Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman

The way Shazi describes it, she had a magical childhood. Living in the motel her family owned and operated, she had no shortage of things to keep her busy-- from hanging out with cooks to watching new customers to adopting a pet duck. But how did someone who always dreamed of being a painter end up founding Happy Baby, the number one organic baby food company in the world? Shazi and Bob discuss how her parents' drive and optimism led her to believe anything was possible; how she was able to pivot once she realized her grand idea wasn't in the right supermarket aisle; and why listening to your gut really matters when it comes to VCs. Plus, Bob gets a sneak preview of Shazi’s new company healthynest!

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As a kid, Macy's CMO Rich Lennox had two dreams: to be the next Chuck Yeager, or to be a veterinarian. But after a “bizarre series of accidents,” he took a different path: joining J. Walter Thompson before leading a series of incredible brands. Listen to Rich as he discusses why hypnotizing a focus group might be a good idea (spoiler: it helped him crack an entirely new diamond market for De Beers!); why he's been so effective at turnarounds at places like Zales ("you have to be the type who runs towards fires rather than away"), and what it means to be responsible for not only the Macy's brand, but also one of America's most beloved traditions: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

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It's hard to imagine an exec with a more colorful background than IPG's Chief Operating Officer and EVP Philippe Krakowsky. Hailing from Mexico City, Philippe grew up speaking three languages. He paid for college by debugging Atari games. And though he studied linguistics and comparative lit, his first job after school was founding an AI startup...that he later sold to Apple! Learn how Philippe got bit by the advertising bug, how he uses data to build credibility with consumers, and why he advises his colleagues and clients to focus on 2 or 3 things, instead of "trying to boil the ocean." Plus, learn why Philippe thinks diversity and working with people you respect are two of the most powerful assets in building a team.

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The world has changed a lot in the last week. We’re dealing with a pandemic that’s shaken us in unimaginable ways. But how should CMO's shepherd their brands through these times? Join Bob as he calls three marketing experts—and favorite former guests—for guidance. Listen to how CVS Health’s CMO, Norm de Greve led his team to “market with humanity,” learn how Amazon's culture helped them adapt quickly to the crisis from board member and former MTV CEO, Judy McGrath. And listen in as Bob chats with iHeart’s own CMO, Gayle Troberman, as she discusses "brand empathy" and the opportunity to build trust right now.

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Though the world has stopped, we've been able to text with friends, video conference relatives, check e-mails and stream content. It's easy to take for granted. But that incredible access is possible thanks to executives like Verizon’s Chairman and CEO, Hans Vestberg. How did Hans prepare the Verizon network to respond so effectively to something so unpredictable? How has he transitioned his team to working remotely? And how does he manage to exercise and spend time with family while doing his job? (Spoiler: it comes down to spreadsheets!) Listen to Bob and Hans as they discuss how handball shaped Hans' leadership, what having a family of police officers means for his worldview, and why he's championed 5G from the earliest stages.

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