the best place to get me is on LinkedIn or Instagram. If you want the podcast emailed to you sign up for it onthe Eximo Marketing website. Make sure you subscribe to get the podcast pushed to you and if you enjoyed the show, please give it a 5* rating.Andi Jarvis, Eximo Marketing.

Phillip Oakley is a brand strategist and marketing consultant with over 20 years of experience helping brands stand out and grow.In this episode we discuss:The power of questions and curiosity Talking to your customers and the power of bringing the customer voice into the roomOvercoming objections for talking to your customersWhat the movie Arthur Christmas can teach us about marketingRiches in NichesThe power of visiting the store where your product is soldPhillip OakleyPhillip Oakley is a brand strategist and marketing consultant with over 20 years of experience helping brands grow and stand out across industries like technology, medtech, and consumer goods. In 2012, he founded Common Giant, a boutique consultancy that helps businesses leverage branding as a competitive advantage in a crowded marketplace.Phillip has also served as VP of Brand Strategy, helping retail brands sell in, stand out, and sell through while consulting on marketing strategy and creative execution for various business models.An energetic keynote speaker, Phillip shares insights on branding and creativity. He also lectures junior creatives and small businesses on effective marketing and is an eternal student of branding and marketing, having completed the Marketing Week Mini MBA and MAD//Masters. Find Phillip on LinkedIn.RecommendationsMan's Search For Meaning by Viktor FranklStrategy Masterclass with Seth GodinI’m doing a series of strategy masterclasses with Seth Godin in Ireland this spring. If you use code Eximo (capital E) then you’ll be able to grab a ticket for £225 instead of the full rate of £265.You get to work with Seth, who will be joining remotely from his NYC studio, with me in the room and the team from Horrible Brands to help out with brand strategy. These events have been put together by the Event Queen Treena Clarke. Tickets available from here.Strategy Sessions Host - Andi JarvisIf you have any questions or want to talk about anything that was discussed in the show, the best place to get me is on LinkedIn or Instagram.Make sure you subscribe to get the podcast directly or sign up for it here to have it emailed when it's released. If you enjoyed the show, please give it a 5* rating.TranscriptA full transcript is available on the episode page here.

Paul has been deep in brand diagnosis, strategy and realisation for over 25 years. You need to hear how he thinks about brands.In this episode we discuss:Listening as a superpower for strategistsWhy strategy isn’t predicting the future – with a hat tip to JP CastlinMike Tyson on strategyCreators building brandsDefining what a brand isn’t helps defines what a brand isThe role of insight in strategyStaying customer focused in strategyAssociated memorable momentsNaming segments- and why we (sort of) disagree!Paul Bailey25+ years professional experience in brand diagnosis, strategy, realisation – improving experience, empowering culture, achieving business objectives.A deep knowledge in brand, strategy, business leadership, marketing and communication. Working with global businesses to fast-scaling startups, across a myriad of industries, with diverse target audiences and business objectives. Supported by academic expertise including MA Brand, Communication & Culture (Goldsmiths, London), Mini-MBA Marketing (Marketing Week), and extensive writing, speaking, and lecturing on brand, strategy & marketing. Find Paul on LinkedInRecommendationsThe Power of Co-Creation by Ramaswamy and Gouillart Brands: Meaning and Value in Media Culture by Adam ArvidssonBeyond Culture by Edward T HallHow Not To Plan by Les Binet and Sarah CarterStrategy Masterclass with Seth GodinI’m doing a series of strategy masterclasses with Seth Godin in Ireland this spring. If you use code Eximo (capital E) then you’ll be able to grab a ticket for £225 instead of the full rate of £265.You get to work with Seth, who will be joining remotely from his NYC studio, with me in the room and the team from Horrible Brands to help out with brand strategy. These events have been put together by the Event Queen Treena Clarke. Tickets available from here.Strategy Sessions Host - Andi JarvisIf you have any questions or want to talk about anything that was discussed in the show, the best place to get me is on LinkedIn or Instagram.Make sure you subscribe to get the podcast directly or sign up for it here to have it emailed when it's released. If you enjoyed the show, please give it a 5* rating.A full episode transcription is available from the show page.

Devora Rogers developed the methodology deployed for Google's groundbreaking ZMOT research. Yes, THAT Zero Moment of Truth research.In this episode we discuss:How everything changesOne HELL of a medical storyZero moment of truth (ZMOT) and convincing people to buy onlineHow long people take to decide to buy somethingUsing data to tell stories at conferencesMarketers being bad at researchRed and green flags for clientsWhy chaotic brands can still grow (with good lighting)Devora RogersConsultative insights and strategy has been Devora's passion for more than a decade. She has led research teams, developed the methodology deployed for Google's groundbreaking ZMOT research, launched global offices, and worked with dozens of global brands including Google, Gatorade, Nespresso, Snapchat, and Audacy, among others. She is a regular public speaker at industry events and her TedX on the Future of Shopping and Retail has been viewed over 250,000 timesFind Devora on LinkedIn.Strategy Masterclass with Seth GodinI’m doing a series of strategy masterclasses with Seth Godin in Ireland this spring. If you use code Eximo (capital E) then you’ll be able to grab a ticket for £225 instead of the full rate of £265.You get to work with Seth, who will be joining remotely from his NYC studio, with me in the room and the team from Horrible Brands to help out with brand strategy. These events have been put together by the Event Queen Treena Clarke. Tickets available from here.Strategy Sessions Host - Andi JarvisIf you have any questions or want to talk about anything that was discussed in the show, the best place to get me is on LinkedIn or Instagram.Make sure you subscribe to get the podcast directly or sign up for it here to have it emailed when it's released. If you enjoyed the show, please give it a 5* rating.

Magda is a research professor at the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute in Adelaide. She has been widely published in academic journals and authored two chapters in How Brands Grow 2.In this episode we discuss:The importance of curiosityThe impact of How Brands GrowThe Semmelweis effect and The Sharp EffectLearn, test and learnThe high performance culture at the Ehrenberg Bass InstituteThe benefit of being sceptical and open minded as a researcherGrowing categories v growing brandsThe challenge for small brands and marketersThe research behind raising pricesHow categories grow in the luxury sectorCan marketers do pricing?Talking to your customersIs marketing changing?The full transcript is available on the episode page. Magda Nenycz-ThielBefore her current role as Industry Growth Professor, Magda was Mars Professor of Marketing, a Chair funded by Mars Incorporated. Prior to this she led the Institute’s Mars Marketing Lab, a R&D initiative funded by Mars Incorporated from 2013-2016.As Industry Growth Professor, Magda, together with a research team at the Institute, pioneers research into category growth and leads the Industry Growth Initiative which focuses on applying discoveries to improve the ways that growth investments are made within organisations.Magda’s core areas of expertise are category and industry growth, e-commerce and neuromarketing. Her work has been published widely including in the Journal of Advertising Research, European Journal of Marketing and Journal of Business Research. She is also the author of two chapters in How Brands Grow Part 2, “Building Physical Availability” and “Online shopping – is it different?”.Magda regularly presents at domestic and international conferences to industry and academic audiences, as well as to the Institute’s Sponsors. She publishes regularly in international journals and has also written a number of book chapters. Strategy Masterclass with Seth GodinI’m doing a series of strategy masterclasses with Seth Godin in Ireland this spring. If you use code Eximo (capital E) then you’ll be able to grab a ticket for £225 instead of the full rate of £265.You get to work with Seth, who will be joining remotely from his NYC studio, with me in the room and the team from Horrible Brands to help out with brand strategy. Tickets available from here.Strategy Sessions Host - Andi JarvisIf you have any questions or want to talk about anything that was discussed in the show, the best place to get me is on LinkedIn or Instagram.Make sure you subscribe to get the podcast directly or sign up for it here to have it emailed when it's released. If you enjoyed the show, please give it a 5* rating.

Úna is the co-founder of The Indie List, Ireland’s leading platform for connecting businesses with top-tier freelance talent across marketing, creative, and digital disciplines.In this episode we discuss:Why it’s OK not have everything figured outBuilding a community of marketersThe Indie ListWhy pitching as an independent is toughThe benefit of using freelancersThe mindset shift between being a freelancer and running a businessSurviving the retirement of a business partner Dealing with imposter syndromeLinksThe Inner Game of Tennis by W Timothy GallweyAlchemy by Rory SutherlandRory Sutherland on the Strategy Sessions – he’s been on twice, so this is episode 1 and this is episode 2.A full set of show notes, including transcript, can be found on the episode page on the Eximo Marketing website.

James Hurman does a lot. He’s a strategist, a creative, an entrepreneur, an investor, a teacher and a great bloke.In this episode we discuss:The lessons from ancient culturesThe power of delegationMaking not drinking cool AFInfluencer partnerships with the KardashiansThe story behind Tracksuit, the brand tracking platformHow James approaches brand namesWhy you can be fun in B2BBecoming an investor using a different thesis to most VCsThe impact of Binet & Field on marketingThe ‘problems’ with Binet & Field’s workSharing the success of his agency with his teamJames HurmanOver the course of his advertising career, James won more than 50 awards for advertising effectiveness. In 2013, he was named the world’s number-one strategic planning director.Since then, James has co-founded and scaled multiple global brands, including brand health trackerTracksuit and non-alcoholic canned cocktail producerAF Drinks. He also foundedPreviously Unavailable, a venture studio that helps startups create new products, scale business ventures, and build their brand. James has published multiple books; the most recent,Future Demand, explores how startups can expand beyond their initial audience of early adopters. He’s also authored multiple marketing effectiveness studies, including “The Effectiveness Code” and “The B2B Effectiveness Code.”https://www.jameshurman.com Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jennerpromoting Free AF on LinkedIn orInstagramThe power on emotion in brand buildingJames writing in Marketing WeekThree books by Jonathan Haidt:The Anxious Generation,The Happiness Hypothesis andThe Righteous MindStrategy Masterclass with Seth GodinI’m doing a series of strategy masterclasses with Seth Godin in 2025. If you use codeEximo (capital E) then you’ll be able to grab a ticket for £225 instead of the full rate of £265.You get to work with Seth, who will be joining remotely from his NYC studio, with me in the room and the team from Horrible Brands to help out with brand strategy. These events have been put together by the Event Queen Treena Clarke.Ticketsavailable from here.Host Andi JarvisIf you have any questions or want to talk about anything that was discussed in the show, the best place to get me is on LinkedIn orInstagram.Make sure you subscribe to get the podcast directly orsign up for it here to have it emailed when it's released.If you enjoyed the show, please give it a 5* rating.Find the full show page including transcription, here: https://eximomarketingstrategy.com/tracksuit-marketing-with-james-hurman-strategy-sessions-podcast/

Nils Wimby is an experienced leader in marketing with a strategic mindset and a proven track record of generating value. In this episode we discuss: The architect, plumber and pipe wrench Problemformuleringsprivilegiet (a great word to say if you don’t speak Swedish) Volvo and their journey to premium Jaguar’s rebrand and if it as a good idea How Mindshare approaches sustainable growth  Strategy Masterclass with Seth Godin I’m doing a series of strategy masterclasses with Seth Godin in 2025. If you use code Eximo (capital E) then you’ll be able to grab a ticket for £225 instead of the full rate of £265. You get to work with Seth, who will be joining remotely from his NYC studio, with me in the room and the team from Horrible Brands to help out with brand strategy. These events have been put together by the Event Queen Treena Clarke. Tickets available from here. The full show notes, including transcript can be found here.

Dan Knowlton, the co-founder of Knowlton, has delivered millions in trackable sales for some of the world’s leading brands. In this episode we discuss: How he grew Knowlton from working with micro business to big brands Learning from mistakes Having your dad as a non exec How to write marketing reports Working with Barry from Eastenders Why nostalgia never gets old When campaigns win for clients Dan Knowlton Dan Knowlton, the co-founder of Knowlton, accidentally discovered a game-changing marketing strategy in 2017 called 'Advertainment' that has delivered millions in trackable sales for some of the world’s leading brands. Starting with humorous videos crafted in a spare room with his brother, now co-founder Lloyd, Knowlton has propelled brands like Wahl, BBC Storyworks, and Sunny D to new heights. Additionally, Dan shares his insights as the co-host of the Business Anchors podcast & on stages around the world. Find Dan on LinkedIn or via his company website, https://knowltonmarketing.co.uk/ Links Sunny D campaign My First Million Podcast Strategy Masterclass with Seth Godin I’m doing a series of strategy masterclasses with Seth Godin in 2025. If you use code Eximo (capital E) then you’ll be able to grab a ticket for £225 instead of the full rate of £265. You get to work with Seth, who will be joining remotely from his NYC studio, with me in the room and the team from Horrible Brands to help out with brand strategy. These events have been put together by the Event Queen Treena Clarke. Tickets available from here. Show Page Find the full episode home page, including a transcript here: https://eximomarketingstrategy.com/relaunching-an-icon-with-dan-knowlton-strategy-sessions-podcast/

Suzanne is the Director CEE, Google Customer Solutions and a long time Googler. In this episode we discuss: Planning (or not) for a career How digital marketing has changed in the 25 years Has brand loyalty changed over the years Do you need to be always on with your marketing Talk to your customers Working across counties and customs Using AI as a BFF What companies are worried about with AI (it’s not what you think) The full episode page, including links and a transcription can be found here: https://eximomarketingstrategy.com/customer-insight-with-suzanne-claassen-strategy-sessions-podcast/

Carrie Rose runs Rise at Seven, the Search-First creative agency from the UK that’s taking over America. In this episode we discuss: Business is just business Positioning for fast fashion Saying no to new business Using values in your agency When to say no to clients The Rise at Seven story The role of data in decision making Strategy v tactics Strategy Masterclass with Seth Godin I’m doing a series of strategy masterclasses with Seth Godin in 2025. If you use code Eximo (capital E) then you’ll be able to grab a ticket for £195 instead of the full rate of £265. See the link below for full details. The show notes, links and transcription can be found on the Eximo Marketing website.

Aaron Ahuvia PhD is the world’s leading scientific expert on brand love. In this episode we discuss: How the brain works and what we know about love What it’s like working with Philip Kotler How we define love and why it matters to marketers How to build brand love What to do when brand love isn’t something you should aspire to  Anthropomorphism and why brands talk to us Why stories matter Why the IKEA effect works (but not for me!) What Lisa Marie Presley can teach us about B2B marketing (really) What to do if people fall out of love with your brand Aaron Ahuvia Dr. Aaron Ahuvia is a Professor of Marketing at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and holds an appointment in the College of Engineering’s program on Human Centered Design as well as at the UM-Ann Arbor’s Penny W. Stamps School of Art and Design. He completed his Ph.D. in Marketing at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management, where he worked with Professor Philip Kotler (‘the father of modern marketing’). Strategy Sessions Host - Andi Jarvis If you have any questions or want to talk about anything that was discussed in the show, the best place to get me is on LinkedIn or Instagram. Make sure you subscribe to get the podcast directly or sign up for it here to have it emailed when it's released. Recommendations Aaron’s book, The Things We Love Creating Superfans by Brittany Hodak Lidia Infante on the Strategy Sessions talking about using data on dating apps