The Diary Of A CMO™ with Eyitayo Olayemi

Jacques Burger is the Co-Founder and Group CEO of The Up&Up Group (formerly M&C Saatchi Abel), one of Africa’s most respected and awarded independent agency groups. With over 20 years of experience leading creative agencies across Southern Africa and Australia, Jacques has built brand strategies for global powerhouses like Heineken, Panasonic, Volkswagen, MTN, and Old Mutual.He is a passionate advocate for creative bravery, leadership grounded in simplicity, and the need to reclaim creativity in an industry under pressure. His journey from launching an agency to buying it back from global shareholders is a masterclass in vision, grit, and reinvention.🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO

Enzo Scarcella is the Chief Consumer Officer at MTN Group, where he leads consumer strategy across 19 markets, steering the brand through Africa's dynamic digital evolution. With over two decades of experience, Enzo has been at the helm of some of South Africa's most iconic brands. He played a pivotal role in Vodacom's transformation, notably leading the brand's migration from blue to red. His tenure at Telkom as Chief Marketing Officer further showcased his ability to drive brand resurgence in competitive markets. Enzo's career also includes significant roles in the beverage, retail, and media sectors, with stints at SABMiller and M-Net, where he honed his skills in brand management and consumer engagement.🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO

Aimee Kellen, Regional Marketing Director, Middle East & Africa, Moet Hennessy, is a results-oriented marketer with over 17 years of brand and consumer marketing experience, driven by a deep passion for luxury and iconic brands. Inspired by the legacy, innovation, and craftsmanship of Moët Hennessy’s iconic maisons, Aimee brings their brand stories to life through evocative, purpose-led marketing that connects with consumers across Middle East & Africa. 🌍 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO

In this episode of The Diary of a CMO™, we sit down with Luca Gallarelli, Group CEO of TBWA\South Africa — a leader known for embracing chaos, nurturing creativity, and building some of the bravest agency cultures on the continent. From his early days at Ogilvy, to the bold moves at MetropolitanRepublic, and now driving disruption at TBWA, Luca opens up about his career journey, leadership philosophies, and what it truly takes to run a creative network that thrives on uncomfortable ideas.🔥 In this episode we talked about: ✅ The South African creative identity: Driven by ambition and born from a diverse yet conflicted society, fostering a unique global creative voice ✅ Generative AI in the creative industry: Its transformative impact, TBWA's approach to integration, and the crucial balance between technology and human creativity✅ Making "Chaos" TBWA's Creative Co-Pilot: Decoding their philosophy of disruption and how a little tension can spark brilliant ideas This one’s for marketing professionals, agency leaders, and anyone navigating the beautiful madness of the communications industry.🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO

If advertising in West Africa had a Mount Rushmore, Steve Babaeko’s face would already be carved in—probably wearing sunglasses. 😎 If you don’t know who Steve Babaeko is, he is the CEO & Chief Creative Officer of X3M Ideas, the 1st Cannes Lions Winner in Nigeria & West Africa. 🥇 Steve is a creative powerhouse who has not only transformed the landscape of African advertising but has also positioned Nigeria as a formidable force in the global marketing communications industry.In this latest episode with the "Ad Man's Ad Man" we unpacked: building a creative empire from scratch, balancing local relevance with global ambition and yes, a few mic-drop moments you’ll want to rewind.🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO

Gonzalo is the Global CEO & President at Interbrand. Interbrand is global brand consultancy with operations across the globe; from Tokyo to London, Sydney to New York, Johannesburg to Mumbai to name a few. Ever heard of the Best Global Brands Report? 🧐 It's a compilation of the top 100 most valuable brands in the world compiled by Gonzalo and the team at Interbrand using Interbrand's proprietary methodology for computing a brand's value. The Best Global Brands Report isn't just a list but also a strategic business document for CEOs and the broader C-suite: 33% of the 22 million readers of the report are CEOs and the broader C-suite. 🤯 We discussed the report, what CMOs should pay attention to in building brand value and so much more. 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO

Zizwe Vundla is the Director, Brand & Marketing, Safaricom Plc., home to Africa's largest fintech solution, M-PESA. From P&G to Diageo and now Safaricom Plc, Zizwe Awuor Vundla is an experienced Marketing Director with a demonstrated history of remarkable marketing and business performance in the consumer goods industry.A passionate leader with a track record of building strong teams. Skilled in Business Strategy & Management, Insight Generation, and Integrated Marketing with a strong commercial back-bone. She's a Brand Builder who loves great brands & all things African.🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO

Jim Lecinski: A Nano-MBA In Marketing for CMOs & Marketing Leaders (2025 Edition). In this episode, I chat with the Professor on critical concepts for CMOs & Marketing Leaders in today's world. From AI to building teams and so much more, it was a nano-MBA in Marketing. Jim Lecinski is a Clinical Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management where he teaches popular courses on Marketing Strategy and Omnichannel Marketing, and was named 2022 Kellogg Professor of the Year. He is a recognised expert, in­-demand consultant and keynote speaker with over 30 years of marketing industry experience, including a notable twelve year career at Google, where he was Vice President of Customer Solutions for the Americas. His latest project, “The AI Marketing Canvas: A Five Stage Roadmap to Implementing Artificial Intelligence in Marketing” was published by Stanford University Press in May of 2021 and has been named both a top AI book and a top business book of 2022.🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO

Koo Govender, the first female CEO of Publicis Groupe Africa, shares her personal and professional journey in this episode of Diary of a CMO™ with the host, Eyitayo Olayemi.Koo discusses her passion for mentorship, stemming from her own early career experiences, and her initiative to empower young women through multiple initiatives.She emphasises the importance of authenticity and values in leadership, sharing how her moral compass guides her decision-making.She also reflects on overcoming personal tragedy and using those experiences to help others. She stresses the need to embrace vulnerability and continuous learning, advising her 15-year-old self to take risks and learn from mistakes.Koo also touches on Publicis's goal to be an indispensable partner for clients, solving their challenges with impactful marketing and communication strategies.🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO

Sydney Mbhele: The Sowetan Boy Who Became An Award-Winning Serial CMO.In this episode, I chat with the one and only Sydney Mbhele , Group Chief Marketing & Corporate Affairs Officer at Absa Group; Africa’s 5th largest bank. Ranked among the top five CMOs in Africa & the Middle East by the SCOPEN Survey, Sydney is a "serial CMO" leading marketing & corporate communications for some of the most valuable and leading brands on the continent. 🌍 Prior to joining Absa, Sydney served as a top executive in these roles: Chief Executive of Brand at Sanlam, Chief Marketing Officer at Liberty Holdings Group, Executive Head: Group Marketing at Nedbank, Head of Global Brands at SABMiller (now ABInBev) & Global Category Marketing Director at Unilever. 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMOCheck out Eyitayo's Stuff: ContentMaps™ - https://contentmaps.co/ The Digital Masterclass - https://getdigitalmasterclass.com/ United Digital - https://weareunited.ng/

A carjacking experience led to his pursuit of legacy and building Africa's leading independent ad agency.Lanre Adisa a.k.a "LA", is the Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Noah's Ark Communications, a top-tier West African advertising agency with HQ in Lagos, Nigeria. 🇳🇬With over 30 years of experience, LA made history in 2018 as the first Nigerian Juror at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, elevating Nigeria's presence in global advertising.Under his leadership, Noah’s Ark has garnered numerous awards working with leading local & global brands:✅ 11th Ranked Agency in the World - Lurzer's Archive✅ Pitcher Festival of Creativity Agency of the Year; 2019, 2020, & 2022✅ Lagos Advertising & Ideas Festival (LAIF) Agency of the Year; 2015, 2017, 2020, & 2022 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - / eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - / eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - / madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - / TheDiaryOfACMOCheck out Eyitayo's Stuff: ContentMaps™ - https://contentmaps.co/ The Digital Masterclass - https://getdigitalmasterclass.com/ United Digital - https://weareunited.ng/

From dreams of becoming the First Female Black President to Chief Marketing Officer, Africa & Middle East for one of the world’s largest wine and spirits group, Pernod Ricard. With 240 premium brands in over 160 countries across the globe, Nthabi Motsoeneng leads marketing for the Africa & Middle East regions at Pernod Ricard.Nthabi has over 20 years of diverse experience in marketing, in various roles within multinational companies across FMCG, personal care, food & beverage, working on iconic brands at Tiger Brands, Kimberly-Clark, Tetra Pak, and The Coca-Cola Company. As CMO for Pernod-Ricard Africa & Middle East, she leads a talented team to create meaningful connections with consumers across these diverse regions, through a portfolio of brands, like Jameson, Martell, GH Mumm champagne, to name a few. She's lover of art & knitting and a proud Plant Mum. 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - / eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - / eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - / madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - / TheDiaryOfACMOCheck out Eyitayo's Stuff: ContentMaps™ - https://contentmaps.co/ The Digital Masterclass - https://getdigitalmasterclass.com/ United Digital - https://weareunited.ng/

She lost her mum at 14, paid her way through school, once worked as a waitress, then went on to build one of Africa’s largest agency networks! If I had to define Dawn Rowland’s story in one word, it would be “Relentless”. Over the last 10 years, Dawn led the agency’s growth from 40 to 1,500 people across Africa's sub-saharan region. 🌍 She has been responsible for the growth of Denstu's African Network expanding the footprint in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya & Tanzania, and growing into new markets. 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - / eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - / eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - / madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - / TheDiaryOfACMOCheck out Eyitayo's Stuff: ContentMaps™ - https://contentmaps.co/ The Digital Masterclass - https://getdigitalmasterclass.com/ United Digital - https://weareunited.ng/

It was my pleasure to have Andisa Ntsubane, Managing Executive, Brand Marketing & Communications Africa at Vodacom on the 6th episode of podcast. 🎙From Cell C to Microsoft, Old Mutual and everything in between, Andisa has served as a Marketing Leader for over two decades across multiple markets and industries on the African continent. 🌍 Besides sitting on numerous advisory boards, he has served as the Global President B2B Cannes Lions and was recently awarded Africa's Marketing Leader of the Year.🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - / eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - / eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - / madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - / TheDiaryOfACMOCheck out Eyitayo's Stuff: ContentMaps™ - https://contentmaps.co/ The Digital Masterclass - https://getdigitalmasterclass.com/ United Digital - https://weareunited.ng/

Paul Jackson is a second generation, 30-year veteran in the creative industry. Paul and his partners at different times built and sold 2 companies in the creative & communications space, Volcano Group & Grey. He recently started Boundless, another advertising company with 2 of his friends and partners, Roanna Williams & Stuart Walsh.With an infectious passion for Africa, he’s a firm believer that African ideas, talents, and expertise have what it takes to compete and lead the global creative industry. This was an extremely inspiring episode to document and I’m glad I had the privilege and honour to speak with this incredible creative with a deep love for the African continent. 🌍 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - / eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - / eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - / madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - / TheDiaryOfACMOCheck out Eyitayo's Stuff: ContentMaps™ - https://contentmaps.co/ The Digital Masterclass - https://getdigitalmasterclass.com/ United Digital - https://weareunited.ng/