In addition to the in-depth conversations with each guest on our show, we have a lightning round segment where we ask each guest to respond on the spot without seeing the questions in advance. This week, we welcome back Julie Channing, a seasoned marketing leader with an impressive portfolio spanning Levi’s, Google Nest, and Allbirds, to hear her alternative career choices, next travel destinations, favorite food, and much more.

A brand builder at heart with a digital backbone, Julie Channing has spent nearly 25 years building and nurturing beloved world-class brands and marketing teams. She spent the first half of her career on the agency side, predominantly working at AKQA where she led client relationships with Gap Inc., McDonald’s and Palm Pilot. Her brand-side experience spans legacy businesses to early stage start-ups across a breadth of industries, including Levi’s, Google Nest and Allbirds – where she was the first hire and responsible for building the brand and marketing organization from the ground up. Today, Julie has her own marketing consultancy and advisory practice, working with consumer-led, purpose-motivated brands looking to scale their business and elevate their team.

Episode References:

• Julie Channing | LinkedIn
• Rei Inamoto | Instagram
• Rei Inamoto | X
• I&CO | Corporate Site

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What skills are the most important for marketing in today’s environment and beyond?

In this week’s episode, we welcome back Julie Channing, a seasoned marketing leader with an impressive portfolio spanning Levi’s, Google Nest, and Allbirds, to explore the essential skills required for today’s marketers. Key topics include the importance of curiosity, balancing art and science, and the necessity of collaboration in marketing. Julie highlights the ever-evolving landscape of marketing and how staying curious can make a significant impact. She also stresses the importance of combining storytelling with data for effective marketing and leveraging teamwork to achieve collective goals.

A brand builder at heart with a digital backbone, Julie Channing has spent nearly 25 years building and nurturing beloved world-class brands and marketing teams. She spent the first half of her career on the agency side, predominantly working at AKQA where she led client relationships with Gap Inc., McDonald’s and Palm Pilot. Her brand-side experience spans legacy businesses to early stage start-ups across a breadth of industries, including Levi’s, Google Nest and Allbirds – where she was the first hire and responsible for building the brand and marketing organization from the ground up. Today, Julie has her own marketing consultancy and advisory practice, working with consumer-led, purpose-motivated brands looking to scale their business and elevate their team.

Timestamps:

• 0:03 Essential Skills for Modern Marketers: Curiosity, Balance, Collaboration
• 5:31 The Lost Ring: A Revolutionary Marketing Campaign for McDonald's
• 11:55 Resilience, Teamwork, and Mindfulness in Professional and Personal Life
• 16:52 Navigating Career Changes and Personal Fulfillment
• 21:25 Julie Channing's Career Insights and Soccer Skills

Episode References:

• Julie Channing | LinkedIn
• Rei Inamoto | Instagram
• Rei Inamoto | X
• I&CO | Corporate Site

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brand-building at Allbirds began with a clear purpose: “to reverse climate change through better business.”

In this week’s episode, we welcome Julie Channing, former CMO and Global VP of Marketing at Allbirds, to explore the fundamental principles behind Allbirds’ exceptional branding success since its launch in 2016. Julie recounts her early days at Allbirds, from joining as the first full-time employee to helping the brand craft a compelling narrative and marking its territory in a competitive landscape dominated by giants like Nike and Adidas. The conversation covers crucial steps in building a brand, including establishing a clear purpose, engaging PR and social media strategies, and staying true to the brand’s core values.

A brand builder at heart with a digital backbone, Julie Channing has spent nearly 25 years building and nurturing beloved world-class brands and marketing teams. She spent the first half of her career on the agency side, predominantly working at AKQA where she led client relationships with Gap Inc., McDonald’s and Palm Pilot. Her brand-side experience spans legacy businesses to early stage start-ups across a breadth of industries, including Levi’s, Google Nest and Allbirds – where she was the first hire and responsible for building the brand and marketing organization from the ground up. Today, Julie has her own marketing consultancy and advisory practice, working with consumer-led, purpose-motivated brands looking to scale their business and elevate their team.

Timestamps:

• 0:03 Julie Channing's Journey from AKQA to Marketing Leadership
• 3:54 Building Allbirds from Scratch: A Leap of Faith
• 12:56 Allbirds' Mission to Reverse Climate Change Through Better Business
• 17:47 Crafting a Powerful Brand Story for Allbirds
• 22:30 Making Better Things in a Better Way
• 26:26 Early Wins and Strategic Breakthroughs for Allbirds’ Brand
• 30:40 Embracing Authenticity and Experimentation in Social Media Marketing
• 36:51 Consumer Feedback Drives Allbirds' Gender-Neutral Color Strategy
• 38:51 The Importance of Authenticity and Purpose in Brand Communication
• 43:05 Building Brand Loyalty Through Local Community Engagement
• 51:29 City Collaborations and a Major Partnership with Shake Shack
• 53:24 Creative Collaboration Between Shoe and Burger Brands
• 55:19 Building Brands with Purpose and Navigating Social Media Evolution
• 59:41 Building World-Class Brands Through Purpose, Edutainment, and Common Enemies

Episode References:

• Julie Channing | LinkedIn
• Rei Inamoto | Instagram
• Rei Inamoto | X
• I&CO | Corporate Site

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rei answers questions from Alice Kumagami, a graphic designer who recently relocated from London to Tokyo. This AMA segment dives into the challenges and rewards of navigating different cultural and working environments while touching on identity crises, how Alice’s Japanese background influences her design approach, and how she’s adapting to corporate Japan.

Alice Kumagami has taken the chance to relocate to Japan to build her career and comes on our show with questions as a graphic designer at On.

Episode References:

• Alice Kumagami | Portfolio
• Alice Kumagami | LinkedIn
• Rei Inamoto | Instagram
• Rei Inamoto | X
• I&CO | Corporate Site

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why design apps like Canva don’t make us better designers, as read by AI.

The Intersection is Rei’s weekly newsletter, exploring what the future holds at the intersection of creativity and technology. Subscribe to The Intersection to receive his latest editions directly in your inbox.

Episode References:

• Democratization of Design | Article
• Rei Inamoto | Instagram
• Rei Inamoto | X
• I&CO | Corporate Site

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ever struggled to help your clients change? A North Star is crucial for guiding client companies, but it’s meaningless without the underlying trust and supported by tangible practices.

For this week’s episode, we welcome back Ana Andjelic, the acclaimed brand executive and author of the popular newsletter “The Sociology of Business.” With extensive experience in transforming and growing brands, Ana offers insights on what it takes to drive meaningful change within established companies and underscores the importance of “dumbly believing” in the possibility of transformation to initiate significant changes. Rei also complements her insights with examples of I&CO’s relationships with clientele leadership.

Ana Andjelic is a global brand executive, author of “The Business of Aspiration” and has been recognized two times by Forbes for her CMO work. Ana specializes in building brand-driven modern businesses. She earned her doctorate in sociology and is a widely read columnist, speaker and advisor. Subscribe to her newsletter, The Sociology of Business.

Timestamps:

• 0:03 Transforming Legacy Brands Through Creativity and Technology
• 6:34 Bridging Abstract Business Goals with Tangible Creative Solutions
• 15:18 Challenges and Realities of Driving Organizational Change
• 22:03 Lightning Questions
• 26:04 The New Rules of Brand Marketing

Episode References:

• Ana Andjelic | Newsletter
• Ana Andjelic | Instagram
• Ana Andjelic | LinkedIn
• Ana Andjelic | Online Portfolio
• Rei Inamoto | Instagram
• Rei Inamoto | X
• I&CO | Corporate Site

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reviving brands requires understanding their origin stories, injecting fresh imagination, and “an orchestrated push”, according to Ana Andjelic.

On this week’s episode, we welcome the acclaimed brand executive Ana Andjelic. As the former global chief brand officer of iconic fashion brands such as Banana Republic and Esprit, Ana shares powerful strategies for reviving brands and emphasizes the importance of aligning product propositions with overarching brand concepts. The discussion also delves into the divide between brand and performance marketing and the influence of technology on perception.

Ana Andjelic is a global brand executive, author of “The Business of Aspiration” and has been recognized two times by Forbes for her CMO work. Ana specializes in building brand-driven modern businesses. She earned her doctorate in sociology and is a widely read columnist, speaker and advisor. Subscribe to her newsletter, The Sociology of Business.

Timestamps:

• 0:03 Reviving Brands with Ana Andjelic
• 1:50 Balancing Productivity Between New York and Miami
• 4:12 Reviving Brand Identity Through Founders' Original Intentions
• 6:46 The Imaginative Origins and Evolution of Banana Republic
• 8:25 Reviving Banana Republic's Brand Through Strategic Decisions
• 9:32 Imagined Worlds and Functional Maximalism in Banana Republic
• 11:23 Balancing Brand Vision and Designer Creativity in Fashion Marketing
• 17:39 Defining New American Sportswear Through Urban and Creative Lenses
• 21:22 The Intersection of Performance Marketing and Brand Marketing
• 28:49 The New Rules of Brand Marketing in a Changing Landscape
• 32:21 The Evolution of Technology and Its Impact on Perception
• 35:07 The Interplay of Technology, Culture, and Society in Innovation
• 45:05 Three Takeaways

Episode References:

• Ana Andjelic | Newsletter
• Ana Andjelic | Instagram
• Ana Andjelic | LinkedIn
• Ana Andjelic | Online Portfolio
• Rei Inamoto | Instagram
• Rei Inamoto | X
• I&CO | Corporate Site

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The framework for deploying generative AI for brands and corporations as read by Simon Osmont.

The Intersection is Rei’s weekly newsletter that explores what the future holds at the intersection of creativity and technology. Subscribe to The Intersection to receive his latest editions directly in your inbox.

Episode References:

• How to AI | Article
• Simon Osmont | Website
• Rei Inamoto | Instagram
• Rei Inamoto | X
• I&CO | Corporate Site

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.