Hidden Layers, the new podcast from ad industry veteran Jeremy Fain, connects with some of the world’s leading experts in and around the disciplines of deep learning, neural networks, machine learning and data-backed insights to understand the implications of each, how they're evolving, and intersect with the art and science of our everyday lives. Each episode is intended to gives listeners access to short, informative breakthrough stories and updates on the latest industry developments from the best and brightest experts in their respective fields.
Mon, October 10, 2022
October 10 is World Mental Health Day, a day designed to raise awareness and influence change. Tune in as Cognitiv co-hosts Justine Frostad, VP of Marketing, and Jason Pellegrino, Director of Human Resources, and guest Alejandra Olivella, Head of People at MikMak, have a vulnerable and honest conversation around the global mental health crisis and the influence we all hold to drive change. Follow Cognitiv: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cognitiv https://twitter.com/TeamCognitiv Follow This Episode’s Co-Hosts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justine-frostad-b155a81a/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-pellegrino-phr-406b135a/ Follow This Episode’s Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandraolivella/ Contact Us: hiddenlayers@cognitiv.ai
Thu, June 30, 2022
On this edition of Hidden Layers, we’re celebrating Pride Month by focusing on LGBTQ+ representation in advertising and the associated impact on individuals and society. Tune in as Cognitiv co-hosts Justine Frostad, VP of Marketing, and Meredith Tehan, SVP of Sales, connect with guests Kevin Fields, Global Product Marketing Team Lead at Google, and Elijah Harris, EVP Global Digital Partnerships and Media Responsibility at MAGNA, to spark curiosity and further critical thinking around how we can all work to evolve representation in the media, protection and opportunity in the workplace, and much more. Follow Cognitiv: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cognitiv https://twitter.com/TeamCognitiv Follow This Episode’s Co-Hosts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justine-frostad-b155a81a/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-tehan-2427b130/ Follow This Episode’s Guests: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinffields/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahharris/ Contact Us: hiddenlayers@cognitiv.a
Tue, May 03, 2022
For this episode of Hidden Layers, I connected with John Lods, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Arm Candy. Having recognized the opportunity for marketers to break away from the traditional marketing mindset of focusing mainly on audiences, thus limiting opportunities to optimize, John founded Arm Candy with the goal of helping companies shift to outcomes-based viewpoints. During our conversation, we dive deeper into why this shift is imperative for campaigns to scale, our assumptions for the cookieless future, machine learning AI, and more. Follow Cognitiv: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cognitiv https://twitter.com/TeamCognitiv Follow Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fainjeremy/ Follow John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlods/
Tue, April 12, 2022
Hidden Layers is back with another special edition of the podcast! I’ve passed the mic once again to my colleagues Justine Frostad, VP of Marketing, joined this time by co-host Jana Jakovljevic, VP of Client Success, to further the conversation on prioritizing, as well as promoting equality and inclusivity in the workplace. They are joined by guests Vanessa A. Vining, Chief Diversity Officer at VaynerX and Rachel Barsuk McGirr, SVP, Group Partner, Integrated Investment at UM Worldwide, for this special edition!
Tue, March 08, 2022
In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, I’ve passed the mic to my colleagues Justine Frostad, VP of Marketing, and Meredith Tehan, Senior VP of Sales, to have conversations with talented, impactful women in marketing and tech. They are joined by guests Joanna Marrollo, Head of Media & Director of Digital Marketing (North America) at Henkel and Yessenia Morales, Integrated Marketing Lead at Samsung Electronics America, for this special edition of the podcast!
Tue, March 08, 2022
In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, I’ve passed the mic to my colleagues Justine Frostad, VP of Marketing, and Meredith Tehan, Senior VP of Sales, to have conversations with talented, impactful women in marketing and tech. They are joined by guests Joanna Marrollo, Head of Media & Director of Digital Marketing (North America) at Henkel and Yessenia Morales, Integrated Marketing Lead at Samsung Electronics America, for this special edition of the podcast!
Wed, February 23, 2022
On the latest episode of Hidden Layers, I sat down with Peter DeLuca, Chief Creative Officer (CCO) and Senior Vice President at T-Mobile. In his role, Peter leads the brand, creative and media teams, responsible for bringing the “Uncarrier” brand to life through marketing, across all consumer touch points. During our conversation, we discussed the transformation of the T-Mobile brand and how they leverage their marketing efforts to stand out in a highly competitive marketplace. Check out the episode to hear more!
Wed, February 09, 2022
My latest guest on Hidden Layers is Jim Jackson, Chief Marketing Officer for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). As CMO, Jim oversees all aspects of marketing for HPE, with an emphasis of building a digital-first marketing organization and establishing the brand as the ‘edge-to-cloud’ platform as a service company. Most people are familiar with computer company HP, Inc., but HPE is a relatively new brand for Hewlett Packard as the companies split in the two organizations in 2015 in order to be more agile and meet the evolving needs of their customers. In this episode, we explore digital transformation, data modernization and how the company’s customer-centric approach helps drive their business and marketing.
Tue, January 18, 2022
Welcome back to another year of The Hidden Layers podcast! I was thrilled to have gaming industry M&A veteran and EVP of Strategy Investment at Huuuge Games, Jon Bellamy, join me for our first episode of 2022. After one quick glance at your phone’s app store, it’s pretty apparent that the free-to-play gaming landscape is crowded. So how does a successful company like Huuuge set themselves apart from all the noise year after year? In this episode, we’re discussing exactly how they’ve done it, from their omni-channel approach to advertising, to their use of data to build tailored experiences for each new user, and everything in between. Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe…we have a lot in store for 2022!
Wed, November 17, 2021
On the latest edition of Hidden Layers, I sat down with Burke Morley to talk about his work with Purple, the comfort technology company, and how he applies his industry expertise to his role as the company’s VP of Brand and Executive Creative Director. Purple is probably best known for its mattresses, but in its five years, it has managed to revolutionize the sleep and comfort experience while bringing true innovation to the industry. I spoke with Morley about how the brand has been able to stand out in such a crowded landscape, as well as how they’ve adjusted their outreach strategy to take into account people’s mattress-shopping behaviors. We also discussed how Purple uses multiple touchpoints, from brick-and-mortar retail stores to digital channels, to establish a brand personality and create positive consumer experiences. If you’ve ever been completely lost when mattress shopping (I know the feeling), definitely check out this episode - and if you know the difference between an innerspring and encased coil mattress, then this is the podcast episode you’ve been waiting for. Listen on your podcast platform of choice - and don’t forget to subscribe!
Tue, October 19, 2021
Lately, when talking to friends, the topic of insurance has come up a lot. Whether it’s the rising number of catastrophic events, from floods to wildfires to tornadoes, or simply an increased awareness of the need to be prepared in case of any emergencies, a lot of people I know are focusing more time and effort on finding the right insurance providers. So, for the latest edition of Hidden Layers, I sat down with Andrea Collins, VP of Marketing at Hippo Insurance, to learn more about the insurance industry and, in particular, how homeowners’ insurance has changed with the times. Insurance is typically thought of as a fairly dry, unsexy industry. Since Hippo burst onto the market in 2015, however, the company has set out to redefine homeowners’ insurance - and with it, the relationship people have with their homes. As Collins notes in our conversation, traditional coverage tends to include items like fur coats and pewter bowls, neither of which are common household items today. Instead, Hippo’s goal is to focus on providing products and services that modern homeowners need that will protect the joy of home ownership. In the episode, we talk about the obstacles that Hippo faces as a challenger brand in an industry with many heavy-hitters, some of which have seemingly bottomless advertising budgets, as well as the steps that the company has taken to overcome them. We also discuss how the company has leveraged technology, from smart home kits to satellite imagery to telemaintenance, to develop a more proactive approach to insurance.
Wed, October 06, 2021
Summer may have just ended, but I am already looking forward to snowy winter days. My latest guest on Hidden Layers, Josee Larocque, knows all about that feeling, having worked at Burton Snowboards for 22 years. Formerly Burton’s Senior Vice President of Operations, Larocque currently oversees the company’s digital transformation on its journey to becoming a consumer-centric, digital-first retailer. I sat down with Josee to talk about why Burton decided to make the transition from a wholesale business to also having a large direct-to-consumer business, and the challenges - and successes - that the company encountered along the way. We talk about the changes internally that Burton needed to make, from implementing new data management platforms to focusing on last mile delivery, as well as how the pandemic affected their plans for the future. We also may or may not have mentioned a certain Vermont senator’s viral inauguration get-up — listen to the podcast to find out!
Tue, September 21, 2021
In the United States, Nespresso is usually associated with high-quality coffee - not to mention those George Clooney ads. This week on Hidden Layers, I sat down with Justin DeGeorge, the Vice President of Marketing at Nespresso USA, to talk about how the company achieves its mission of providing the best coffee experiences to consumers in a sustainable way, as well as what Nespresso’s experiences over the past year have been like. As a largely D2C brand, Nespresso was well-equipped once the pandemic hit to keep people caffeinated in the comfort of their own homes. At the same time, the company had to think of ways to give people the kind of top-notch service they had come to expect without being able to interact with them in-person. As Justin points out, coffee-drinking is a sensory experience - so being able to replicate that at home required a lot of creative thinking, as well as a detailed understanding of what customers want from the brands they use. I also spoke with Justin about how the company uses data and machine learning to get a better understanding of its consumers and identify the kinds of experiences that will keep a customer loyal to the brand, as well as the importance of sustainability to Nespresso’s core mission.
Wed, July 28, 2021
On the latest episode of Hidden Layers, I sat down with Andrea Brimmer, the Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer of Ally Financial, to talk about how a bank that started in the worst days of the financial crisis would eventually become one of the largest financial institutions in the country, despite not having a single brick-and-mortar branch. The biggest struggle for any new company, let alone a financial services company, is acquiring customers. I spoke with Andrea about how Ally has used its digital savvy from the very beginning to raise awareness and drive people to digital experiences designed to make them convert, and how that process has evolved over the past twelve years to focus on incrementality. We also discussed the benefits of in-housing and owning your own data to make marketing processes more efficient and effective, as well as how Ally is utilizing new channels like Twitch to appeal towards younger audiences.
Tue, July 06, 2021
Since the company’s launch in 2011, HelloFresh has carved out a name for itself in the meal kit industry, offering its devoted user base fresh, delicious, and easy-to-make recipes shipped straight to their door. For the latest episode of Hidden Layers, I sat down with HelloFresh’s associate director of brand and creative marketing, Hayley Raymond, to talk about the role that the company and its products serve in the marketplace, the secret to HelloFresh’s lasting popularity, and what to expect from the brand in the future. I spoke with Hayley about how HelloFresh is able to foster brand loyalty and develop lasting relationships with consumers, from regular surveys to Facebook groups to interactions on social media. We also discussed how the company is able to use that data to develop new recipes, determine what product lines consumers want to see, and gain a deeper understanding of the journeys their customers undergo on their paths to becoming HelloFresh regulars.
Wed, June 23, 2021
What does buying a used car look like in the digital age? For Peter Scherr, CMO of Vroom, the answer lies not with the traditional dealership experience, but with a purchasing journey that takes place entirely online. On the latest edition of Hidden Layers, I sit down with Peter to discuss how his company has been able to take something nearly universally loathed - the car buying experience - and reinvent it to provide transparency, assurance and convenience to the consumer. We also talk about how Vroom uses data and AI to manage their inventory and ensure their vehicles are priced appropriately.
Tue, June 01, 2021
On the latest edition of Hidden Layers, I sat down with Monica Belsito, the CMO of LOLA, one of the most dynamic and exciting CPG brands on the market today. LOLA got its start in 2015 as a subscription service for tampons made with 100% organic cotton; since then, it has become a leader in the reproductive health space as well as a regular presence in brick-and-mortar stores. I spoke with Monica about the company’s journey from monthly subscription service to lifestyle brand dispensing everything from tampons to multivitamins to medical and expert advice, and how LOLA has built a dedicated community of women who are fully engaged in everything the company does. We also talked about how the company uses data to inform product development, provide value to retail partners, and acquire customers in a competitive market.
Tue, April 20, 2021
As a longtime super fan of Ardbeg whiskey, I was especially thrilled to sit down with Luis Freitas, the director of omnichannel and CRM at Moet Hennessy, for the latest edition of Hidden Layers. Moet Hennessy is home to many iconic brands, and I was excited to discuss the unique marketing challenges that the alcohol and spirits industry faces, as well as the innovative solutions the company has found to address those challenges. Because spirits companies are generally not allowed to sell directly to consumers, understanding the customer journey and how to influence it are key elements of Moet’s marketing strategy. I spoke with Luis about how the company is fostering direct relationships with its consumers, and the role that technologies such as artificial intelligence and dynamic creative optimization can play in that process. We also talked about the impact of the upcoming deprecation of third-party cookies and IDFA, and why it is important for companies to be taking steps now to safeguard their data and mitigate the fallout.
Wed, February 17, 2021
What happens when two of the oldest, most established legacy banks in the country merge their operations? After all, technologically speaking, even the most sophisticated companies often struggle when implementing another business’s tech stack into their organizations. I spoke with Karen Rogers-Robinson, Assistant Vice President and Digital Marketing Automation Platform Specialist for Truist Bank, about how Truist - the result of a merger between SunTrust and BB&T banks - has been able to make that transition, as well as the effect it has had on the new bank’s marketing endeavors. Over the course of this episode of Hidden Layers, Rogers-Robinson and I discuss the difficulties of integrating two established brands, particularly as it relates to customer interactions. Customers of one bank might be accustomed to a particular style of communication, while other customers might expect a more sophisticated, hands-on experience. However, as Rogers-Robinson notes, most people are comfortable at this point with using some kind of technology to manage their accounts, whether they are uploading checks via smartphone or researching mortgages from their laptops. We also touch upon what marketers should look for in an email marketing platform, as well as how Truist uses the tools at its disposal to map out the customer journey and better respond to its users’ needs.
Tue, January 26, 2021
If you have even a passing interest in ad tech or developments in the digital world, it is highly likely that at some point, you will have come across Allison Schiff’s work. As a senior editor for AdExchanger, Schiff covers mobile, Facebook, privacy, measurement, cross-device, and the app economy - all huge topics that have a profound impact on our daily lives. Many in our industry look to Schiff for her clear-eyed assessments of the latest news and trends, so it was truly a pleasure to sit down with her on the latest episode of Hidden Layers for a wide-ranging, thought-provoking discussion on all things marketing. We of course had to talk about the biggest development in digital advertising currently: the impending elimination of third-party cookies from web browsers, and whether advertisers will be able to successfully replace them with an alternative ID system or adopt a contextual model instead. As Schiff notes, “the cookie is definitely crumbling” as advertisers scramble to find alternatives and vendors selling so-called “cookieless solutions” jockey for attention. We also debate what effect the growing drive by publishers to take control over their first-party data will have for the way that digital advertising is conducted in the future, and whether this will reduce advertisers’ reliance on Google, Facebook, and the other big walled gardens. Of course, no episode of Hidden Layers would be complete without a mention of deep learning - and this one is no different, as Schiff and I discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming the industry.
Tue, January 12, 2021
For the most recent installment of Hidden Layers, I sat down for an enlightening discussion with Alex Kubo, the VP of E-Commerce and Digital Marketing for Burrow. Burrow is the furniture company that makes a couch that was named one of the top inventions of 2018 by Time magazine, and continues to make waves for its stylish designs and innovative supply chain capabilities. Over the course of the episode, we talk about how Burrow has been able to bring convenience to the luxury furniture industry by innovating its “less sexy” aspects such as the supply chain and delivery, all while taking a customer-centric view of furniture design and applying a data-first, analytics-first approach to the business. Kubo and I also discuss how companies should use machine learning within their organizations, why Facebook advertising needs to be monitored and used in very specific ways, and why marketers should worry less about high-tech solutions and make sure they understand the fundamentals of their brand and their customers.
Fri, December 11, 2020
On the latest episode of Hidden Layers, I was joined by Elizabeth Bennett, the VP of Global eCommerce for CPG giant Kraft Heinz. Prior to joining the company, Bennett spent 15 years at Amazon, where she focused on ecommerce growth and innovation so her perspective on how to sell CPG online was enlightening. The CPG space has been under particular scrutiny this pandemic, as brands and retailers have worked to reduce gaps in the supply chain and make it easier for consumers to do their grocery shopping online. I spoke with Bennett about how Kraft Heinz has risen to the challenge by increasing production while also transforming their online presence to ensure that the consumer “has everything they need for their journey”, from understanding what the product looks like on a plate to where it can be purchased. While the shift to online grocery shopping has put more pressure on retailers and CPG brands to offer a seamless digital experience, it has also given them the opportunity to learn more about their customers’ shopping habits and encourage brand loyalty. As Bennett noted in our conversation, in the CPG industry, “first party data is very powerful” because it allows the brand “to know consumer preferences” and anticipate future demand, as well as inform product development.
Tue, December 01, 2020
This week’s guest on Hidden Layers is Grant Farhall, the Chief Product Officer for Getty Images. As Chief Product Officer, Grant is responsible for developing Getty’s product strategy and vision, and he also oversees the company’s e-commerce platform, websites, user experiences, customer research along with the SEO strategy. Essentially, he does it all - and he somehow also finds time to do the play-by-play for the Calgary Roughnecks, the city’s official lacrosse team. We spoke about how Getty Images and its sister site, iStock, use data and deep learning to make it easier for clients to discover and use the brand’s powerful content to better connect with their audience. Farhall points out that Getty Images is by necessity a data-driven organization as it seeks to stay on top of trends in the types of content that customers look for and desire. The ability to leverage data is one key to the company’s success; it is what enables the company to show clients the content that is “most relevant and compelling” to what they search for. Of course, the other major factor that sets Getty apart is its exclusive access to events and occasions of all kinds, from sports to entertainment to news and beyond, which allows the company to generate a non-stop supply of engaging and often iconic imagery for its clients to use. To learn more about how Getty uses its content and technology to provide the best value for clients, as well as how the coronavirus has impacted the demand for images of people in suits, check out the latest episode of Hidden Layers, available here.
Thu, November 19, 2020
This week on Hidden Layers, I spoke with Huy Tran, Manager of Digital Planning for adidas, about data-driven marketing and the impact data has on the holistic media mix. Tran works closely with adidas’ wholesale partners to gather valuable insights on customers’ purchase behaviors, using deterministic data to inform messaging and ensure all branded content advertised through programmatic media and performance marketing channels remains consistent, innovative and brand-safe. In this episode, Tran and I discuss the recent shifts in consumer consumption and purchasing patterns as a result of COVID-19, and how marketers can best leverage AI and quality data assets to improve the efficacy of advertising. Tran sheds light on several key challenges in marketing, including “trying to understand how your consumer exists and engages with your brand on different channels” and how to “put fire on the flame” through paid media amplification. Subscribe to Hidden Layers to learn more on AI’s impact on marketing, and listen to our latest episode today: https://cognitiv.ai/deep-learning/#podcast-player
Wed, October 21, 2020
This week on Hidden Layers, I was joined by Deepak Jose, the Digital Business Strategy and Advanced Analytics Head for Mars, to discuss how the storied CPG company is using machine learning and data analytics to transform the company internally and better reach consumers. We dive into how Jose and the rest of the Mars’ analytics team are able to use artificial intelligence to solve business problems quickly and efficiently, as well as the various types of data needed to ensure top performance across all of Mars’ product offerings. We also spoke about the unique approach that Mars takes to digital innovation. Instead of focusing on one area at a time, Jose’s team works on many small experiments simultaneously, each one focusing on a specific business problem or product segment. Those that are successful can quickly be scaled globally, thus enabling each sector of the company to utilize AI-driven solutions to increase efficiency, maximize profit and optimize the value provided to customers.
Wed, October 07, 2020
This week on Hidden Layers, I sat down with Cory Berger, Grey Group’s Worldwide Chief Marketing Officer, to discuss the role data and technology play in the creative process and how the coronavirus has changed the way brands approach marketing. Grey Group is the renowned, much-awarded advertising and marketing agency that has offices in 96 countries and counts one-fifth of the Fortune 500 as clientele. Berger and I spoke about how the coronavirus has necessitated a change in approach for many brands, and how Grey Group has helped them craft messaging that reflects the world we currently live in. We also explore how Grey Group utilizes data and AI in its own business, from informing the creative process to helping brands maximize the value of AI to demonstrating value to clients such as Procter & Gamble and Volvo, and the role that Berger’s own daughter played in developing the #DistanceDanceChallenge.
Tue, August 25, 2020
This week on Hidden Layers, Disha Harjani, Shutterstock's Senior Director of Product Partnerships & Growth sits down with Jeremy to discuss how Shutterstock is investing in AI technologies to ensure high quality content is delivered to their users at scale to drive real results. They dive into Shutterstock's API integration with companies like Facebook, that enables content creators to stay within the platform to source imagery and access Shutterstock's advanced technology. Furthermore, we talk about how Shutterstock leverages AI technology to enable metadata tagging on imagery for easy discoverability. Harjani partners directly with companies such as Facebook, Google, IBM, Wix, Microsoft, and many more to provide their users with access to an extensive creative library of over 340 million assets. In fact, Shutterstock content is uploaded by one million contributors across one hundred countries.
Tue, August 11, 2020
This week on Hidden Layers, Alex Kuwada, FanDuel’s Senior Manager of Media and Demand Generation sits down with Jeremy to discuss the changing landscape of digital media, media’s impact on sports betting and how the world of sports booking is currently adapting to attract new customers in the time of COVID-19. FanDuel is the premiere gaming destination in the U.S. for betting across fantasy sports, sportsbook, racing and casino. Jeremy and Kuwanda dive into just how FanDuel was able to pivot away from key live sports cancellations such as March Madness, and bring focus into other core areas of the business to drive record setting performance. They also explore the importance of AI technology for automation and safety as well as the growing need for first party data integrations. Kuwada’s background in conceptual mathematics and programmatic strategy bring a nuanced perspective to performance marketing.
Wed, June 03, 2020
Jeremy Fain and Mark Fine of the Brooklyn Nets discuss AI
Wed, May 13, 2020
Jeremy Fain and Marina Suberlyak from Norwegian Air discuss AI and the airline industry
Mon, November 18, 2019
Karen Hao, MIT Technology Review talks about the Future of AI
Tue, October 01, 2019
John Hagel: The Collision of Technology and Marketing
Mon, September 09, 2019
David Brin and Jeremy Fain discuss Internet Security and AI
Tue, August 20, 2019
Jeremy Fain and Azher Ahmed discuss AI and Consumer Advertising
Fri, July 19, 2019
Jeremy Fain and Kristina Goldberg discuss AI and media buying
Thu, May 23, 2019
Jeremy Fain and Adexchanger's Zach Rodgers discuss AI and AdTech
Wed, April 10, 2019
Jeremy Fain and John Andrews discuss AI and retail
Wed, March 13, 2019
Jeremy Fain and Christopher Penn discuss AI and marketing technology
Wed, January 09, 2019
Jeremy Fain and Spiros Margaris discuss AI and blockchain
Mon, November 19, 2018
Jeremy Fain speaks to David Cox of IBM Watson for Advertising about Deep Learning
Thu, November 01, 2018
Jürgen Schmidhuber and Jeremy Fain discuss neural networks.
Thu, September 27, 2018
Jeremy Fain and Martin Ford discuss job automation and the future economy.
Mon, September 24, 2018
Jeremy Fain and John Havens discuss the ethics of AI
Mon, June 04, 2018
Marc Parrish and Jeremy Fain Discuss how Deep Learning is being applied to Marketing Automation
Mon, April 30, 2018
Jeremy Fain and Chris Cunningham discuss how AI and machine learning is being applied to the location based marketing idustry.
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