Advertise on podcast: BRAVE COMMERCE

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Marcelo Kertesz, Chief Marketing Officer at MANSCAPED, about how the men’s grooming brand evolved from a DTC-first business into an omnichannel brand with a growing retail presence. Marcelo shares how MANSCAPED expanded its product portfolio and distribution strategy while staying true to the humor and brand identity that fueled its early success. He also discusses the value of bringing marketing, creative, and product development under one leadership team, and how the brand is navigating changing conversations around masculinity and men’s self-care. Key takeaways: Investing in retail early helped MANSCAPED build its omnichannel presence beyond DTC. Unifying marketing, creative, and product development creates a more cohesive brand experience across channels. Expanding into new grooming categories requires balancing evolving consumer needs with a consistent brand identity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Rochelle Wainer, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Global Insights and Analytics at Kids2, about how consumer insights are evolving as technology changes how people research, shop, and make decisions.   Rochelle shares how Kids2 combines research, behavioral data, and emerging technology to better understand parents and translate those insights into action across product development, marketing, and retail. She also discusses the importance of studying the shopper journey across digital and physical retail and what brands can learn now as Gen Z becomes a larger part of the parent population.   Key takeaways:   Consumer research needs to reflect how people actually make decisions, from digital behaviors and social signals to real-world shopping experiences. AI and new sources of consumer data can help brands identify patterns and anticipate needs, but human interpretation remains critical to turning those signals into action. As Gen Z becomes a larger share of parents, brands need to understand how their expectations around authenticity, digital experiences, and value differ from those of previous generations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Grace Kao, Chief Marketing Officer at Snap Inc., about how changing consumer behaviors are reshaping the way brands build relationships and drive growth.   Grace shares why marketing is shifting from one-way messaging toward more community-driven, two-way engagement, and what brands can learn from the rise of chat and conversational commerce. She also discusses the role of creativity as AI and other technologies evolve, how brands can show up authentically in more personal spaces, and the challenge of balancing innovation with the growing pressure to prove ROI.   Key takeaways: The future of brand engagement is increasingly two-way, requiring marketers to contribute value rather than simply broadcast messages. AI may change how marketers create and engage, but strong ideas and human creativity remain fundamental. Marketers need to balance measurable performance with experimentation across emerging consumer behaviors and technologies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Neela Montgomery, Board Director at Ahold Delhaize and Logitech and former CEO of Crate & Barrel, about what major shifts in consumer behavior mean for brands and retailers. Drawing on a career spent at the intersection of consumers, retailers, and brands, Neela shares her perspective on some of the most meaningful shifts in consumer behavior today and what they could mean for commerce.   From the rapid adoption of GLP-1s to growing attention around women’s health and menopause, Neela examines how changing needs and behaviors are showing up across the consumer landscape. She explores the ripple effects these shifts could have across categories, how they may reshape what consumers expect from brands and retailers, and where new opportunities could emerge as a result.   Key takeaways:   Brands need to look beyond the immediate impact of a consumer trend to understand how it could influence behaviors and demand across categories. Product development and messaging should evolve alongside changing consumer priorities, rather than relying on assumptions about what shoppers value. Retailers have an opportunity to better understand consumers through different stages of their lives and create more relevant experiences around their changing needs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Rob Master, Chief Marketing Officer at Edgewell Personal Care, about what stays constant as AI rapidly transforms the way marketers work.   Drawing on his experience leading brands and teaching the next generation of marketers, this conversation explores how leaders can navigate rapid change without losing sight of the fundamentals. Rob also shares how Edgewell approaches growth across iconic and emerging brands and reflects on an early career bet at Dove that helped shape his willingness to challenge convention and take big swings.   Key takeaways:   Keep people at the center: AI can enhance every stage of the marketing process, but strong ideas still begin with deeply understanding the people you’re trying to reach. Stay curious as technology evolves: As knowledge becomes more accessible, curiosity, emotional intelligence, and a willingness to keep learning become even more critical for marketers. Lean into adaptability: In a rapidly changing market, strong leaders are willing to revisit decisions and change course when new information or context calls for it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Nick Tran, President and CMO of First Round, a joint venture between Diageo and Main Street Advisors. The conversation centers around Nick’s perspective that the brands that stay relevant don't simply react to culture. They help create it.   Nick shares why brands should look beyond traditional marketing playbooks, how shifting consumer behaviors are changing the ways brands connect with people, and why AI's greatest opportunity isn't just improving efficiency, but helping marketers do things that weren't possible before.   Key takeaways: Building cultural relevance starts with rethinking where and how your brand shows up. Brands that use AI as a growth tool, not just a productivity tool, will be better positioned for what's next. Why an abundance mindset can be a competitive advantage for leaders navigating change. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Mindy Shaltry, VP of Omnichannel Marketing & Activation, Mondelēz U.S., and Wes Saraceni, VP of Consumer Experience U.S. at Mondelēz International, about why today's shopper journey demands closer alignment between marketing and sales.   Mindy and Wes share how their partnership is helping break down organizational silos, reshape the traditional funnel, and build more connected consumer experiences across every stage of the path to purchase. They also discuss what large organizations can learn from smaller brands, why the "missing middle" of the consumer journey deserves more attention, and how stepping into unfamiliar roles has shaped their leadership.   Key takeaways:   The consumer doesn't distinguish between marketing and sales, so organizations can't afford to either. Growth comes from connecting every stage of the consumer journey, not just optimizing the top or bottom of the funnel. Stepping into unfamiliar roles and challenging established ways of working makes leaders stronger. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter are joined by Mike Westgate, Sector Lead, Retail, Global Business Solutions at TikTok, and Ben Sylvan, Senior Vice President, Connected Media Team at Keurig Dr Pepper. Bringing together both a platform and an advertiser, they offer a behind-the-scenes look at how their partnership turned Dr Pepper's viral Romeo jingle into one of the brand's biggest marketing moments.   Mike and Ben discuss how the campaign came together, from identifying an organic creator moment to making the decision to feature it during the College Football National Championship. They also explore how brands can build organizations that move at the speed of culture, collaborate more effectively with platform partners, and measure both the immediate and long-term impact of their marketing investments.   Key takeaways     Successful cultural moments happen when brands, platforms, and creators work together—not in silos. Community participation is one of the strongest signals of consumer demand and can help shape marketing decisions. Measuring incrementality alongside long-term brand growth provides a more complete picture of campaign performance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Branden Goodman, Head of Media & Marketing Capabilities, Beauty & Wellbeing US at Unilever, about how brands must adapt as algorithm-driven discovery reshapes consumer attention.   Branden explains why Unilever has embraced a social-first approach, what the shift from follower-based discovery to interest-driven discovery means for marketers, and how content creation is evolving from a campaign mindset to a continuous system of testing, learning, and optimization. He also shares how Unilever is building a modern content supply chain, where automation can accelerate execution, and why measurement must balance long-term business outcomes with real-time signals.   Key takeaways Consumer discovery is shifting away from social connections (who users follow) and toward algorithmic recommendations (what platforms predict is relevant). Winning brands are building content engines designed for continuous experimentation, not one-time campaigns. Real-time signals can improve performance, but long-term business outcomes should remain the ultimate measure of success.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter sit down with Felicia Zhang, Head of Marketing at Bar Keeper's Friend, to discuss what it takes to modernize an iconic brand while maintaining the trust that made it successful in the first place. Drawing on experience across global brands including Nike, Oreo, and Nestlé, Felicia shares lessons from her transition to a smaller, more agile organization, where speed, experimentation, and continuous improvement are critical to success.   The conversation explores why brands perform best when they're willing to launch, learn, and iterate rather than waiting for perfect conditions. Felicia also shares how her approach to leadership has evolved over time, including the importance of empowering teams to take action, embracing uncertainty, and finding optimism through periods of change.   Key Takeaways   Launching a strong V1 and improving through iteration often drives more progress than waiting for a perfect launch. The most effective teams combine strategic thinking with a willingness to roll up their sleeves and execute. Leadership becomes more effective when leaders focus less on controlling outcomes and more on empowering people and solving problems. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Stefan Kovačević, Global Retail Media and Digital Shelf Lead at Nestlé, about how AI is changing the way consumers discover, evaluate, and purchase products. As AI becomes a more active participant in the path to purchase, Stefan explores what this shift means for brands and why marketers need to rethink how they build trust and differentiation.   Stefan introduces the concepts of "human equity" and "machine equity," arguing that future brand success will depend on winning trust from both people and AI. He discusses the growing role of operational excellence and why emotional connections may become even more valuable as purchasing becomes increasingly automated.   Key takeaways   The future of brand equity will depend on winning with both consumers and AI-driven recommendation systems. Operational excellence is no longer just a supply chain concern; it increasingly influences brand perception and performance. As more routine purchases become automated, emotional connections may become a key differentiator for brands.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter sit down with Bob Liodice, Chief Executive Officer, Association of National Advertisers (ANA), to discuss the forces reshaping modern marketing. From media transparency and measurement to AI adoption and talent development, Bob shares his perspective on the challenges marketers must navigate today and the opportunities that will define the industry's future. Bob reflects on the industry's progress toward greater transparency, the role collaboration plays in solving complex challenges, and why he believes AI can help marketers make smarter, more informed decisions. He also shares his thoughts on navigating uncertainty, developing future talent, and what marketing leaders should prioritize as the industry continues to evolve. Key takeaways: Media transparency and measurement remain critical challenges for marketers seeking greater accountability.AI can help uncover inefficiencies and improve decision-making, but organizations must be prepared to adapt.Solving the industry's biggest challenges will require collaboration across brands, agencies, platforms, and partners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Jim Lecinski, the marketer behind the “Zero Moment of Truth” framework during his time at Google and now Clinical Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, about how AI is reshaping consumer discovery. From search and social to retail media networks and AI assistants, Jim explains why brands must rethink how they influence decision-making before the point of purchase. The conversation also explores how AI is influencing both consumers and marketers, and what CMOs should prioritize as discovery becomes increasingly fragmented across platforms and channels. Key takeaways: The “Zero Moment of Truth” is expanding across AI, social, retail media, influencers, and search-driven discovery.Brands should start with understanding consumer questions and behaviors before determining where to invest media dollars.AI is reshaping both consumer decision-making and how marketing organizations structure teams, strategies, and customer insights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Nicolle Pangis, VP of UCAN Advertising at Netflix, about building an advertising business inside one of the world’s most influential media companies. Nicolle shares why the future of streaming advertising will depend on stronger data collaboration, interoperable measurement, and AI-powered infrastructure. She also discusses the evolution of connected TV measurement, the growing role of clean rooms and data integrations, and how Netflix is thinking about turning audience engagement and fandom into measurable business outcomes for advertisers. Key takeaways: Advertisers can no longer rely on siloed measurement systems if they want a clear view of performance across streaming and retail ecosystems.AI-driven advertising depends on connected, interoperable data, not just automation.Premium audience engagement only becomes valuable when platforms can connect it to measurable outcomes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Risa Cretella, Executive Vice President, Meals & Beverages at The Campbell's Company, about what it takes to evolve iconic brands while staying competitive in fast-moving, highly commoditized categories. Risa shares how she brings an entrepreneurial mindset into a large organization, focusing on smart risk-taking, faster decision-making, and empowering teams to act with conviction, even without perfect data. She also discusses how Campbell’s is approaching innovation differently, starting with real consumer behavior and moving quickly when there’s clear evidence of demand. The conversation explores why brands lose relevance over time, how private-label gains ground, and what it takes to build and maintain a true “right to win”, while aligning brand-building efforts with commercial outcomes to drive real growth. Key takeaways: Speed is a competitive advantage, but only if teams are empowered to act before perfect validation.Private label growth is often a symptom of brand stagnation, not just pricing pressure.The strongest innovations don’t create new behavior; they formalize what consumers are already doing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.