In this festive episode of The Persuasion Game, co-hosts Laura and Adam embark on a Christmas special where they tackle some common festive dilemmas but with a twist - they’ll be using marketing insights from past guests.  Drawing on their discussions with previous pod guests Jane Buck, Grant Mckenzie, Paul Thomas, Katie Evans, Nick Graham and Alex O’Rourke they explore family traditions, gifting, creating an inclusive holiday atmosphere and more. Packed with practical advice, heartwarming stories, and festive cheer, this episode offers valuable tips on leveraging persuasion techniques for a joyful and harmonious Christmas.

Jane is a seasoned expert in innovation with an extensive background at major brands including Mondelez and Unilever where she launched and scaled the €1BN+ personal care brand Love Beauty & Planet. Jane discusses her unique approach to brand development, explaining how she integrates consumer insights with visionary thinking to drive innovation, how she spots patterns and opportunities, and the importance of balancing short-term actions with long-term vision in corporate settings. The conversation also covers her time co-founding and launching natural skincare brand REN which Unilever eventually acquired.

Nick shares his expertise on how iconic brands like Pepsi and Cadbury have adapted their strategies to stay relevant in a fast-changing world. They explore the power of nostalgia, storytelling, and emotional connection in creating meaningful campaigns that resonate with audiences.

In this episode, CMO Katie Evans shares how Burger King UK behaves like a challenger brand to create maximum impact with its communications versus its competitors with much larger media budgets. And she reflects on Burger King UK’s latest campaign ‘Bundles of Joy' which featured mums eating Burger King after birth - where the online conversation took on a life of its own.

In this episode, Ex-Asahi CMO Grant McKenzie talks us through the challenges he faced bringing non-alcoholic beer to market. As much an internal persuasion job as it was a consumer behaviour challenge, Grant spent 7 years making it happen. This is a must-listen for anyone working in innovation or trying to land a new strategy.

Simon and Laura are joined by Alex O'Rourke, co-founder of Locksmith and experienced marketer. Together, they explore the challenges and strategies of self-promotion and navigating societal barriers as a woman in the workplace. Alex shares her knowledge as a transformational life coach and delves into issues including the importance of creating a personal narrative. 

Simon and Laura are joined by Paul Thomas, International Insight Director and Global Head of Shopper Insight at Suntory who shares insights on the evolving premium spirits category and the consumer motivations behind alcohol purchasing decisions. Paul also shares insights on consumer planning, luxury goods spending, and brand marketing strategies.