Strategy Sessions

Sarah is the Global Planning Partner for adam&eve\TBWA and Dan is the Brand & Marketing Director for Currys. James Hayhurst, Founder of the Magic Sauce Course brought them together to discuss how you get the best from the agency x client relationship.
This is the first episode of Season 7 and we've got some gold coming your way. Make sure you subscribe.
In this episode we discuss
Don’t kill baby turtles: why great creative ideas get pecked to death by feedback, sign-offs and “just one little change”.
Good relationships aren’t cosy: how trust, honest disagreement and a willingness to feel uncomfortable help clients and agencies make better work.
Do the strategy before the brief: define the problem, make real choices and stop asking creatives to work out what your business should be doing.
From good to gloriously weird: how Currys’ “Beyond Techspectations” campaign came together—and why Dan nearly pulled the plug on it.
Measuring success: why Currys MMM approach is unusual and discussing why the true measure of a campaign’s success is effectiveness.
Hot takes: Stop whinging, competitor analysis and marketers being more worried about marketers than the market.
Link in the show notes...
Magic Sauce Course
How Not To Plan – 66 ways to screw it up by Sarah Carter and Les Binet
Currys ‘Beyond Techspectations’ TV ads
Mark Ritson’s MiniMBA Programme

Full show notes, including a transcript, links to everything discussed and contact details can be found on the episode page here.

Noam is a marketing leader who has grown brands like Marmite, Pot Noodle, Andrex and Huggies.
In this episode we discuss:
The need for caring leaders
Managing a brand during a war
Category expansion for heritage brands
Working with Paddington Bear
Evolving iconic brands
Distinctive brand assets and early crowdsourcing of content
Doing well by doing good - a case study from Andrex
Noam Buchalter
Noam helps turn around and accelerate established brands leveraging his 24+ years experience as a Marketing leader, from Unilever UK Local Jewels like Marmite and Pot Noodle, to $1bn international brands like Andrex and Huggies at Kimberly Clark EMEA.
He has experience in consultancy and PE owned businesses and takes a holistic, pragmatic and commercial approach to managing brands. With specialisms in Brand Strategy, Innovation and Shared Value (Sustainability & Social Impact), Noam delivers results through a care for performance leadership style that builds Marketing teams who are motivated, skilled and resilient.
Find Noam on LinkedIn
Strategy Sessions Host - Andi Jarvis
This is the last episode of Season 6 and it's been a hell of a ride! I've loved meeting some amazing people this season and I hope you've enjoyed it too. I'll be back in September with a new Season. Until then, enjoy the summer!
If you have any questions or want to talk about anything that was discussed in the show, the best place to get me is on LinkedIn or Instagram.
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If you enjoyed the show, please give it a 5* rating.
Full show notes, including a transcript, links to everything discussed and contact details can be found on the episode page here: https://eximomarketingstrategy.com/care-for-performance-leadership-with-noam-buchalter-strategy-sessions-podcast/

JP Castlin is an internationally recognised authority on strategy, a writer and keynote speaker.
In this episode we discuss:
Why the world is complex not ordered
Why the strategy process is flawed
Complexity science and it’s practical application
What most of the great strategic thinkers got wrong (think: Porter, Mintzberg, Rumelt, Drucker, Taylor, Martin… everyone!)
Find JP on LinkedIn
Full show notes, including a transcript, links to everythingdiscussed and contact details can be found on the episode page here.
You'll also find Andi on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Colleen Babcock is Head of Partner Marketing at Rightmove, one of the UK’s most trusted and best‑loved brands.
In this episode we discuss:
Learning that personal development isn’t selfish
Re-branding and differentiation as the market leader
Evolving Rightmove’s income streams
Ensuring people remain central to the brand
Why emotion matters in b2b marketing
Why customer complaints are like a big dog
Marketing Lessons from theatre
The importance of ‘Interactive WTFs’
Colleen Babcock
Colleen Babcock leads the B2B marketing teams helping agents and developers grow through smarter, more effective marketing. With over 20 years in the property industry and more than a decade at a FTSE 100 brand, she combines a love of storytelling with a sharp strategic lens and a strong belief that even B2B marketing is always personal.
She’s known for building high‑performing teams, using data to guide decisions and turning brand strategy into commercial action - without losing the human touch (or her trademark energy). Alongside her leadership role, Colleen is a national media spokesperson on the housing and rental market, regularly appearing on Sky News, LBC and the BBC to make Rightmove’s insights clear, useful and never boring..
Full show notes, including a transcript, links to everythingdiscussed and contact details can be found on the episode page here: https://eximomarketingstrategy.com/interactive-wtf-with-colleen-babcock-strategy-sessions-podcast/

Shantanu Srivastava is a global marketing and innovation leader whose career spans leadership roles across Twinnings, Danone, Sanofi, and Reckitt.
In this episode we discuss:
The risks and benefits of evolving a brand
Customer led innovation
Making innovation work inside a company
How challenger brands see innovation v mega brands
Innovating inside a start up
Humans v AI in research
Full show notes, including a transcript, links to everythingdiscussed and contact details can be found on the episode page here.