In this special 100th episode of The Unicorny Marketing Show, Rachel Fairley interviews host, Dom to share key lessons from their podcast journey. This reflective conversation uncovers how the show has influenced marketing strategy and shaped perspectives on brand strategy placement within businesses. Dom discusses the debate on viewing marketing as a profit centre, challenges the common understanding of ROI, and touches on the digital shifts affecting modern business growth strategies. What...

In this episode of The Unicorny Marketing Show, Dom talks to Tas Tasgal, Keynote speaker, author and trainer about the intricacies of human behaviour in marketing. Tas challenges common perceptions in marketing, emphasising that decision-making is often unconscious and influenced by emotions rather than rational thought. Key points: Traditional market research often fails to capture true consumer motivationsThe role of emotions in decision-makingEngaging narratives can significantly enhance...

In this episode, marketing veteran Mark Larwood offers a refreshing perspective on the importance of patience in marketing. Mark discusses how today's fast-paced business environment can push for instant results, but slowing down and allowing strategies to mature can deliver lasting competitive advantages.   Key points:  Patience in marketing can lead to better long-term outcomes. Balancing short-term demands with long-term goals is essential for success. AI can enhance creativity by handling...

In this episode of The Unicorny Marketing Show, Graham Wylie joins Dom to challenge the conventional view of marketing. Wylie argues that marketing shouldn’t be confined to a single department but should be a company-wide responsibility. He explains the importance of aligning marketing promises with product delivery and encourages organisations to involve every team member in creating a consistent customer experience. Key points: Marketing as a company-wide responsibility rather than a...

In this episode of The Unicorny Marketing Show, Dom and Peter Whent discuss Peter's straightforward "pool rules" for better marketing messaging. Inspired by clear, no-nonsense swimming pool signs, these rules focus on the power of simple, bold communication. Peter highlights the need for brands to stop using jargon and start focusing on the real issues their customers face. The conversation covers why businesses should be more direct, and how clear, impactful messaging can help brands stand...

In this episode, Dom Hawes interviews cognitive neuroscientist Carmen Simon, uncovering how brain science can help marketers ensure their content is remembered. Carmen highlights the importance of focusing on distinctiveness and emotion to make sure your audience recalls the most crucial parts of your message. By understanding how the brain processes and retains information, marketers can begin crafting content that truly sticks, helping brands stand out in today’s crowded digital...

Could your company’s most valuable asset be its culture? In this episode, Hilton Barbour, a seasoned marketing consultant, discusses the vital role of organisational culture. He explains how culture shapes decisions, brand identity, and even the ability to innovate. Hilton explores the connection between culture and strategy, providing real-world examples from companies like Boeing and Nike, showing why this alignment is key to success. Key points: • Definition of culture and its impact on...

In the second part of this episode, Leonard Burger returns to discuss the growing trend of side hustles and their unexpected benefits for marketers. Leonard shares how working on external projects, such as angel investing, has enriched his professional career, offering valuable perspectives that can be applied to his core role in product marketing. The episode also explores future trends in product marketing, including the impact of AI and how companies can foster creativity by giving...

In this episode of The Unicorny Marketing Show, we pull back the curtain on a crucial, yet often overlooked, role in marketing: product marketing. Host Dom Hawes sits down with Leonard Burger to explore how product marketers act as the glue that binds sales, engineering, customer success, and strategy. With product marketing well-established in the US but still emerging in the UK, this conversation digs into the core responsibilities that product marketers handle every day—simplifying...

In this continuation of Dom Hawes' conversation with Simon Carter, the focus shifts to the challenges facing marketing leadership and the role of trade bodies. They discuss how marketing organisations often fall short in supporting senior marketers, which affects the profession’s growth. Simon highlights the importance of earning respect within organisations and the difficulties posed by hybrid working on building professional relationships and advancing careers. Key topics: • The lack of...

In this episode of The Unicorny Marketing Show, Dom chats with Simon Carter, a marketing expert with a diverse background in industries such as financial services, utilities, and B2B. The conversation focuses on why marketing is often undervalued in organisations, touching on leadership, company culture, and the ongoing struggle for marketers to have a seat at the strategic table. Simon shares candid insights on how marketers can reposition themselves as vital to business success, offering...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Clare Jones, CMO of System C, we explore the challenges of rebranding, maintaining brand integrity, and the strategic art of prioritising customers. Clare shares her experience of unifying multiple brands into one cohesive identity while staying true to core values. She also introduces her "rule of thirds" for campaign planning—emphasising the importance of balancing groundwork, execution, and follow-up for maximum impact. What is covered: How to manage a...

In this episode of The Unicorny Marketing Show, Clare Jones, CMO of System C, challenges the common perceptions around demand generation, explores the changing dynamics of B2B buyer behaviour, and discusses the complexities of mergers and acquisitions. Clare highlights why marketing needs to be involved at every stage of the buyer's journey and makes a strong case for its importance at the board level. You’ll gain insights on how marketing can influence M&A processes and why...

In this continuation of the discussion with Professor Ben Bensaou from INSEAD Business School, Dom explores how organisations can build a robust framework for continuous improvement and creativity. Bensaou introduces the concept of the "innovating engine," explaining how companies can create a structured environment that encourages all employees to contribute new ideas while balancing these efforts with the demands of day-to-day operations. Understand how to set up a structured approach to...

In this episode of The Unicorny Marketing Show, Professor Ben M. Bensaou of INSEAD Business School joins us to discuss how organisations can build a culture where innovation thrives. Bensaou shares real-world examples from companies like Starwood Hotels and Fiskars, showing how even established businesses can invigorate their innovation processes by involving everyone, not just the experts. • Understand how to foster innovation across your entire organisation. • Learn the significance of...

In this episode, Dom Hawes continues his conversation with Dominic Rodgers, Head of Marketing at Frog Capital, focusing on how purpose is practically applied to scale businesses. Dominic discusses Frog Capital’s use of AI-driven toolkits and how engaging executives in content creation strengthens their impact. The episode also explores how these innovative methods create a unique competitive advantage for purpose-driven companies. AI-driven toolkits as a resource for business scalingThe...

In this episode of Unicorny, Dominic Rodgers, Head of Marketing at Frog Capital, shares how his company integrates purpose into every aspect of its investment strategy. Dominic reveals Frog's unique methodology for scaling businesses, emphasising the vital role of purpose in driving both growth and resilience. The discussion explores how aligning purpose with business strategy creates a sustainable and competitive advantage. Frog Capital’s unique position in the investment world and how they...

In this episode of Unicorny, we continue our exploration of the intersection between marketing and entrepreneurship with Sandra Vollrath, a marketing operations leader turned yoga studio owner. Building on the insights from part one, we examine how Lean Six Sigma principles can help eliminate inefficiencies in marketing departments and why understanding your customer’s challenges is crucial, whether you're running a yoga studio or leading a global marketing team. This episode is packed with...

In this episode of Unicorny, we meet Sandra Vollrath, a seasoned B2B marketing strategist and yoga studio owner, to explore the intriguing parallels between marketing operations and entrepreneurship. Sandra shares her journey from leading global marketing systems at Bentley Systems to founding her own yoga studio, unravelling valuable lessons applicable to both small businesses and large enterprises. This episode sheds light on the importance of knowing your customer, mastering your...

In this episode of Unicorny, Dom goes solo again and challenges the common perceptions of B2B marketing, stressing the need for a comprehensive understanding that goes beyond promotional activities. He examines the notion that B2B marketing is ineffective and advocates for a balanced approach that incorporates both traditional and modern marketing theories. Dom critiques the polarisation in marketing debates and highlights the necessity of nuanced, practical strategies for real-world...

In a slight shake-up from the usual, Dom goes solo and tackles the challenge of defining marketing and its significance within businesses today. Drawing from over 80 podcast episodes and his own experiences, Dom outlines a manifesto for modern marketing. He urges marketers to rethink their definitions and approaches, stressing the need for a unified understanding to enhance their roles' credibility and effectiveness. This episode covers: Diverse definitions of marketing create confusion and...

In this episode of Unicorny, Dom Hawes continues his conversation with Steven Millman about the transformative potential of AI and quantum computing. They focus on the evolution from artificial general intelligence (AGI) to artificial superintelligence, its implications for marketing, and the ethical considerations surrounding these advancements. The conversation sheds light on the rapid developments in AI, the potential for hyper-personalization, and the necessity for responsible...

Discover the future of marketing with Dom Hawes and guest Steven Millman as they discuss the implications of quantum computing and advanced AI. Learn how these technologies will transform creative development, hyper-personalization, and real-time data processing, impacting the marketing industry profoundly. Here are some of the key points you can expect to learn: Potential of quantum computing to enhance AI capabilities and efficiencyInfluence of advanced AI on creative development and...

Welcome back to Unicorny! In this episode, host Dom Hawes continues his discussion with psychologist Simon Hartley, focusing on how to reignite enthusiasm in marketing teams. Building on the PEAR framework discussed in part one, Simon provides practical advice on creating a motivating work environment. They also explore Simon's book "Two Lengths of the Pool," offering insights into focus and task simplification to boost performance. Learn how to tailor motivational strategies to fit your...