The Lunchtime Series with Kevin Britz is your go-to platform for inspiring, thought-provoking conversations about leadership, coaching, and marketing. Dedicated to adding value to people’s lives, Kevin dives deep into strategies, insights, and transformative ideas to empower individuals and organisations. Featuring global experts, real-world solutions, and engaging discussions, the series equips listeners with tools to thrive in a dynamic world. Discover how leadership, personal growth, and innovative marketing can drive success, all in one impactful lunchtime chat. www.kevinbritz.com
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June 1, 202627 min
The Death of the Campaign: Why Always-On Brand Thinking Is Replacing Traditional Marketing
In this episode of the LT Marketing & Leadership Show, Kevin Britz and marketing strategist Craig Page-Lee explore why traditional campaign-based marketing is losing effectiveness and why the world's most successful brands are adopting an always-on approach.Using real-world examples from Red Bull, Spotify and Oreo, the discussion unpacks how modern brands build long-term relevance by becoming part of consumers' daily lives rather than relying on short bursts of promotional activity. The conversation also examines the organisational, technological and leadership shifts required to support continuous engagement in an AI-driven world.✅ Why campaign thinking is becoming outdated✅ The difference between campaign marketing and always-on marketing✅ What Red Bull, Spotify and Oreo teach us about sustained brand growth✅ The role of AI in modern marketing✅ Why creativity remains a human advantage✅ The growing pressure on marketers to prove ROI✅ How organisations can build long-term brand equity✅ Why strategy should always come before tacticsWhether you're a business owner, marketer, leader or entrepreneur, this episode offers valuable insights into building brands that stay relevant, visible and trusted over time.🌐 Learn more about Leadership By Design: Leadership By Design👍 Like, subscribe and share if you found value in this discussion.#Leadership #MarketingStrategy #BrandBuilding #BusinessGrowth #Marketing #LeadershipDevelopment #DigitalMarketing #BrandStrategy #Entrepreneurship #AlwaysOnMarketingIn this episode:
May 14, 202629 min
Leadership Under Pressure – The Reality Facing First-Time Managers
🎙️ LT Marketing and Leadership ShowEpisode: Leadership Under Pressure – The Reality Facing First-Time ManagersIn this episode of the LT Marketing and Leadership Show, leadership coach Kevin Britz and Marketing and Communication Expert Craig Page-Lee unpack the growing pressures facing new managers and why leadership transitions fail more often than organisations are willing to admit. Using research and practical leadership insight, the discussion explores the first 90 days of leadership and the foundations that determine long-term success.Drawing from findings by Gartner, Centre for Creative Leadership, and Harvard Business Review, the episode reveals alarming statistics around management readiness, leadership burnout, and organisational support gaps. The conversation highlights how many first-time leaders are promoted based on technical performance rather than leadership capability, often entering management roles without training, coaching, or strategic guidance.Kevin and Craig explore the warning signs of struggling leadership, including declining team morale, reduced productivity, communication breakdowns, increasing employee turnover, and the avoidance of difficult conversations. The discussion reframes these issues not as isolated failures, but as symptoms of larger organisational systems that fail to prepare people for leadership responsibility.The episode focuses heavily on what successful managers do differently during the first 90 days. Key themes include:• Listening before making changes• Establishing predictable and trustworthy leadership behaviour• Building clarity around roles, priorities, and expectations• Creating healthy operating rhythms within teams• Developing strong relationships upward and across the organisation• Assessing teams honestly while supporting growth and developmentThe discussion also highlights the emotional reality of leadership, including stress, identity shifts, wellbeing, and the pressure new managers place on themselves to prove value too quickly. Kevin and Craig emphasise that sustainable leadership requires consistency, self-awareness, and the ability to build trust over time rather than chasing immediate authority.Additional topics explored include delegation, meaningful feedback, active listening, mentorship, leadership identity, diversity and inclusion, and the importance of protecting team wellbeing through healthy boundaries.The episode also touches on the relaunch of a redesigned leadership programme, increased business involvement in leadership development, and the importance of building stronger leadership cultures that connect organisational strategy with human performance.This conversation is essential listening for:• First-time managers• Team leaders• HR professionals• Entrepreneurs• Coaches and facilitators• Organisations developing future leadership pipelinesUltimately, this episode challenges the outdated belief that leadership is simply about authority or expertise. Instead, it positions leadership as a behavioural discipline built through trust, communication, consistency, and the ability to grow other people effectively.As the conversation closes, Kevin and Craig prepare listeners for the next phase of the leadership journey — months four to six — where expectations intensify, the grace period fades, and the deeper tests of leadership begin.
May 6, 202633 min
The First Year Decoded: Why New Managers Succeed or Fail
🎙️ LT Marketing and Leadership ShowEpisode: The First Year Decoded – Why New Managers Succeed or FailIn this episode of the LT Marketing and Leadership Show, leadership coach Kevin Britz is joined by Marketing and Communication Expert Craig Page-Lee for a powerful conversation exploring the realities facing first-time managers in today’s workplace.Building on their previous discussion around the “New Manager Guide – The Insight You Need to Succeed,” this episode takes a deeper look into what research reveals about leadership transitions, management failure, and the critical first 90 days of leadership.Drawing insights from Gartner, Wharton Executive Education, Centre for Creative Leadership, and Harvard Business Review, the discussion highlights a sobering reality: many new managers are promoted without the training, support, or preparation needed to lead effectively.Kevin and Craig unpack statistics showing:• 60% of new managers fail within their first 24 months• 75% of HR leaders believe managers are overwhelmed• Many first-time managers receive no formal management trainingThe episode explores how leadership failure shows up through declining morale, rising employee turnover, communication breakdowns, confusion around expectations, and the avoidance of difficult conversations.A major focus centres on the first 90 days in leadership — the phase most predictive of long-term success or failure. Kevin and Craig unpack the behaviours successful managers consistently demonstrate during this period, including:• Listening before acting• Building trust through consistency• Creating clarity around roles and expectations• Developing strong relationships with teams and senior leaders• Building healthy communication rhythms• Encouraging feedback and self-awarenessThe conversation also explores:• Delegation and leadership growth• Meaningful feedback• Active listening• Mentorship and coaching• Diversity, equity, and inclusion• Wellbeing, stress, and burnout in leadershipThroughout the episode, Kevin and Craig challenge the outdated belief that leadership is simply about authority or technical skill. Instead, they position leadership as a behavioural and human-centred discipline built on trust, communication, and intentional growth.This episode is essential listening for first-time managers, team leaders, HR professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone wanting to understand what effective leadership truly looks like in modern organisations.As the episode closes, the conversation sets up the next phase of the leadership journey — months four to six — where expectations intensify, the grace period fades, and the real tests of leadership begin.🎧 Quote of the Day:“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” — Simon Sinek
April 23, 202632 min
Brands At the Crossroads: From Burnout to Authentic Growth
LTS – Kevin and Craig | At the Crossroads: From Burnout to Authentic GrowthThis episode of the Lunchtime Series (LTS) with Kevin Britz and Craig Page-Lee explores the tension between operational burnout and strategic growth, offering a grounded and commercially relevant perspective on modern marketing and leadership. The conversation opens with a candid reflection on the strain caused by an ongoing client project that has demanded extensive time and energy with little financial return. Long hours, ongoing disagreements around scope, and a lack of accountability from stakeholders have created a sense of frustration that is both personal and professional.This operational pressure highlights a broader business challenge: when teams are consumed by delivery, they lose the capacity to focus on innovation, new business, and long-term growth. The scheduled in-person meeting at FNB’s 5 Merchant Place represents a critical step toward resolving these tensions and regaining control over priorities. It signals a shift from reactive work toward more intentional, value-driven efforts that can support sustainable progress.Building on this foundation, the conversation transitions into the core theme of authentic inclusion in marketing. Craig reframes inclusive marketing as more than representation in advertising. Instead, it is defined as a holistic business approach where products, messaging, culture, and leadership reflect and serve the full diversity of the market. This perspective moves inclusion away from a compliance mindset and positions it as a strategic growth driver.A key distinction is made between authentic and performative inclusion. Performative inclusion is described as surface-level and often inconsistent, such as campaigns that showcase diversity without internal alignment or long-term commitment. Authentic inclusion, by contrast, is embedded within the organisation. It influences product design, decision-making, and organisational structure, ensuring that inclusion is not a moment but a consistent practice.The discussion emphasises that consumers are increasingly aware of this difference. Audiences are actively assessing whether brands live their stated values, often looking beyond campaigns to examine leadership, internal culture, and sustained actions. Brands that fail to align internally risk losing credibility, while those that commit to authenticity build stronger, more trusted relationships.Importantly, the episode frames inclusion as a commercial opportunity. Underserved markets represent significant economic potential, and brands that genuinely engage these audiences can unlock new growth. This requires a shift in thinking — from viewing inclusion as an obligation to recognising it as a competitive advantage.To support this, a practical four-step framework is outlined. First, brands must audit their internal reality to ensure alignment between messaging and practice. Second, they must identify clear commercial opportunities within inclusion. Third, they need to lead with conviction, avoiding ambiguity in their values. Finally, inclusion must be measured as a business metric, with clear targets and accountability.The conversation also highlights the importance of representation behind the scenes. Authentic inclusion extends beyond visible campaigns to include who is making decisions and shaping the brand. As scrutiny increases, this internal alignment becomes essential for credibility.Ultimately, this episode positions businesses at a crossroads. One path leads to performative actions that may create short-term visibility but weaken trust. The other leads to authentic inclusion, which requires commitment but delivers long-term growth, loyalty, and relevance.
April 23, 202629 min
Evidence Supporting Inclusive Marketing
The Lunchtime Series, hosted by Kevin Britz and Craig Page-Lee continues to evolve as a sharp, real-time lens on the intersection of marketing, business pressure, and commercial growth. In this 245th episode, the conversation moves beyond theory into the tension most founders and operators feel daily: balancing overwhelming operational workload with the urgent need to build sustainable revenue streams. Against a backdrop of eighteen-hour workdays and high-pressure campaign delivery, the discussion grounds itself in a critical question — what actually drives growth when time, energy, and focus are stretched to their limits?A key thread running through the episode is the cost of operational overload. Campaign demands have consumed capacity to the point where new business development, innovation, and strategic thinking have been sidelined. Both Kevin and Craig acknowledge a shared frustration: the work they enjoy — building, creating, and shaping meaningful projects like the upcoming TV concept — is being crowded out by execution-heavy demands. This creates not just fatigue, but strategic risk. Without carving out space to focus on new revenue and scalable ideas, the business becomes trapped in a cycle of delivery without growth.From this very real operational pressure, the conversation pivots into a much broader commercial theme: **inclusive marketing as a growth engine**, not a moral checkbox. Drawing on insights from Kantar’s Marketing Trends 2026 report, the discussion reframes inclusive marketing as **“expansive marketing”** — a deliberate strategy to reach underserved, high-growth audiences. This is a critical distinction. Inclusion is not positioned as compliance or virtue signaling, but as a direct pathway to revenue, brand strength, and long-term relevance.The data is unambiguous. Global consumer demand for brands that actively promote diversity continues to rise, with 65% of consumers valuing inclusive companies. More importantly, the economic power of underrepresented groups is vast — from trillions in spending across LGBTQ+, disabled, and multicultural communities. The implication is clear: brands that fail to engage these audiences meaningfully are not just missing a cultural moment; they are leaving significant revenue on the table.The episode reinforces this with powerful case studies. Mattel’s transformation of Barbie demonstrates how embedding inclusion into product and brand strategy can unlock sustained growth, long before cultural moments like the 2023 film amplify it. Dove’s Real Beauty campaign stands as one of the most commercially successful long-term examples, doubling revenue while reshaping brand perception globally. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller shows how inclusive design at a product level can drive both innovation and purchase intent across all audiences — not just those directly represented.However, the conversation does not ignore the current backlash against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Several major corporations have scaled back initiatives under political and legal pressure, but the commercial consequences have been severe. The example of Target is particularly stark: retreating from inclusion efforts resulted in immediate consumer backlash, reduced foot traffic, and billions lost in market value. The lesson is blunt — abandoning values does not win back critics, but it does erode trust among loyal customers.This leads to one of the most important strategic insights from the episode: brands cannot afford to be inconsistent in their values. In a polarized environment, attempting to please everyone often results in losing everyone. The brands that succeed are those that remain clear, consistent, and committed — even when external pressure mounts.
April 1, 202624 min
The Death of Polished Content: Why Raw, Human Marketing Is Winning in 2026
In this powerful episode of The Lunchtime Series, Kevin Britz and Craig Paige unpack a major shift happening in marketing right now — the decline of polished, AI-generated content and the explosive rise of raw, human-centered storytelling.As audiences become more aware of the “AI content flood,” trust in overly polished content is rapidly declining. In fact, research shows that consumers are significantly less likely to engage with or buy from brands that rely heavily on AI-generated messaging.So what’s replacing it?👉 Authenticity. Imperfection. Real human connection.Kevin and Craig explore:Why “perfect” content is losing its edgeThe trust crisis facing modern brandsHow raw, unfiltered content is outperforming polished campaignsWhy founder-led and employee-generated content is becoming the most powerful marketing strategy todayAnd what brands must do right now to stay relevant in an AI-saturated worldThey also break down real-world examples — including how Duolingo exploded its growth using raw content, and why even global brands like Coca-Cola are struggling to balance AI with authenticity.If you’re a leader, marketer, entrepreneur, or content creator — this episode will challenge how you think about trust, connection, and influence in the digital age.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Opening: Real talk on stress, workload & behind-the-scenes reality05:24 – Challenges working with creatives & outsourcing decisions06:21 – Welcome to The Lunchtime Series + episode context07:18 – Brand purpose recap: Patagonia vs Bud Light08:27 – The real reason polished content is declining (AI saturation)09:40 – The “trust penalty” of AI-generated content11:59 – Why labeling AI content doesn’t fix the problem13:13 – Trust as the #1 driver of brand engagement14:07 – The growing authenticity gap in digital content15:24 – Coca-Cola AI ad backlash: “soulless content”17:37 – What is raw, human-centered content?18:42 – Data: Why raw content outperforms polished by 56%22:00 – Employee-generated content & why it works (8x engagement)24:32 – Duolingo case study: raw content = massive growth25:35 – From 37M to 116M users: what they did differently27:13 – Founder-led marketing as a trust signal28:23 – What’s next: the danger of fake authenticity🎤 Hosts & Guest DetailsHost:Kevin BritzExecutive Coach | Speaker | AuthorCreator of Contagious Identity & SHIFT FrameworkHost of The Lunchtime SeriesSpecialist in leadership, human behavior, and performanceCo-Host:Craig PaigeMarketing strategist & brand specialistFocused on modern content strategy, brand positioning, and digital engagementGuest:No external guest — expert co-host conversation episode🔥 Key Themes / TakeawaysAI is creating content saturation — not connectionTrust is now the currency of modern marketing“Real beats perfect” — every timeEmployees and founders are becoming the new influencersBrands must shift from broadcasting → relating📲 Hashtags#TheLunchtimeSeries #KevinBritz #MarketingStrategy #ContentMarketing #AIContent #Authenticity #BrandTrust #FounderLedMarketing #HumanFirst #DigitalMarketing #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #SocialMediaStrategy #ContentCreation #SHIFTFramework #ContagiousIdentity
March 18, 202636 min
Brand Purpose Is a Business Strategy — Not a Marketing Campaign
Here's the full YouTube package for this episode:Brand Purpose Is a Business Strategy — Not a Marketing Campaign | The Leadership TimesMost brands think brand purpose is a tagline. Bud Light thought so too — until they lost their throne as America's #1 beer overnight.In this episode of The Leadership Times, Kevin Britz and Craig Page-Lee break down what brand purpose actually is, why consumers can smell a fake from a mile away, and what leaders need to understand before their next brand decision costs them everything.In this episode:Why 88% of Americans buy from brands that align with their values — but price still winsThe Patagonia playbook: how radical authenticity quadrupled revenueThe Bud Light catastrophe: what really killed the brand (hint: it wasn't the can)The 3 brand purpose failure modes every leader must avoidWhy Gen Z will make or break your brand in the next decadeHow AI augmentation either strengthens or destroys human brand connectionWhether you're a CMO, HR Director, or executive leader — brand purpose is no longer a marketing problem. It's a leadership problem.🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, brand, and the future of work.#BrandPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment #BudLight #Patagonia #MarketingStrategy #ExecutiveLeadership #TheLeadershipTimes #LeadershipByDesign #AIAndLeadership #BrandAuthenticity #GenZ #PurposeDrivenBusiness #ConsumerBehaviour #CMO #HRLeadership #FutureOfWork #BrandStrategy #BusinessLeadership #SouthAfricanBusiness #PodcastEpisode
March 5, 202630 min
Consumers Want HUMANS, Not Chatbots — The AI Customer Service Trust Crisis
🎙️ LT Marketing & Leadership Show — Episode 240📅 Wednesday, 03 March 2026Consumers want HUMANS, not chatbots. In this milestone 240th episode, we deep-dive into the growing consumer backlash against AI-only customer service — one of the biggest CX trends of 2026. Building on last week's CX Dive "Outlook 2026" report, we unpack why nearly half of consumers say not reaching a real person is their No. 1 AI concern, and what marketers, CX leaders, and business owners must do about it. We also share a practical 5-Point Action Framework for any business rethinking its service strategy.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 – Intro & Welcome (Episode 240 milestone!)1:30 – CX Dive "Outlook 2026" report recap3:00 – Trend 2: Erosion of human customer service4:30 – AI self-service failures: 1 in 5 say zero benefit6:00 – Why this is a trust crisis, not just a tech problem9:00 – 5 Key Facts: The scale of consumer-AI misalignment13:00 – Implementation speed vs. integration depth15:00 – "Self-service mazes" shifting effort onto customers17:00 – The strategic opportunity inside consumer frustration19:00 – Brand spotlight: Nordstrom's "Human-Plus" model21:30 – South African context: Human8 & Zoho studies24:00 – Why this applies to EVERY business, including SMEs26:30 – Legislative trends: US & EU "Right to Talk to a Human"28:30 – 2026: The year of "AI plus humans"30:00 – Why this isn't an anti-AI argument31:30 – Design principles for blending AI with human warmth34:00 – 5-Point Action Framework for CX Leaders40:00 – Quote of the Day & Close📊 KEY STATS→ 79% of Americans prefer a human over AI in service (SurveyMonkey, 2025)→ 64% wish organisations didn't use AI for service at all (Gartner, 2025)→ 41% say service got WORSE due to AI (Kinsta, 2025)→ 81% believe AI is used to cut costs, not improve experience (SurveyMonkey, 2025)→ 4 in 5 consumers stay more loyal to brands prioritising human service (Ricoh, 2025)→ 62% of South Africans worry the human touch will be lost (Human8, 2026)🔑 5-POINT ACTION FRAMEWORK1. Map Your Emotional Moments — protect high-stakes interactions for humans2. Make Human Access Obvious — don't bury "speak to a human" five menus deep3. Design Seamless Handoffs — agents must receive full context from AI4. Invest in Your Human Agents — empathy training, empowerment, support5. Communicate Your Human Commitment — make it a marketing differentiator📚 KEY SOURCES: CX Dive (Jan 2026), SurveyMonkey/Momentive (Dec 2025), Qualtrics XM Institute, Ricoh (Oct 2025), Gartner, Kinsta, Deloitte, UJET, AmplifAI, Apizee, LiveOps, eMarketer, PwC, Human8, Zoho💬 Have you been stuck in a "self-service maze"? Share your experience in the comments!👍 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE — we're 10 episodes away from 250!🔔 Turn on notifications to catch every new episode.#CustomerExperience #CX2026 #AIvsHuman #CustomerService #MarketingStrategy #Leadership #HumanConnection #CXTrends #LTMarketingShow
February 25, 202627 min
Cross-Generational Marketing Strategy
In this part two segment of the Lunchtime Series, Kevin Britz and Craig Page-Lee dive deep into the essential cross-generational marketing strategy tips marketers must adopt to effectively engage with a multigenerational workforce. They discuss how to move beyond basic channel awareness to implementing strategies focused on personalization, authenticity, and data-driven intentionality. Learn the seven core tips for success, the importance of the CMO/CIO partnership, and why "mobile-first" is no longer optional.Remember to like and share and help us grow our channel!-----Timestamps00:04:15: Introduction: Welcome to the Marketing, Leadership & Coaching segment00:05:08: Framing the Discussion: Do marketers truly understand how to adapt messages across multiple channels for different generations?00:07:24: Quick Recap: Key communication channels for Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha00:08:41: Tip 1: Adopt an Omni-Channel Approach (Effective campaigns integrate across all channels for higher engagement)00:11:21: Tip 2: Personalize Based on Generational Values (Adapting the core message to resonate with different audiences)00:12:33: Tip 3: Test and Optimize Continuously (Monitoring engagement metrics and adjusting based on real performance data)00:14:00: Tip 4: Authenticity Matters Across All Generations (Trust is the underlying currency)00:16:20: Tip 5: Mobile First is Universal (All content must be mobile-optimized, as mobile website usage has overtaken desktop)00:18:48: Tip 6: Purpose-Driven Messaging Resonates Broadly (It is a strategic growth asset across all generations)00:21:26: Tip 7: Combine Broad Guidelines with Individual Behavior Data (Generational insights are guidelines, not absolute rules)00:23:56: The Strategic Importance of the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Partnership00:26:38: Final Summary: Embracing the multigenerational marketplace strategicallyHost: Kevin Britzhttps://www.leadershipbydesign.co/Guest: Craig Page-Lee
February 17, 202635 min
The Multigenerational Workforce Advantage - workplace realities shaping 2026
In this episode, Kevin Britz is joined by leadership and marketing specialist Craig Page-Lee for a deep, timely conversation on one of the most important workplace realities shaping 2026 and beyond:👉 The Multigenerational Workforce Advantage.For the first time in modern history, six generations are working side by side — from the Silent Generation through to Generation Alpha — fundamentally reshaping leadership, culture, innovation, and organisational performance.This episode sets the context, data, and generational landscape, laying the foundation for next week’s episode where Kevin and Craig unpack practical leadership strategies for turning generational diversity into competitive advantage.⏱ Episode Chapters & Timestamps00:00 Welcome to The Lunchtime Series00:11 Purpose of the show & why leadership conversations matter00:23 Craig Page-Lee joins the conversation00:58 Energy of 2026 & new opportunities ahead01:34 Recap: 7 workplace trends shaping 202602:28 AI, leadership evolution & flexible work realities03:07 Burnout, engagement & wellbeing as strategy03:31 Culture as competitive advantage04:07 Why multigenerational teams matter now04:56 First time in modern history: six generations at work05:17 Structure of the two-part series06:16 Silent Generation — experience, wisdom & continuity06:46 Baby Boomers — leadership, work ethic & succession07:01 Gen X — the bridge generation taking over leadership07:17 Millennials — transformation drivers & purpose-led work07:36 Gen Z — values, authenticity & rapid change08:05 Generation Alpha — AI natives entering the workforce09:03 Real-world challenges of managing Gen Z & Alpha10:00 Why six generations now coexist at work11:05 Workforce stats & generational percentages12:21 What each generation brings to the workplace13:50 Baby Boomers: adaptability & purpose18:03 Gen X leadership strengths & transition power21:08 Millennials reshaping work expectations24:36 Gen Z values, purpose & wellbeing focus29:36 Generation Alpha: AI, entrepreneurship & future skills34:31 What this means for leadership in the next 10–20 years34:49 What’s coming next week35:04 Quote of the episode💬 Quote of the episode:“If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.” — General George S. Patton👍 If this episode added value, like, share, and subscribe to The Lunchtime Series.Your support helps us grow the channel and continue delivering relevant, future-focused leadership conversations.🔔 New episodes weeklyLeadership | Coaching | Marketing | Culture | Human Intelligence
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