Fandoms are forged in experiences, not contracts. While it’s easy to become transfixed by the billions being shuffled by tech and entertainment powerhouses to acquire game studios, they are akin to damage numbers flying across the screen in a fighting game. Yes, they are impressive, but they are merely indicators of a much more powerful…
It was mid-December 2009. Procter & Gamble had an extra 30 seconds of ad time in Super Bowl 44 and a giant warehouse full of Old Spice body wash that was collecting dust. If I remember correctly, the plan was to sell the lot with the help of a Big Game spot, and then retire…
No sooner had Novak Djokovic–the world’s top-ranked tennis player and a favorite to win the 2022 Australian Open–been turned away from the tournament after a protracted fight over being unvaccinated than all eyes turned to Lacoste. The iconic French sportswear brand and marquee sponsor of the tennis star was now in the hot seat after…
As the month of February nears, Black employees across industries face a heightened awareness of our double consciousness. We are both bolstered by the prospect of positive recognition while we brace for the inevitable disappointment brought on by an endless barrage of the perfunctory and the performative. Still, each year is a fresh opportunity for…
In addition to keeping important conversations going year-round, the mission of Adweek’s Black History Month Voice series is to educate marketers and advertisers and spotlight issues, nuances and challenges the industry should be aware of when marketing to the Black community. Throughout the month of February, we will hear from advertising professionals who will touch…
Advertising chiefs often say that they are in the business of commercial creativity and are putting their creative skills to use in helping brands grow. But is that always the case? As a whole, we often feel as though we are in the business of doing business, with the creativity that should be our beating…
One of Unilever’s largest investors recently broke rank, publishing a letter that expressed strong dissatisfaction at the Purposeful Brands strategy Unilever has been spearheading since establishing the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) back in 2010. In the letter, Terry Smith, the founder of Fundsmith–a top-10 shareholder in the FMCG giant–poked fun at the company’s “ludicrous”…
When the candy company Mars Inc. announced it was giving Green M&M a makeover, it ignited a strong response from female leaders around the world. For some, it stripped the idea that females can embrace both power and sexuality in a 21st century way. Others applauded Mars for demonstrating that women can be just as…
NBC made headlines after attaching a record-breaking $6.5 million price tag to 30-second Super Bowl 2022 ad slots. That’s not stopping brand giants like Lay’s, GM and Pepsi from scooping them up–it’s just a drop in their annual marketing budget. There’s been debate among industry insiders in recent years about whether the NFL’s championship game…
Marketing procurement has always been a valuable asset to any brand and can be for every agency too. Never more so when there is a “crisis” or belt-tightening as we have had in recent times with the potential triple whammy threat of Brexit, Covid-19 and supply chain restrictions. In these times, marketing procurement teams need…
2022 will be the year when health communications finally catch up to the hype. In the past two years, we’ve become more connected with our health than ever before, and more aware of our own responsibilities when it comes to managing it. This trend is providing a shot in the arm for health creatives who…
On Nov. 14, 2006, Microsoft launched its ill-fated Zune digital music player. It was the most notable, and embarrassing, of all Microsoft’s failed attempts to combat the emerging, irresistible force that was Apple. At the time it seemed that Microsoft’s Achilles heel would always be its nerdy DNA. Sure, it could dominate the business space,…
On MLK Day, Twitter launched an OOH campaign featuring celebrities’ affirmation tweets. It was a huge success, featuring many Black celebrities. And even though I loved this campaign, I want Black people to know: You are more than. For generations, media representation has shaped the lives of Black kids and the perception of Black people…
Top candidates are being snapped up at frenzied rates and businesses are realizing they must act faster to secure great talent. The best recruiting teams, once burned by slow decision-making, have squeezed hiring timelines to as short as 6-business days. Everyone else is missing out. Resignation numbers are staggering. According to a recent article, 4…
For those who haven’t seen it yet, it should suffice to say the recently released Netflix film Don’t Look Up is about the collective indifference and ignorance of the masses when it comes to a massive problem that stares them right in the face. The science is clear as day: the problem is real, and…
Coming out of the pandemic, we have a greater digital footprint than ever: so many businesses underwent a digital transformation to survive, creating an influx of digital data where manual processes once sufficed. Now, with all this digital information available to us, businesses must find the right balance between leveraging data to grow while respecting…
Jan. 17, 2022 would’ve marked Betty White’s 100th birthday. Even though we lost her on the eve of the new year, we will continue to celebrate her legacy as a great brand steward for a cultural phenomenon that’s resonated for nearly 40 years and will likely continue to do so for generations to come: The…
People still go into the bank to pay bills. There are adults who refuse to get a smartphone. There are buses that allow you to pay the driver in coins–and get change. There are computers on the counters of high street shops that, judging by the screen, are running Windows 3.1. While people in the…
With 2021 reported as a record-setting year for merger and acquisition (M&A) deal volumes in the marcoms sector globally, it looks like the year ahead is set to be more of the same–another year of big business awaits. And the year has begun in earnest as already in the first two weeks of 2022 we…
Babies born. Pregnancies lost. IVF. Surrogacy. Life-changing medical events: emergencies, chronic and terminal illness, parental care and bereavement. Coming out. Love. Marriage. Pets. Moving homes. Changing schools. Changing country. This is a snapshot of the past 18 months for me, my family, my friends and my colleagues. And that’s not even directly taking into account…
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