Spikes Excitement Talks

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.

In this episode, Gordon Euchler sits down with Alexander Shmelkov, Director of Consumer & Brand Insight at IKEA, to talk about what it really takes to evolve a global brand tracker. Alex shares his journey from economic sociology and GfK to the client side, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at leading large-scale change in a values-driven, consensus-oriented organization. The conversation covers brand tracking transformation, change management, IKEA’s culture, and what excites Alex about the future of marketing in an increasingly complex world.Tune in to get first-hand insights  of one of our most beloved brand! 

In this episode, Sandra Peat sits down with Elle McCarthy to explore a career defined by transformation. From her early days in advertising to senior leadership roles at EA and the Ford Motor Company, Elle shares how failure, curiosity, and the intersection of art and science shaped her path. Together they unpack brand as a driver of cultural and business change, the power of leading transformation from within, and what excites Elle now—from AI-driven strategy to building the future of brands. Tune in for a conversation about growth, impact, and reimagining what brand leadership can be.

In this episode, Sandra Peat is joined by Richard De Villa, Marketing Director for the UK, Ireland and Nordics at Club Med. Richard shares his journey through the travel industry—from destination marketing at the Philippines Embassy to airlines, and finally to leading one of the world’s most iconic holiday brands.Together they explore the power of storytelling, what makes Club Med’s all-inclusive experience truly distinctive, and how technology and AI are reshaping the future of travel. Tune in for insights about customer experience, innovation, and why travel remains one of the most exciting industries to work in.

In this episode, Sandra Peat is joined by Lucas Bergmans, Global Marketing Director at Wise, to explore a career that spans FMCG giants, challenger brands, startups, and fintech. Lucas shares how he moved from languages into marketing and ultimately made the leap into digital-first financial services. Together, they discuss the shift from brand-led to product-led businesses, building growth in fast-paced fintech environments, the power of founder-led cultures, and what excites Lucas most about Wise’s mission and future—plus his perspective on AI and what it could unlock next.Tune in for insights on Building challenger brands, driving growth and some witty anecdotes. 

In this episode, Gordon Euchler sits down with special guest Allyson Witherspoon, CMO and Global Brand Advisor at Nissan Motor Corporation, to talk about leadership, brand transformation, and the power of taking bold leaps. Allyson shares her journey from accounting student to global marketing leader, her experiences across iconic automotive brands, and the mentors who shaped her career. They explore Nissan’s ongoing transformation, the role of creativity inside large corporations, inspiration from brands beyond automotive, and what excites her about the future of marketing—especially the impact of AI. Tune in for a candid conversation about boundaries, curiosity, and building brands with purpose.

In this episode, Gordon Euchler speaks with Zsuzsanna Szak, Global Category Director at Henkel, about building a global FMCG career driven by curiosity, ownership, and people-centric leadership.Zsuzsanna shares her journey from early marketing roles at FrieslandCampina to nearly a decade at Colgate-Palmolive, followed by senior leadership roles at Henkel across multiple countries. Having lived and worked in six countries, she reflects on how international experience, adaptability, and continuous learning have shaped her leadership style.The conversation explores what marketing looks like beyond campaigns, the value of cross-functional collaboration, and why people centricity is essential in both marketing and leadership. Zsuzsanna also introduces her perspective on endurance versus resilience, explaining why sustainable routines and long-term thinking matter more than short bursts of effort in today’s fast-changing world.Tune in to find out how to stay grounded while navigating constant change.

In this episode, Gordon Euchler speaks with Amina Mattern, Head of Marketing for Canada and LATAM at Indeed. Amina shares her career journey from psychology and journalism into global marketing leadership roles across agencies, LinkedIn, and now Indeed.They discuss the evolution of digital marketing, the importance of aligning marketing and sales, and how brands can balance growth with ethics and responsible data use. Amina also reflects on leadership, mentorship, and how personal experiences have shaped her approach to work.Tune in to take a look to the future of marketing, where Amina explains why mentoring the next generation of marketers and using AI to unlock creativity excites her most.

In this short episode of Spikes Excitement Talks, Gordon Euchler speaks with Mona Elsaka, VP Global Sponsorships & Partnerships at Mastercard,  about the evolving role of marketing at the intersection of culture, technology, and human passion. Mona shares her journey from social impact work to leading major brand and communication functions, and why brand partnerships and human connection remain at the heart of meaningful marketing.She reflects on mentors who shaped her mindset, the importance of not taking things personally, and why authentic, trust-building storytelling will define the future.Tune in for a refreshing chat about creativity, collaboration, and the power of people in a tech-driven world.

In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks Gordon Euchler hosts  Julien Moignard, Global Chief Prospective Innovation and Design Officer & SVP - Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever.The conversation explores the future of beauty, innovation, and leadership. Julien shares his journey from a family of pharmacists to working with L’Oréal and Estée Lauder, and now driving Unilever’s transformation into a true beauty company.He discusses how he blends innovation, design, and sustainability to create products that inspire confidence, joy, and desire. Furthermore foresight, mentoring, and shaping the future of work and life, while balancing business ambition with human responsibility. Tune in for a conversation packed with passion, vision and the art of making beauty meaningful.

In this episode, Gordon Euchler talks with Gabriele Haessig, Managing Director for Communications and Sustainability at Procter & Gamble Deutschland (Germany). With a remarkable career spanning decades at P&G, Gabriele shares her journey from economics student to leading sustainability and communications for one of the world’s biggest brands. She discusses how purpose and sustainability are woven into the fabric of P&G, shaping everything from product innovation to global partnerships. Gabriele also dives into her vision for the future—a future where brands are co-created with purpose, sustainability is no longer optional, and businesses actively contribute to a better world for generations to come.Tune in for an motivating conversation on how brands can drive meaningful change and why the future is brighter than we think.

In this episode, Gordon speaks with Marco Philipp Koppenstein, Head of Category Development DACH at Mars Wrigley, about excitement, leadership, and the future of retail.Marco shares how he found his way to Mars, why he stayed, and what makes the company’s purpose. He explains how his team works as a neutral, data-driven category consulting unit, optimizing store touchpoints, checkout layouts, and impulse modules to grow entire categories, not just brands.They talk about inspiring leaders, why the best ones stay in the background, and how Marco’s own team motivates him daily. He also reveals what excites him about the future: AI-driven retail, seamless shopping, and shaping the next generation of in-store experiences.Tune in for an inspiring talk about purpose, growth, and the people who make work exciting.