The Overthinkers

From big strategy questions to everyday marketing life realities, The Overthinkers is a weekly, 20 min conversation between two ex-marketing strategists: Rachel Mercer (@rachelmercer - Head of Design at JPMorgan Chase + ex-CXO at Proto) and Shann Biglione (@LeShann - co-founder and Head of Product at Kelp + ex CSO at Publicis Media). It is for those who like to (over)think about strategic planning, with delightful guests occasionally joining Rachel and Shann for extended discussions. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud. Views represented and reflected are individually held and are not representative of Rachel and Shann's companies.

Can 1st Party Data Save Digital Advertising?

With the demise of the cookie monster and the supreme reign of a few internet giants, a lot of brands placed their bets on building first party data. Is that really the way of the future, and can brands sustainably grow without a strong 1st party data strategy anymore?

09-20
24:34

Are CMOs A Dying Breed?

“You’re Dead In 18 Months Or Less” - Scott Galloway's ominous predictions for CMOs last week brought about a slight disturbance in the force. In this episode, we discuss the argument made against CMOs as we know them, as well as arguments for their possible redemption.

09-12
22:02

Can We Stop The Industry From Advertising Fossil Fuel Companies? With Joe Cole

As global consciousness of the world's climate challenges rises, the role of advertising is being increasingly scrutinized. With large fossil fuel companies still using our services to project a greener image, the reality is that decades of deception have made them questionable clients to support. In an effort to stop the support provided by advertising to the industry, Clean Creatives has been ramping up efforts to pledge our industry to move away from those contracts. Joe Cole tells answers our tough questions and shares how the initiatives has succeeded from idea to a massive movement that is now permeating the industry.

08-29
43:38

Can Social Media Platforms Outlive The Generation That Defined Them?

Social Media platforms are often put on the map by (young) generations, but ageing with them seems to prove a difficult exercise. Does that generational gap make it harder, and what might allow them more trans-generational success?

08-22
22:48

Is Strategy A Creative Or Rational Process?

Strategic planning inevitably requires the ability to rationalize information, but does great strategy require the ability to think creatively about it?

08-15
21:55

How Would You Launch A New Agency Today?

If you had to launch an agency from scratch today, how would you do it? What strategy or approach would you use? How would you stand out from competitors? Would you try to stay small and niche, or try to create the next WPP? This week's question is courtesy of listener Ian Barnard.

08-08
25:15

Is Rebranding Ever A Good Idea? With Jessica Lehmann Ash

On the heels of Twitter's catastrophic rebranding, we are joined by Co:Collective's Snr Strategy Director, Jessica Lehmann Ash, to discuss not only what went wrong there, but how and when to potentially get it right. Rebranding (or even renaming) should never be taken lightly, often costing valuable equity to companies, but as you'll hear on this episode, it doesn't mean there aren't valuable moments to go through the exercise.

08-01
43:23

Can Marketers Be Good At All Forms Of Advertising?

Brand, performance, social, programmatic, CRM, influencer, sponsoring, media, creative... There is a myriad of specialties in the world of advertising, and marketers are increasingly expected to be able to navigate any of them. Is it possible for them to be good at both the long and the short of it?

07-18
21:00

Threads Is Out... So What? With Grace Freeman

Threads has taken the world of social media by storm last week, growing in ways we'd never seen before. To discuss the platform's launch, its impact on marketers (and on Meta's product teams!), we're joined by Grace Freeman, Strategy Director and social media expert at Barbarian. The chance to share our hopes and fears for a platform that is breaking all sorts of records.

07-11
41:12

Is Barbie Revolutionizing Movie Marketing? With Moshe Isaacian

Barbie has been taking the film industry by storm - and the marketing community has noticed! This week we're joined by Moshe Isaacian, Brand Strategist, to talk about what's great about this campaign, and how it may rekindle a flame that has been somewhat lost in entertainment marketing.

07-04
41:54

Does Advertising Even Work At All?

A couple of years ago, Freakonomics discussed research that show zero to negative correlation between advertising and market effects. Apparently, marketers have been wasting all this money for nothing. During this episode, Rachel and Shann discuss the merits of the findings, and whether it approached the question in a way that does (or does not) capture the value of advertising for brands.

06-27
19:56

How Can Young Marketers Find Their Voice Alongside Veterans? With John Lyons

Between the loud voices of our industry and the stress of being judged for what you say, finding your voice on public forums can be intimidating for younger marketers. We're joined by John Lyons, Business Director at Gasp! to discuss how new voices can emerge, whether it be on their own or the support of more seasoned marketers.

06-20
39:02

Who put client services in charge?! With Marina Biglione

We often talk about strategy and creative, yet client services are often the ones running the show and taking the top leadership position. To discuss what it takes to be an account leader, and whether it's right for them to take those business leadership roles, we are joined by Marina Biglione, Managing Director at Ogilvy NY.

06-13
40:46

Can Ad Agencies Still Build Differentiated Cultures?

As talent ebbs and flows in incestuous fashion between agencies that are increasingly large in size and geographic footprint, establishing an agency culture seems like a rare oddity. How are agency cultures established, and how can they be built in this day and age?

06-06
23:17

Have The Rules Of Loyalty Changed?

The debate over acquisition vs loyalty has rocked the marketing industry over the past 10 years. While loyalty is everywhere, how it is managed has raised a lot of question. But as we see the rise of digital ecosystems, are the rules changing?

05-31
22:11

Ad-Supported Or Subscription Model, Which Will Win?

For a while, subscription models were all the rage. Now, ad-supported is making a comeback. Is one better than the other, and what considerations should businesses take before going for one or the other (or, both)?

05-23
18:33

How Is Generative AI Impacting Advertising?

Generative AI is this year's buzzword. But unlike those who preceded it, the applications are wide and many, capturing a lot of people's imagination. This week, we discuss how the technology might change the way we work and do business in the world of advertising.

05-09
24:46

Is Parenting Compatible With A Career In Advertising?

Advertising is increasingly a young person's game. Are the hardships of parenting one of the reasons why? And could advertising agencies approach this differently? Rachel and Shann share their thoughts as two new parents facing the reality of mother and fatherhood.

05-02
24:50

Will Calls To Boycott Hurt Bud Light?

Bud Light experienced pretty severe backlash after putting the face of influencer Dylan Mulvaney on its cans (and on TikTok). As the brand tried to explore its new identity away from what it called "fratty humor", did they make a strategic mistake or were they just not prepared enough for what happened afterwards?

04-25
25:54

Are Marketers More Prone To Grifters?

Snake oil salesmen, grifters, poseurs... There doesn't seem to be a shortage of people abusing our aspiration for what's shiny and new and our disdain for what's established ("everything has changed! Listen to my miracle solution!"). Is that really an issue in marketing, and are we, as a profession, more prone to it?

04-18
24:11

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