Table Talks Podcast

This episode is part of our series on high-stakes marketing leadership. Follow the show to catch every unconventional strategy from the front lines of brand growth.

How do you take the keys to an established regional brand and upgrade the engine without crashing? Adam Williamson, Director of Marketing at Pizza 73, joins Caleb Clark to reveal the high-stakes playbook for moving beyond transactional marketing into true cultural relevance.

Tom Lockwood, Marketing Director at Hopdoddy Burger Bar, shares insights into innovative marketing strategies, including gamification, customer experience, and team leadership. Discover how a passion for quality and hospitality drives success in a competitive industry.

Are you trapped in execution instead of leading? Christina Lang (VP of Global Marketing) reveals how to escape "The Doer’s Trap" to become the strategic architect your organization actually needs. In this episode, we break down the Unconventional Playbook for navigating the most complex role in the C-suite, winning the war of internal influence, and why the most successful leaders master the Confidence Game.

In an era where foot traffic is down and macroeconomic pressures are mounting, restaurant brands can no longer rely on "better ingredients" alone to win. Jennifer Kern, CMO at Qu, joins Caleb Clark to pull back the curtain on why the modern CMO must bridge the gap between marketing, operations, and technology. From reducing tech debt to leveraging edge computing for "always-on" stability, this episode is a masterclass in building a unified commerce foundation that drives bottom-line profitability

Jessica Pellow breaks down the strategic shift required to enter new markets, the criticality of an ego-free leadership team, and the personal philosophy that forced her to step into the high-stakes world of P&L management to accelerate her career.

CMOS AND EXECUTIVES: PAY ATTENTION. 🚨 Evan Jones, Global CMO of a world-famous brand, is revealing the secret to transformation: STOP treating marketing as a "just a marketing thing". Transformation requires 100% buy-in. Are you willing to give up 10, 15, or 20% of your perfect idea to get the whole company behind you?

Jake Karls, Co-Founder and Chief Rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares, reveals the playbook behind scaling a CPG brand from a family kitchen to 10,000 stores across North America. The secret isn't massive ad spend; it's being "unapologetically authentic" and turning consumers into "sneezers" (powerful brand evangelists).

Avery Akinini, CMO of VaynerMedia, reveals the playbook behind the agency's massive scale and evolution. Avery shares the mantra: "9.8 times out of 10, we will figure it out," emphasizing that you must stretch yourself to unlock big opportunities. Learn the "clouds and the dirt" operational strategy, the necessity of rapidly pivoting your teams (from Web3 to AI) , and the essential skill needed to get the CFO's buy-in. Avery also discusses her personal evolution from a perfectionist to an inspirational leader of 200+ people.

In a market dominated by massive competitors, how does an iconic 60-year-old Canadian brand like Boston Pizza not only survive but achieve its best sales growth in over a decade? James emphazises that programs fail when they can't be operationalized at the restaurant level. He details his leadership philosophy built on truth and trust , explaining why this foundation is non-negotiable for mobilizing teams and 99.9% franchise-owned restaurants.

As a multi-unit franchisee himself (operating 11 stores in addition to the 11 corporate stores), Peter enjoys a unique instant feedback loop that informs every decision. Learn how he balances the fiduciary responsibility to the ad fund against the challenge of clarifying "what works" in different co-ops and markets. Peter’s ultimate lesson: The difference between winning brands and those that fail is the courage to pivot and refuse to "stick your head in the sand" in the face of change

How do you tackle a marketing function that needs fixing and building from the ground up? Carolyn believes that problems are simply opportunities. She was called to her current role because it offered a unique scenario to leverage her extensive leadership history and apply it where things needed to be created or fixed.

Get a masterclass in brand building, leadership, and restaurant marketing strategy from Newton Hoang. Watch the break down on how the revolving sushi brand successfully scales in the ultra-competitive U.S. market by over-indexing on a unique customer experience.

Scaling multi-location restaurant marketing is no easy feat. Ashley Mitchell dives into the real strategies that drive success across national and local levels—balancing brand consistency with personalized customer experiences. From building trust with franchisees to innovating loyalty programs, she shares how to lead marketing teams while staying ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving industry.

Learn how to thrive under constraints, build strong customer loyalty, and integrate hospitality into marketing. Discover the journey from operations to marketing leadership, and how a New York-based coffee brand navigates challenges to deliver an exceptional customer experience.

From menu management across fragmented systems to driving AI-powered voice solutions in drive-thrus, Kevin reveals how modern marketing intersects with product, ops, and AI to drive business results.

With her extensive background in sports marketing, Liza shares how she transitioned from the sports world to leading marketing efforts for Impact Kitchen, a brand that not only caters to the wellness needs of its customers but also expands with a strong commitment to quality food. She talks about how Impact Kitchen differentiates itself in the restaurant industry through its focus on premium, health-conscious food, its approach to community engagement, and its ambitious plans for international expansion—particularly into New York.

Madelaine Brewer shares her unique journey from a business student passionate about food to a marketing leader driving growth across Mezza’s expanding footprint from Manhattan to Charlotte, NC. She dives into the challenges of balancing first-party and third-party sales channels in the fast casual dining industry, the importance of strong team leadership, and how digital marketing and loyalty programs play a vital role in their strategy.

Jessica opens up about the importance of mentorship, continuous learning, and how she’s forging her own unique leadership style focused on servant leadership and empowering her team. She also discusses the challenges of navigating AI adoption in marketing, managing shrinking budgets and resources, and the discipline required to stay focused amid the “shiny objects” of marketing trends.

Jennifer dives deep into balancing leadership at a fast-growing startup with the demands of new motherhood, emphasizing empathy, autonomy, and hands-on marketing leadership. She opens up about scaling a lean marketing team, navigating retail marketing in a tech environment, and the critical importance of saying no to prioritize high-impact projects.

Tamra shares how her background in high-performance innovation and customer-focused strategy prepared her for the challenges of leading marketing efforts. In this insightful conversation, she discusses the importance of creating a frictionless customer experience, leveraging data for innovation, and her personal evolution as a marketing leader.

Jenna opens up about how her experiences, from Disney's magic to the grit of scaling a brand from the ground up, have shaped her approach to marketing. She discusses the importance of relationship-building, storytelling, and the balance of personal growth with professional ambition. Jenna also dives into the challenges and rewards of leading a lean marketing team, navigating franchise relationships, and making a lasting impact on the company’s culture and legacy.

Discover how Rob’s foundational beliefs in human connection, emotional marketing, and customer experience have shaped his approach to scaling businesses. Learn about his insights from his Disney mentorship, the challenges of scaling a brand while staying connected with customers, and why he believes that the key to success lies in understanding people’s emotions, not just selling products.

Janelle opens up about the challenges of transitioning from a solo marketer to managing a team, including the art of delegation, nurturing team trust, and learning to lead with empathy and self-awareness. She also offers a candid look at balancing personal tragedy with professional accountability, illustrating the importance of work-life integration over work-life balance.

Shereen takes us through her journey at Sambazon, where she has been a driving force in transitioning the brand from a CPG-focused model to expanding its presence in physical stores and franchises. From managing limited marketing budgets to overseeing an in-house marketing team, Shereen shares her insights on scaling a brand while staying authentic to its core values.

Elizabeth discusses the balance between creativity and consistency, the challenges of maintaining a strong brand identity across multiple locations, and her role in steering Mellow Mushroom through significant changes

Kelsey shares her unique journey from hospitality to leading marketing efforts in a rapidly growing tech company. We explore the strategies that have helped Marqii build a consistent, powerful brand, from aligning sales and marketing teams to scaling marketing efforts without losing touch with their target audience.

Kim shares valuable insights into managing multiple restaurant brands with a lean marketing team, staying steady under pressure, and successfully balancing both strategy and execution. She explains how she creates impactful marketing campaigns while juggling the unique needs of each restaurant brand under her care.

Sam dives into her journey from big tech to the startup world and shares invaluable insights on how to create a marketing culture where innovation thrives. Whether you’re a marketing leader, manager, or just starting out, Sam’s advice will inspire you to rethink how you lead and grow teams for long-term success.

Alicyn Emerick shares her inspiring journey through the marketing world and how she rose to a leadership position in commercial real estate marketing. From overcoming challenges in B2B marketing to leading a team with creativity and mentorship, Alicyn offers valuable insights for marketers at any stage in their careers.

Bernadette talks about how Osmow's further prioritizes high-impact tasks and how she balances immediate results with long-term goals. She further emphasizes the importance of listening to both customer and team member ideas, while balancing these with the company’s overall strategy.

Arden shares how to build a business case for marketing budgets by showing both the analytical and emotional value of campaigns. This can be especially helpful for marketing leaders dealing with budget restrictions and proving ROI.

With over 20 years of marketing experience, Laura shares her journey from advertising and PR to leading marketing in the senior living industry. We dive into her approach to balancing growth, purpose, and community while leading a marketing team of one.

Julia reveals how she transformed a lean marketing team into an entire organization of marketers, her strategy for aligning marketing with business development, and why tackling the elephant in the room is her leadership superpower.

Let's discuss the power of scrappy, high-impact marketing teams. Mac shares how he transformed a bloated marketing budget into a lean, high-performing in-house team, built a culture of fearless execution, and aligned marketing and sales to drive real business impact.

Dan shares his unconventional path into marketing, how he built a brand team from scratch, and why empathy and storytelling are critical in today's fast-moving marketing landscape.

Paige Greenhough shares her journey from sales to government to global marketing leadership. She dives into the challenges of working with technical subject matter experts, the art of distilling complex projects into digestible narratives, and how to balance strategic planning with agility.

Tanya shares her experiences leading marketing efforts in a traditional industry, her strategies for balancing innovation with lean resources, and how she's leveraging AI strategically while maintaining human creativity.

Courtney opens up about the challenges of leading a lean marketing team, the power of entrepreneurial thinking in startups, and how marketing can drive revenue in highly regulated industries.

Blair shares her incredible journey into marketing leadership, detailing how her diverse experience across all facets of marketing shaped her empathetic approach to leading high-performing teams.

Tina opens up about Beavertails' journey, from grassroots marketing to its international expansion, while maintaining its unique and authentic charm.

Jared LaMantia shares how FitLab revolutionizes fitness with a unique multi-brand approach. From relays and studios to cutting-edge home equipment, FitLab meets customers where they are and helps them achieve their goals.

Caleb and Kate explore the intersection of marketing and personal growth, reflecting on Kate’s first experience at a buzzing industry event, The Gathering. Expect a candid conversation about the evolution of marketing strategies and insights into how events can shape a marketer’s perspective.

Jessie shares her insights into the ever-changing world of marketing leadership, how her background in business and sales shaped her career, and what it takes to build and execute successful marketing strategies.

Discover why Michael believes franchising is still a powerful vehicle for entrepreneurship and personal legacy. Michael also offers insights into team dynamics, the role of leadership, and how marketing and franchise sales intertwine. Whether you're curious about marketing strategies, leadership, or franchising, this conversation delivers actionable takeaways for business growth.

Tracey shares insights into her unique role, managing one of the most iconic fashion archives in the world. From preserving pieces dating back to 1873 to leveraging Levi’s rich history for modern branding, Tracey discusses how storytelling through archives plays a crucial role in connecting the past with the present.

Robin shares his insights on how brands create emotional connections with consumers and explains the concept of an "emotional bank account" in branding. This discussion is packed with valuable knowledge on how to connect authentically with an audience through brand storytelling.

From global brands to professional sports, her experiences offer valuable lessons for anyone in the marketing field.

Brendon shares the unique journey from revitalizing an established name to challenging the norms in a traditionally conservative industry. From his early days in PR and sports marketing to shaping Sherwood into a top competitor, Brendon opens up about his insights on brand strategy, the importance of product excellence, and how Sherwood is striking a balance between affordability and high performance.

Advice from a marketing leader on building trust, taking bold bets, and fighting for the importance of brand investment.