Good Company with Michael Kassan

As CEO Nancy Dubuc tells it, digital media company Vice Media “has never been one to reflect culture, but one to make culture.” We sit down with her to discuss why the Vice brand is in such an influential position in the current moment, thanks to its core demographic – young people – and why honest, in-the-field journalism is more critical than ever. Plus, hear her take on issues like creating a transparent and inclusive culture in the workplace and the challenges of big tech.

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As Chief Non-Alcohol Beverage Officer, Lucas Herscovici leads a fast-growing category within Anheuser-Busch InBev, the largest brewer in the world. In this interview, Lucas discusses what’s behind the uptick in health and wellness-focused drinks, AB InBev’s plans for cannabis, and how it’s building a sustainable business. Plus, he shares how beverage consumption has changed during the pandemic and discusses how the company’s famed Corona brand has fared.

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Prolific author and lauded New Yorker columnist Ken Auletta is known for his incredible ability to dig deeply into the stories of major public figures and media moguls. In this episode, we sit down with him to understand the magic behind his craft and share stories from some of his most fascinating interviews. We also get his prognosis on the ad and media businesses after writing Frenemies and discuss his upcoming book on Harvey Weinstein. 

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Todd Smith, the legendary hip hop artist, producer, actor, author and entrepreneur more commonly known as “LL Cool J,” is on a mission to pay homage to classic hip hop while bringing it into the future. In this interview, he talks to us about how he’s doing so through his Rock the Bells venture, a platform for fans to read, shop, listen, and find exclusive audio curated specifically around the genre. We also hear why thinks success comes with an obligation to do good in your community, as well as his thoughts on eliminating systemic racism in the educational system. 

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This week in our new series, C-Inside: Holding Company Titans, we sit down with Mark Penn, President & Managing Partner of The Stagwell Group and Chairman & CEO of MDC Partners. Mark, whose experience and innovation in polling spans back decades, talks about the latest Harris Poll findings and how brands are faring in the COVID moment; as well as what’s behind the rise in image of American corporations. Plus, he weighs in on the role that marketing will play in recovery after the crisis, what’s on the minds of voters and consumers ahead of the election, and why content standards will be more important than ever for social platforms. 

(Recorded on July 30)

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Welcome to a new series, C-Inside, where we take you inside the C-suite spanning the marketing and media landscape one segment at a time. Volume one focuses on reimagining the modern agency holding company in the 2020s. The top few holding companies collectively move a massive percentage of the flow of ad dollars through the $530 billion global ad market; and new entrants, fast-moving tech and changing consumer habits are forcing them to innovate at every turn. Hear the stories of how their leaders are keeping the engines of advertising humming during rapid change.

First up is Publicis Groupe CEO Arthur Sadoun, who opens up about how its proprietary technology platform, Marcel, is changing the way 80,000 global employees work; the importance of building accountability into diversity & inclusion initiatives; and why CMOs must focus on personalization at scale.

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In this special bonus episode, hear an important conversation on what the marketing, media and entertainment industries must do to put in place the long-term strategies required for systemic change. We’ll sit down with two tireless and passionate advocates for racial advancement, equality and justice: Steve Stoute, the founder and CEO of Translation and UnitedMasters, and Rita Ferro, the President of Advertising Sales and Partnerships for the Walt Disney Company.  

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As Chief Marketing Officer of Deloitte Digital, Alicia Hatch is on a mission to reorient the CMO role as the central point of leadership for customer-focused businesses. Tune in to hear how she feels CMOs can best leverage their superpowers, particularly when it comes to purpose and the sustainability of companies, as well as collecting “emotional data sets” to better connect with people.

Note: Interview recorded before March 2019.

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Carla Hassan, Citi’s Chief Brand Officer, knows a thing or two about strong leadership through difficult times. Hear why she decided to leave a comfortable, fulfilling job at Pepsi for the challenge of leading marketing at Toys “R” Us; and later, why Citi’s transparent stance around pay equity drew her to take the top brand role there. She also fills us in on the importance of being a decisive leader, managing with empathy, and building purpose and authenticity into your culture. Plus, she invites us into a deeply personal experience that’s given her valuable lessons for both life and work.

Note: Interview recorded before March 2019.

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As a face of Facebook, the world’s largest social media platform’s VP of Global Marketing Solutions, Carolyn Everson, takes us inside her reality and what’s in her charge. Hear about how travel has changed the way she views what Facebook means to people in other parts of the world, and how it’s impacted her parenting. Plus, we discuss how Facebook handled the dramatic shift to mobile, the cultural change at the company post 2016 election, and the gravity of responsibility that comes with being a modern-day sounding board for everyone. We also tackle the merging of brand marketing and performance marketing in a world where direct-to-consumer rules.

Note: Interview recorded before March 2019. 

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