Spikes Excitement Talks

In this episode, Gordon Euchler speaks with Anja Spielmann, VP Global Brand Strategy & Growth at Mars’ Royal Canin, about building brands with long-term thinking.From starting as a marketing assistant at Ferrero to leading global brand transformations at Mars, Anja shares lessons on courage, leadership, and why choosing the right manager matters more than choosing the right job.They explore the power of family-owned companies, what marketers can learn from category dynamics, how she helped transform Ben’s Original and why the future of marketing will be radically reshaped by AI.Tune in to find out why choosing the right manager matters more than choosing the right job. 

In this episode, Gordon Euchler speaks with Robyn Parks, Vice President and National Head of Marketing Strategy & Growth at Verizon.Robyn shares the unconventional path that took her from engineering studies to HR, and eventually into marketing leadership—building a two-decade career inside one company. She talks about the power of mentorship, why breadth of experience early in a career can matter more than rapid promotions, and how some of the biggest professional lessons come from parenting.They also explore leadership during the COVID era and why chasing impact matters more than chasing titles.Tune in to understand why the future of marketing will be shaped where technology, humanity and business meet.

In this episode, Gordon hosts Per Christiansen, Consultant - Brand, Marketing & Media at Advisory. From agency strategist to global marketing leader at KAYAK, Per shares what it really takes to scale travel brands at speed. He walks us through the high-stakes growth journey of Momondo — scaling fast, entering new markets in weeks and treating marketing like an investment portfolio, not an ad department. The conversation dives into experimentation at scale, why marketers must “throw the textbooks out the window,” and how even hard-to-measure channels like Premier League sponsorships can be turned into measurable growth engines.Tune in for a conversation about curiosity, challenger thinking and staying objective in a world where every channel eventually peaks.

In this episode, Gordon speaks with Omer Waysman, VP Marketing B2C North America at Michelin, who shares a powerful journey across industries — from Microsoft to Danone — and across continents, from Paris to the American South.What unfolds is more than a marketing career. It’s a masterclass in resilience, brand building, and servant leadership. Omer opens up about failing spectacularly during a live demo, why selling a product you don’t love can make you a better marketer and how winter tires can create an emotional experience of trust. Most of all, he reveals why the real KPI that excites him isn’t market share — it’s people growth.Tune in for insights about culture, confidence and what it really means to build brands that matter.

In this episode, Gordon sits down with Alex Nicholson, Senior Director of Digital Strategy at AstraZeneca, whose career spans from record stores and underground event promotion to leading social media transformation at USA TODAY and working with iconic brands like National Geographic.A true early pioneer of social media (full-time since 2007), Alex reflects on riding the first wave of digital disruption and what today’s AI boom can learn from it. From securing facebook.com/USAToday in the early days to training 140 journalists to break news on Twitter, she shares hard-earned lessons about change management, authenticity, and the tension between technology and humanity. The conversation dives into connection, credibility, media responsibility and why the future may belong to those who can contextualize, not just create.Tune in for a exploration of digital evolution  and a reminder that in every wave of innovation, the real opportunity lies in understanding how humans connect.

In this episode, Gordon sits down with Katie Fernands, former Marketing Director at Prudential Financial and former VP Growth Marketing Manager at U.S. Bank, to explore the deeply human side of money. From personal loss and becoming a primary caregiver to shaping ultra-high-net-worth strategies, Katie shares how her lived experiences transformed her understanding of financial stability. She reveals how curiosity drew her into the industry, why “simplicity is a superpower,” and how AI should free us for deeper human connection—not replace it. Tune in for a future-facing conversation on emotional money and why the most rational decisions often begin with understanding what we feel.

In this episode, Gordon speaks with Bhavna Satyanarayan, Head of Corporate Brand Strategy & Positioning at BASF.From agency life to global leadership roles across India, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, Bhavna shares how storytelling, strong mentorship and bold career moves shaped her journey — including returning to BASF after exploring new paths at Volvo Buses. They discuss aligning brand with business strategy, building global teams from scratch, the power of purpose-driven brands like Patagonia, and why the future of marketing lies in bringing humans and AI together — not choosing between them.Tune in for a conversation about curiosity, courage, and crafting brands that truly stand for something.

In this episode, Sandra speaks with Ginevra Adamoli-Kalbli, Director of Marketing Intelligence and Digital Analytics at Marriott International.From academia and early social media research to agency life at Epsilon and global hospitality, Ginevra shares how her love of culture, diversity, and understanding people shaped a non-linear and powerful career in analytics.They explore the evolution of “big data,” the challenge of connecting fragmented customer journeys, and why AI isn’t optional anymore — it’s about how creatively you use it.Tune in for a sharp conversation about insight, innovation, and the future of marketing intelligence.

In this episode, Gordon Euchler speaks with Mareike Bell, CSR & Sustainability Director for L’Oréal Consumer Products Division in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Mareike reflects on her 18-year journey in the beauty industry—from category management at Henkel to leadership roles at L’Oréal—and shares how sustainability, refills and cultural change have become her personal mission. Tune in for insights on learning outside your comfort zone, leading with vulnerability and why optimism is a critical skill when driving real transformation.

In this episode Gordon hosts Therese Bork, Director Marketing, Head of Brand and Partnerships, Nordics & Baltics for Visa. She shares an honest story about ambition, joy and choosing a career path that feels right—even when it doesn’t look linear on paper. From fashion and design to the Stockholm School of Economics, from Mondelez to Amazon, and now leading branded partnerships for Visa across the Nordics and Baltics, Therese has always followed one guiding principle: spark joy. She reflects on the courage it takes to leave great roles behind and discovering that loyalty itself can be a superpower. Tune in for a conversation about self-belief, growth and embracing the scenic route—professionally and personally.

In this episode, Gordon Euchler sits down with Michelle van der Veen, Global Direct-to-Consumer Lead for Specialized Nutrition at Danone. Michelle shares her unconventional journey from art history and museums into global digital commerce, how COVID fast-tracked Danone’s DTC ambitions and why DTC is less about selling more—and more about serving better. The conversation explores personalization, AI, patient-centric platforms and what it really takes to build meaningful digital services inside a global corporation.Tune in to get insights about building what matters. 

In this epsiode, Gordon speaks with Lea Drusio, Marketing Director at Nespresso Germany. She shares her non-linear journey from startups and agencies to global brands. From learning performance marketing in the early Rocket Internet days to leading highly emotional categories like pet care and coffee, Lea reflects on trust-based leadership, the courage to say no, and why corporate environments can be powerful platforms for real impact. Tune in for insights about brand consistency, human connection in a tech-driven world, and what truly excites marketers looking ahead.

*german episode*In this episode Gordon hosts Michael Lüttgen, Chief Customer Officer at Kaufland and former CMO at Biedronka for Jerónimo Martins, OBI and Lidl. From challenger mindsets and retail scale to customer insight, price reality, and leadership without ego, Michael shares why marketing is not advertising, why consistency beats copycats, and why understanding people matters more than winning arguments. Tune in for a sharp episode about impact, complexity and staying grounded in reality.

In this episode, Gordon Euchler sits down with Angeliki Kazantzidi, Head of Marketing Northern Europe at Kenvue, to talk about leadership without ego, the power of learning agility, and what it really takes to manage complex brand portfolios across cultures.With nearly two decades at Johnson & Johnson / Kenvue, Angeliki shares her unconventional career path from chemistry to marketing, why she returned to the same company twice, and how purpose-driven brands, great teams, and curiosity fuel long-term success. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about people-first leadership, mentoring and the future of marketing in the age of AI.

In this episode, Dave Cobban sits down with Guido Gennari, Executive Director Product Management at JP Morgan Chase. From Buenos Aires to New York, Dallas and now JP Morgan Chase, Guido’s career is a masterclass in embracing change. He shares how strong analytical foundations, customer obsession, and curiosity shaped his journey from KPMG to leading product management for nearly 300,000 employees worldwide.The conversation dives into the balance between data and human insight, the power of killing your ego, building memorable customer experience cultures and why AI isn’t here to replace us—but to help us go faster and think bigger. Tune in to get insights about growth, leadership and designing experiences that truly work.

In this episode, Gordon Euchler sits down with Lucia Martinez Barrenechea, Global Strategy and Competitor Intelligence Lead for Beauty & Wellbeing Business Group at Unilever, to unpack how global FMCG giants really think and compete. From a law degree in Spain to shaping strategy across a beauty and personal care business, Lucia shares how decoding competitors, understanding organizational structures, and tracking trends like longevity, AI, and social commerce are redefining the beauty industry. Tune in for insights about markets in motion, brands that endure and the people who shape meaningful careers.

In this episode Gordon Euchler hosts Danyal Syed Ali, Head of Consumer and Customer Insights at IKEA, to explore his journey from early startup life in Pakistan to global brands like Nestlé, the BBC, and ultimately one of the world’s most loved retailers.Danyal shares what it really takes to evolve an iconic brand in a time shaped by AI, omnichannel complexity, and changing customer expectations—without losing the warmth and humanity that made the brand successful in the first place. The conversation also dives into IKEA’s unique culture, what keeps people there for decades, the power of diversity and inclusion in retail, and Danyal's growing interest in responsible consumerism and the role businesses must play in protecting the future of our planet.Tune in to find out what it takes to stay relevant while staying human.

In this episode, Gordon sits down with Natasha Maharaj, Senior Global Brands Director at The Heineken Company. With a career spanning Unilever, Nestlé, PepsiCo and now Heineken, Natasha shares how world-class FMCG brands are built at the intersection of creativity, culture, and commercial impact.From her belief that “marketing chose me,” to shaping iconic beer brands around human connection and togetherness, Natasha reflects on leadership, curiosity, experimentation, and why timeless insights matter even more in an AI-driven world. Tune in for a conversation on brand courage, creativity at scale and the future of marketing.

In this episode, Dave sits down with Matt Kerbel, Global Brand Strategist and Marketing Leader at Turo. With nearly two decades of experience across challenger brands like Lyft, Call of Duty, MeUndies and now Turo, Matt shares how curiosity, empathy and human connection have shaped his career.From formative childhood experiences in multicultural Toronto to career-defining mentorship moments, Matt reflects on what great leadership really looks like, why fundamentals still matter in an AI-driven world, and how brands can build meaning beyond transactions. Tune in for insights on staying human in an ever-accelerating industry.

In this episode, Gordon Euchler hosts Rob Edwards, Head of Media Digital at Arla Foods, shares his journey from local press to leading brand media, reflecting on the power of creativity, personality, and storytelling in an increasingly data-driven world. He explores the role of partnerships, mergers, and integrity in shaping brands that stand out, and why connecting with people—at all levels—is the secret to lasting impact. Tune in to get inspired on building a brand with personality.