Spikes Excitement Talks

Spikes Excitement Talk #188 with Marketa Kristlova

Marketa Kristlova, Marketing Manager for Healthy Biscuits at Mondelēz International, joins Sandra Peat for a conversation about creativity, ambiguity, agility and what it really takes to build relevant brands today. From discovering marketing “by accident” to leading major brand turnarounds at Mondelēz and Müller UK & Ireland, Marketa shares why she’s most energized by undefined challenges, future thinking and creating work that delivers a win for brands, business and society alike. Tune in for insights on career pivots, inclusive innovation, creativity inside large corporations and to find out why marketers need space to think, not just sprint.

Spikes Excitement Talk #187 with Dicla Veliz Salce

Dicla Veliz Salce, Global Brand Director for IO Women’s Cancer at AstraZeneca, joins Gordon for a deeply thoughtful conversation about purpose, oncology, behavioral science and why innovation only matters when it changes real lives. From starting in pharma sales “by accident” in Mexico to shaping global oncology strategy, Dicla shares how understanding human behavior has become just as important as understanding science.  Tune in for a conversation that explores the future of cancer care, the meaning of well-being and why marketing must move beyond products to truly understand human experience.

Spikes Excitement Talk #186 with Matthew Leppanen

Matthew Leppanen, Director of Marketing Enablement & Partnerships at Bell, joins Gordon for a conversation about AI, transformation, leadership and why the biggest career opportunities often live in the undefined spaces. From the rise of mobile internet to today’s AI boom, Matthew shares what makes this technological shift different  and why leaders should actively “fill the gaps” instead of waiting for permission.  Tune in to know more about mentorship, career growth, risk-taking and the lasting impact of leadership.

Spikes Excitement Talk #185 with Julie Jackson-Jones

Julie Jackson-Jones is Director of Marketing CRM Loyalty & Analytics at EssilorLuxottica, where she works across more than 25 brands shaping customer experience, loyalty and patient journeys. Before that, she built her career across industries including luxury fashion, music, logistics and retail with roles at Bulgari, Robert Graham Designs and more. Her unconventional path — from selling subscriptions door-to-door in New York during the financial crisis to leading CRM strategy for global luxury brands — has given her a uniquely human lens on marketing, leadership and customer behaviour. Julie shares why loyalty is ultimately about belonging, how shame and desire shape consumer behaviour and why the future belongs to marketers who deeply understand human psychology. The conversation moves from career setbacks and imposter syndrome to vulnerability in leadership, emotional intelligence in CRM and embracing uncertainty in a rapidly changing world. Tune in for a deep dive into customer psychology, career reinvention and why the strongest brands are built one human interaction at a time.

Spikes Excitement Talk #184 with Tara King

In this epsiode, Tara King, Senior Director of North America Brand & Portfolio Strategy for Bombay Sapphire at Bacardi, talks about the course of her career and how she has helped shape globally recognised beverage brands across Diageo, Vita Coco and Richmond Marketing — building brands through cultural relevance, emotional resonance and instinct-led strategy. Originally from Ireland and now based in the US, Tara brings a uniquely human perspective to modern marketing: one rooted less in noise and more in meaning. She explores how brands can earn relevance not through louder messaging but through culture, moments and human insight. From moving to New York with no job and no visa, to shaping award-winning campaigns in the spirits industry, she shares her perspective on leadership, creativity, AI and the future of brand building. Tune in for a conversation about instinct, cultural fluency, emotional relevance and why the future of marketing belongs to brands that create meaning.