Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast ARCast

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Alecia Reed has touched so many aspects of the industry as a space planner, it might make your head spin. From Lingerie to Tools to Pet to Food Service, she has seen and done it all.  Learn more about the nuts and bolts of space, consulting and more in this fascinating episode of ARCast.

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What happens when you secure a dream job only to find out you don't like it?  Audrey Henson tells us as she shares how one pivots to find a new path to satisfaction and success.

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Upon arriving in the U.S., Shivani worked at a Starbucks in Hollywood.  Her ultimate goal was to get back into brand management - category and insights weren't even on the radar.  But, once she had a taste, she found her calling.

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In the 80’s and early 90’s, if anyone mentioned working in space planning, you might be mistaken for working at NASA.  But, with contributions from Flora Delaney and others, the discipline is not only grew throughout retail and CPG, it became essential.  Tune in as Flora shares how she helped establish the field. 

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On Nov 30, 2022,  ARCast was born. Since then, it's been a wild and crazy ride.  52 fantastic career stories as we put the spotlight on colleagues doing compelling work "in the trenches". Thanks to all our listeners and we look forward to 26 more awesome interviews in 2025.  Happy Holidays!

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You may want to be the manager who handles all 4 P's and makes decisions across the entire scope of an individual category.  Or possibly you are Slava Gendlin.  Meet the man who chose to be laser focused on only one:  Price.

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If you have never heard of DUDE Wipes, you soon will - they are everywhere!  Follow Susanna as she lands at the doorstep of a supernova, charged with building out their category management practice.

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Renee Balliet is a passionate insights leader for over fifteen years, having worked on brands, innovation, product development, and retail. She has made her mark at Wells by building a team of Consumer, Sensory, and Shopper Insights from the ground up. Melanie Saffell spent her career in data and CPG in various roles including Channel Marketing, Client Facing Analysis, Brand Management, and Category Development. Her favorite part of Category Development is the “wins” that come with a strong analytical story.

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Listen to the unlikely story of a former Deli Manager whose life turns upside when he meets a monk on the streets of New York. This chance connection (or maybe it was destined) guides Matt Mueller into discovering mindfulness can unlock the doors to unparalleled levels of innovation.

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In a seemingly serious contradiction, Luke Cahill is a self proclaimed introvert who has spoken to thousands of complete strangers.  Listen to Real Insight CEO & Chief Nerd as he explains why real conversations with shoppers still matter. 

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Why would becoming a "bestie" make a difference? Discover why Chris chose this route as a means to help organizations find their path forward in omnichannel retail.

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No team can truly be effective until it understands who they serve.  Follow Lawrence as he takes us on a journey to learn why it takes real empathy to deliver value for his customers.

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When you listen to Martha Vargas tell her story, you will soon discover when she isn't highly challenged, she quickly gets bored.  In our latest episode of ARCast, learn how Martha's drive to make an impact lands her in fascinating roles at some of the biggest brands in the industry.

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We have moved beyond the era of pulling one lever and solving all your problems. The business is more challenging and the shopper landscape is exponentially complex, so we need to think and act differently.  Shiraz helps us uncover some current and future solutions to start our journey.

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Frank Castaneda has that classic story of moving from a grocery store clerk to director of category management. Learn how throughout the journey, he always remembered the basics while becoming a leading trusted advisor.

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Life can be hard when you’re a David among Goliaths. Find out how Justin used critical insights to identify an emerging segment of an age-old category.

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Early in his career, Simon Dunn worked on a myriad of interesting businesses from Liquor to Produce to Household Cleaners. He learned what drives success between category partners and now wants to share that knowledge with brands from around the world. 

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With endless streams of data at our disposal, it is easy to spend your time justifying ways to use it.  But Ella's career was cut from a different cloth, shaped by what she lacked.  In this episode, discover how starting with a question can lead to a better solution.

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From the likes of Pepsico, Dr. Pepper, Kantar and more, Lindsey Gladden has had a major impact across the globe through her expertise in shopper insights. Now we get insights from her about looking for her next role, the state of the market in downturn and why she remains positive. 

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Zel Bianco has focused over 30 years on CPG, honing his software company to make the lives of category managers easier.  Now he asks leaders to think differently and join him in this mission.  Listen to another compelling episode as Zel tells them how.

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You just celebrated your 30th birthday when suddenly you find yourself leading the Center of Excellence at one of the largest CPG companies in the world.  What do you do?  Let Alex take you on a ride as he shares this unbelievable story along with other fascinating steps along his career arc.

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Follow the story of Brandon Warshaw as he goes from The White House all the way to where he is now at Harmonya.  Learn how Brandon used a "does it freak me out" metric to assess opportunities along his journey.

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Follow a whirlwind of a professional and career as Kaye takes us from earning a college degree in 2 years to where she is today at InContext. And along the way, you'll see how "she can't stop, won't stop" innovating including with her current vision of changing the way we shop.

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Seeing a planogram as a summer intern was all it took for Dan Desmarais to be captivated by category management.  Over the next 30 years, learning about the data and how it could influence supply chain shaped his career from sales to entrepreneur.  Tune into this fascinating episode of ARCast.

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Initially unsure of her career aspirations, Nina Palazzolo placed herself on the front lines of retail.  And fell in love.  Learn how Nina navigated through her fascinating journey to where she is today at Kodiak Cakes.

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There is so much value in this interview, we decided to run it again! Take a listen to ARCast's most popular episode.

Get in the trenches as James talks to one of the best category managers around, Dan Thaler at Simply Good Foods. Learn about how Dan leverages a childhood passion as well as early experiences with data to master the art of storytelling.

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Stacey Ring-Sanders has been an integral part of pivotal moments in our industry including the meteoric rise of Kashi, the recent transformation of Kellogg's, the turbulent days of COVID, and the expansion of the CMA.  Take time to listen as she shares learnings about professional development, team building, and dealing with conflict.

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Michelle Ojulah orchestrated a decorated career in the UK retail scene, making her mark with founder-led companies such as Cath Kidston, Boden, George and Monsoon.  But, entrepreneurism was calling so she decided to make a change.  Join us as Michelle shares how she navigated her journey to where she is today. 

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After coming to the US from Nigeria at age 18, Modupe Ladeji has spent a career continuously growing, with a mindset to never give up and take calculated risks.  From his start in gas stations to the largest retailer in the world and now at a startup, listen as Mo walks us through the steps in his journey.

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It is rare to find a person who has sat on all sides of the desk until you meet Mark Samuels.  As a manufacturer, retailer, solution provider and consultant, Mark helps us learn a tremendous amount about the industry in this fascinating ARCast episode.

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Her parents immigrated to the U.S. to find opportunities for themselves and their future family.  Learn how Yanira brings their dreams to reality in this heartwarming episode of a category management professional just starting her career.

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Could you do category management in the European Union? Listen to Robert Skowron from Hasbro as he shares the category management landscape in locations such as Warsaw.

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Have you ever experienced a terrible boss?  This is a must listen especially for leaders (or potentials) on how to be truly effective.

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The current economic environment is on the minds of virtually everyone and we all have questions.  So, why not ask an expert?  We invited our friend Caleb Silver to provide his take on the general landscape, what might be coming and what it means to category managers and shopper insights.

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Have you experienced a left turn along your career? Hear how Trey’s unconventional path gave him the fuel needed to build the Category Management function at Talking Rain Beverage Company.

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At times you have to go to extraordinary lengths because they don't believe in you - that's  Suzanne Shriner's story.  Learn how this scrappy, determined professional rose above it, and let them know they were sadly mistaken.

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Imagine a world where category management does not exist.  Almost hard to fathom, huh?  Learn the inspiration that drove Dr. Brian Harris to develop a concept and methodology that continues to thrive over 30 years later.

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The KISS method may be old but it will never die.  Learn how Rob Mould applies this idea along with other learnings to build an incredible career that spans both retail and foodservice.

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Tom Tester is as passionate as you get when it comes to space planning.  Find out what drives him and why he believes his role is so vital to the businesses he serves.

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Faced with taking on a new team with several concerns and seemingly ripe for turnover issues, Dante walked into a situation that just couldn’t be ignored.  Learn how he applied recommendations of industry colleagues and most importantly, his wife, to become an effective Servant Leader.

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Your career path most likely will not be linear and that's OK! Listen as Tiffany shares how making lateral moves and having a variety of unique experiences can enrich your journey.

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Few people can say they have experience building category management programs in multiple continents - Meriyem can.  Follow her journey as she takes on projects for some the most iconic retailers in the world.

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Laura-Lynn Freck has spent her entire career tackling new adventures, taking risks, creating her own roles, and ultimately making significant contributions to each organization she has touched. You can do the same if you are willing to raise your hand.

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When one’s desire to succeed outweighs their desire to be comfortable, you end up with Jamie Beale. Learn how she made a transformational move from healthcare to category management – this story is guaranteed to inspire you.

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After almost 8 months and over 2,000 downloads, it's about time we put our host James Jackson in the hot seat.  Listen as he provides some "juicy" details about his career journey and tells us what he really thinks about our profession.

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Could you do category management in Africa?  Listen to Sebenzile Chauke from Coca Cola Beverages South Africa as she shares how colleagues practice the art and science in Johannesburg.

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Frank Castaneda has that classic story of moving from a grocery store clerk to director of category management.  Learn how throughout the journey, he always remembered the basics while becoming a leading trusted advisor.