EP263: Jerry Shereshewsky

Jerry Shereshewsky has been in the advertising industry since 1969 and worked in general advertising, direct marketing, and public relations. He has been a brand/product marketer, the marketing arm of a major publisher’s sales organization, the CEO of an internet publishing company and a consultant combining all of the above specialties.

EP262: Dr. Karen Nelson-Field PhD, Founder and CEO, Amplified Intelligence

Dr Karen Nelson-Field is a globally acclaimed researcher in media science, with over 17 years spent researching and redefining how people deliver successful marketing and media outcomes through the guise of human attention.

Regularly called upon to speak at major industry events across the globe including AdWeek, Cannes and SXSW, Karen’s work has also been recognised and noted in leading publications such as The NY Times, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Business. Making her the thought leader and subject matter expert in all things attention metrics which saw her named as a 2022 Honoree in the Ad Monsters + Ad Exchanger Top Women in Media & Ad Tech, as a Game Changer.

In addition to regular speaking on the global stage, Karen is also a well renowned author with two published titles under her belt. Her first book, Viral Marketing: the science of sharing, set the record straight on hunting for ‘viral success’. While her second book, The Attention Economy and How Media Works, explains the stark reality of human attention to advertising.

EP261: Chef Frank Brigtsen

Chef Frank Brigtsen and his wife Marna are the owners of Brigtsen’s Restaurant, in the Riverbend neighborhood of Uptown New Orleans. Frank began his culinary career in 1973 while attending Louisiana State University. In 1979, he apprenticed at Commander’s Palace Restaurant under the guidance of Chef Paul Prudhomme and became the first Night Chef at K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen in 1980. During his seven-year tenure with Chef Prudhomme at K-Paul’s, Frank attained the position of Executive Chef. Paul and K Prudhomme were instrumental in helping Frank and Marna open Brigtsen’s in 1986.

Chef Frank has been named one of the Top Ten New Chefs in America by FOOD&WINE magazine (1988) and America’s Best Chef: Southeast by the James Beard Foundation Awards (1998). He has also been named Chef of the Year by New Orleans magazine and Restaurateur of the Year by the Louisiana Restaurant Association – N.O. Chapter.

In 2022, Chef Frank received the Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award in Hospitality, presented by the New Orleans Food & Wine Experience.

Chef Frank’s passion is teaching and sharing through food. For 15 years, he taught Contemporary Creole/Acadian cuisine as Adjunct Professor at the John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University and serves as Chef-in-Residence for the Culinary Arts program at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA).

EP260: Jon Cook, Global CEO, VMLY&R

For the past 27 years, Jon has poured his heart and soul into VML — now VMLY&R. In 2018, he led the launch of the unified agency as global CEO. Today, VMLY&R is a global marketing force with more than 13,000 employees in 44 countries.

 

In 2023, the agency was named to Ad Age’s A-List. VMLY&R was also recognized as 2023 Network of the Year by the New York Festivals, the ANDYs, and the ADC Awards.

 

VMLY&R is proud to serve some of the world’s most recognized and respected brands, including AstraZeneca Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, General Mills, Intel, Microsoft, Mondelez, Pfizer, SC Johnson, Sherwin-Williams, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy’s.

EP259: Michael Sugar, Producer

Michael Sugar is the CEO and Founder of Sugar23 – a management, production and private equity company with a multi-year deal with Netflix – after a long stint at Anonymous Content where he was a partner for many years. He was awarded the Oscar® for Best Picture for “Spotlight,” starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, and Rachel McAdams. 

       

Sugar’s recent Executive Producer credits include MSNBC’s docuseries “The Turning Point” and the Apple TV+ series “Dickinson,” starring Hailee Steinfeld and Jane Krakowski. Over the course of the latter’s three seasons, the series garnered a Peabody Award, a Golden Tomato Award, and numerous nominations. Upcoming, Sugar produced “Knox Goes Away,” a feature film starring and directed by Michael Keaton.

 

Sugar is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Producer’s Guild of America, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and lectures regularly at USC, NYU, Columbia, and the American Film Institute.  He has been nominated for multiple Emmys and Golden Globes, and has received two Television Academy Honors, two AFI awards, and two Peabody Awards. 

EP258: Amy Lanzi, CEO North America, Digitas NA

In her current role as CEO of Digitas North America, Amy will focus on delivering new solutions for Digitas clients, tapping into the agency’s Creative, Media, Data and Technology expertise. Her ability to connect products and services; infused with a commerce lens will lead the agency forward in the next generation of growth.

Prior to joining Digitas, she was Chief Operating Officer of Publicis Commerce, a full-stack, purpose-built unit comprised of 10,000+ commerce experts worldwide. During her tenure, she played an instrumental role in notable acquisitions such as Profitero and CitrusAd; contributed to some of the holding company’s biggest new business wins; was key driver behind some of Publicis Groupe’s most important commerce-focused partnerships with platforms such as TikTok and Snap; developed unique Power of One commerce solutions for the holding company’s largest clients; and launched a dedicated Commerce Advisory Board, comprised of client members from over 20 brands.

Amy is widely respected in the industry and has been recognized across honors such as Adweek 50; She Runs It “Working Mother of the Year”; Path to Purchase Institute’s “Executive of the Year” and “Industry Impact” winner; and Campaign US’s “Female Frontier” and “Digital 40 Over 40” Awards. She is also a 2023 Creative Commerce Lions juror for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Prior to joining Publicis, Amy spent 20+ years at Omnicom’s TPN, where she helped grow the company from a team of 30 to 350 and expanded its presence to include offices in Chicago, San Francisco, Bentonville, and London.

EP257: Daniel McCarthy, CEO, FM

This week on Great Minds we speak with Daniel McCarthy, CEO of FM. FM is a family of brands that exist to empower and inspire the global community of creatives.

A charismatic and invested Owner and CEO that constantly drives the FM brands to build the global creative community and participate in local and international philanthropic efforts.

EP255: Clay Melton, Musician

Clay Melton is quickly establishing himself as a rising star, having played world-famous venues such as Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, opening for Grand Funk Railroad on the Chevrolet Main Stage at the State Fair of Texas, and sharing the stage with Sir Earl Toon, of Kool & The Gang fame. Past credits also include opening for blues-legend Robert Cray and platinum-selling artists Chris Daughtry and Night Ranger.

EP254: Journey Gunderson, Executive Director, National Comedy Center

Journey Gunderson is the Executive Director of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY  – the United States’ official cultural institution dedicated to the art of comedy – where she led the planning, strategy, fundraising and creative development for its acclaimed museum and archives.

Named one of the Top 50 Museum Influencers worldwide by international museum and attractions authority Blooloop, Gunderson has guided the National Comedy Center in its 21st Century museum design, featuring state-of-the-art technology, interactivity and personalization.

Since its opening in 2018, the National Comedy Center was named “Best New Museum” in the country by USA Today, one of the “World’s Greatest Places” by TIME magazine and one of “100 Reasons to Love America” by People magazine.

Based on the vision of Jamestown native Lucille Ball for her hometown in Western New York to become a destination for comedy, the non-profit Comedy Center showcases comedy’s great minds and unique voices in ways that educate, engage and inspire future generations.

Journey also serves as Executive Director of the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, both of which have reached new heights under her leadership.

EP253: Bogdan Carlescu, VP of Marketing, Creatopy

Bogdan is a Product and Marketing leader with a rich and diverse track record, spanning over 15+ years in the SaaS and IT industries. He is driving strategy and go-to-market execution to help businesses in Cybersecurity, MarTech, and AdTech grow in the global market.

As the VP of Marketing at Creatopy, Bogdan orchestrates a mix of strategic and tactical elements to enhance our marketing campaigns and deliver exceptional results. Bogdan’s ability to navigate between different areas while maintaining a cohesive strategy has cultivated a spirit of creativity and innovation in his team.

EP252: Monette Malewski, FEA, President and CEO, M Bacal Group

Monette is an award-winning strategic advisor in the insurance business. Monette may be in the insurance business, but she does not sell insurance. She is in the business of protecting strong bottom lines and delivering sustainable long-term business solutions for her clients. Her tools are her depth of knowledge and her business acumen.

​Monette is known through her numerous accomplishments and awards both within the philanthropic world and the business community. Her philanthropic world and business world seem to fluidly collide and continuously be intertwined. Her two worlds are intimately linked and constitute the undeniable foundation of her success.

In 2019, Monette was honored with the “Women Who Make a Difference” Award, which was remitted at the IWF World Leadership International Conference Gala.

As chair of the Board of the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University she has the honor to sit on the university’s board. Monette is a founder of Genius 100™, an active and engaged community of 100 exceptionally imaginative and impactful human beings. It brings accomplished, compassionate minds together to re-imagine the future – and to implement creative initiatives to improve it.

EP251: Jim Prior, Chair, Design Bridge and Partners, WPP

On this episode of Great Minds, we’re pleased to be speaking with Jim Prior, Chair, Design Bridge and Partners, WPP. Launched in January 2023, Design Bridge and Partners formed with the merger of Design Bridge and Superunion. The new company enables clients to leverage a full range of industry-leading design expertise, driving growth and transformation through consumer, business, lifestyle, and experience design. Jim walks us through his extensive career.

EP250: Rich Shea, President, Shea Communications and President, Major League Eating

Just in time for the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest festivities at the corner of Surf & Stillwell on July 4th, we’re please to present this incredible discussion with Rich Shea, President of Major League Eating.

Richard Shea has an extensive background in corporate communications, media relations and event production. For 20 years, he has developed and implemented integrated communications programs that incorporate public relations, live events, paid media and social media. Richard has conceived and developed powerful marketing campaigns for national clients, including BING and Netflix, and he acts as a spokesperson for various businesses in major print, online and digital outlets. He is recognized for his expertise in crisis communications.

EP249: Ben Jeffries, CEO & Co-founder, Influencer

Ben Jeffries is the 27-year-old CEO of Influencer, a global influencer marketing solution, focused on providing global advertisers with the ability to succeed on social media. Influencer’s mission is to build meaningful relationships between creators and brands, whilst making advertising effective, but more importantly inclusive. Influencer works with a number of global brands such as P&G, offering guaranteed results by combining strategic creativity, insights and technology.

Ben is an award-winning entrepreneur, with awards from Forbes 30 Under 30 to BMW Entrepreneur of the Year, and has previously spoken at global events such as Cannes Lions, Web Summit, Facebook, TikTok, Advertising Week and Social Media Week, plus many more.

EP247: Suki Thompson and Jazmyn Thompson of Let’s Reset

On this very special episode of Great Minds, we feature Suki Thompson, Founder and CEO at Let’s Reset and Co-Founder of Oystercatchers (as well as host of Reset, the podcast, in partnership with Advertising Week), along with her daughter Jazmyn Thompson, Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) at Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT).

EP246: Ian Sohn, North American CEO, Iris

Ian is the North American CEO for Iris, a global creative innovation network. He previously served as President and Chief Client Officer of Hawkeye; CEO of Wunderman Thompson Central; Managing Director of SapientRazorfish Chicago; Executive Vice President of Digital and Social at Ogilvy & Mather Chicago; and global partnership lead for a division of Nokia.

EP245: Dina Meyers, Head of New Markets and Business Development, Lighthouse Immersive

Entrepreneurial, highly organized entertainment and production executive with extensive live entertainment and event management experience within highly competitive markets. Creative professionals and businesses seek Dina’s guidance and knowledge because she can provide top-class event planning by utilizing her expert project management skills and employing her solid track record of success managing client satisfaction and training teams to achieve demanding goals.

Dina shares her career journey on this latest episode of Great Minds.

EP244: Jon Patricof, CEO and Co-Founder, Athletes Unlimited

Jon Patricof is CEO and Co-Founder of Athletes Unlimited, a network of professional sports leagues. Launched in March 2020, Athletes Unlimited now operates leagues in pro women’s softball, volleyball, lacrosse, and basketball. In 2022, the company will conduct over 120 games that will be broadcast to over 150 countries.

Before founding Athletes Unlimited, Patricof served as president of Major League Soccer’s New York City Football Club, where he currently serves on the board of directors. Prior to NYCFC, Patricof spent 11 years as a member of the board, President and COO of Tribeca Enterprises, the owner and operator of the Tribeca Film Festival and related business ventures. Among his accomplishments was the creation of the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival as well as the company’s landmark branded content partnerships with Dick’s Sporting Goods and American Express.

Throughout his career, Jon has been involved in driving revenue and expanding operations. At Tribeca, he helped expand the company from film into branded entertainment and sports as well as the company’s JV with Lionsgate and international partnerships in the Middle East and Asia. Prior to Tribeca, he worked in media private equity prior to which he worked in Corporate Strategic Planning at Disney helping grow the Disney, ESPN and ABC brands across video, audio and digital platforms. His first job was at Forest City Ratner at the inception of the Atlantic Yards development (future site of Barclays Center); he worked on Dean Kamen’s Segway project and with Harvard Prof. Michael Porter’s Initiative for a Competitive Inner City.

EP243: Sheri Bachstein, CEO, The Weather Company

Sheri Bachstein is a formative strategic thinker who diagnoses complex problems and rapidly creates solutions in a high-pressure environment. As a turnaround expert, she quickly assesses a situation, see multi-dimensional perspectives and make fast, targeted changes for immediate wins. Sheri joins Great Minds to discuss her career path.

EP242: Linda Boff, CMO and VP, Learning and Culture, and President, GE Foundation

Linda is GE’s Chief Marketing Officer, Vice President, Learning and Culture and President, GE Foundation. She oversees global marketing, brand, content, digital, and sponsorships, while also managing GE’s global learning and GE’s philanthropic arm. She also co-leads the GE Women’s Network. Having marketing, learning and philanthropy tied together opens many opportunities to expand and show GE’s impact on the world.

Linda brings a strategic mindset, global perspective, and expertise in communicating with our key stakeholders. Under Linda’s leadership, GE’s marketing campaigns and fresh approach to media technology and content have driven strong results in global brand growth and recruitment efforts. GE has been recognized as AdWeek’s hottest digital marketer and won a coveted Cannes Grand Prix Award in 2016.

Passionate about all things digital and the future of media and communications, Linda is recognized as one of today’s most influential marketing executives. She was named 2017 AdWeek Grand Brand Genius and is a 2016 Matrix Award winner among other accolades. Linda is a past Chair of The Ad Council and a member of the ANA Executive Committee and Marketing 50.

EP239: Dan Boever, Professional Golf Entertainer

Dan Boever has been a full time corporate and charity golf entertainer since 2000 with 1800+ personal appearances around the world. His clients have included Bank of America, Microsoft, TD Ameritrade, McDonalds, Citgo, AT&T, Sprint, Pepsi, Yahoo!, Make A Wish, MGM Grand, Marriott Hotels, PGA Tour. Dan has made 18 consecutive trips to the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship including a World Title.