Adspeak

Atlanta is rapidly emerging as one of America’s most influential entertainment and creative hubs. The city is creating new opportunities for brands willing to rethink how they approach storytelling and partnerships.

On Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Bashel Lewis moderates a BrandWeek panel with three Media and Creative Leaders: Blondel Aidoo, Co-Founder at Rabbit Hole Technologies; Eddy Moretti, Executive Producer at Laugh Cry Wow; and Asante Bradford, Senior Industry Engagement Manager at the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Together, they explore how Atlanta is evolving from a production destination into a sustainable creative powerhouse with a thriving talent ecosystem, production infrastructure, and attractive incentives. The conversation examines how brands can build authentic partnerships with creators, production companies, sports franchises, and music properties while moving beyond traditional studio models.

They also discuss the growing importance of emerging talent, HBCUs and local creative pipelines, and the democratization of storytelling. For brands looking to invest in culture, entertainment, and next-generation content, Atlanta offers an increasingly compelling opportunity to build meaningful partnerships and connect with audiences in new ways.

What You'll Learn:
Why Atlanta Offers a Competitive Edge Over Traditional Production Hubs
Building Relationships with Atlanta-Based Creators and Production Companies
Why The Brand Partnership Model is Replacing Traditional Studio Financing
How to Tap into HBCUs and Local Talent Pipelines for Long-Term Brand Building
The Democratization of Content Creation Means Story Quality Matters More
Why Sports, Music, and True Crime Content Create Immediate Brand Partnership Opportunities

About the Guests:
Blondel Aidoo is Co-Founder of Rabbit Hole Technologies, a next-generation animation studio blending art, AI, and innovation to transform storytelling. A 35+ years of experience as a visual effects producer, his credits include Minority Report, X-Men, Spider-Man, Night at the Museum, and Red Notice, films that have collectively grossed more than $8 billion worldwide. Blondel is building an AI-driven production ecosystem that helps filmmakers and brands create, iterate, and bring ambitious stories to life faster.

Award-winning producer and creative director Eddy Moretti is the Executive Producer at Laugh Cry Wow and has developed and produced more than 200 films and television series, alongside thousands of hours of cable and digital content. Previously Chief Creative Officer at VICE Media for two decades, he led content across its flagship properties and branded partnerships. Moretti also launched Viceland, an award-winning global cable channel, and his work has earned multiple Emmys, Peabody Awards, Cannes Lions, and other honors.

Asante Bradford is the Senior Industry Engagement Manager at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, where he helps strengthen Georgia’s position as a leader in creative technology and innovation. With experience spanning entertainment, education, and government, he builds strategic partnerships and drives initiatives across gaming, film, and interactive media. Asante has helped attract high-impact projects to the state and serves as a trusted resource on Georgia’s entertainment incentives and the growth of its creative economy.

Host and Guest Resources:
Blondel Aidoo on LinkedIn
Rabbit Hole Technology Studios Website
Eddy Moretti on LinkedIn
Laugh Cry Wow on LinkedIn
Asante Bradford on LinkedIn
Georgia Department of Economic Development Website
Bashel Lewis on LinkedIn
ADWEEK Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if your media strategy could break through the noise by meeting consumers in culture, not just pushing messages at them?

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Alison Weissbrot brings together two global marketing leaders, Michael Law, CEO of Carat North America, and Shivram Vaideeswaran, SVP Marketing at Papa John's, to explore how brands can break through an increasingly fragmented media landscape. Recorded live at BrandWeek, the conversation examines how marketers can combine paid media, creators and influencers, aggregator platforms, and organic social to stay relevant wherever consumers are engaging.

Michael and Shivram unpack what it takes to respond to cultural moments in real time without sacrificing authenticity, from moving within 24 hours to giving teams clear strategic principles that enable faster decisions. They also discuss the evolving relationship between brand building and performance marketing, why brand resonance remains critical in an algorithm-driven world, and how closer collaboration between creative and media teams can produce more relevant experiences. The episode offers a practical playbook for marketers navigating cultural speed, fragmented audiences, and constant change.

What You'll Learn:
How to segment your media strategy across four distinct channels
Why moving from a linear consumer journey to a "bowl of spaghetti" media plan requires building nimble teams
The framework for executing real-time cultural moments
How to balance brand-building work with performance marketing
The integration model for bringing creative and media teams closer together
How to prioritize measurement signals by establishing a single north star metric

About the Guests:
Mike Law is CEO of Carat North America, specializing in media planning, audience strategy, and integrated campaign development for major brands. With deep expertise in translating complex consumer journeys into actionable media strategies, Mike leads cross-functional teams in building nimble, data-informed campaigns that balance brand building with performance marketing.

Shivram Vaideeswaran is a Global marketing executive with a track record of driving explosive growth for iconic brands like Uber, Yahoo, Taco Bell, and Papa John's. He is currently the EVP of Marketing at Papa John's. Shiv is an expert at orchestrating high-stakes product launches and multi-channel marketing strategies that blend cultural relevance and technical innovation, from Super Bowl Campaigns to AI-driven commerce. A people-first leader recognized for building high-performing in-house studios and navigating global, digital transformations that deliver measurable ROI.

Host and Guest Resources:
Michael Law on LinkedIn
Carat North America Website
Shivram Vaideeswaran on LinkedIn
Papa John’s Website
Alison Weissbrot on LinkedIn
ADWEEK Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI isn’t here to replace marketers; it’s here to help them focus on the work that matters most.

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, Ryan Joe, Editor-in-Chief at ADWEEK, sits down with Rafa Flores, Chief Product Officer at Treasure.AI, to explore how AI can transform marketing from predictive to truly proactive. They discuss how marketers can use AI to automate repetitive tasks, break down data and technology silos, and create more personalized customer experiences. Rafa explains the difference between predictive and proactive marketing, how synthetic personas can help teams test messaging before going live, and how autonomous AI orchestration can engage consumers around the clock.

The conversation also tackles the human side of AI adoption, including change management and building internal trust. Most importantly, Rafa shares why marketers should start with contained, low-risk experiments before scaling AI across the organization.

What You'll Learn:

How to reframe AI adoption as momentum-building rather than job displacement
Why fragmentation across data silos and AI agents is killing ROI
The difference between predictive and proactive marketing strategies
How to build synthetic personas that actually deliver insights
The autonomous orchestration framework for 24/7 consumer engagement
Why you should start small, contain failures, and scale gradually

About the Guest:
Rafa Flores is the Chief Product Officer at Treasure.AI, where he leads product strategy, growth, and the company’s push into agentic AI and AI-powered marketing. A veteran technology executive with more than 15 years in product leadership, Rafa has helped scale category-defining companies including Treasure Data, Arm Holdings, Meltwater, Datanyze, and 6sense. His expertise spans AI, customer data, SaaS, and enterprise transformation, with a focus on turning emerging technologies into measurable business outcomes. He is recognized for building innovative products, high-performing teams, and scalable AI solutions.

Host and Guest Resources:
Rafa Flores on LinkedIn
Treasure.AI Website
Ryan Joe on LinkedIn
ADWEEK Website
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to turn innovation into meaningful brand growth?

In this live BrandWeek session of Adspeak with ADWEEK, host Mark Stenberg brings together global business leaders Cheryl Guerin, EVP of Global Brand Strategy & Innovation at Mastercard; Nick Hammitt, CMO at Newell Brands; and Edwin Wong, Head of Global Measurement Science at Uber Advertising, to explore how AI, personalization, measurement, and emotional storytelling are reshaping modern marketing.

The conversation examines how brands can use AI to accelerate content production while preserving human judgment and brand consistency, and how proprietary AI personas can help validate ideas faster. The leaders also explore why attention and brand-lift metrics are becoming critical to proving advertising ROI, alongside the growing importance of contextual and temporal relevance.

From AI-powered digital twins to multisensory branding, the episode offers practical insights into how leading companies are balancing performance marketing with distinctive, emotionally resonant brand building.

What You'll Learn:
How to compress content production timelines by leveraging AI
Why "human-initiated and AI-amplified" workflows protect brand voice
How attention metrics and brand lift measurement justify high-touch advertising investments
The strategic advantage of creating AI-powered consumer personas
How contextual and temporal relevance outperform traditional targeting
The multisensory branding framework for building trust across touchpoints

About the Guests:
Cheryl Guerin is Executive Vice President of Brand Strategy & Innovation at Mastercard, where she leads global brand strategy, AI transformation, advertising, media, digital marketing, and insights. A global marketing executive and business leader, she connects brand building with measurable business growth, driving Mastercard’s brand value up by more than 25%. Her work has earned recognition from Cannes Lions, Effie, Clio, and ANDY. Cheryl also serves as SVP Director of The Advertising Club of New York and sits on the boards of Ronald McDonald House New York and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.

Nick Hammitt is Chief Marketing Officer at Newell Brands and a member of the company’s Executive Committee, leading enterprise marketing across brand management, consumer insights, AI, digital, creative, eCommerce, and loyalty. With more than 20 years of global CPG experience, he has built iconic brands, launched breakthrough innovations, and delivered transformational marketing strategies. Previously, Nick held senior marketing roles at Campbell’s, PepsiCo, and Unilever, leading platforms including Mountain Dew Zero Sugar, Game Fuel, and Axe Haircare across global markets.

Edwin Wong is Head of Global Measurement Science at Uber Advertising, where he leads efforts to help brands measure advertising effectiveness and connect media exposure to real-world business outcomes. With more than 20 years of experience studying digital consumer behavior, Edwin has held senior research and insights roles at Yahoo, Pinterest, BuzzFeed, and Vox Media. His expertise spans consumer insights, audience strategy, media measurement, and marketing effectiveness, with a focus on transforming complex data into actionable insights that drive brand growth.

Host and Guest Resources:
Cheryl Guerin on LinkedIn
Mastercard Website
Nick Hammitt on LinkedIn
Newell Brands Website
Edwin Wong on LinkedIn
Uber Advertising Website
Mark Stenberg on LinkedIn
ADWEEK Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Rob Klara sits down with three communication leaders to explore how iconic brands can turn major anniversaries into opportunities for cultural relevance and future growth. Sona Iliffe-Moon, Chief Communications Officer at Yahoo; Gina Pesko Laughlin, VP and Global Head of Communications at Delta Air Lines; and Melissa Menta, SVP, Global Brand and Communications at Peanuts Worldwide, share lessons from celebrating Yahoo’s 30th, Peanuts’ 75th, and Delta’s 100th anniversaries.

The conversation explores how brands can harness nostalgia without becoming stuck in the past, why authentic brand DNA matters more than flashy campaigns, and how partnerships, social content, and experiential activations can bring heritage to new audiences. From Delta’s employee-designed centennial aircraft and renovated Flight Museum to Peanuts’ NASA partnership and Yahoo’s playful Super Bowl campaign, the guests reveal how legacy can become a powerful platform for innovation, relevance, and connection across generations.

What You'll Learn:
How to activate nostalgia without losing contemporary relevance
Why brand DNA matters more than flashy production
The museum and physical experience as brand storytelling
How to use partnerships to extend brand legacy organically
The power of employee-created design in anniversary campaigns
Why anniversary milestones create credibility platforms for future messaging

About the Guests:
Sona Iliffe-Moon is Chief Communications Officer at Yahoo, where she leads global corporate, consumer, and internal communications. She brings more than 20 years of experience across strategic, consumer, crisis, and corporate communications, having held leadership roles at Lyft, Facebook, Instagram, Nestlé, and Toyota, as well as PR agencies Weber Shandwick and Hill & Knowlton. Before entering PR, Sona worked as a foreign affairs officer at the U.S. Department of State. She holds degrees from George Washington University and USC Annenberg.

Gina Pesko Laughlin is Vice President, Global Brand Communications at Delta Air Lines, where she leads communications strategies that strengthen Delta’s reputation, culture, and customer brand. A 20-year Delta veteran, she has held leadership roles spanning corporate, employee, executive, crisis, and operations communications, including helping guide the airline through its merger with Northwest and bankruptcy reorganization. Gina previously built Delta’s employee engagement function and launched its first internal social platform. She holds degrees in public relations and political science from Syracuse University.

Melissa Menta is a veteran marketing and communications executive with deep experience building global entertainment and character brands. As SVP, Global Brand and Communications at Peanuts Worldwide, she led major initiatives including the brand’s 75th anniversary, the NASA partnership featuring Astronaut Snoopy, and The Armstrong Project which supports emerging artists of color. Her career has included work with The Muppets, Pets.com, Shiseido, Dilbert, and other iconic properties. Melissa holds degrees from Middlebury College and NYU and serves on the board of the Charles M. Schulz Museum.

Host and Guest Resources:
Sona Iliffe-Moon on LinkedIn
Yahoo Website
Gina Pesko Laughlin on LinkedIn
Delta Air Lines Website
Melissa Menta on LinkedIn
Peanuts Worldwide Website
ADWEEK Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.