Climb Show

Hosted by Ritchie & Mark

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

252

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

Welcome to Climb Show hosted by two of the most prominent names in marketing, Mark Evans, the MD of Marketing at Direct Line Group and Chairman of the School of Marketing and Ritchie Mehta, the CEO of the School of Marketing. Expect weekly insights into the marketing space and what it takes to make a name for yourself in such a competitive industry, from leading Chief Marketing Officers, Marketing Directors and Chief Executive Officers.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 24, 202656 min

The Future of Search Is NOT Google: Max Sinclair on AEO, AI Agents & What’s Coming Next

AI is changing the way we search, shop, work and make decisions and according to Max Sinclair, we’re only at the beginning. In this episode, we sit down with Max Sinclair, Founder & CEO of Azoma, an AI search and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) agency working with some of the world’s biggest brands, including Mars, Colgate, P&G, Reckitt, Unilever and Zappos. Max breaks down what comes after traditional SEO, why brands need to start thinking about AEO, and how AI agents could completely change the way consumers discover and buy products. We also get into the bigger questions around agentic AI from personalised health and education to AI-powered shopping, wearable AI, self-driving cars and the future of work.

August 14, 202644 min

Stop Following the Playbook: How to Become a Better Marketer | Lauren Berkemeyer

In this episode, we’re joined by Lauren Berkeymeyer, Chief Marketing Officer at u life, for a candid conversation about unconventional careers, hustling, taking risks, building from scratch and thinking beyond the traditional marketing playbook. Lauren describes herself as a “non-boxy CMO” someone who thrives on unpredictability, experimentation and carving her own path rather than simply following a prescribed playbook. We talk about what hustling really means in marketing, why marketers need to get out into the field and experience rejection, how to identify your North Star, and why understanding the entire business, not just your marketing function makes you a better marketer.

August 7, 202645 min

The Career Advice Every 20 & 30-Something Needs to Hear (From a Global Marketing Leader)

From teaching pottery in South India to leading Global Insights, Planning & Brand Strategy at Standard Chartered, Tim Hulbert has had one of the most unconventional careers you’ll ever hear about. In this episode, Tim shares how curiosity, saying “yes” to opportunities, and embracing uncertainty shaped a career that spans television, digital publishing, Fortune 500 companies, and global banking. We dive into the future of careers, AI, leadership, marketing, stakeholder management, wealth psychology, luck vs hard work, and why the best career advice might simply be: “Just do something."

July 31, 202641 min

How L’Oréal Uses AI to Transform Marketing Effectiveness | Global Marketing Leaders Reveal All

In this episode, we sit down with Vasileios Kourakis, Global Marketing Effectiveness Director at L’Oréal, and Camille Erard, Luxury & Beauty Partner at Ekimetrics, to unpack how one of the world’s biggest beauty companies is transforming marketing through AI, advanced measurement and data-driven decision making. From building a culture of marketing effectiveness to scaling AI across global teams, this conversation explores how leading brands move beyond dashboards and reporting to create real business impact.

July 23, 202656 min

Why Hard Work Alone Isn’t Enough Anymore | Mike Soutar

What does it take to lead in an AI-first world? In this episode, Mike Soutar, former The Apprentice advisor, entrepreneur, and author of Next Gen CEO shares the leadership frameworks every modern leader needs.

July 16, 202647 min

How Top CMOs Think in 2026 (AI, Leadership & Marketing Strategy)

Marketing is changing faster than ever. AI is reshaping the industry, customer behavior is evolving, and marketers are being asked to do more with less. So what does it actually take to lead marketing in 2026? In this episode, we’re joined by Sarah Fuller, Chief Marketing Officer at The AA, whose career spans some of the UK’s most iconic brands including Procter & Gamble, Nando’s, British Airways, John Lewis, and more. Sarah shares practical lessons on leading high-performing marketing teams, building brands that customers genuinely trust, using AI without losing creativity, and why curiosity remains the most valuable skill any marketer can develop. Whether you’re a CMO, marketing leader, founder, agency owner, or aspiring marketer, this conversation is packed with actionable insights you can apply immediately.

July 9, 202651 min

Why Most Marketers Will Struggle with AI (And How to Stay Ahead) | Tamara Rogers

This week, we’re joined by Tamara Rogers, former Chief Marketing Officer at Haleon and former Unilever marketing leader, for a masterclass on modern marketing, leadership, AI, consumer insights and building billion-dollar brands. After spending 25 years at Unilever and helping build Haleon into one of the world’s largest consumer health companies, Tamara shares what it really takes to build brands that consumers trust, how global marketing is evolving, why critical thinking matters more than ever in the AI era, and the leadership principles behind high-performing teams. Whether you’re a marketer, founder, business leader or simply curious about the future of branding, this episode is packed with practical insights.

July 2, 202639 min

How to get your dream job

In this episode, we sit down with Kate Gandhi, VP of Marketing at Bally’s Interactive, to unpack the twists, setbacks, and pivotal moments that shaped her career. From being rejected by her dream graduate scheme at Diageo to building an international career across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, startups, and global brands, Kate shares the lessons she’s learned about leadership, confidence, career growth, and navigating uncertainty.

June 26, 202653 min

Why Great Brands Win (And Weak Brands Get Exposed by AI) | Nick Emmel

What happens when AI stops listening to what brands say… and starts revealing what they actually are? In this episode, we sit down with Nick Emmel, Founder of Mr. President, one of the UK’s most distinctive creative agencies, to unpack why most brands are built backwards and what it really takes to create brands people believe in. From Ryanair and Apple to Vodafone and Metro Bank, Nick shares why brand isn’t advertising, identity or a campaign, it’s the total experience.

June 22, 202639 min

She Applied to 200 Jobs Before Landing EasyJet - Jessica Houston

From sending 200 job applications to leading Marketing Strategy & Operations across EMEA at EasyJet, Jessica Houston’s career journey is a masterclass in resilience, networking, growth and building a career with intention. In this episode, Jess opens up about: - Breaking into consumer marketing - Building relationships that create opportunities - Navigating restructures and uncertainty - Why marketing operations deserves more attention - How AI is changing the future of work - Burnout, boundaries and redefining success - Mentoring, leadership and continuous learning