WVU Marketing Communications Today

West Virginia University

Marketing Horizons, a series in the WVU Marketing Communications Today podcast, is forward-thinking, looking ahead, through the front windshield and beyond, into the marketing future. Marketing Legends, another series in the WVU Marketing Communications Today podcast, features marketing thinkers, innovators, practitioners and founders — legends of the marketing world — who will talk about their careers and share their wisdom with the marketers of today. Hosted by Cyndi Greenglass and Ruth Stevens, these podcast series are dedicated to looking ahead to the new ideas, technologies, tools and strategies that are emerging to help marketers navigate over the marketing horizon. read less
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Episodes

Do B2B Marketers Really Care About Branding?
Jan 25 2024
Do B2B Marketers Really Care About Branding?
B2B marketers who put all their focus on lead generation are missing 95% of the market opportunity, says our guest Drew Neisser, founder of CMO Huddles and author of Renegade Marketing: 12 Steps to Building Unbeatable B2B Brands. "Only 5% of your target audience is likely in the market and ready to buy. It’s essential to build awareness and a positive image among the rest," he says. Listen in as Drew explains how to get this done, with “clarity and consistency, more than creativity.” Drew also shares three inspiring B2B brand-building case stories from Coupa procurement software, Case Paper and Wasabi cloud storage. Bonus tip: How marketing professionals can make an impact inside their companies by building a side hustle. About our Guest: Dedicated to inspiring B2B marketers, Drew Neisser delivers on his mission via community, coaching, and content. CMO Huddles, the community he founded in 2020, is solely focused on helping B2B marketers share, care, and dare each other to greatness. As a coach, Drew works with a handful of senior marketers each quarter. He is also a prolific content creator, having told the stories of over 500 marketers via Renegade Marketers Unite (podcast), CMO Huddles Studio (live-streaming), his Ad Age column, and two books. His 2nd book, Renegade Marketing: 12 Steps to Building Unbeatable B2B Brands was named the top B2B audiobook of 2022 and nominated for the AMA’s best business book of 2023. Drew is ranked among LinkedIn’s Top 15 Voices in marketing and has been a featured marketing expert on ABC, CNBC, dozens of podcasts, and the New York Times. Says bestselling author Jay Baer, "Drew Neisser is among the strongest B2B marketing thinkers in the world." WVU Marketing Communications Today: Horizons is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master's degree programs in Marketing Communications.
The Past and the Future of Branding
Dec 21 2023
The Past and the Future of Branding
David Aaker is the world’s leading brand strategist, having created the most recognized brand strategy model, written 18 books, and helped countless companies develop successful approaches to brand equity management. Join us as he shares the progression of his career and the evolution of his thinking regarding the real sources of brand value. A successful brand, he says, needs energy, differentiation, and engagement. Managers must think long-term about their brands, and use brand equity strategies to resist the pressure to make reactive, short-term adjustments. Take a listen to learn why disruptive innovation is essential to survive and thrive in our fast-changing world. Bonus tip: Learn the reason Professor Aaker considers Brand Portfolio Analysis to be his single most important book. About our Guest: David Aaker is the Vice Chairman of Prophet and Professor Emeritus at the BerkeleyHaas School of Business. He is the winner of five career awards including the NYAMA Marketing Hall of Fame. He has published over 120 articles and 18 books that have sold well over 1 million copies and been translated into 18 languages. They include Managing Brand Equity, Building Strong Brands, Aaker on Branding, Creating Signature Stories, Owning Game-Changing Subcategories and The Future of Purpose-Driven Branding. The first two of these have received over 45,000 citations. Sometimes called the Father of modern branding, he was named one of the top five most important marketing/business gurus in 2007 and won awards for the best article in the California Management Review and the Journal of Marketing (twice). WVU Marketing Communications Today: Marketing Legends is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
Multicultural Marketing Goes Mainstream
Nov 16 2023
Multicultural Marketing Goes Mainstream
McGhee Osse is a trailblazer in multicultural marketing communications. As the Co-CEO of Burrell Communications Group, one of the most highly regarded multicultural advertising agencies in the country, she has both witnessed and influenced the evolution of diversity advertising in the U.S.—and the world. In our conversation, McGhee shares how under-represented black and Hispanic agencies are in the U.S., and yet the spending power of these consumers is massive. While black advertising had its moment after George Floyd, Osse cautions us that “Black people are not dark-skinned white people.” To communicate effectively, you need to understand the demographics and consumption patterns of minority groups and learn to speak in a way that is both engaging and respectful. This episode will open your mind to the importance, and the essential practice, of multicultural advertising. Did you know that less than 2% of ad revenue is devoted to black consumers? Take a listen and find out why. About our Guest: McGhee Osse is a nationally recognized marketing and advertising professional. She is Co-CEO of Burrell Communications Group, one of the leading and most highly regarded multi-cultural advertising agencies in the country with annual billings exceeding $200 million and a roster of clients that lead in their respective categories, such as Procter & Gamble, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, Walmart, Toyota and Comcast. McGhee became an equity partner in Burrell Communications in 1996. In 2004 she and a long-time colleague purchased majority ownership of the company from its founder, Tom Burrell. With P&L responsibility and expertise in building brands, she has strategically grown revenue through value-based service and a consumer-focused approach. Innovations to her credit include starting the agency’s Yurban marketing initiative, which targets youth and young adults; the introduction and development of the agency’s “account planning” practice; and spearheading the agency’s formal entry into the digital and interactive marketing arena. And most recently, she launched the agency’s political consultancy and practice. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Marketing Legends is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
A Maverick’s Life in Marketing Data
Oct 19 2023
A Maverick’s Life in Marketing Data
A self-described maverick and passionate advocate of ROMI (return on marketing investment calculations, for decision-making), Peter J. Rosenwald has built a stunning career leading prominent direct marketing agencies worldwide.  His advice to marketers?  Trust your heart, not your head. Don’t put money ahead of fun and adventure. Join us to learn why numbers drive everything in marketing, and how economic analysis led him to a technique that converted thousands of new credit card customers for Brazil’s largest bank.  Here’s another real marketing legend. About our Guest: Peter J. Rosenwald is an expat American living and working in Brazil; founder and first CEO of Wunderman Worldwide, International Division of Wunderman agency) and first chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi Direct Worldwide; strategist and senior executive in charge of building subscription and data-driven marketing for Editora Abril, Latin America's leading magazine publisher; founder of Consult Partners, active strategic marketing consultancy working in Brazil, U.S. and U.K. International keynote speaker on data-driven marketing and author of 'Accountable Marketing' (Thomson), 'Profiting From the Magic of Marketing Metrics' (Direct Marketing IQ), and 'GringoView' blog author for Brazilian Huffington Post. With an international perspective, my blog's purpose is to share my maverick views of this business I've spent the last half-century working in, enjoying and observing. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Marketing Legends is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
On a Mission to make you Remarkable
Sep 21 2023
On a Mission to make you Remarkable
Guy Kawasaki is an award-winning author, accomplished evangelist and world-renowned speaker. He did not invent secular evangelism, but he popularized it. This goes back to 1983 and his work with the Macintosh division of Apple. He is the author of fifteen books used in some of the finest academic institutions in the world and have been both New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers. Guy is on a mission to help us be remarkable and enchanting. In our conversation, he shares tactical and practical tips for how to accomplish this. Take a listen and hear about how the power of the Duchenne smile and a firm handshake. Guy shares his philosophy on how evangelists are made, not born. It is quite a ride, so buckle up and take a listen. About our Guest: Guy Kawasaki iis the chief evangelist of Canva and the creator of Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People podcast. He is an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley), and adjunct professor of the University of New South Wales. He was the chief evangelist of Apple and a trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation. He has written Wise Guy, The Art of the Start 2.0, The Art of Social Media, Enchantment, and eleven other books. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Marketing Legends is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
Business is Here to Serve, to Respect, to Make the World Better
Aug 17 2023
Business is Here to Serve, to Respect, to Make the World Better
Professor Kotler, recognized as one of the world’s leading marketing thinkers, has been called The Father of Modern Marketing. When in 1967 Professor Kotler published his groundbreaking book Marketing Management, now in its 16th edition, he changed the perception of marketing forever. He elevated the field of marketing, adding flesh and blood to what economists started, and turned it into a serious discipline. Ninety books later, Professor Kotler continues to impress and educate. Anyone who has studied marketing has read him, and some very lucky few have been able to attend his classes at the Kellogg School of Management. In our conversation with this Marketing Legend, Professor Kotler explained his view that business exists primarily to serve. Making money is only a secondary factor. He also explores the evolution of the 4 P’s into the 7 P’s, which he will be publishing soon. In our stimulating conversation, he told us that it was his early exploration of equity and wealth distribution that led him to the field of marketing. We also discovered his mentors, including Peter Drucker, his hero. Take a listen to Kotler’s definition of the “Wicked Seven” problems that face us today, and hear why he believes there are “many rooms in the Mansion of Marketing.” About our Guest: Philip Kotler is known around the world as the “father of modern marketing.” For over 50 years he has taught at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Kotler’s book Marketing Management is the most widely used textbook in marketing around the world. This is his story – How a Ph.D. economist from M.I.T. became the world’s leading marketing authority, the Father of Modern Marketing. Philip Kotler is the S. C. Johnson Distinguished Professor of International Marketing at the J. L. Kellogg School of Management. He has been honored as one of the world’s leading marketing thinkers. He received his M.A. degree in economics (1953) from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. degree in economics (1956) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), and has received honorary degrees from 22 universities including Stockholm University, the University of Zurich, Athens University of Economics and Business, Budapest School of Economics and Administrative Science, the Kracow School of Business and Economics, and DePaul University. He is author of over one hundred and fifty articles and 90 books, including Principles of Marketing, Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism, Strategic Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations, Social Marketing, Marketing Places, The Marketing of Nations, Confronting Capitalism, Democracy in Decline, and Advancing the Common Good. His research covers strategic marketing, consumer marketing, business marketing, professional services marketing, and e-marketing. He has been a consultant to IBM, General Electric, AT&T, Bank of America, Merck, Motorola, Ford, and others. He has lectured several times in Italy, Sweden, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and many other countries. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Marketing Legends is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
The Founder of Quantifiable Loyalty
Jul 20 2023
The Founder of Quantifiable Loyalty
Fred Reichheld really needs no introduction, but here are some highlights. The founder of quantitative loyalty, Fred is best known as the creator of the Net Promoter® system of management used worldwide as THE loyalty predictor in business. According to The New York Times, he put loyalty economics on the map. But while he was trained in economics and is known for his work in quantifying the link between loyalty and profits, in this conversation Fred really wants us to focus on why it makes sense to treat people right. Listen in to hear why making shareholders rich is not the main purpose of companies – it is actually enriching people’s lives. And wait until you hear his views on how NPS has been misused by many! About our Guest: Fred Reichheld is a Bain Fellow and founder of our Loyalty practice, which helps companies achieve results through customer and employee loyalty. He is the creator of the Net Promoter® system of management. His work in the area of customer and employee retention has quantified the link between loyalty and profits. Fred's books, The Loyalty Effect: The Hidden Force Behind Growth, Profits, and Lasting Value (HBSP 1996); Loyalty Rules! How Today's Leaders Build Lasting Relationships (HBSP 2001); The Ultimate Question: Driving Good Profits and True Growth (HBSP, 2006) and The Ultimate Question 2.0: How Net Promoter Companies Thrive in a Customer Driven World (HBR Press) have each become best sellers. In his most recent book, Fred reveals how NPS practitioners including Apple Retail, Philips, Schwab, Allianz, American Express, and Intuit, have used the Net Promoter System (NPS) to generate extraordinary results. He explains how NPS helps companies become truly customer-centric, unleashing profitable growth through systematically converting more customers into promoters and fewer into detractors. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Marketing Legends is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
Why The Future Does Not Fit the Containers of the Past
Jun 22 2023
Why The Future Does Not Fit the Containers of the Past
If you’re looking for ideas for how to live a better life, and expand your career prospects, you must listen to our conversation with the brilliant marketing thinker and futurist, Rishad Tobaccowala. Rishad shares his secrets for career success and the six skills every business person must possess (Hint: It’s a twist on the 3 C’s), as well as the dangers of your own echo chamber, and how to give and receive feedback in an age of diversity. Bonus: Listen in to find out what TV series Rishad claims is the “best ever.” At the end of the 30 minutes, you’ll be eager to sign up for his weekly Substack newsletter, “The Future Does Not Fit In the Containers of the Past.” About our Guest: Rishad Tobaccowala is an author, speaker, teacher, and advisor with four decades of experience specializing in helping people, organizations and teams re-invent themselves to remain relevant in changing times. He specializes in unleashing talent and turbo-charging productivity by delivering perspectives, points of view, provocations and plans of action but no PowerPoints! Rishad’s best-selling book “Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in the Age of Data” was published globally by HarperCollins and focusses on helping people think, feel, and see differently about how to grow their companies, their teams and themselves in transformative times. The Economist Magazine called it perhaps the best recent book on stakeholder capitalism and Strategy Magazine named it among the five best business books and the marketing book of the year. Rishad’s weekly thought-letter, “The Future Does Not Fit in the Containers of the Past” is read by over 30,000 leaders every week across industries and around the world. Rishad is currently working on his next book to be published globally by McGraw-Hill in 2024 tentatively titled “Re-Thinking Work” which will help leaders and companies adapt to the coming new world of work which is far more than the challenges of remote but will include demographic changes, AI and much more. Rishad is also the host of “What Next?” a podcast where he speaks with a range of leaders across business, technology, academia, and the arts on how to make sense of the cultural, social, and business changes transforming us all. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Marketing Legends is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
Life Lessons From a Legendary Direct Marketer
May 18 2023
Life Lessons From a Legendary Direct Marketer
Susan Kryl is a legendary direct marketer with two pieces of advice for marketers everywhere. First, use the “Day in The Life” technique to gain deep customer insight for building your marketing strategy. Second, “Learn, teach and mentor,” in order to keep up to date and give back to the world. (Advice she offers even for new entrants to the field.) Join us in a lively conversation about how Susan climbed the agency ladder to the very top, and later became a mentor to many who then did the same. Susan also shares the fascinating story of having created a win-win strategy for marketing education at DePaul University by assigning students to develop marketing plans for Chicago-area not-for-profits. About our Guest: Susan Kryl's experience ranges from healthcare branding for Children’s and Northwestern Memorial Hospitals to minority marketing programs for Verizon, and to technology and financial services product launches for Informatica, RCN, GE Financial Services, and Dean Witter. Her initiatives have also included consulting with Singtel in Singapore, and the introduction of the Discover Card with the J. Walter Thompson team in Chicago, where she led the response marketing group, JWT Direct, before founding her eponymous strategy/marketing/creative company 30 years ago. Her leadership roles in the advertising community include terms as president of the Woman’s Advertising Club (WAC) and the Chicago Association of Direct Marketing (CADM). She also chaired Direct From The Heart (DFTH), a unique CADM program that acted as a clearinghouse between Chicago non-profits and marketing professionals and recognized the pro bono work of members. Susan, an ardent music lover, served more than two decades as an active member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Guild Board of Directors, including several terms on the Executive Committee. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Marketing Legends is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
Wrote the Book on Marketing Channels
Apr 20 2023
Wrote the Book on Marketing Channels
Longtime Northwestern Kellogg school professor Louis W. Stern, back in 1977, published the top textbook about distribution channel strategy, also known as “pull marketing.” Since then he’s been the go-to guru in this important one of the 4 Ps. Join us to learn Lou’s key insights into how to determine the best way to go to market, and to manage your channels effectively. You’ll also learn why he believes that omnichannel is the most exciting new development in the field, and the correct response to changing buyer behavior. Lou is now retired and playing tennis in Tucson. A lucky man, and a legend of marketing you’ll want to know. About our Guest: Louis W. Stern is the John D. Gray Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University. Professor Stern joined the Northwestern faculty in 1973. Prior to that, he was Professor of Marketing at The Ohio State University. He was appointed to the Ohio State faculty in 1963 after having spent two years at the industrial research firm Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, Mass. From January 1965 until June 1966, he served as a principal economist for the National Commission on Food Marketing in Washington, D.C., and during the 1969-70 academic year, he was a visiting associate professor of business administration at the University of California, Berkeley. From 1977 to 1980, he served as Chairman of the Department of Marketing at Northwestern, and from 1983 to 1985, he was Executive Director of the Marketing Science Institute, Cambridge, Mass. During the 1984-85 academic year, he was the Thomas Henry Carroll Ford Foundation Visiting Professor at Harvard Business School. From 1998 to 2001, concurrent with his position at Northwestern, he was appointed a visiting scholar at the Haas School of Business at The University of California, Berkeley. From 2004 to 2006, he was designated the Dorinda and Mark Winkelman Distinguished Scholar at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, a Senior Fellow of the Wharton School, and co-director of Wharton’s Jay H. Baker Retailing Initiative, positions he held in addition to the John D. Gray professorship at Kellogg. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Marketing Legends is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
Shattering the Advertising Glass Ceiling with Marketing Legend Shelly Lazarus
Mar 23 2023
Shattering the Advertising Glass Ceiling with Marketing Legend Shelly Lazarus
Marketing legend Shelly Lazarus has been described as one of the most powerful executives in advertising and named one of the Top 50 Business Women. One of a mere handful of female graduates from Columbia University with an MBA in the early 1970s, Lazarus propelled herself through the corporate world to become chairman and CEO of the billion-dollar advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather. Shelly was way ahead of her time, stressing the need for balance between work and family life while simultaneously creating an integrated multimedia advertising giant that delivered results for brands. In our conversation, Shelly shares some of her memorable career war stories, and advice for today’s emerging advertising leaders. Join us! About our Guest: Shelly Lazarus has been working, as she would say it, “In the business I love,” for more than four decades, almost all of that time at Ogilvy. Shelly rose through the ranks of Ogilvy & Mather assuming positions of increasing responsibility in the management of the company, including president of O&M Direct North America, Ogilvy & Mather New York and Ogilvy & Mather North America. She was named worldwide CEO of Ogilvy & Mather in 1996 and Chairman in 1997. She became Chairman Emeritus in July 2012. Shelly started at Ogilvy at a time when the agency’s legendary founder David Ogilvy still walked the halls, and personally preached that the purpose of advertising was to build great brands. Under Shelly’s leadership, that essential mission has remained the centerpiece of the company’s philosophy, extending across regions and marketing disciplines, and attracting some of the world’s largest and most respected brands including American Express, BP, Coca-Cola, IBM and Unilever among many others. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Marketing Legends is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
Community is the Last Great Marketing Strategy
Jan 12 2023
Community is the Last Great Marketing Strategy
It’s time for a rethink of the notion of brand community, says our guest Mark Schaefer. Instead of the transactional, customer self-service model so common today, marketers must build communities that deepen emotional relationships with the brand. In this new model, customers learn from each other, and marketers learn from customers. It’s a win-win, delivering marketing that heals the loneliness found among consumers today. Schaefer explains how to think, how to execute, and how to measure the results of this new approach to marketing communications. About our Guest: Mark Schaefer is a globally-recognized keynote speaker, educator, business consultant, and author. His blog and podcast — The Marketing Companion — are at the top of the charts in the marketing field. Mark has worked in global sales, PR, and marketing positions for 30 years and provides consulting services as Executive Director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions. Mark is also an advisor to B Squared Media and several tech startups. He has advanced degrees in marketing and organizational development; holds seven patents; and is a faculty member of the graduate studies program at Rutgers University. Customized for every audience, Mark’s inspiring and memorable programs specialize in marketing and strategies for content marketing, digital marketing, social media, and personal branding. His clients range from successful start-ups to global brands such as Adidas, Johnson & Johnson, Dell, Pfizer, The U.S. Air Force, and the UK Government. Mark is the bestselling author of nine path-finding books including the first book ever written on influence marketing. Mark’s books are used as textbooks at more than 50 universities, have been translated into 12 languages, and can be found in more than 750 libraries worldwide. Mark is also a popular and entertaining commentator and has appeared on many national television shows and periodicals including the Wall Street Journal, Wired, The New York Times, CNN, National Public Radio, CNBC, the BBC and the CBS NEWS. He is a contributing columnist to The Harvard Business Review, and Entrepreneur Magazine. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Horizons is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
Can the Travel and Hospitality Industry Get Out of its Own Way?
Nov 17 2022
Can the Travel and Hospitality Industry Get Out of its Own Way?
Since the pandemic, airlines and hotels have taken a huge kick to the stomach. But now, it seems they can’t get out of their own way. Delays, poor service, and inadequate staffing, all in the face of massive demand and booming revenues. The result? Record low customer satisfaction and defections. Joining us from Singapore is Mark Ross-Smith, founder of Travel Data Daily and CEO of Status Match. Mark has 20 years of experience leading loyalty programs in telecom and travel, most recently at Malaysian Airlines. In this episode, he explains why loyalty programs are not only hugely valuable to airlines, but are in some cases THE value, with important lessons for marketers everywhere. Listen in as Mark explains the extraordinary power of loyalty programs and the financial benefits of “selling the dream.”  Key Takeaways/Three Little Piggies The lives of today’s consumers blend business and leisure, resulting in a solid new trend known as Bleisure. The world of travel is only going to grow bigger since it brings joy and magic into our lives and creates stronger human connections.During the downturn caused by the pandemic, airlines were forced to reveal the financial details of their loyalty programs in order to secure government loans. For the first time, the world discovered that frequent flyer programs are hugely profitable and in some cases worth more than the airline itself.Loyalty programs are examples of the Pareto principle in practice. As the 80/20 rule says, a small number of your most loyal customers are responsible for the majority of your profitability. Use this information to augment and enhance your own loyalty efforts, whatever your industry. About our Guest: Author, Founder of industry news site “Travel Data Daily”, and CEO of Status Match, Mark Ross-Smith who has published over 50 papers and articles on airline loyalty, which dive deep into airline economics, big data, and cutting-edge loyalty material. His unique approach to loyalty has received industry acclaim and his work is referenced in major media including CNN, BBC, South China Morning Post, The Star, The Economist, Financial Times, Executive Traveler, Skift and many more. Recently, Mark also won the Global Aviation Travel Startups Award on October 2022 at the biggest aviation event in the world. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Horizons is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
What’s the Secret to Marketing Innovation?
Nov 3 2022
What’s the Secret to Marketing Innovation?
Michael McCathren, innovation lead at Chick-Fil-A, and author of a new book: 6Ps of Essential Innovation, is an expert on the “innovation organization.” In this episode, he shared with us specifics about how marketing departments can develop the capabilities and the culture needed to implement new ideas. Listen in to learn how marketing leaders should adopt an innovation mindset, to make new ideas welcome, and to stimulate “idea equity” in their companies. Michael explains why an innovation organization is NOT the same as an innovative organization, and why it matters. His secret weapon for innovation: Stay close to your customers and let them speak for themselves. Key Takeaways/Three Little Piggies Companies often try to incorporate new capabilities without building a culture that is able to accept them.Marketing leaders can create an innovative culture by asking questions instead of making statements.The voice of the customer can be the “rocket fuel” to drive growth through innovation. About our Guest: Michael McCathren, best-selling author of 6 Ps of Essential Innovation, is a strategic innovation expert who has spent more than 30 years leading efforts across operations, supply chain, finance, strategic planning, and marketing. Currently, he oversees Enterprise Innovation in the Innovation & New Ventures group at Chick-fil-A where he and his team are responsible for helping the organization transform its ideas into business value. A curious, creative problem solver by nature, Michael approaches life with an innovation mindset and dedicates time to fostering that potential in others. Outside his work with Chick-fil-A, he is an adjunct professor of Innovation Management for the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. Michael holds a Master of Science in Innovation from Northeastern University. He's deeply devoted to his faith and family and enjoys seeing the world on his motorcycle or camping with his wife, Dena. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Horizons is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
What is Wrong with Subscription Marketing?
Oct 20 2022
What is Wrong with Subscription Marketing?
Memberships, subscriptions, loyalty programs — relationship marketing models of all sorts — have long been a staple of the marketing toolbox. But why is Peloton in such deep trouble right now? And Noom postponed its IPO? Join us as Mark DiMassimo explains what’s really going on, and how we can fix the apparent problem with membership marketing today. Spoiler alert: It’s not the model itself, you’ll be happy to know. Tune in for Mark’s advice on how to motivate customers to “start, stick and stay.” About our Guest: Mark DiMassimo is the Founder and Creative Chief of DiGo (DiMassimo Goldstein), the industry-leading agency in Positive Behavior Change marketing, which he founded in 1996 in New York City and has appeared on Inc's list of America's fastest-growing private companies four times and been named an Adweek Gold Best Agency. DiMassimo's ideas and creative work have helped build dozens of major brands that are pioneers in their respective categories. He was named a “Future 50 CEO” by SmartCEO magazine four years in a row, was profiled in the New York Times bestselling book, "Leadership Secrets of the World's Most Successful CEOs," and his work has won numerous Effie Awards from the American Marketing Association, among a slew of other awards for excellence in advertising creativity. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Horizons is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
Healthcare Marketing is Moving Fast, but Where?
Sep 22 2022
Healthcare Marketing is Moving Fast, but Where?
The term “Healthcare” covers both the medical and the life sciences industries, and marketers in these fields enjoy all kinds of opportunities. Professionals are navigating the dynamics of an increasingly engaged and empowered end-user patient base, while also juggling a complex and diverse channel strategy—all within a highly regulated environment. While this may stunt the speed of change in other industries, there’s no such slowdown here. Our guest, Jean-Francois (JF) Denault, shares with us what’s going on in Healthcare marketing, from AI-driven chat and social media to the move from cost-based to value-based messaging. JF has worked in Healthcare and life sciences marketing for over 20 years and has his own consultancy working with big names in pharma and medical devices. JF has written two books on the subject and is located in Montreal, Canada. Join us for a lively, informative conversation. About our Guest: Jean-Francois Denault has been working with innovators and entrepreneurs in life sciences as a professional consultant for over fifteen years. Through the years, he has worked with over 40 different clients in life sciences (including larger companies such as J&J, Denka Seiken and Chemo Group). His clients are located worldwide, as he has completed projects with clients in over 25 different countries. JF specializes in the life sciences market. As such, he has completed pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, nutraceuticals and healthcare projects. Most of his recent projects have been in the market research, marketing strategy and competitive intelligence space. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Horizons is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
Of the Four Ps, Pricing may be the Key to your Future
Sep 8 2022
Of the Four Ps, Pricing may be the Key to your Future
In the marketing profession, we have depended on the Four Ps as foundational to business success. But is that still relevant today? Tune in and learn why Rick Spear says ignoring the Four Ps is like ignoring the alphabet. In this episode, we discuss how pricing, above other strategies, has become the secret weapon for marketers in managing through these uncertain waters of inflation, recession, and constant change. But to wing it or make guesses benefits no one. Pricing is the top strategy to gain—or regain—value. Find out why Rick says that the critical question we need to keep asking is: “What will it take to earn 1 point of market share?” HINT: A few key insights can trump terabytes of data. About our Guest: Rick Spear is a senior executive in the capital markets industry who has spent 50% of his career helping to run firms and 50% as a strategic advisor/consultant to CEOs, boards and heads of businesses. As head of strategy, he has helped to architect and manages multi-year growth plans, targeting and growing revenue and profit by sizing markets and performing competitive analysis He has worked with every functional head across multiple companies, including the CEO, COO, CFO, Chief Product Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Head of Middle/Back Office, General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer. His education includes Stanford University and Harvard. He is currently, Senior Advisor at Simon-Kucher & Partners, a global strategy consulting firm focused on growth strategy, marketing, pricing, and sales. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Horizons is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.
The Emergence, and the Future, of Purpose Marketing
Aug 25 2022
The Emergence, and the Future, of Purpose Marketing
Purpose is an important new way for brands to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.  Our guest Diane Primo, CEO of the agency PurposeBrand, explained that a brand’s purpose must be authentic, and be established with the buy-in of all stakeholders. Only then can it be successfully presented externally for marketing benefit. Join us for a lively discussion about why consumers' growing interest in a brand’s purpose matters, and how to quantify the impact of purpose on your investment. Hint: Take the long view. About our Guest: Diane Primo is the CEO of Purpose Brand Agency, an award-winning, Chicago-based public relations, branding and digital marketing firm. She is the only African American female CEO of a purpose-driven communications agency. Diane’s focus on impact marketing stems from the belief that brands must be relevant, purpose-driven and committed to consumers to be successful today. Consumers’ demand for meaning, transparency and authenticity has changed the nature and raised the stakes in all communications. As founder of Purpose Brand, Diane builds on a groundbreaking 30-year career leading some of the top marketing organizations in the country. She served as general manager at Quaker Oats, president of product management at Ameritech and SBC (currently AT&T), chief marketing officer of CDW and CEO of a Kleiner Perkins-backed e-commerce startup in the home services sector. A communications innovator, Diane was recognized as such with Ragan Communications’ 2020 Top Women in Communications Trailblazer Award. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a BA from Smith College, and is the author of the forthcoming book ADAPT: Scaling Purpose in a Divisive World. WVU Marketing Communications Today: Horizons is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.