TRENDSETTERS

Hosted by Deborah Malone

Business

Website RSS feed

Episodes

159

Latest episode

Sep 2026

Language

About the show

TRENDSETTERS lives at the heart of the Internationalist mission as it spotlights a person and an idea in international marketing. Over the last decade, we have amassed hundreds of profiles of extraordinary individuals and their groundbreaking work on our website. We’ve learned that there’s interest in hearing the voices of these marketers directly, which has now given life to our TRENDSETTERS podcast series.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 9, 202627 min

Patrick McLean: Highway Hospitality and the Next Stage of Growth

What does marketing add to a highly successful company after more than six decades of growth? Patrick McLean, the first Chief Marketing Officer of Love’s Travel Stops, joins Deborah Malone to discuss how one of America’s largest family-owned businesses is approaching its next stage of growth. He shares why marketing is becoming increasingly important as Love’s looks beyond physical expansion to generate greater demand and customer preference across its nearly 700 locations—and why the company's longstanding idea of “highway hospitality” sits at the heart of that opportunity. McLean also reflects on the power of turning a “happy coincidence” into deliberate preference and the surprisingly simple marketing truth he's carried across industries: people want to be treated like human beings.

September 1, 202618 min

International Marketing Debt: The Hidden Cost of Global Brand Drift

Small decisions can have big consequences when they accumulate across markets, channels and campaigns. Kevin Freedman, Founder & CEO of Freedman International, calls this “international marketing debt”—the gradual brand drift that can occur as global marketing becomes more complex. He talks with Deborah Malone about AI and “shadow AI,” the growing tension between speed and control, and why strategy, human judgment and strong global implementation matter more as brands gain the ability to create and adapt at unprecedented scale.

August 23, 202623 min

Cause Marketing Grows Up: From Campaign to Collaboration with Mollye Rhea

Cause marketing has been around for decades, but it's changing in some fascinating ways. What was once largely viewed as fundraising has evolved into something much broader—bringing together marketing, communications, corporate leadership, employees and nonprofit partners to create long-term relationships that benefit everyone involved. As companies increasingly look for ways to engage employees, strengthen their brands and make a meaningful contribution, the best partnerships are becoming more strategic than ever. Those themes emerged repeatedly in Mollye's latest research and in our conversation. Joining me today is Mollye Rhea, Founder and President of For Momentum and one of the leading voices in cause marketing. Her new Best in Class Cause Campaigns research draws on the experiences of more than 100 seasoned nonprofit practitioners to identify what's working today—and what it tells us about where cause marketing is headed.

August 12, 202642 min

Scott Goodson: From Purpose to Participation. Building Brands People Want to Join.

What happens when a brand stops simply communicating what it stands for—and gives people something they genuinely want to join? Deborah Malone talks with Scott Goodson, Founder and Chairman of StrawberryFrog and creator of Movement Thinking, about the shift from purpose to participation—and why it matters even more in an age of AI, abundant content, and harder-to-earn attention. Drawing on more than three decades of experience, Scott Goodson explores why purpose often stalls inside organizations, how movements turn ideas into action, and why the brands that matter most may be those that create something people can believe in, participate in, and help build.

July 19, 202611 min

Mike Nelson: The Delicate Art of Brand Evolution

How do iconic brands remain relevant without losing the authenticity that made people care in the first place? In this episode of Trendsetters, Deborah Malone speaks with Mike Nelson, Vice President of Marketing at Martin Guitar, about one of marketing's most difficult leadership challenges: balancing heritage with innovation. Mike explains why purpose—not nostalgia—should guide brand evolution, how Martin defines "accessible luxury," and why craftsmanship, emotional connection, and consistency matter more than ever in an era of constant change. Whether you manage a heritage brand or a fast-growing startup, this conversation offers practical insights into building brands that evolve while remaining true to what matters most.

July 7, 202625 min

Jared Belsky: Why Marketing's Best Days May Still Be Ahead

Today, I'm joined by Jared Belsky, CEO and Co-Founder of Acadia, former CEO of 360i, and author of You Get the Agency You Deserve. Jared recently made headlines by returning media rebates directly to clients—a decision that sparked an important conversation about trust and transparency in the agency business. But as you'll hear, that's really just the starting point. Our discussion explores why collaboration may be replacing consolidation, why marketers are rarely taught how to become great clients, and why Jared believes that—despite all the disruption—this may actually be the most exciting time ever to build a career in marketing.It's an optimistic conversatio

June 29, 202618 min

Alexander Augustesen Discusses The Missing Layer in Modern Marketing

As brands invest heavily in creative excellence and AI-powered content creation, a new challenge is emerging: how do great ideas survive the journey from headquarters to market? In this episode of Trendsetter, Deborah Malone speaks with Alexander Augustesen, CEO and Co-Founder of Zuuvi, about what he calls "creative infrastructure"—the systems and processes that connect brand strategy to market execution.

June 5, 202635 min

Costas Papaikonomou, The Grumpy Innovator: Why Good Ideas Don't Always Win

Innovation is one of the most celebrated—and misunderstood—concepts in business. In this episode, Deborah Malone speaks with Costas Papaikonomou, product innovation veteran, entrepreneur, investor, and author of The Grumpy Innovator series and The Disruption Fallacy. Drawing on decades of experience helping global companies create new products and growth opportunities, Costas challenges conventional thinking about disruption, innovation, and progress. Together, they explore why good ideas often fail, why weaker ideas survive, and why the most valuable opportunities are sometimes hiding in plain sight.

May 5, 202627 min

Danone’s MK Woltz: When Media Becomes the Marketplace ...

In this episode of Trendsetters, Deborah Malone speaks with Mary Katherine “MK” Woltz of Danone about how retail media is evolving from a channel into a core driver of business outcomes. They explore the shift toward connected commerce, the changing role of retailers as media partners, and how brands are balancing performance with long-term brand equity. A grounded conversation on how marketing is moving from channels to systems.

April 7, 202622 min

Mirella Vitale of ROCKWOOL: From Performance to Protection— and What Matters Most ...

Mirella Amalia Vitale of ROCKWOOL — a global leader in sustainable stone wool insulation that improves building safety, energy efficiency, and comfort — discusses the company’s new platform, “If It’s Worth Building,” and how marketing is evolving from product performance to human impact. A timely perspective on leadership, purpose, and why brands should speak up when markets go quiet.