Next In Line

Elizabeth DeFeo, Head of Partnerships and Activation joins host Karina Jimenez to share the career journey that took her from traditional advertising into experiential marketing, international sports sponsorships, and leadership. She reflects on how an unexpected layoff helped her discover work she was passionate about, why taking a pay cut to enter a new industry became a defining career decision, and how leading teams across different cultures taught her to adapt her communication style to the people and environments around her. Elizabeth also explains why she builds teams with different perspectives, backgrounds, and skills rather than surrounding herself with people who think just like her.Elizabeth and Karina also explore how career growth does not always follow a straight line, why every role can be valuable when it teaches you something new, and how leaders need to evolve as AI changes the way teams work. Elizabeth shares why she prioritizes human skills such as strategic thinking, communication, and relationship-building while remaining open to new technology and learning from younger colleagues. For the next generation, her advice is to develop transferable skills, try new things even when the path is unclear, and focus on what brings you joy rather than comparing your progress with someone else's.

Ian Colley, Chief Marketing Officer at DeepIntent, joins host Karina Jimenez to share the career journey that took him from public relations agencies in the UK to more than a decade at IBM, followed by a transition into advertising technology at The Trade Desk and eventually pharmaceutical marketing. He reflects on what drew him to the healthcare industry and why its unique challenges create opportunities for data-driven advertising and AI. Ian also explains how pharmaceutical marketing differs from traditional consumer marketing, from reaching highly specific patient populations to navigating the complexities of healthcare access, and how AI is helping companies make drug development and commercialization more targeted and efficient.Ian and Karina also explore how AI is transforming pharmaceutical marketing, including DeepIntent’s agentic marketing platform, Cora, which brings together complex data to accelerate campaign planning and decision-making. They discuss the importance of responsible AI adoption in a highly regulated industry, protecting patient privacy, and adapting to changing consumer behaviors as more people turn to AI platforms for information. For the next generation of marketers, Ian encourages thinking strategically rather than focusing only on individual tasks, staying curious about emerging technologies, and seeking opportunities outside your comfort zone. Above all, he emphasizes the importance of storytelling as a skill that remains essential no matter how much technology changes.

Alan Wizemann joins host Cesar Jimenez to share the unconventional career journey that took him from writing software at just nine years old to building startups and leading digital transformation at companies like Target, lululemon, and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. Without following a traditional college path, Alan built his career through curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to challenge established ways of working. He reflects on his entrepreneurial experience building ShopIgniter and how that journey eventually led him to Target, where he helped develop Cartwheel, an application that reached millions of users and demonstrated how large organizations can embrace the agility and innovation of a startup.Alan and Cesar also explore why successful digital transformation depends as much on people and organizational culture as it does on technology, from recognizing overlooked talent and overcoming resistance to creating environments where teams can experiment and learn from failure. They discuss how AI is reshaping the future of work, why traditional organizational structures may need to evolve, and the importance of empowering employees to drive innovation. For the next generation of leaders, Alan encourages embracing unconventional opportunities, learning through experience, recognizing potential in others, and having the courage to question the status quo rather than accepting that things must always be done a certain way.

Miguel Zorrilla, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Central Garden & Pet, joins host Karina Jimenez to share the career journey that took him from internships at MTV and Island Def Jam to an unexpected role in HR at Mars Wrigley, where he discovered his path into brand marketing. He reflects on his experience working with iconic brands like Snickers, Twix, and Butterfinger before making the intentional leap into the pet care industry. Miguel also shares his approach to keeping legacy brands relevant, including how his team reimagined Butterfinger’s classic campaign through the “Butterfinger Investigators” concept, preserving what made the brand recognizable while finding new ways to connect with consumers.Miguel and Karina also explore why leadership requires adapting to different personalities, generations, and working styles, and how creating team charters can help build stronger collaboration. He reflects on the importance of taking ownership of your career, stepping outside your comfort zone, and finding mentors and advocates who can offer perspective along the way. For the next generation of leaders, Miguel encourages building a diverse skill set rather than chasing recognizable brands, staying curious, and developing genuine relationships throughout your career. Above all, his advice is to follow your passion and remember that success is just as much about enjoying the journey as it is about reaching the next milestone.

Steve Arentzoff, Chief Marketing Officer, joins host Karina Jimenez to share the career journey that has taken him across multiple industries, giving him a unique perspective on what drives successful marketing regardless of the sector. He reflects on why understanding the customer’s challenges and communicating a clear, credible value proposition matter more than the product itself. Steve also shares his approach to joining companies at critical growth stages, from identifying gaps across the go-to-market strategy and finding early wins to building stronger alignment between marketing, sales, and customer success teams around shared business outcomes.Steve and Karina also explore how AI is reshaping the buyer journey, why traditional search strategies are evolving, and the growing importance of understanding how large language models interpret and present a company’s content. He discusses the need for clear AI guidelines across teams and why differentiation becomes increasingly important when competitors are making similar promises. For the next generation of marketing leaders, Steve encourages developing a strong understanding of both the product and the customer, gaining experience across different marketing disciplines, and staying focused on the fundamentals that remain essential regardless of how technology evolves: building trust, solving real problems, and communicating meaningful value.