Special Sauce – Details, episodes & analysis

Christine Cook is the Chief Revenue Officer at Bloomberg Media. Christine joins Special Sauce to reminisce about her post-college job as a high school teacher in Louisiana and how she lived on $1 pizza slices when she first moved to New York. She shares her thoughts on how having a well rounded career is critical for success, how the role of a CRO needs to change based on what's happening in the business and why it's helpful to be the same person at the office and on the weekends.

Jennifer Lotito is the President and Chief Operating Officer of (RED), the organization that has worked with the worlds largest brands to generate over $750 million to fight HIV/AIDS. If you've seen a red iPhone, you've seen the work of Jennifer and her team. She joins Special Sauce to talk about the mission of (RED), what she has learned from her co-founders Bono and Bobby Shriver, and how she works with major brands to bring them onboard. Jennifer and Jordan talk about what they got out of working at advertising agencies early in their careers and how the thrill of the (RED) mission keeps her excited every day.

Special Sauce is here. Our first episode will be our shortest. In less than 4 minutes, we'll tell you everything you'll need to know. Like: why this podcast exists and why you should listen.

Marla Kaplowitz is the CEO of The 4A's. She joins Special Sauce to talk about the difference between running an ad agency and being charged with helping raise the fortunes of ALL of them. Marla and Jordan talk about how agencies are tackling AI, what burning issues she needed to address as she came into The 4A's, and why she's about to walk away from that job 8 years later. She also shares her thoughts about coming up through media departments and gives advice to young people just starting out.

Sarah Hofstetter is a long time ad agency executive, public company board member and podcaster (check out "Brave Commerce"). She talks about the career journey that landed her at ad agencies, her early ground-breaking efforts in social media on clients like HGTV and Oreo, and how she prioritizes being a mentor. Sarah and Jordan discuss what past innovations in search, social and mobile can teach us about today's evolutions in retail media, and they realize that they threw themselves similar 50th birthday parties, albeit with different themes (hint: one was super spirited, the other a little bit rock n' roll).

Michael Kassan is the Founder of 3C Ventures, his follow-up to MediaLink, the legendary company he founded 20 years ago and left this past Spring. He shares how he operates "in the middle" of our industry and how a tagline from an old west coast telephone company inspired his professional credo. Michael and Jordan discuss the power of having strong relationships in business, the people Michael has met who have intimidated him, what characteristics impress him in other people, and the number of nights each year he gets to sleep in his own bed.

David Kenny's career has spanned media & marketing (as CEO of Digitas, The Weather Company and Nielsen), technology (Akamai and IBM) and the boardroom (Best Buy, Yahoo!, and Teach For America). He joins Special Sauce to talk about what he learned at "The West Point of the Automobile Industry," the pride he takes in the list of his employees who have gone on to become CEOs, and how to be a leader at companies both large and small. David and Jordan discuss what leaders should think about in order to successfully leverage AI and why he and his team at Weather named winter storms.

Peter Naylor has been one of the most respected names in digital media since...the beginning of digital media. With stints at Lycos, iVillage, NBC, Hulu, Snap and Netflix, he has helped create and shape some of the most important platforms in each era of internet advertising - from web to online video to mobile to streaming. Peter joins the podcast to discuss his style of servant leadership, his belief that "readers are leaders," and the importance of being multilingual (professionally speaking) in business. Jordan dives deep into trying to understand Peter's likeability and how that might drive him - and his teams - to success.

Heather Freeland has held senior level marketing jobs in Silicon Valley for over a decade, with roles at Facebook, Lyft and Adobe. Prior to moving out west, she was a New Yorker having worked at MTV, Gilt Groupe and the marketing services company, Digitas. Heather joins to talk about the challenge of marketing to marketers, how working for Sheryl Sandberg taught her to be a better listener, and what she learned working with American Express. She also shares a valuable lesson from her Great Aunt Tootie.

Carl Fremont is a long time veteran of advertising agencies. He's also my mentor. Ask anyone who has known him closely over the years and they will tell you that he's been a mentor or advisor to them as well. He joins the podcast to talk about what he's gained by staying at companies for long stretches, and then what he looks for - and advises others to look for - when seeking a new job. He shares the family story that drives his positive outlook on life and how that story motivates him in his career. Carl and Jordan also discuss Carl's vintage radio collection and what that hobby says about his philosophy in business.