PepsiCo’s Zach Lain on Gen Z, Cultural Relevance, and Building Brands with Edge

In this episode of The Brand Forum, Jeremy Bloom (Marketecture Media co-founder, OhHello.ai founder) and Josh Palau (Media and AdTech executive and America’s favorite plus one) sit down with Zach Lain, Head of Media Strategy and Investment at PepsiCo, to explore what it takes to build brand love in a culture-led, Gen Z-driven world. Zach pulls back the curtain on how PepsiCo’s media approach goes beyond paid ads, tapping into authentic, creative storytelling and earned attention. From breaking the traditional brief to partnering deeply with creators and platforms like TikTok and YouTube, Zach shares how PepsiCo thinks about cultural relevance, media innovation, and risk-taking. Learn why Lain’s philosophy centers around staying uncomfortable, thinking like an editor, and designing campaigns that start from culture—not just from product.