Meet
Jason

Great brands don’t win by being faster or louder—they win by treating every customer as if they’re the only customer. That philosophy sits at the core of this week’s guest, Doug Zarkin, Chief Marketing Officer at Take 5, an award-winning brand builder known for transforming legacy companies into modern-day leaders. In this episode, Doug joins Jason to break down his “Thinking Human” approach—the method he’s used to reinvent brands like Victoria’s Secret PINK, Avon, Pearle Vision, and now Take 5. He shares what it really takes to move a brand out of the “friend zone,” build trust through emotional experience, and drive growth without racing to the bottom on price. Doug also opens up about the realities of leading transformation: overcoming fear-based resistance, elevating customer experience at scale, and why marketers must rally both consumers and employees for change to stick. Key Takeaways ✅ Treat every customer like they’re the only customer—that’s the root of brand love✅ Brand reinvention succeeds when emotional experience matches business strategy✅ The frontline team is your most powerful marketing channel✅ Small, consistent improvements (“the sum of marginal gains”) outperform big swings✅ Great CMOs lead by casting the right team—not by being the smartest in the room Memorable Moments 💡 “It’s not about putting a brand on the brain—it’s putting a brand on the heart.”💡 “Think of every customer as if they’re the only customer.”💡 “You can’t lead a brand from a PowerPoint. You have to learn the business from the ground up.”💡 “Speed is a cost of entry. Experience is the differentiator.”💡 “If I’m the smartest person in the room, I don’t need to be in the room.” Brought to you by Mekanism .

Exceptional performers aren’t defined by talent alone—they’re defined by how they think. And in marketing—where uncertainty, pressure, and change are constant—the right mindset is a competitive advantage. In this episode, Dr. Bob Rotella, one of the world’s most influential sports psychologists, joins Jason to explore the mental principles that fuel greatness in sports, business, and brand leadership. Bob has coached champions like Rory McIlroy, Nick Price, and Ernie Els—but his teachings apply just as powerfully to CMOs, founders, and teams navigating high-stakes decisions every day. Key Takeaways: ✅ Confidence is a leadership skill—and marketers have to choose it daily✅ Process beats outcomes: breakthrough marketing comes from consistent attitude, not periodic wins✅ Optimism fuels resilience in fast-changing markets✅ Exceptional teams maintain belief through uncertainty, noise, and shifting conditions Memorable Moments:💡 “Fear and doubt kill more dreams than failure.”💡 “How you think about yourself has to match the dream of you—and the dream of your company.”💡 “If you want to be exceptional, you can’t think like the middle.”💡 “Blind faith is seeing success long before anyone else can. ”Brought to you by Mekanism .

When you’re up against giants, speed and creativity become your superpowers. Recorded live at Advertising Week New York 2025, this conversation with Drew Panayiotou, CMO at Keurig Dr Pepper, dives into how Dr Pepper’s challenger mindset—and relentless creativity—turned an underdog into a market leader. From transforming Best Buy’s digital future to guiding Pfizer through the pandemic, Drew has built a career on driving growth through agility and purpose. He and Jason explore how to turn legacy brands into modern disruptors, why longevity beats reinvention, and what it really takes to build raving fans in a world that rewards speed over substance. Key Takeaways: ✅ Challenger energy fuels creativity, not chaos ✅ The best campaigns evolve—they don’t reset ✅ Great brands grow by deepening relationships, not widening reach ✅ Progress beats perfection in a world that never slows down Memorable Moments:💡 “The best brands don’t chase new fans—they obsess over their raving ones.”💡 “Marketers get bored faster than consumers ever will.”💡 “Agility isn’t about moving fast—it’s about moving together.”💡 “It’s not funnel thinking anymore. It’s a flywheel.” Brought to you by Mekanism .

Energy gets attention. Trust builds loyalty. In a world obsessed with virality, longevity still wins. The best brands aren’t just loud—they’re reliable, repeatable, and relentlessly consistent. With a background in digital strategy and brand storytelling, Sara Kear, Chief Marketing Officer at Condado Tacos and Tequila, has turned a regional taco spot into a fast-growing national brand built on creativity, consistency, and community. In this episode, Sara joins Jason to talk about balancing creative energy with operational discipline, rebuilding a brand after rapid growth, and how structure can actually unlock innovation. She shares lessons from Condado’s rebrand, the role of “flavor rebellion” in defining identity, and how listening—to both teams and guests—became the company’s most powerful growth strategy. Key Takeaways:✅ Consistency is the foundation of brand trust✅ Creative limits can expand, not restrict, innovation✅ Listening to your audience reveals what data can’t✅ Growth without structure risks brand identity Memorable Moments:💡 “A million small moments make up the feeling of belonging.”💡 “We outgrew our brand before we realized it—so we paused to rebuild.”💡 “Confines create creativity. When you define the sandbox, you can scale.”💡 “Fun brings people in. Trust makes them family.” Brought to you by Mekanism .