Armchair quarterbacking isn’t just for sports anymore. We’re taking the same approach to companies: what would you do in their shoes? Each episode, our lively panel will debate a new issue ripped from the headlines involving a different well-known company. Between our instincts, experiences, and unsolicited opinions, we may just come up with gold. At the end, we’ll critique ourselves and see how we did. If we fixed it, you’re welcome! Season 3 launched January 20, 2026. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode!
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Southwest Airlines is financially strong. Record revenues. Stock price near multi-year highs.
Yet longtime customers are walking away angry.
In this episode, we unpack the growing tension between Wall Street performance and customer loyalty at Southwest Airlines. Host Aaron Wolpoff sits down with brand strategist Rene Huey-Lipton, founder of The Dame Collective and former strategy lead on Southwest during its golden years.
The question at the center of the conversation:
How can a brand be winning financially while simultaneously losing its best customers?
From controversial assigned seating to unpopular baggage fees to the triggering “Boarding Royale” Super Bowl campaign, we analyze how strategic shifts have taken the most beloved airline identity in America off course for many consumers.
What We Cover
1️⃣ The Core Problem: Financial Success vs Brand Equity
Southwest reported record revenue, yet load factors are declining
Loyal flyers publicly declaring they are leaving
The emotional equity of “We’re all in this together” is eroding
The danger of extracting more revenue per customer while shrinking the customer base Rene explains how this mirrors classic Wall Street optimization: maximize short-term revenue, risk long-term brand health.
2️⃣ The Boarding Royale Backfire
Southwest’s Super Bowl ad mocked its former open seating model.
Instead of feeling like a self-aware evolution, customers felt:
Belittled
Gaslit
Reduced to the punchline
Rene breaks down why making your most loyal customers the joke is a strategic miscalculation.
3️⃣ Hierarchy Changes Behavior
Referencing research from Harvard Business School and the University of Toronto, Rene highlights how:
Class distinctions increase conflict
Introducing hierarchy shifts employee roles from hosts to referees
Southwest’s once-democratic seating model helped create community
When tiered seating and baggage fees entered the picture, the cultural dynamic shifted.
4️⃣ Internal Culture Risk
Southwest’s frontline employees have historically been its greatest asset:
Humor
Warmth
Human connection
But layoffs, operational constraints, and policy changes are altering that culture.
The episode explores whether internal friction could accelerate brand decline faster than customer dissatisfaction alone.
5️⃣ What Should Southwest Do?
Rene proposes a bold alternative:
A Dual-Brand Strategy
Modeled after Qantas and Jetstar:
Preserve Southwest as a high-trust, economy-focused domestic brand
Launch a separate premium or long-haul sub-brand
Protect the emotional equity instead of diluting it
Other ideas discussed:
Restore fee transparency
Recommit to “Bags Fly Free”
Monetize passenger engagement through paid brand research partnerships
Re-empower employees as ambassadors rather than enforcers
Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.
Rene Huey-Lipton
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hueylipton/
• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com
• Follow us on:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod
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If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!
Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.
Disclaimer
A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.
Are There Too Many Managers?
Season 3 · Episode 12
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 • Duration 52:54
Are too many people being promoted into leadership roles? As a result, are companies becoming too top heavy? If we’ve created a system that values managers over executers, is this a recipe for disaster?
In this episode, we’re joined by Ron Hetrick, Principal Economist at Lightcast and one of the most influential labor economists in the country. Together, we unpack one of the most important questions facing today’s labor market: whether modern organizations are overloaded with managers and what that means for productivity, hiring, layoffs, and career paths. Drawing on decades of labor market research and macro workforce data, Ron explains why middle managers are often the first cut during layoffs, how that decision can negatively impact companies, and why a contributor-based evaluation might be a better approach. This dynamic conversation digs into provocative questions we’re all asking, challenges assumptions, and poses some very real solutions about improving our collective thinking about the labor force.
In This Episode, We Cover
● Why organizations naturally accumulate management layers over time
● The hidden risk of promoting top performers into leadership roles
● How layoffs disproportionately affect middle managers
● The mismatch between workforce expectations and available leadership roles
● Why companies reward management more than execution
● The growing importance of Individual Contributor career paths
● How interest rates and capital costs influence layoffs
● The long term consequences of overhiring during economic spikes
● Why forecasting failures create workforce instability
● How companies can rethink compensation structures to retain expertise
● The role AI may play in reshaping management structures
● Why trades and technical careers are becoming more attractive again
Key Insight from Ron Hetrick
One of the biggest workforce challenges today is not simply too many managers. It is a system that rewards leadership titles more than execution excellence.
If organizations want stability, they must create career ladders where experts can grow inancially without being pushed into management roles if it creates misalignment.
As Ron explains during the episode:
The farther your role is from creating revenue or protecting margin, the harder it becomes to justify during restructuring.
About the Guest: Ron Hetrick
Ron Hetrick is a leading labor economist and Principal Economist at Lightcast. He previously worked at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and advises Fortune 100 companies, policymakers, and workforce strategists.
He is also the author of:
● Demographic Drought
● Who’s Going to Do the Work
● The Rising Storm (contributor)
● Fault Lines (co-author)
Ron is widely recognized for translating workforce data into practical strategic insight for organizations navigating talent shortages and economic change.
Connect with Ron on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronlhetrick/
Discussion Highlights
Some standout takeaways from this episode:
✔ Promotions are often used as retention tools rather than structural necessities
✔ Middle management roles expand fastest during economic growth cycles
✔ Overhiring during temporary demand spikes leads directly to layoffs later
✔ Organizations rarely forecast workforce demand accurately
✔ Execution roles are often undervalued compared to leadership titles
✔ Skilled experts need compensation parity with managers
✔ Career ladders must evolve beyond title based advancement
Our Panel
● Aaron Wolpoff – Host and Marketing panelist
● Melissa Eaton – Operations and C/X panelist
● Chino Nnadi – People, Talent and Culture panelist
● Ron Hetrick (Guest) - Labor economist and Principal Economist at Lightcast.
Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.
• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com
• Follow us on:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod
If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!
Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.
Disclaimer
A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be onstrued as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking, have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring.
By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Pinterest Paradox: From Pins to Purchases
Season 3 · Episode 3
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 • Duration 56:23
Pinterest was once the quiet corner of the internet. A place for inspiration, planning, and imagination. No shouting. No doom-scrolling. No constant pressure to buy. That version of Pinterest is now under threat.
In this episode, we unpack The Pinterest Paradox. Can a platform built on slow inspiration successfully pivot to fast commerce without breaking user trust? Pinterest is laying off staff, cutting costs, investing heavily in AI, and pushing aggressively into e-commerce. With TikTok Shop, Amazon, and Instagram all competing for attention and dollars, Pinterest is betting that inspiration should lead directly to purchase.
Joined by Leon Lin, former Head of Discovery Product at Pinterest and current CEO of 1stCollab, we go inside how Pinterest’s algorithms actually worked and why monetization is harder than it looks.
We explore:
Browsing vs buying and where Pinterest truly belongs
When monetization feels helpful vs exploitative
Why affiliate links and sponsored content can break authenticity
How timing and intent matter more than ad volume
Why small and local businesses are Pinterest’s biggest opportunity
Inspo Mode vs Shop Mode as a potential product fix
How Pinterest can evolve without losing its soul
This is not an anti-commerce conversation. Pinterest is a business. But the real question is whether platforms can monetize without alienating the very users who made them valuable in the first place.
If Pinterest gets this right, it doesn’t just become another shopping app.
It becomes the most trusted bridge between imagination and action.
Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.
• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com
• Follow us on:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod
If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!
Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.
Disclaimer
A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Lego’s Grown Up Gamble
Season 3 · Episode 2
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 • Duration 45:07
LEGO built one of the most iconic brands in history by standing for children, creativity, and open-ended play. But in recent years, a major shift has taken hold. The company is increasingly chasing adult fans with premium, expensive, highly detailed sets, licensed IP, and collector-focused experiences.
In this episode, the panel is joined by toy industry veteran Leo Battersby to examine whether LEGO’s pivot toward adults is a smart growth strategy or a dangerous drift away from the very thing that made the brand legendary.
The conversation explores the deep tension between imagination vs instruction, open-ended creativity vs rigid build-by-numbers kits, and long-term cultural pipeline vs short-term revenue growth. With declining birth rates, rising screen time, and changing childhood behavior, LEGO is navigating a radically different world than the one it helped shape.
The group debates whether LEGO is slowly turning from a system of play into a premium model-building brand and what that means for future generations of builders.
Key Topics & Takeaways
Why adult collectors now make up ~25–30% of the toy market
How LEGO’s “Adults Welcome” strategy and 18+ sets changed the brand
The shift from imaginative play to instruction-following construction
Why modern LEGO sets leave less room for creative reinterpretation
The impact of screens, media, and IP on how kids play today
Declining birth rates and what that means for toy company pipelines
The difference between “paint by numbers” and a blank canvas
Why nostalgia is powerful but not a long-term growth strategy
How LEGO risks losing the next generation of builders
The hidden danger of optimizing only for adult money
The Strategic Tension
Is LEGO still teaching kids how to imagine… or mostly teaching them how to follow instructions?
The panel argues that LEGO is not wrong to pursue adults and licensed IP. The real risk is over-indexing on precision, perfection, and display pieces at the cost of the messy, experimental, imaginative play that originally made LEGO magical.
The Big Fix Proposed
A “LEGO for Life” ecosystem, including:
A subscription-based building journey that grows with the child
An “Anything Box” starter kit with no instructions, just imagination
Age-and-stage based kits that evolve from free play → STEM → advanced builds
A community layer where kids and families share creations and challenges
A “Pass the Brick” system for reused bricks to improve accessibility
Clear separation between:
Kid-first creative play LEGO
Adult premium collectible LEGO
The goal:
Use adult profits to subsidize kid-first innovation and rebuild the long-term pipeline of LEGO fans.
The Big Question This Episode Answers
Is LEGO building the future of imagination, or just really expensive shelf art?
Final Take
LEGO doesn’t have an adult problem.
It has a pipeline problem.
The brand must protect the emotional and creative experiences that make people become adult LEGO fans in the first place, or the nostalgia engine eventually runs dry.
Panel
Aaron Wolpoff
Melissa Eaton
Chino Nnadi
Guest
Leo Battersby Former Mattel executive and co-founder of Mattel Creations, the adult collectibles business that scaled from zero to $110M. Currently founder of Midnight Rally Club and VP of Brand Creative at Fluid Logic.
Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.
• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com
• Follow us on:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod
If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!
Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.
Disclaimer
A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dry January: The Business of Not Drinking
Season 3 · Episode 1
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 • Duration 54:19
Season 3 kicks off with a timely and culture-shifting question: Is Dry January actually good for business, or is it a self-inflicted economic slowdown?
Every January, millions of people across the U.S. and the world voluntarily press pause on alcohol. What started as a small UK health initiative has become a global behavioral shift, with nearly 1 in 5 adults now participating and overall alcohol consumption at its lowest level in nearly 90 years.
But this is not just a personal wellness trend. It’s a market disruption.
In this episode, our panel explores how Dry January impacts bars, restaurants, beverage brands, corporate culture, and consumer behavior. We break down whether this movement is just a temporary reset that snaps back in February or a signal of a much deeper shift toward mindful consumption, wellness, and long-term habit change.
From inventory planning and staffing challenges to the rise of non-alcoholic beverages, sober-curious culture, and experience-driven hospitality, the conversation reframes Dry January as not just a month, but a strategic testing ground for the future of food, beverage, and social culture.
Key Topics & Takeaways
Why alcohol consumption is at a 90-year low and what that signals
Is Dry January a meaningful reset or just behavioral whiplash?
The business impact of 20% of customers disappearing for a month
How Gen Z and wellness culture are reshaping social drinking norms
Why “mindful consumption” is becoming mainstream
The rise of non-alcoholic, zero-proof, and better-for-you beverages
How bars and restaurants should rethink menus, experiences, and inventory
Using January as an R&D lab instead of a dead month
Corporate culture, team bonding, and moving beyond “happy hour culture”
The danger of over-indexing on one month instead of building evergreen options
Strategic Business Ideas Explored
Treating Dry January as a season, not a stunt
Designing non-alcoholic experiences that feel premium, not like an afterthought
Using January to test new menus, pairings, formats, and partnerships
Diversifying revenue beyond alcohol without alienating core customers
Reframing internal culture toward wellness, inclusion, and balance
Building experiences around activities, not just drinking
Avoiding the January 1st / January 30th consumer behavior whiplash
Who This Episode Is For
Consumer brand marketers and strategists
Operators dealing with seasonality and demand swings
HR and culture leaders rethinking workplace social norms
Food & beverage brand leaders
Bar, restaurant, and hospitality owners
Anyone interested in how wellness trends reshape entire industries
The Big Question This Episode Answers
Is Dry January something businesses should fight, ignore, or design for?
Final Take
Dry January is not the problem.
Ignoring the long-term shift in consumer behavior is.
Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.
• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com
• Follow us on:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod
If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!
Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.
Disclaimer
A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
REPLAY: How Much Are Our Fixes Worth? Let's Find Out Together!
Season 2
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 • Duration 32:41
In this special episode of We Fixed It, You’re Welcome, the team welcomes back financial expert Lukas Sundahl to put real numbers behind our hypothetical business fixes.
What’s the actual value of “fixing” a struggling company?
Lukas analyzes three big names—Southwest Airlines, Party City, and Jaguar—and shows how our proposed strategies could have meant millions in revenue, survival, and long-term brand strength.
Expect insights on:
Why Southwest’s baggage fees could still work without killing loyalty?
How Party City could have survived with community-driven retail?
What Jaguar missed in its EV pivot and how to reclaim brand trust?
This episode blends strategy + financial modeling, proving that fixing companies isn’t just theory—it’s measurable impact.
Listen, learn, and maybe rethink how YOU approach business pivots.
We dive deep into the real numbers behind our “fixes.” With returning guest Lukas Sundahl (CFO, financial strategist, LinkedIn thought leader), we analyze three case studies:
Southwest Airlines: Would baggage fees really alienate customers? Or could they generate $350M–$450M while keeping loyalty intact?
Party City: How localized inventory and community tie-ins might have saved them from bankruptcy—potentially adding $43M–$130M in value.
Jaguar: The pitfalls of abandoning brand heritage in the EV race—and how aligning EVs with Jaguar’s legacy could mean $35M–$179M in gains.
Chapters
0:00 – Welcome to We Fixed It, You’re Welcome
1:20 – Meet our guest: Lukas Sundahl
2:40 – How we quantify “fixes”
4:20 – Case Study 1: Southwest Airlines
8:00 – Case Study 2: Party City
14:40 – Case Study 3: Jaguar
18:20 – The power of the pivot
23:00 – Why grounding fixes in real companies works
25:45 – Closing thoughts & where to find Lukas
Key Themes:
The financial impact of strategic pivots
Brand loyalty vs revenue growth
The “power of the pivot” in corporate turnarounds
Why storytelling + numbers matter in fixing companies
Key Pull Quote
“The numbers—whether worst or best case—prove the power of the pivot. Even small strategic shifts could have meant hundreds of millions in value.” – Lukas Sundahl
Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.
Links:
• Website - www.wefixeditpod.com
• Follow us on:
Instagram: @wefixeditpod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod
YouTube: @wefixeditpod
If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends! Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
REPLAY: Jaguar’s EV Rebrand — How to Fix a Luxury Icon
Season 2
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 • Duration 52:15
Jaguar’s EV rebrand was meant to redefine the luxury car brand — but instead, it sparked massive backlash, confused loyal customers, and even led to their CEO stepping down. In this episode, we break down exactly what went wrong with Jaguar’s electric vehicle strategy, why their marketing campaign failed, and how they can fix their brand without losing their iconic heritage.
Discover the key lessons every business can learn from Jaguar’s rebranding mistake, the reality of competing in the EV market, and the blueprint to reconnect with loyal buyers while attracting a new generation.
📌 Topics Covered:
Jaguar EV rebrand failure explained
Why the marketing campaign missed the mark
The danger of abandoning brand heritage
How to merge tradition with EV innovation
Strategies to win back luxury car buyers
If you’re interested in brand strategy, luxury cars, electric vehicles, or marketing case studies, this breakdown is a must-watch.
https://wefixeditpod.com/
A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
REPLAY: American Eagle: Jeans, Genes, and Controversy
Season 2
Tuesday, December 30, 2025 • Duration 57:33
In this episode of "We Fixed It, You're Welcome" the hosts tackle American Eagle's controversial ad campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney. Marketing expert Lola Bakare joins to dissect the brand's misstep, exploring the importance of inclusive marketing and authentic consumer engagement. The discussion delves into the risks of shock marketing, the power of Gen Z consumers, and the need for diverse voices in decision-making processes. The panel offers strategic advice for American Eagle to regain trust, emphasizing accountability, employee engagement, and aligning actions with stated values. This episode challenges conventional marketing approaches and provides insights on navigating brand crises in the age of cancel culture.
https://wefixeditpod.com/
A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Crowdsourced Fixes Vol. 2
Season 2 · Episode 25
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 • Duration 46:58
In this episode, our panelists discuss crowd-sourced fixes that were submitted to our show, an end-of-season tradition. We talk about various companies that are top of mind for our episode contributors, focusing on loyalty programs and customer experiences. We explore the implications of changes in loyalty programs like Carnival's, emphasizing the importance of communication and customer engagement. The conversation also touches on innovative ideas for Amazon's delivery services and Uber's potential loyalty tiers, highlighting the need for personalization and enhanced customer experiences. The episode wraps up with reflections on the season and gratitude towards listeners.
Takeaways
The holiday season is a time for reflection and engagement with listeners.
Crowd-sourced fixes provide valuable insights into customer expectations.
Effective communication is crucial when changing loyalty programs.
Phased approaches can ease customer transitions during program changes.
Personalization in loyalty programs can enhance customer satisfaction.
Delaying shipping for registries can address space and timing issues for customers.
Innovative delivery solutions can improve customer convenience.
Uber's loyalty program could benefit from tiered rewards and personalization.
Partnerships with local businesses can enhance service offerings.
The importance of accountability and corporate responsibility in customer relations.
Chapters
00:00 Holiday Traditions and Listener Engagement
00:59 Crowd-Sourced Fix: Carnival Rewards Program
14:10 Crowd-Sourced Fix: Amazon Baby Registries
23:09 Exploring Loyalty Programs and Customer Expectations
23:35 Rethinking Postal Services: Innovative Partnerships
31:12 Amazon's Delivery Ambitions: A New Era for Logistics
35:20 Uber Loyalty Programs: Enhancing Customer Experience
Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.
• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com
• Follow us on:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod
If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!
Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.
Disclaimer
A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Campbell’s in Hot Water: Simmering the Brand Back Down
Season 2 · Episode 24
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 • Duration 46:22
A beloved American brand finds itself in boiling hot water after a senior executive at Campbell’s is secretly recorded making racist remarks, mocking customers, disparaging the company’s products, and boasting about substance use at work. The recording goes public, the executive is fired, and Campbell’s stock hits a 52-week low. But the real question is not whether the executive deserved to go, it’s what this incident reveals about leadership, culture, and accountability inside the organization.
In this episode, our panel is joined by brand growth advisor Javier Farfan (NFL, New Balance, PepsiCo, McDonald's, Anheuser Busch) to unpack what happens when private behavior becomes public, how quickly trust can erode, and why firing one executive is rarely enough to fix a systemic problem. The discussion explores the internal cultural damage, the external brand risk, and the opportunity Campbell’s now has to reset its values, reconnect with consumers, and rebuild trust from the inside out.
Rather than debating whether the scandal will blow over, the conversation focuses on what meaningful recovery actually looks like and what brands must do when values, leadership behavior, and public perception collide.
Key Topics & Takeaways
Why this incident may be more than a single “bad apple”
How lower-level employees can change the balance of power inside companies
The internal ripple effects of executive misconduct on morale and quality
Psychological safety, retaliation, and why employees stop speaking up
Culture as a system, not a slogan on the wall
The difference between cosmetic fixes and structural change
Why silence and minimal PR responses no longer work
How consumer trust, nostalgia, and brand legacy can be rebuilt
Turning a crisis into a catalyst for reinvention
Strategic Fixes Explored
Isolating the incident without denying systemic responsibility
Holding executives to higher character and integrity standards
Making leadership behavior measurable, not theoretical
Reinforcing internal accountability and psychological safety
Re-centering the brand around community, care, and accessibility
Leveraging nostalgia and emotional connection without being performative
Using crisis moments as opportunities for product and brand evolution
Who This Episode Is For
Brand, marketing, and communications leaders
Executives and people managers
HR and culture leaders
Crisis management and PR professionals
Anyone interested in how power, culture, and trust intersect inside large organizations
Disclaimer
A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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