4Ps in a Pod

🎓 In this episode, we sat down for a master class with one of Canada’s most distinguished Marketing educators, Professor Ken Wong. Professor Wong is a retiring Distinguished Professor of Marketing from Queen’s University - where he was a faculty member for nearly 50 years. His list of accolades is so long that we would legitimately require a full episode to properly cover them but simply put, he has been one of the most influential minds and voices in the field of Marketing. He has also been inducted into the Canadian Marketing Hall of Legends, has graced magazine covers such as Canadian Business, and has been a panelist and expert trusted by some of the largest media outlets in Canada. We talked to Professor Wong about how he got started in Marketing, what has kept him in it, and the common qualities and traits of successful Marketers (vetted by a sample size of thousands of students!). He also shares what it was like growing up in an entrepreneurial family and useful advice on how students can best prepare themselves for a tough job market and the impact of technological and societal change on Marketing.This is an inspiring and insightful conversation that you won’t want to miss!

🤔 As marketers, we see some amazing work but rarely have a chance to look behind the scenes. What was the insight? Where was the tension? What was left on the cutting room floor? All of those questions & more will be answered in this series called “The DeBrief”! In this episode - we chat with Rebecca Smart (Marketing Director at McDonald’s) & Andrew Chisholm (Executive Creative Director at Cossette) who are two of the brilliant minds behind the beloved “International Menu Heist” campaign. This campaign took the country by storm over the summer & was built around 6 menu items from around the world mysteriously showing up in Canada for a limited time. Amongst other things, we chatted about: the fan truth that inspired the campaign, how they worked around some tricky constraints, the secret sauce to a nearly 50-year client/agency relationship, the mysterious figure that crashed one of their meetings & what it’s like to work on this iconic brand. 🍟

🛋️ In this episode - we had an absolute blast chatting with Jonelle Ricketts who is the Head of Marketing for IKEA Canada! 🇨🇦🇸🇪IKEA is one of the most beloved brands in the world but you probably already knew that! The odds are that you’re one of the 33 million guests that visited their stores last year in Canada & left with more than just thoughtfully designed furniture (those Swedish meatballs are seriously delicious).Jonelle has had a remarkable career working across a range of companies (IKEA, Sephora, Blackberry) and countries (Canada & the Netherlands). She is an award-winning marketer having recently been recognized as 2025 Strategy Marketer of the Year & also recently snagged numerous awards at Cannes.Amongst other things - we chatted about the winning streak that her team is on, the career leaps that changed her life, a late-night DM campaign that started a mattress war, what a dance class taught her about taking chances, the importance of inclusivity, and we even got a behind-the-scenes look on how they continue to build such an iconic brand. More specifically, Jonelle shared her thoughts on the following questions:How would you describe what you do to a stranger? (2:00)What was your “Marketing Moment”? (5:40)How has your view of marketing evolved over time? (8:38)What advice would you have to anyone looking to make a career leap? (12:05)How was your transition moving back from the Netherlands? (18:17)Talk us through the decision of returning in Canada to lead marketing for IKEA? (21:51)How does your team stay tapped into culture? (29:53)How is your Marketing team in Canada structured? (38:35)We put Jonelle in the hot seat 🔥(41:33)—----------If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on social @4pspod on TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Also, we just launched our website www.4pspod.com. It’s the new hub for everything related to the pod!

🍫In this mini-episode, we shine a spotlight on 5 sweet opportunities that Mondelez has available right now for both interns & full-time hires! The application deadline is fast approaching (Sep 22nd⌛) but don’t stress because this interview is here to help as you prep!To help you learn more - we chatted with Jennifer Earl who is the Sr. Brand Manager of Cookies at Mondelez (yes - it’s the best job title imaginable). They are home to some of your all-time favourite snacks which include Dairy Milk, Oreo, Ritz, Clif Bar & Sour Patch Kids. Amongst other things, we chatted about: Why CPG is the ultimate marketing bootcamp What makes Mondelez such a special place to workWhat sorts of marketing roles are availableInsider tips on how to stand out during the application processHow Mondelez strikes the balance between local & global campaigns such as the Selena Gomez x Oreo collab What has kept Jennifer in the industry for the last 10 years We hope you give it a listen, check out your school portal to learn more & get that application in! 

📝 In this mini-episode, we chatted with Krista Kelly who is one of the most sought after career coaches & resume strategists in Canada. Her “Hired in Marketing” community has already amassed over 40,000 ambitious marketing grads who are ready to turn their applications into offers. Navigating the job market feels more difficult than ever before & so, we brought Krista on to share her insider tips on how to have a higher chance of breaking through. Amongst other things - we chatted about:Her story of how she went from zero offers to jobs at General Mills & McDonald’sHow to get your resume past the screening tools that companies useThe biggest mistakes that she’s seen applicants makeHow to tackle the age-old problem of getting a job without having a jobResources that you can use to upgrade your skills & personal brandStaying motivated through your career search Check out her resume guide that is only available for our listenersVisit her website for more info on her program: https://www.kristakelly.ca/Follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristakellyca/As a quick reminder - in addition to long-form interviews with our incredible guests, we’re releasing short-form content that will answer the most burning questions that we receive from students/new grads. Visit us at 4pspod.com to share your feedback or topics you’d like us to cover!

👋 After an amazing summer break - we’re back (with more than just a tan)! We’re back with an entirely new season of the podcast just in time for a new school year & for those cozy days at a coffee shop! In this mini-episode - we share some major life updates & give a sneak peek of what you can expect in the coming months. Hint: we have a lot more content available in more places than ever before. Check out our website at: www.4pspod.com Instagram: @4pspod TikTok: @4pspodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4-p-s-in-a-pod/

🥁 Introducing a new content series called "The DeBrief"! In each episode - we’re going to unpack some of our favourite Canadian campaigns with some of the brilliant minds (client-side & agency-side) behind them.As marketers - we see some amazing work but rarely have a chance to receive a behind-the-scenes look. What was the insight? Where was there tension? What got left on the cutting room floor? All of those questions & more will be answered in each episode!First up - we unpacked Skip’s incredible brand refresh (formerly Skip The Dishes) & new “Skip to the Good Part” platform. We had the pleasure of chatting with Phil Sylver (Creative Director at Skip) & Rami Dudin (Executive Strategy Director at Courage). Amongst other things - we chatted about: how Jon Hamm found himself back at the centre of their new campaign, the scene that had some of them on edge, the recipe to a great client/agency relationship & how they are continuing to re-insert themselves in the lives of consumers across the country. You won't want to "skip" this one😉!

⚾ In this mini-episode, we chatted with Mitch Sharma who is the Sr. Manager of Sports Sponsorships & Regional Marketing at TD. Whether it was earlier on his career with the Edmonton Oilers or co-hosting his own podcast called “The Sports Business Life Podcast” - sports marketing has been a through-line in his incredible career. We chat with him about his thoughts on the thriving business of sports & his advice for anyone looking to break into the industry.Amongst other things - we learned about a game-changing conversation that shaped his career, how his team approaches partnerships, why brands are increasingly looking to invest in sports & the types of roles that are available at TD. Also, we all left feeling the need to watch a Tom Cruise movie marathon 🚁🏃‍♂️ (it’ll make sense once you listen). As a quick reminder - in addition to long-form interviews with our incredible guests, we’re releasing short-form content that will answer the most burning questions that we receive from students/new grads. Have any topics in mind? Send us a message: [email protected]. 

🎓 In this mini-episode, we have an “office hours” style chat with Grant Packard, an Associate Professor & the Program Director of the Master of Marketing at the Schulich School of Business! We take a small trip down memory lane but spend most of the time picking his brain on the future of marketing. More specifically - we chat about the rapidly evolving marketing world (thanks AI🤖) & hear his timeless tips on how to navigate it. We also learn a bit more about the inspiring story on how he got his start in the industry & the lessons that came with it (hint: it involves driving an old truck to NYC, working at the first digital agency & late-night limos).As a quick reminder - in addition to long-form interviews with our incredible guests, we’re releasing short-form content that will answer the most burning questions that we receive from students/new grads. Have any topics in mind? Send us a message: [email protected]. 

🙌 We had a great time chatting with Christopher Henry who is a Sr. Product Marketing Manager at Google. What is Google, you might ask... In all seriousness, Google requires no introduction because it’s so ubiquitous and if you’re like us - you’ve used one of their products/services countless times everyday (including right now). At Google, Chris helps to lead brand marketing on their blossoming hardware business in Canada. He primarily focuses on the Pixel, which is Google's  range of phones, tablets, earbuds, smartwatches/trackers. Chris has carved out a remarkable career at Google for the past 10 years having worked in marketing roles across Chromebook, Google Home, Youtube, Google.Org & Google Play Music. Prior to that he spent 3 years at Unilever and is a proud Queens alum. Amongst other things - we chatted about his team acting like a challenger brand, how a passion for filmmaking has helped him, the importance of finding a leader that will champion you, what most people get wrong about marketing & a 💯 reasons that JP should switch to #TeamPixel🏃. More specifically, Chris shared his thoughts on the following: What was your Marketing Moment? (7:48) What was it like taking a Film Option in addition to your commerce degree?(10:04)Can you give us a brief overview of your career in Marketing since you graduated? (11:15)Tell us more about what you’ve seen at Google in the ten years that you’ve been at the company. (12:22)How has your perception of Marketing evolved since you started at Google?(13:30)What was it about tech that made you want to make the switch into the industry? (15:00)What are the things you look at when you’re debating a career move? (16:57) What would you look for as your assessing whether the manager you’ll work for is a fit for you? (19:54)What resources or tips do you have for students to stay plugged in or to learn more about the industry? (22:02)Knowing what you know now, are there things that you look back on in your days in university that were most important or useful to your career today?(25:31)Why do you think the Google Pixel Canada team has been so successful in its brand building efforts? (28:17)How do you coordinate with other Google brand teams to align your objectives and ensure you’re building the Google Masterbrand? (31:50)What does the Marketing team look like at Google Canada? (35:26)How does Product Marketing at Google differ from other companies? (37:01) Do you have any cautionary advice for someone who is running towards big tech? (41:06)We put Chris in the Hot Seat🔥! (42:27)

🙌In this  mini-episode - we shine a spotlight on the American Marketing Association’s Toronto Chapter! You’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear that the AMA has had roots in Toronto for almost 80 years & since then - have helped countless marketers build their careers. Whether it’s been through hosting events, sharing thought leadership or creating mentorship opportunities. One of their flagship programs is the "Career Accelerator" where they thoughtfully pair young marketers with experienced mentors. To help learn more - we chatted with Craig Lund (VP of Leadership Excellence at the AMA) & Maggie Bolt (Program Director at the AMA). We chat through what makes this program special, the myths that exist around mentorship & share some powerful stories of how it can catapult your career. We hope you give this a listen, check out their website & apply (it’s live now ⌛)!Learn More about the AMA !Follow us on LinkedIn !

🎉As you work towards your new year's wellness goals (wait, we all still are right?) - who better to hear from than a leader who is shaping the health & wellness space? We had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Maria Acevedo, the Head of Marketing & eCommerce at Greenhouse. What started as a local cold-pressed juice start-up has now flourished into a plant-based beverage company that is scaling across Canada & the US. From their game-changing fiery ginger shots to their organic oat milks - they continue to live out their mission of making plant-based nutrition more accessible. Maria stewards everything from product innovation to eCommerce & her team of “passionate builders” are actively writing the next chapter in the company’s remarkable story. She has spent the past 2 years at Greenhouse. Prior to that - she’s carved out a dynamic career having worked in industries such as CPG, cannabis & alcohol. Amongst other things - we chatted about her constant pursuit of “10xing” her skills, her secrets to thriving in a scale-up, why marketing can be the glue that brings it all together, how Greenhouse continues to be a trailblazer & the fiery product that they call “liquid gold”🔥(yes, we can confirm that it’s amazing). More specifically, Maria shared her thoughts on the following: How would you describe what you do to a stranger? (6:50) What was your “Marketing Moment”? (9:02) How did you explore that passion for marketing? (11:04)Can you walk us through the major stops along your career journey? (14:25) What is the north star that drives your career decisions? (20:17)What’s your advice for someone who’s making a large career leap? (22:41)What has your experience at Greenhouse been thus far? (27:40)What was the brief to you as the leader of marketing? (31:42)What are the marketing levers that you’re focused on pulling? (36:18)What are the commonalities or differences between the different industries that you’ve been in? (38:38)What’s exciting you about the future of Greenhouse? (41:45)How do you stay true to Greenhouse's ethos while striving to make it more accessible? (42:50)What sort of mentality does prospective talent need to have? (45:45)We put Maria in the hot seat! (47:46) 

In this mini-episode, we shine a spotlight on Canada’s largest marketing case competition! Over the past 17 years - the CML has launched countless careers through their program & this year will be no different. If you’re an undergrad or master’s student in Canada - you won’t want to miss your chance at competing for the ultimate prize of $20K (yes, you read that right 🤯) & CML glory. Not to mention the fact that you’ll make long-lasting connections & have a blast along the way.To help learn more - we chatted with Navjit Dhillon (former CML winner & Senior ABM at Kraft Heinz) & Jeffrey Yateman (former CML Co-Chair & Direct Sales Manager at GM Energy). You’re going to hear their thoughts on what makes the CML special & their insider tips on how to stand out in the competition. We hope you give this a listen, check out their website & get that first round application in (it’s due on January 24th⌛)! 

🙌 In this episode - we had such a great time chatting with Tanbir Grover who is the Chief Marketing & Digital Officer at Pet Valu!Pet Valu is Canada’s leading retailer of pet food & pet-related supplies with over 800 locations across the country. For the past 50 years - they’ve been bringing joy to devoted pet lovers & their pets alike. Tanbir joined at what was a critical inflection point in Pet Valu’s journey. He joined during the midst of the pandemic - when they didn’t sell online, our relationships with pets were fundamentally changing, and the company was on the cusp of going public. Since that defining moment - he has helped them to steward their brand build efforts all the way to their digital capabilities. Prior to this role - he has a wealth of experience in the retail industry having worked at Lowe’s, Hudson’s Bay, and Sears. Amongst other things - we chatted with him about how Pet Valu continues to stand out in a crowded space, the biggest trends shaping the industry, a fateful call that changed his career trajectory, the value of an outsider's perspective, how you can connect the dots in hindsight & his dog Levi’s awesome Halloween costume (hint:🐕🦸‍♂️). More specifically, Tanbir shared his thoughts on the following questions: How would you describe what you do to a stranger? (7:34) What was your “Marketing Moment”? (8:50) What did you take away most from those early experiences? (12:32)What is your approach to making career decisions? (14:17) Can you take us back to that defining moment where you decided to start at Pet Valu? (19:23) How did you manage the steep learning curve? (24:16) How was your experience trying to lead a cultural shift within the organization? (27:50) Can you unpack Pet Valu’s priorities & its new brand platform? (30:46) What are the trends that you’re seeing & how is your team capitalizing on them? (38:04) How is your team structured? (42:50) We put Tanbir in the hot seat! (47:47) 

🏒🏆 In this episode, we had an absolute blast chatting with Nicole Lee -the Senior Director of Integrated Marketing at the NHL.The league has been around for over 100 years & has gone through so many eras in that time. By all accounts - they’re in the midst of another golden era. Their revenue is at an all-time high which has been fueled by their captivating stars, intriguing storylines & new partnerships. Nicole's team works alongside their sponsors to help them mutually grow their businesses & the love for the sport. She joined 16 years ago & has helped the NHL grow the scale/impact of those partnerships.  Prior to that - she has a fascinating story of growing within the US (completing her Masters in Ohio, working at Disney in Orlando & Anheuser-Busch in Virginia). Amongst other things - we chatted with her about the NHL’s record-shattering year, what winning partnerships look like, the importance of taking the long-view, the lost art of the handwritten note & whether the Leafs are finally going to win this year 🍾🤞. More specifically, Nicole shared her thoughts on the following questions: How would you describe what you do to a complete stranger? (10:12)What's the benefit of Partnership Marketing for the NHL? (10:49)What was your "Marketing Moment"? (12:08)As you've progressed through your career, has there been a north star that has driven your decision making? (16:28)How did you think about the trade-offs between career choices? (17:18)Can you walk us through your 16-year career at NHL? (21:07)How has your view of sponsorship marketing evolved over time? (23:46)How does it feel to have been part of the growth of the NHL through your role in partnership marketing? (28:55)How do you cultivate strong relationships with your partners? (33:25)Can you walk us through an example of one of your partnerships and how that has come to life? (35:08)How is your team evaluated for success? (40:10)How is the marketing team set up at the NHL? (42:04)Do you have any cautionary advice for anyone who wants to enter a Sports Marketing career? (45:07)We put Nicole in the hot seat! (47:12)

🎃 👻 In the sixth episode of our mini-series “The Cheat Sheet”, we tackle a scary subject… the interview process (gasps!). Whether you’re in the thick of recruiting season or just thinking ahead - we’re sharing some of our top tricks (and treats) on how to make the most of an interview and how to leave a lasting impression! The goal (ghoul?) is for you to be an eerie-sistible candidate😅!As a quick reminder - in addition to long-form interviews with our incredible guests, we're releasing short-form content that will answer the most burning questions that we receive from students/new grads. Have any topics in mind? Send us a message: [email protected]

In this episode - we had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Kate Torrance who is the VP, Head of Brand, Content & Comms at SickKids. SickKids opened their doors almost 150 years ago with a commitment to improving health outcomes for children. Since then - they’ve helped countless families across the country & have been recognized as a global leader in this space. In order to fuel their life-changing research & care - they launched the largest healthcare campaign in Canadian history in 2016. This was driven by a platform that they created called SickKids VS. It’s a platform that has been awarded some of the industry’s highest honours, inspired others in the industry to follow suit - won over the hearts of donors. Kate actually joined at the beginning of what she calls their brand transformation journey about 10 years ago & has continued to steward the brand. Her team is far from finished - they’re one the cusp of another monumental fundraise & just formed some new agency partnerships to help reach it. Prior to SickKids - she had an illustrious career in advertising, having worked at the likes of Zulu & BBDO. Amongst other things - we chatted with her about why she was destined for a career in advertising, her experience as one of the creators of SickKids VS, how she hopes to reframe charitable giving, what she believes makes (or breaks) creative & the cautionary tale of the piñata (and no - it wasn’t just filled with candy 🤔) . More specifically, Kate shared her thoughts on the following questions: How would you describe what you do to a stranger? (8:30) What was your "marketing moment"? (10:18)Walk us through your career journey before SickKids (14:24)How could someone differentiate between agencies to help them make a decision on which one to join? (21:35)What are some universal truths of marketing across industries and companies? (26:25)How did you navigate the career transition from agency side to client side?(29:23)Tell us more about your role at SickKids and your experience in the brand transformation journey (36:35)What kind of resistance did you face in the early stages of the development of "SickKids VS"? (43:38)How is your team thinking about what's next? How are you staying true to "SickKids VS" while keeping it fresh? (48:24)What does the Marketing team look like at SickKids? (59:59)We put Kate in the Hot Seat! (1:04:27)

🙌 We had an incredible time chatting with Lisa Mack who is the VP of Brand at Telus! You know & love Telus as one of Canada’s largest telcos. What you might not know is that their ambitions span well beyond that into areas such as health, agriculture & sustainability. They’re on a mission to make the future friendly & have worked tirelessly over the past few decades to bring that mission to life. They’ve contributed $1.7 billion, including 2.2 million days of charities & community organizations since 2000 - more than any company in the world. 🤯Amongst other things, Lisa helps to infuse their social purpose across consumer touchpoints & has spent the past 10 years helping to build Telus into a beloved brand. Prior to that - she proudly spent time in advertising & graduated from Waterloo with a degree in Arts/Psychology/HR. In this episode - hear Lisa tell us (sorry, had to) about: how her team is continuing to evolve Telus’ brand platform (with the help from some cute critters 🦜🦁), the power of purpose, why she likens marketing to an ocean, her top career planning tips & the corporate buzzword that makes her cringe😅. More specifically, Lisa shared her thoughts on the following questions: How would you describe what you do to a stranger? (7:15)What was your marketing moment? (10:19) What do you think you gleaned from agency experience to set you up in this current role? (16:00)Can you walk us through that important decision to transition to Telus? (19:15) Can you share more context about Telus’ mission? (21:07) How do you inject that purpose into your communications? (25:43)How do you strike the balance between purpose & price value? (30:02)Can you share the story behind the Telus Critters? (33:23)How is your team structured & qualities do you seek in marketers? (40:55) We put her in the hot seat! 🔥(45:59) PS: Apologies for any audio issues on this one!

👋 We’re back with your regularly scheduled programming! A bit more tanned, confused (as to where the summer went) & here with a new mini episode! We chatted with Isabel Ng-Lai who is a Sr. Product Marketing Manager at the rapidly growing fintech - KOHO. More specifically, we heard Isabel’s story & tips on how she’s navigated major career moves. Whether it was a literal move to the UK or her recent move into a new role at a scale-up. As a quick reminder - in addition to long-form interviews with our incredible guests, we’re releasing short-form content that will answer the most burning questions that we receive from students/new grads. Have any topics in mind? Send us a message: [email protected]. 

🎙️👏 A few weeks ago we hosted our first LIVE podcast with the Queen’s Marketing Association! We debunked marketing myths, answered students’ most burning questions & had an absolute blast while doing it! We unpacked topics such as networking, career planning & everything in between. A big thank you to the QMA, our incredible panelists, and to the students that came out to listen! We had a blast.Stay tuned - we may be coming to a school near you for another live event... 👀

📌 We had an absolute blast chatting with Azadeh Attar who is the Director of CPG Partnerships at Pinterest.Pinterest has cemented itself as one of the go-to platforms to turn inspiration into action. Whether it’s searching for travel ideas, planning out a home reno, discovering a new recipe, shopping for a new outfit for anything in between. They’ve recently reached over half a billion monthly active users & continue to cultivate a positive space for users/brands. There, Azadeh actually joined as one of their first employees in Canada and since then, she has helped to dramatically scale their advertising presence in this market. Prior to Pinterest -  she spent 8 years at Google Canada & began her career in CPG at General Mills. In this episode - we chatted with her about her love for building from the ground floor, how she’s managed major career jumps, the biggest myths about marketing/sales, what is fueling Pinterest’s massive momentum, head-scratching “Gen Z” trends  & what’s on her vision board. 🔮More specifically, Azadeh shared her thoughts on the following questions: How would you describe what you do to a stranger? (8:27)What was your “marketing moment”? (11:12)How did you cultivate your passion for marketing at an early age? (13:55)Can you walk us through your career journey? (15:47)How have you managed major career jumps? (21:00)Why are you so passionate about Pinterest’s mission/ethos? (33:21) Do you have some recent examples of how brands have activated on the platform? (35:57)How has your team managed through a time of rapid acceleration in terms of the number of ad products you’re launching? (37:48)What are the types of opportunities available at Pinterest Canada? (45:24)We put her in the hot seat! (51:38) 🔥

🥵 In the fourth episode of our mini-series “The Cheat Sheet”, we share tips for all of the university students out there on how to how to keep your cool in the summer. We get it, the summer can get pretty heated. You might be trying to make a strong first impression at your internship, feeling the pressure of not having one or just feeling the upcoming school year looming over you. We’re here to share some tips on how to cool down, make the most of your summer & take the long view. As a quick reminder - in addition to long-form interviews with our incredible guests, we're releasing short-form content that will answer the most burning questions that we receive from students/new grads. Have any topics in mind? Send us a message: [email protected]

🏅Ahead of the 2024 Olympic Summer Games - we had the pleasure of chatting with Kelley Tessier who is the Director of Marketing Partnerships at the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC). The COC has been on a mission to transform Canada through the power of sport. They’ve brought this mission to life by supporting athletes to compete on the biggest stage, uniting Canadians across the country behind a shared passion & inspiring the next generation to fall in love with sport. Kelley’s team is sprinting towards the finish line in order to help over 30 partners activate throughout the Games. These partners span across almost every industry - including Lululemon, Canadian Tire, RBC & Sobeys to name a few. Prior to joining the COC, Kelley’s career path has been fascinating with jumps between industries (tech/telco to sports) but also countries (hint: down under). We chatted with her about why she likens her role to being a host at a party, the inspiration behind Lululemon’s Team Canada kit, how a snowstorm sparked a major personal move, her gold medal advice & what game she hopes becomes an Olympic sport (we may have pushed for pickleball 😅). More specifically, Kelley shared her thoughts on the following questions: How would you describe what you do to a stranger? 8:13What was your "Marketing Moment"? 10:28How did you get your start in Marketing? 12:15How important is it to you to work at Canadian brands? 15:45How have you managed inflection points in your career? 17:27What does your role look like and how do you work with COC partners? 20:45How do you maintain the COC brand consistency while supporting your partners? 26:17What are some other elements of your "partnership pitch" when looking at prospective partners? 30:26Tell us about the Canadian Olympic Committee's new "Brave Is Unbeatable" creative platform. 33:11How do the Olympic athletes play a role in telling the story of the COC brand? 37:09How is your team approaching a post-pandemic Games? What has your team learned from the last two Games? 40:53How do you build flexibility into your Marketing operations during the Games? 43:13We put Kelley in the Hot Seat! 48:48

In this episode, we stepped into the mind of one of Canada’s most celebrated creative leaders: Carlos Moreno, a Partner & Chief Creative Officer at Broken Heart Love Affair. Over the past three decades work, Carlos has helped brands of all sizes win over the hearts and minds of consumers across the country. This work has not gone unnoticed and has been recognized on the global stage. To name a few: Carlos has won the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity (the Oscars of advertising), been included in the Top Ten list of Art Directors globally, was listed as the top Creative Director in Canada on multiple occasions, and helped two of his former agencies reach “Agency of the Year” status in Canada. Carlos is nowhere near finished. He co-founded Broken Heart Love Affair in the middle of the pandemic and his agency's refreshed approach to advertising is already making a major impact. Amongst other things - we chatted with him about why he fell in (and out of love) with aspects of the industry, what he believes makes (or breaks) creative, how his team helped Sick Kids reach the most ambitious goal in Canadian healthcare history, his advice for upstart marketers & thinking about the monkey on the skateboard (yes - you read that correctly). More specifically, Carlos shared his thoughts on the following questions: How would you describe what you do to a stranger? (4:49)What was your marketing moment? (6:30)How did you enter into the agency world? (16:23)How are students entering it today? (18:52) Can you walk us through the rest of your  career journey? (21:33)Why did you start the Broken Heart Love Affair? (35:29)How are you co-existing with such a talented team of leaders? (39:09)What is your agency’s philosophy? (41:39)What advice would you share with clients to be better partners? (44:00)Can you walk us through the iconic Sick Kids VS platform that your team created? (47:07)What are you looking for in up and coming creatives? (54:50)We put Carlos in the hot seat! (56:50)

We recently chatted with Harry Hothi who is a Product Marketing Lead at Wealthsimple. 💸Wealthsimple has been on an incredible run since they were founded a decade ago. What started off as a robo-advisor has blossomed into one of Canada’s leading fintechs that enables everything from filing taxes to trading crypto. From their witty campaigns to affordable products - they live out their mission of making finance accessible for 3 million Canadians (and counting)! Harry’s been on quite the run himself. He was recently recognized by “The Peak” as an Emerging Leader that is shaping the marketing industry in Canada. He’s been at Wealthsimple for 3.5 years & has helped to drive awareness/adoption across multiple products. Prior to that - he spent the majority of his career in digital marketing working at organizations such as Loblaw Digital.  In this episode - we chat with him about how he made the move from out West, what’s fueled Wealthsimple’s meteoric rise, his experience launching crypto, the worst piece of financial advice that he’s ever received & why the Leafs are (not) winning this year🫣.  More specifically, Harry shared his thoughts on the following questions:How would you describe what you do to a stranger? (7:38)What was your marketing moment? (10:08)Can you take us along the journey of your career? (12:00)What is the north star that drives your career decisions? (20:18)What is the role that mentorship has played for you? (22:19)How do you keep a pulse on digital marketing trends? (26:17)How has Wealthsimple driven hyper growth? (29:00)How is your team simplifying Crypto for the average consumer? (31:41)Can you walk us through the end-to-end process of Product Marketing to bring a product like Crypto to market? (36:09)How does the Wealthsimple team coordinate Marketing strategies when there are so many products to talk about? (41:05)Tell us about the skills and experiences that would make a successful product marketer. (43:21)What type of pride do you feel working for a company like Wealthsimple? (46:46)We put Harry in the hot seat! (50:55)

In the third episode of our mini-series "The Cheat Sheet", we tackle the daunting task of choosing a career path. This is especially tricky when you're just starting out in your career and are trying to deal with so much noise. Today - we share some thought starters to consider as you map out the next move. The aim is to find a role at the intersection of as many of those questions as possible. As a quick reminder - in addition to long-form interviews with our incredible guests, we're releasing short-form content that will answer the most burning questions that we receive from students/new grads. Have any topics in mind? Send us a message: [email protected]

A few months ago, we sat down with Conor Clarance. Since we spoke - Conor shifted into a new role as the Director of Go-to-Market & Partnership Marketing at Crunchyroll (US, CDA, AUS, NZ). Crunchyroll is a one-stop shop for anime fans. They’re best known for being a streamer that is home to the world’s largest collection of anime content. When we chatted with him - Conor was helping the brand grow within Canada by launching everything from new partnerships to experiential activations. Prior to his time at Crunchyroll - Conor spent the majority of his career as: the Head of Sports at Twitter Canada (um, we mean X…), a Manager of Global Partnerships at MLSE & an Account Manager at Momentum Worldwide. When he isn’t helping Crunchyroll to compete in the streaming race, he can be found racing down the slopes in Whistler ⛷️ In this episode, we chat with him about a career-altering revelation he had on the other side of the world, his refreshing advice on how to navigate big decisions, the power of fandom &  his stance on the eternal “subbed vs. dubbed” debate. More specifically, Conor shared his thoughts on the following questions: How would you describe what you do to a stranger? (7:24)What was your marketing moment (9:14)Can you highlight your career journey since then? (13:47) How has your view of marketing evolved? (20:02)What advice do you have for someone that’s weighing a major decision? (24:13)What role has mentorship played in your career? (26:43)How do you seek out a mentor & nurture the relationship? (30:08)Could you tell us about your role at Crunchyroll? (34:43)How do you help a team to rally around a decision? (38:12)How is your team set-up in Canada? (42:08)How do you think about fandom? (43:41)What’s the growth trajectory of anime? (51:25)Rapid Fire: We put him in the hot seat! (54:38) 

We recently chatted with Stephanie Wall who is the VP of Marketing at Sport Chek. As the largest sporting goods retailer in the country - they operate around 200 stores across the country & are owned by another iconic Canadian brand (hint: Canadian Tire). Stephanie has been at Sport Chek for 2 years & has helped them to continue their evolution towards building even more compelling, intentional & data-driven marketing. Prior to joining Sport Chek, she spent 5 years in a variety of marketing roles at Rogers & had an illustrious 15 year career in advertising (at the likes of Tribal, BBDO, Taxi & Leo Burnett).In this episode - we chat with Stephanie about the incredible story of how she landed her first few jobs, how the industry has evolved, why she describes her brand as her baby, why she loves working for a Canadian company & her tips for budding marketers. More specifically, Stephanie shared her thoughts on the following questions:How would you describe what you do to a student? (5:10)What was your marketing moment? (6:45)Tell us about those early days in your career? (8:10)Can you walk us through the other chapters of your career? (13:12)Can you tell us about your transition from agency side to client side? (17:15)How has your view of marketing evolved over your career? (20:59)How have you balanced driving your own vision while staying true to the company's ethos/history? (24:07)How is your team wrapping their heads around the changing dynamics of retail? (26:22)What is Sport Chek’s approach to brand building? (32:10)What does your marketing team structure look like? (34:58)What are the traits you look for in a marketer? (38:54)How important is it to Sport Chek to be Canadian owned? (41:39)Rapid Fire: we put Steph in the hot seat! (46:03) 

We recently (virtually) sat down with Azim Akhtar who is the Director of Brand Marketing at KFC Canada. For the past few years - his team has struck the perfect balance between respecting KFC’s iconic history while still pushing the brand into new, uncharted territory. His team has been on an incredible run with exceptional work: heartfelt apology to utensils (because KFC is finger-licking good), hosting a funeral for old fries, "fixing" the competition's chicken sandwiches, and tapping into culture moments in basketball. In this episode, we chat with Azim about the power of (good) marketing, his humble beginnings, must-hear advice for upstart marketers, and the most underrated menu item at KFC. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to hear the 11 ingredients in their secret seasoning recipe... but we got a few tasty takeaways to chew on.To skip ahead, here are the topics we covered:How would you describe what you do to a new Marketer? (6:27)Why do you think Marketing needs to exist? (7:36)What was your "Marketing Moment"? (9:45)How did you build your love for Marketing? (11:53)What have been the chapters of your career journey? (16:28)Can you walk us through the time when you transitioned from Hershey to KFC?(23:34)What role has community work and mentorship played in your life? (31:21)Tell us about what was happening at KFC when you were just joining (34:16)What is your view on brand building and how do you think it's differentiated KFC in a highly competitive space? (37:25)Can you walk us through how your team stays connected to culture to get the best work? (41:16)Can you talk about KFC's "Fry Funeral" campaign? (52:11)Rapid Fire: we put Azim in the hot seat! (57:18)

In the second episode of our mini-series “The Cheat Sheet,” we tackle the nerve-wracking cold reach-out: introducing yourself to somebody you have never met via email or message. The only thing standing between you and the individual that you’d like to connect with is a 300 character LinkedIn message (that may get buried in their inbox along with all of the other messages that they receive from eager students). As difficult as it may seem to craft that “perfect” introductory message - we share a few tips on how to: get in the right headspace, improve your odds of standing out, and ultimately, build a long-lasting connection. We're here to make that cold reach-out... a little bit warmer.As a quick reminder - in addition to long-form interviews with our incredible guests, we’re going to release short-form content that will answer the most burning questions that we receive from students/new grads. Have any topics in mind? Send us a message: [email protected]

We had the pleasure of chatting with Sydney Petrovic who is the Global Head of Brand at The Ordinary. The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand that has grown into one of the hottest skincare brands in the world.🔥However, their story is far from ordinary as they’ve broken most of the rules of the beauty industry on their way to becoming a billion dollar brand. Sydney’s team of brand builders has helped to fuel this growth by developing remarkable campaigns, crafting the unique brand identity & ensuring that the brand shows up consistently in new markets. When she isn’t helping to scale the brand, she can be found scaling mountains such as Mount Kilimanjaro (the world’s highest freestanding mountain). In this episode, we chat with Sydney about how she leveraged her “student card” to land opportunities, her unique approach to planning her career, why The Ordinary doesn’t use the word “marketing” internally & the smart reason she started hosting wine clubs. More specifically, Sydney shared her thoughts one the following questions: How would you describe what you do to a stranger? (9:54)What inspired you to pursue a career in marketing? (11:34)Can you walk us through the different chapters of your journey? (15:13) How has your view on marketing evolved? (23:19) What is the north star that drives your career decisions? (25:52)Can you speak to The Ordinary’s ethos? (30:21)What does your team look like? (33:43) How do you think through segmenting your consumers ? (37:09) How do you build a premium brand while charging such low prices? (40:59) What challenges have you faced while scaling up the brand internationally? (44:00)Is the global strategy driven out of Canada? (46:42) What are the types of skills/values that you’re looking for when recruiting for your team? (48:12) Rapid fire - we put her in the hot seat! (50:35) 

We recently chatted with Lauren Aitchison who is the Director of Marketing Operations at Cineplex. Cineplex needs no introduction - they’re synonymous with movies in Canada & many of us have found ourselves enjoying buttery popcorn at one of their 160 theatres across the country. Interestingly enough, their business actually extends beyond movies. They have a digital media arm, entertainment hubs (i.e. Rec Room), and much more. Before joining Cineplex, Lauren spent ~10 years between Telus and two of Toronto’s leading ad agencies. When Lauren isn’t helping to transport movie viewers to new worlds, she can be found travelling to new countries (32 and counting)! In this episode, we chat with Lauren about joining the movie industry during the pandemic, a peek into how Cineplex is thinking about the future, how she’s approached the pivot from agency to client-side, and which actress would play her on the big screen. More specifically, Lauren shared her thoughts on the following questions: How would you describe what you do to a first year business student? (6:43)How big is the marketing team at Cineplex & how important is it to have a connector? (7:57)What inspired you to pursue a career in marketing? (9:09) How did you scratch that itch & explore marketing further?  (10:41)Can you walk us through your career journey? (12:44) What advice would you have for someone thinking through making the jump from agency to client-side? (16:30)How has your view on marketing evolved? (19:00) What was your experience like making the transition to CIneplex during the pandemic? (20:45) Can you give the listeners a feel for Cineplex beyond just their movie business? (25:27) How does Cineplex continue to differentiate its offering? (30:49)What was your experience like within film marketing? (34:35)What are some of the problems that your current team is working to solve? (36:28)How are you measured for success? (37:51) Can you talk us through the challenges of trying to unite different teams? (39:30)What are the types of skills that individuals need to thrive in this space? (42:10) How is Cineplex thinking through the next wave of Gen Z consumers? (43:45) Rapid fire - we put her in the hot seat! (47:05) 

The networking circle is one of business school’s greatest mysteries. It’s usually stressful, cringe-inducing, and highly transactional. Yet, business students everywhere will find themselves in these circles over and over again as they frantically try to land jobs.The experience doesn’t have to be all that bad. A networking circle presents an incredible opportunity to chat with industry professionals and could serve as a launching pad for a much deeper connection. All you need is a few tips on how to reframe the experience & best position yourself to make the most of it. Introducing…”The Cheat Sheet”! Every few weeks - we’re going to release short-form content that will answer the most burning questions that we hear from students & new grads. First up - we talk about the networking circle and share our top 5 tips... you can do this!

In our third episode, we chat with Tayyab Rizvi who is a Product Marketing Lead at Patreon. Patreon is a platform that enables creators (i.e. podcasters, musicians) to build direct relationships with their biggest fans, share exclusive work, and monetize their efforts. Patreon currently has over 250K+ creators, 8M+ members & has paid $3.5B+ out to its creators. Tayyab helps to identify new features to increase creator engagement & develops the go-to-market plan to bring them to life. Before joining Patreon, he had an incredible 8 year run at Google where he most notably led Creator Marketing efforts for YouTube. Tayyab started his career in digital marketing at General Mills. When Tayyab isn’t helping creators explore new ways to engage with their fanbases, you can find him exploring NYC (most likely, laughing it up at the Comedy Cellar). Now, we know this episode runs longer than usual but you won’t regret it (we might be a tad biased…). We chatted about: how he thoughtfully approaches career planning, how Patreon is starting a new chapter, what defines a great product marketer, and his cautionary advice for those considering Big Tech. We may also talk about his cool experience with top YouTube creators like Sean Evans on “The Hot Ones”. 🔥More specifically, Tayyab shared his thoughts on the following questions:If your career was a book, what are the chapters? (6:29)What sparked your interest in marketing? (10:49)How did you navigate being unemployed? (11:56)How has your approach towards career planning changed? (18:46)How do you set yourself up for success in the next role? (20:26)How did you navigate a large organization like Google? (23:12)What does Product Marketing look like at Patreon? (26:59) What is it about Product Marketing that you love? (28:40)Do you have some examples of great product marketing in action? (30:18) What differentiates an average Product Marketing Manager (PMM) from an exceptional one? (38:27) What transferable skills does someone w/o tech experience need to break into tech? (40:33) What is some cautionary advice that you would have for someone considering big tech? (41:56)What are you most excited about in this next chapter? (48:12)Why do creators gravitate towards Patreon? (50:13)Rapid fire - we put him in the hot seat! (52:25)

In our second episode, we chat with Dean Hayward who helps to lead the Brand Partnerships team at Instacart Canada. His team is focused on partnering with Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies to grow their business on the platform via advertising. Instacart is a tech company that is best known for powering eCommerce for some of North America's largest retailers (users can receive same day delivery from the likes of Loblaw, Best Buy and Sephora). Before helping to scale Instacart's advertising business - he had done the same at Amazon Ads Canada for 5 years and held various sales positions at other organizations (i.e. Hershey, Neptune Retail Solutions). He started his career in media planning at Saatchi & Saatchi. When Dean isn't navigating corporate relationships, you can find him navigating the waters of Georgian Bay by boat and enjoying the outdoors with his wife at their cottage.In this episode, we chat with Dean about the misconceptions that exist around advertising sales, the power of networking, Instacart being the "new kid on the block," and Toronto flourishing into an emerging Tech hub.More specifically, Dean shared his thoughts on the following questions:How would you describe what you do to a complete stranger? (5:38)How has the transition been from individual contributor to a manager of people? (8:05)Can you describe what the brand partnerships team contributes to Instacart? (10:44)What moment sparked your interest in marketing/sales? (13:08)Can you walk us through your journey from that moment to present day? (19:05)What filter have you leveraged to make career decisions? (26:18)What are the types of skills that you're looking for in candidates? (30:36)How is the Canadian tech scene shaping up and what types of roles are available here vs. the US? (34:06)Can you debunk some myths that exist around advertising sales? (38:30)Rapid Fire - we put Dean in the hot seat! (41:54)

In our first-ever episode, we chat with David Berdock. Dave is the Director of Incubator Brands at Riverside Natural Foods (best known for the healthy snack brand MadeGood). He leads a team that is tasked with identifying new growth pockets for the company to innovate against. Prior to his current role, Dave worked in various brand management & innovation-centric roles at General Mills and in a partnership accounts role at A&C. When Dave isn't changing the food space - you can find him changing diapers (he has two beautiful kids) & watching/playing basketball.In this episode - we chat with him about charting out a career in innovation, how he likens his role to the history's greatest explorers, overcoming imposter syndrome & why Paw Patrol helped his career/personal life.More specifically, Dave shares his thoughts on the following questions: What sparked your interest in marketing? (4:50)Were you looking to work on a specific product line within CPG? (7:25)What is a bigger priority - seeking a business problem you're interested in solving or working with a brand that you're passionate about? (8:25)What has kept you in marketing for this long? (10:31)Can you tell us how your view on marketing has changed since you started your career? (12:42)If you had to use an analogy to describe your current role - what would that be? (14:52)How does marketing and innovation differ a larger organization vs. a smaller one? (18:35)Can you speak to the art/magic of identifying white space? (22:47)Can you tell us about how you evangelize & build a sense of belief around an unproven idea? (24:55)How have you dealt with imposter syndrome? (30:18)Can you tell us what you're looking for from upcoming talent? (33:45)Anything else that you would like to share with someone thinking about a career that is innovation-focused? (36:53)Rapid fire -  we put Dave in the hot seat! (40:10)

In this not-quite-an-episode episode, Jeevs and JP introduce themselves, share why they started this podcast, and talk about what you can expect.