Breaking Through The Mayhem

In this episode of Breaking Through the Mayhem, host Michele Ching talks with Suzie Bao, a transformative marketing leader and diversity advocate, about her journey navigating cultural barriers as an Asian American woman and building a legacy of authenticity and impact.
With over 20 years of experience leading strategic marketing campaigns for top brands, Suzie has built a career at the intersection of innovation, inclusion, and business success. Suzie shares how her “joy work”—mentoring, community building, and championing representation—has become central to her role at IW Group, where she leads groundbreaking multicultural campaigns that bridge brands and culture.
Key highlights:
The power of “joy work” in aligning purpose with career and driving meaningful impact.
Overcoming barriers as an Asian American woman in leadership and paving the way for others.
Using AI for good in award-winning campaigns, like McDonald’s “Sweet Treats,” which bridged generational language gaps through innovative technology while celebrating intergenerational family bonds.
Leading cultural-forward campaigns that empower underrepresented voices.
Suzie’s story is a powerful reminder that joy, authenticity, and perseverance can create lasting change for individuals and their communities.
 

In this episode, Adam Katz sits down with Sam Bloom, Head of Partnerships at PMG, to explore his career journey built on resilience, humility, and reinvention. From navigating the rise and fall of Blockbuster during its battle with Netflix to building Camelot's digital capabilities from the ground up and guiding it through a successful acquisition by PMG, Sam reflects on the lessons learned through challenges and reinvention.
Sam's story is one of adaptability and curiosity. He shares how early setbacks became opportunities for growth, how rolling up his sleeves and learning the ropes at Camelot prepared him for leadership, and how his passion for innovation drives PMG’s approach to technology and AI.
Key highlights:
Candid lessons from Blockbuster’s rise and fall and how they shaped his perspective.
How humility and a willingness to learn allowed him to build and lead successful teams
Balancing tradition and innovation to stay ahead in a fast-changing industry.
The importance of loving the process, staying adaptable, and embracing the unfinished work.
Sam’s grounded perspective, passion for the craft, and dedication to innovation make this a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration to navigate challenges and build something extraordinary.

Join Marissa Price as she sits down with Jamie Seltzer, Global EVP of CSA & MX Analytics at Havas Media Network, for a candid conversation about navigating the ever-evolving digital advertising landscape. In this enlightening discussion, Jamie shares invaluable insights on balancing data-driven decision making with the need for agility in today's fast-paced market.
Discover how Havas is reimagining personalization at scale while respecting privacy concerns, and learn about their innovative "Three C's" framework - Connection, Content, and Context - that's reshaping how brands engage with audiences. Jamie offers a fresh perspective on the pendulum swing between audience and contextual targeting, and discusses why being "future ready" beats being "future proof" in today's dynamic media environment.
Key takeaways include:
How to thrive (not just survive) in an industry where change is the only constant
Practical approaches to balancing measurement rigor with speed-to-market opportunities
Strategic insights on global expansion and cross-market learnings from Havas's recent growth
A compelling look at how culture is reshaping media strategy and brand experiences
Whether you're managing campaigns, developing media strategies, or leading brand initiatives, this episode offers actionable insights on evolving your approach to meet tomorrow's challenges while driving results today.

Listen to Sightly CEO Adam Katz and Horizon Next EVP, Chief of Strategy & Operations Katie Comerford discuss navigating leadership, authenticity, and personal growth in the fast-paced marketing world.
 
Katie shares how celebrating wins, embracing discomfort, and focusing on self-reflection have reshaped her approach to work and life. She also highlights the power of psychological safety in fostering creativity and her belief that leadership is a continuous journey.
 
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why shifting your mindset toward self-reflection can transform personal and professional growth
How to find value in daily accomplishments with strategies like a “to-done” list
What it takes to create a team culture that thrives on trust and creativity
How balancing individual growth and team leadership leads to long-term success

In episode 21 of Breaking Through the Mayhem, host Adam Katz, CEO of Sightly, chats with Rachel Tipograph, Founder and CEO of MikMak, about the company’s 10-year journey, growth, and future plans. Tipograph shares how Gen Z and Gen Alpha are reshaping the consumer landscape, why brands like ELF Cosmetics and PacSun are thriving by embracing cultural relevance, and how marketing strategies can drive sales across the entire funnel. She also discusses the trend of brands leaning toward either premium or value offerings, with a focus on consistent investment as key to long-term success. Tune in for Rachel's insights on navigating e-commerce and keeping it real.

Join host Annalise Curvelo as she talks with Dr. Tamara Zubatiy, Co-founder and CEO of Barometer, about her transition from cognitive science to leading a pioneering company in podcast advertising. Dr. Zubatiy explains how Barometer’s tools carefully analyze podcast content to help brands make thoughtful advertising choices that align with their values and avoid problematic content. Explore the challenges of podcast advertising, including how to balance brand safety with engaging listeners, and learn how Barometer handles complex content like true crime podcasts that use lighter tones for serious subjects.

In Episode 19 of "Breaking Through the Mayhem," host Alena Pilichowski engages with marketing expert Mark Schaefer, exploring his impressive journey from working at a Fortune 100 company to founding a successful digital marketing business. Mark discusses the critical concepts of community and belonging featured in his books, "Marketing Rebellion" and "Belonging to the Brand," emphasizing the shift away from traditional marketing methods towards building authentic emotional connections with customers. He provides insights into how leading brands like Nike and Coca-Cola excel in community-driven marketing, while also highlighting the potential for small and medium enterprises to thrive in this space. Additionally, he tackles the complexities of measuring community impact, illustrated through a case study on Sephora’s Beauty Insider forum, demonstrating the longevity and loyalty fostered through effective community-building.

Join us for episode 18 of Breaking Through the Mayhem as Morgan Kelly chats with Nicholas Love, CEO of Kulur Group. Nicholas delves into the essence of what makes a challenger brand successful, emphasizing the importance of bold strategies and the courage to disrupt the market. Central to his philosophy is the commitment to brand authenticity, ensuring genuine connections with consumers that transcend traditional marketing.
Nicholas discusses his career trajectory, from ESPN Digital Media to leading marketing initiatives at prestigious institutions like the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and North Carolina State University. His extensive experience has equipped him with profound insights into building and executing successful social media strategies that resonate on a national level.
The episode explores pivotal adtech themes such as the critical role of data-driven marketing and the ever-evolving landscape of social media. Nicholas introduces Kulur Group’s DOPE framework—Data, Optimization, Personalization, and Engagement—which serves as a guiding principle for challenger brands aiming to distinguish themselves in a crowded market. Additionally, the conversation addresses the transformative impact of AI in marketing, evaluating its potential benefits and challenges.
In Nick's view, a strong company culture is essential for success. He underscores the importance of transparency, inclusivity, and a commitment to continuous learning and adaptability. Such a culture not only attracts top talent but also fosters an environment where employees are motivated to drive innovation and achieve sustainable growth.
Listeners will benefit from Nicholas Love's unique perspective on leadership and marketing, making this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the dynamics of authentic brand-building and market disruption.

Join Alex Babatunde, VP of Product at Sightly, and Jacob Miesner, SVP of Technology at Sightly, as they explore AI bias and the importance of diverse data sources and human oversight. Discover AI's transformative potential in reshaping the workforce, streamlining tasks, and empowering humans. Transitioning to marketing and how Sightly utilized AI within Brand Mentality® technology, uncover steps for companies to become ML-empowered teams and explore various AI use cases. Gain insights into building ML-powered teams and staying up to date with AI developments.

Dive into an extraordinary episode designed for the forward-thinking AdTech professionals and media strategists, featuring Adam Katz, CEO of Sightly, and Angelina Eng, VP of Measurement, Addressability & Data Center at IAB. Uncover deep, nuanced insights into navigating the post-cookie era, combating bias in AI, and revolutionizing your media buying strategies. This isn’t your standard industry chatter; it’s a deep dive into the challenges and innovations shaping the future of digital advertising. If you’re in AdTech or media strategy and looking to not just keep up but lead the charge in this dynamic industry, this episode offers the unconventional wisdom you need to elevate your approach and impact. Tune in now and transform how you navigate the complexities of today’s advertising landscape.