Adspeak

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Rob Klara sits down with a panel of leaders redefining the modern CEO role. Featuring Bing Chen (CEO and Co-Founder, Gold House), Jessica Schinazi (CEO, Away), and Artis Stevens (President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America), the conversation explores why today’s CEOs must lead as marketers first. They unpack shifting from service to solutions, building agile organizations, decentralizing brand ownership, and using AI as an accelerator, while balancing authenticity, purpose, and leadership in an increasingly complex business landscape.

What You'll Learn:
How to Transition from Service to Solutions Positioning
Why Your January Strategic Playbook Won't Survive Q2.
The CMO-to-CEO Pipeline is the Strongest Talent Path
How to Decentralize Brand Governance Across 10,000+ Global Employees
The Visibility Trade-Off: Personal Brand Authenticity vs. Organizational Expectations
AI as an Accelerator, Not a Replacement for Human Connection

About the Guests:
Bing Chen is a creator economy pioneer, investor, and CEO and Co-Founder of Gold House, a platform shaping culture to unlock global opportunity. He also serves as Managing Director of AU Holdings, backing multicultural creators and communities. Previously, as YouTube’s Global Head of Creator Development, he helped architect today’s influencer ecosystem. A recognized global leader and board advisor to companies like Oura and Musely, his work bridges culture, media, and innovation across industries.

Jessica Schinazi is a senior executive with deep expertise across luxury goods, beauty, and consumer electronics, leading high-growth categories with full P&L ownership. As CEO of Away, she combines digital innovation with strong brand-building strategies to drive profitable growth. Known for scaling businesses through strategic transformation and sharp commercial execution, she brings a disciplined approach to team leadership, business development, and delivering sustained, high-impact results in competitive global markets.

Artis Stevens is President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, where he has more than doubled revenue and expanded mentorship access to underserved communities nationwide. A leading voice in youth empowerment, he has positioned the organization among the most trusted nonprofits in the U.S., securing historic funding and driving large-scale impact. Recognized by TIME and ForbesBLK, Stevens is known for transforming mission-driven organizations through innovative partnerships, cultural leadership, and a bold vision for scalable social change.

Guest Resources:
Bing Chen on LinkedIn
Gold House Website
Jessica Schinazi on LinkedIn
Away Website
Artis Stevens on LinkedIn
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Website

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In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Alison Weissbrot moderates a panel of industry leaders redefining modern commerce. Featuring Jennifer Silverberg (CEO, SmartCommerce), Benoit Vatere (Chief Media Officer, Liquid Death), Tisha Thompson (Founder & CEO, LYS Beauty), Nicole Vinson (VP, Kellanova), Candace Payne (VP Marketing, Sephora), and Beth Tripaldi (Head of Strategy, Argonaut), the discussion explores why the traditional funnel has collapsed. The group unpacks omnichannel strategies, retail media, and data-driven creativity needed to win in a fragmented, fast-moving consumer journey.

What You'll Learn:
How to Stop Using "Funnel" Language and Start Thinking in Flywheels
Why Your Upper and Lower Funnel Creative Must Be Strategically Different
The Identity Resolution Framework to Drive Repeat Purchase in CPG
How to Leverage Retail Media Partnerships for Consumer Data
The Relevance-Over-Personalization Principle for Stopping the Scroll
Why Retailers Becoming Media Companies Changes Everything
How to Prepare for AI-Driven Commerce Before Agents Reshape Discovery
The Creativity Moat in an AI-Saturated Data World

About the Guests:
Tisha Thompson is the Founder and CEO of LYS Beauty, a disruptive beauty brand focused on inclusive color ranges and empowering self-expression. Her firsthand experience scaling a DTC beauty brand through viral moments and strategic retail partnerships provides a critical perspective on how modern consumers discover and commit to brands.
Benoit Vatere is the Chief Marketing Officer at Liquid Death, the functional beverage brand known for bold brand-building and unconventional marketing. His expertise spans CPG marketing, brand identity, and navigating the complex balance between upper-funnel brand awareness and lower-funnel retail conversion.
Jennifer Silverberg is the Founder of Smart Commerce, specializing in omnichannel retail strategies and creator commerce. Her deep involvement in platforms like Sephora's Creator Storefronts makes her a leading voice on how brands and retailers are redefining the shopping experience through technology and partnerships.
Nicole Vinson leads Global Marketing Excellence for Kelanova (formerly part of Kellogg Company), bringing enterprise CPG expertise to discussions about data, retail relationships, and the evolving role of marketing in driving business outcomes at scale.
Beth Tripaldi is the Head of Strategy at Argonaut, an independent creative shop. Her background in brand strategy and her focus on the intersection of creativity, data, and consumer insights make her a valuable voice on how to build long-term brand value while driving short-term sales.
Candace Payne is the Vice President of Marketing, Brand and Seasonal Campaigns at Sephora, where she oversees creative strategy and campaign execution for one of the world's leading beauty retailers. Her expertise in content production, creator partnerships, and seasonal marketing provides a retail-side perspective on brand-retailer collaboration.

Guest Resources:
Tisha Thompson on LinkedIn
LYS Beauty Website
Benoit Vatere on LinkedIn
Liquid Death Website
Jennifer Silverberg on LinkedIn
SmartCommerce Website
Nicole Vinson on LinkedIn
Kellanova Website
Beth Tripaldi on LinkedIn
Argonaut Website
Candace Payne on LinkedIn
Sephora Website

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In this week's Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Brittany, Creative Editor at ADWEEK, speaks with Bart LaCount, SVP and CMO at Popeyes, and Joe Maglio, CEO at Cheil Agency Network, about how Popeyes became a cultural force. They explore balancing viral marketing with consistent sales, using social listening to spark unexpected collaborations, and scaling brand assets into impactful campaigns. The conversation highlights rapid experimentation, consumer co-creation, and embracing polarizing ideas to stay relevant, while also examining how partnerships, personalization, and AI are reshaping customer experiences in a competitive QSR landscape.

What You'll Learn:
How to monitor social listening at scale to identify co-creation opportunities
Why QSR demands simultaneous execution of "brand overnight and sales overnight."
The pickle takeover framework for leveraging brand equity into cultural moments
How to operationalize a two-way cultural conversation
The strategic role of partnerships in amplifying brand reach beyond additive value
How generative UI and personalization will reshape QSR ordering while maintaining operational feasibility

About the Guests:
Bart LaCount is the SVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, bringing over 20 years of strategic leadership, including 18 years at Pepsico. He also has extensive experience across food and beverage categories, ranging from CPG to quick-service restaurants. Bart has developed deep expertise in navigating competitive, fast-paced markets where innovation cycles are shorter, and consumer engagement happens in real time.
Joe Maglio is the CEO of Cheil Agency Network, a collective of leading creative, production, and media agencies including McKinney, Iris, Attention Arc, CYLNDR Studios, and Barbarian. In his role, he oversees the performance of each agency while leading a cross-functional network team spanning finance, operations, HR, and growth, ensuring both creative excellence and business performance across the organization.

Guest Resources:
Bart LaCount on LinkedIn
Popeyes Website
Joe Maglio on LinkedIn
Cheil Network Agency Website

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In this week's episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, Dana Paolucci, Head of Engagement Marketing at Unilever’s Dove, joins Raven Walker, SVP of Client Partnerships at Collectively, to unpack how heritage brands can stay culturally relevant through creator-led strategies. They explore Dove’s shift from transactional influencer campaigns to community-driven partnerships that generate authentic engagement and large-scale UGC. From the viral Dove x Crumbl collaboration to immersive brand storytelling experiments, the conversation highlights how listening to audiences, respecting creator ecosystems, and integrating PR with influencer marketing can unlock exponential awareness. The episode offers practical insight into building long-term creator relationships, measuring cultural impact, and turning brand moments into sustained movements.

What You'll Learn:
How to identify cultural moments through social listening
Why "tapping into" culture depletes communities, and how to "respond" instea
The demotainment framework for heritage products
How to build long-term creator loyalty through intimate community programs
Why PR and influencer marketing must operate as a single engine
How to move at speed while maintaining brand safety

About the Guests:
Dana Paolucci is the Head of Engagement Marketing for Dove (Unilever) North America, where she leads all influencer partnerships, external communications, and brand collaborations. With a track record of launching iconic, award-winning campaigns, including Dove's Super Bowl spots, brand collaborations like Dove x Crumbl, and long-term community initiatives, she has redefined how heritage brands engage creators and build cultural relevance.
Raven Walker is SVP of Client Partnerships at Collectively, a woman-founded influencer marketing agency specializing in creator-led social-first campaigns across beauty, CPG, and lifestyle brands. With expertise in strategic partnerships and creative innovation, she leads transformative campaigns for major brands, including Unilever North America.

Guest Resources:
Dana Paolucci on LinkedIn
Unilever NA Website
Raven Walker on LinkedIn
Collectively Website
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In this week's episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Alison Weissbrot, Executive Editor at ADWEEK, leads a BrandWeek panel featuring Nadja Bellan-White, Group CEO at M&C Saatchi, Coltrane Curtis, Founder and Managing Partner at Team Epiphany, and Kern Schireson, Chairman and CEO at Known. Together they discuss the need to redefine agency-client partnerships.

As budgets tighten and AI reshapes workflows, they explain why legacy and fee-based models are no longer viable. Instead, success hinges on empathy, trust, and aligned incentives tied to outcomes. The panel shares practical strategies, from embedding test-and-learn budgets to understanding board-level pressures and deploying agile “tiger teams.” They emphasize deeper specialization, real human connection, and shared accountability as the foundation for resilient, high-performing partnerships in a rapidly evolving marketing landscape.

What You'll Learn:
How to shift from legacy fee-based models to incentive-aligned partnerships
Why understanding your client's board-level KPIs is non-negotiable
The "Three Ideas Framework" for managing risk and building trust
How to build genuine relationships through human connection and empathy
Why agency expertise depth matters more than breadth
How to balance internal restructuring and team protection with client excellence

About the Guests:
Nadja Bellan-White is the Group CEO at M&C Saatchi, and a “human-first” marketing leader known as a go-to fixer for complex brand transformations. With 25+ years in integrated marketing, she blends data, creativity, technology, and media to drive meaningful customer connections. She has led transformations for global brands including American Express, IKEA, and Coca-Cola, and partnered with African governments to spur growth. An AdColor Legend Award recipient, she brings a sharp focus on context, culture, and creativity to every engagement.
Coltrane Curtis is the Founder and Managing Partner of Team Epiphany, a New York-based influencer marketing and PR agency he launched in 2004. What began as a one-man shop has grown into a 70+ person, multidisciplinary agency with offices in New York and Portland. With roots at MTV and deep experience across brands like Nike, HBO, and Coca-Cola, Curtis blends cultural fluency with sharp strategic execution. Known for building powerful brand and celebrity partnerships, he has been recognized by Inc., Forbes, Adweek, and AdColor, and serves on the American Black Film Festival board.
Kern Schireson is the CEO of Known, a next-generation agency built on data-driven strategy and systemic innovation. With deep expertise in incentive alignment and AI-powered optimization, he is helping redefine the modern agency model. Kern champions using technology as a force multiplier for enhancing, not replacing, human creativity, while embedding rigorous test-and-learn frameworks into client partnerships. His approach focuses on aligning incentives and enabling continuous iteration, driving measurable, breakthrough results for brands navigating an increasingly complex marketing landscape.

Guest Resources:
Nadja Bellan-White on LinkedIn
M&C Saatchi Group Website
Coltrane Curtis on LinkedIn
Team Epiphany Website
Kern Schireson on LinkedIn
Known Website

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