Episodes

  • Cracking the Amazon Data Code: Smarter Growth Through Clean Insights (Andrew Hamada, CEO and Co-Founder of Reason Automation)
    Aug 21 2025


    Your career journey from Amazon to founding Reason Automation is fascinating. Can you share how your experience at Amazon inspired you to create a company focused on data and analytics?

    You emphasize the importance of mastering data to stay ahead. What are the most common mistakes you see businesses make when it comes to utilizing their data effectively?

    Reason Automation has evolved from simply extracting data to making it accurate, actionable, and easy to interpret. Can you share an example of how this shift has helped a business achieve success?

    With Amazon being such a data-driven company, what lessons did you learn during your time there that you think all eCommerce businesses should adopt?

    What are you most excited about for the future of eCommerce and how businesses can leverage data to drive innovation and growth?

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    26 mins
  • Marketplace Momentum: Scaling Brands in the Fast Lane of E-Commerce (Jamie Roller, Director, Growth Channels at Dr. Squatch)
    Aug 14 2025

    Your career spans strategy consulting, high-growth eCommerce, and leading CPG brands. Can you walk us through your journey and how these experiences shaped your expertise in scaling challenger brands?

    At Dr. Squatch, you oversee marketplaces and support omni-channel growth. What’s been one of your proudest accomplishments in this role so far?

    Profitability and growth strategy are your superpowers. What advice would you give to emerging consumer brands looking to break through the noise on Amazon?

    You’ve built a reputation for streamlining processes and leading cross-functional teams. How do you balance the fast pace of eCommerce with ensuring long-term, sustainable growth?

    What excites you most about helping brands scale on platforms like Amazon and Walmart.com, and how do you see marketplaces evolving in the next few years?

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    19 mins
  • Beyond Awareness: Modernizing Iconic Brands for Amazon Profitability (Noah Knoblauch, Head of Ecommerce & Retail Media at Suave Brands Company)
    Aug 7 2025

    What are the unique challenges and opportunities in integrating iconic brands into a modern eCommerce and retail media strategy?

    Your career spans roles in major corporations, startups, and private equity. How has this diverse experience shaped your approach to leading eCommerce and digital strategies in the CPG industry?

    You’re known for being a people-first leader. What strategies do you use to build and motivate high-performing teams, especially in fast-paced, transformative environments?

    You emphasize using breakthrough thinking backed by customer analytics. Can you share an example where data-driven insights led to a transformative strategy for a brand?

    With your experience in both global corporations and agile startups, what trends or technologies do you believe will most significantly impact the future of digital commerce in the CPG sector?


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    22 mins
  • The Long Game: Why Brand Building Beats Short-Term Wins (Preston Rutherford, Cofounder of Chubbies)
    Jul 31 2025

    Having co-founded Chubbies Shorts, you share some insights into building a CPG brand that resonates with consumers and stands out in a competitive market?

    What strategies do you find most effective for driving growth and building brand loyalty within the CPG sector?

    Why do brands often become overly reliant on short-term revenue-maximizing strategies, and what are the consequences of this dependence on their long-term growth?

    What are the advantages of adopting a balanced approach between brand building and direct response tactics, and how can brands achieve this balance effectively?

    As someone with experience navigating the balance between brand building and direct response tactics, what advice would you offer to CPG brands looking to optimize their marketing mix and allocate resources effectively to achieve long-termsuccess?

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    24 mins
  • Data, Distribution & Disruption: Russell Close on What’s Next in Digital Commerce (Russell Close, Global eCommerce Director at Carlsberg Group)
    Jul 24 2025

    Can you share your career journey and how it led you to your current role as Global eCommerce Director at Carlsberg Group? What were some key milestones along the way?

    What are you most excited about in the world of eCommerce right now, and how is Carlsberg Group capitalizing on these opportunities?

    The beer and beverage industry has unique challenges when it comes to eCommerce. How does Carlsberg balance tradition with innovation in the digital space?

    What role does data and digital transformation play in shaping Carlsberg's eCommerce strategies? Can you share an example of a successful initiative?

    As a leader in eCommerce, how do you foster collaboration across teams and regions to ensure alignment with Carlsberg’s global goals?

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    28 mins
  • No Shiny Objects: How Costco is Redefining Retail Media with Purpose (Mark Williamson, AVP, Retail Media at Costco)
    Jul 17 2025

    Costco is known for its unique business model and loyal member base. How has Costco approached retail media differently, and what role does it play in enhancing the member experience and driving sales?

    Costco operates across physical warehouses, eCommerce, and delivery channels. How do you ensure retail media efforts align seamlessly with the company's omnichannel strategy?

    With retail media, shopper marketing, and eCommerce marketing increasingly converging, what strategies are you using to connect these disciplines and maximize the impact of programmatic media solutions?

    What do you see as the next big trend or challenge for retail media in the wholesale space, and how is Costco positioning itself to stay ahead of the curve?

    As you continue to grow Costco’s retail media program, what excites you the most about the opportunities or innovations on the horizon?

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    37 mins
  • Beauty Meets the Digital Shelf: Winning Strategies in eCommerce (Chris Chesebro, Global Chief Digital Officer at Wella Company)
    Jun 26 2025

    As someone deeply involved in the beauty ecommerce space, what emerging trends or shifts are you currently observing in consumer behavior and technology?

    What do you consider to be the most underutilized levers for optimizing growth on marketplaces like Amazon, and how can brands effectively tap into them?

    What are the biggest challenges facing ecommerce executives in the beauty space today, and how can they prepare to address these issues in 2025 and beyond?

    In a data-rich environment, how do you recommend brands prioritize the metrics and insights that truly drive performance and customer engagement?

    How should beauty brands balance their direct-to-consumer (DTC) channels with marketplace strategies to maximize growth and consumer loyalty?

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    24 mins
  • Tariffs, Trust & Trade: Navigating the Future of Supplements on Marketplaces (Loren Israelsen, Founder and President, United Natural Products Alliance)
    Jun 19 2025

    For those unfamiliar, can you share the origin story of the United Natural Products Alliance, what its mission is, and how it’s evolved to serve the natural health products and supplement industry today?

    How are tariffs impacting the landed cost structure and margin pressure for supplement brands selling on marketplaces like Amazon?

    What’s your perspective on how trade disputes—especially between the U.S. and China—are reshaping global sourcing strategies for eCommerce-first supplement brands?

    From UNPA’s vantage point, how prepared is the VMS industry to navigate growing regulatory and trade complexity while scaling globally via platforms like Amazon?

    As Amazon continues to dominate supplement discovery and purchase behavior, how should brands balance regulatory compliance with the speed and scale that eCommerce demands?

    With growing scrutiny around claims, testing, and transparency, how is UNPA helping brands compete responsibly on digital shelves where speed and consumer trust are both critical?

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    29 mins