Mondelez’s Andrew Lederman on Bringing Startup Agility to Global Digital Commerce
How do you infuse startup agility into a $3B global commerce engine?On this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter sit down with Andrew Lederman, VP of Global Digital Commerce at Mondelez, for a wide-ranging conversation on building at scale while moving with speed. From founding a startup acquired by Alibaba to transforming digital commerce at AB InBev and now Mondelez, Andrew shares how his entrepreneurial DNA shapes his leadership at one of the world's largest CPG companies.He opens up about balancing local autonomy with global vision, the value of taking big swings instead of "safe bunts," and navigating the signal vs. noise of today's crowded tech landscape. With deep candor and clarity, Andrew explains how consumer obsession—not competitor fixation—drives long-term growth, and why brave leadership often means placing smart bets on the future.Plus, hear his answer to our signature closing question—and why he says being a father tops his list of courageous moves.Key Takeaways:Lead with Empathy, Act with Clarity: To drive transformation in large organizations, meet teams where they are and align them with a shared vision of the future.Prioritize Consumer Needs Over Competitive Noise: Long-term growth comes from solving real consumer problems—not chasing what others are doing.Make Strategic Bets with Confidence: Balancing short-term impact with long-term vision requires bold decision-making and operational excellence.Whether you're scaling digital commerce or trying to future-proof your brand, this episode offers a grounded, strategic, and motivating listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
21:13
--------
21:13
Riboli Wines’ Jenna Steele on Reinventing Wine for the Digital Consumer
In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Jenna Steele, Vice President of E-commerce and Digital at Riboli Wines. Jenna shares how she is leading transformation in a category rooted in tradition, from building a tech-forward e-commerce function to using digital shelf insights to engage a new generation of wine drinkers.She discusses how consumer confusion, generational preferences, and emerging wellness trends are reshaping the Alcohol landscape, and why she believes wine is poised for a major comeback. Jenna also outlines the tech stack powering her team, the role of retail media in attracting new customers, and how strong partnerships fuel innovation in a highly regulated category.Key takeaways:Wine’s comeback depends on reducing consumer friction and repositioning it as approachable and wellness-alignedTech stacks that integrate AI, digital shelf analytics, and compliant path-to-purchase tools are essential to modernizing Alcohol e-commerceFamily-owned businesses can drive agile innovation by staying laser-focused on the consumer instead of Wall Street Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
23:33
--------
23:33
Velcro Companies’ Chitra Ebenezer on Showcasing Creativity and Versatility
In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Chitra Ebenezer, Chief Marketing Officer at Velcro Companies. Chitra shares how the VELCRO® Brand inspires creativity across a wide range of consumer and industrial use cases, and how she balances B2B and B2C marketing strategies to drive growth.She highlights the role of campaigns like “ORIGINAL THINKING®” and “EASY. DOES IT.” in shaping brand perception, and the importance of influencer programs and user-generated content to showcase versatility and build engagement. Chitra also reflects on how Velcro Companies maintains its position as the original hook-and-loop fastener in a competitive market.Key takeawaysEducating consumers on VELCRO® Brand’s infinite use cases requires a balance of awareness, inspiration, and community-driven contentB2B and B2C marketing strategies can complement each other to strengthen brand relevance globallyInfluencer and creator partnerships are critical to inspiring new use cases and driving sales Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
21:04
--------
21:04
Wella Company’s Bianca Bolouri on Building Global eCommerce Strategies
In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Bianca Bolouri, Vice President of Global eCommerce at Wella Company. Bianca shares how her experience at L’Oréal and her work at Wella have shaped her approach to leading teams, building culture, and driving growth in a rapidly changing beauty and professional care landscape.She discusses how a mix of global beauty expertise and startup energy enables Wella to balance speed and discipline across its consumer and professional businesses. Bianca also shares her perspective on the evolving role of DTC, the emergence of pro-grade products for home use, and how global trends in beauty are shaping consumer expectations in other categories.Key takeawaysL’Oréal’s culture creates leaders who thrive under high expectations, adaptability, and ownershipDTC is not dead, but serves a different role today as a brand-building and loyalty engineGlobal beauty trends, like pro-grade at-home care and compressed innovation cycles, are redefining consumer expectations across categories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
24:23
--------
24:23
Rick LaBerge on Building HARIBO’s U.S. Growth with Joy and Discipline
In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Rick LaBerge, Chief Commercial Officer of HARIBO of America. Rick shares how HARIBO has grown household penetration in the U.S. from 10 to 28 percent in the last decade while staying focused on its founding values of quality, trust, and childlike happiness.He discusses the unique challenges and advantages of working for a century-old, family-run company with deep roots in care, as well as the importance of manufacturing locally and understanding the American shopper. Rick also highlights how HARIBO is translating the joyful, colorful in-store candy experience to digital commerce, and what it takes to build lasting retailer relationships.Key takeawaysLong-term thinking drives growth. HARIBO’s U.S. success stems from investing in local manufacturing, understanding seasonal rituals, and making product decisions with generational goals in mindBrand values create differentiation. Staying focused on joy, quality, and trust has helped HARIBO outperform competitors in a crowded candy categoryDigital experience matters. Translating HARIBO’s visual, sensory brand into eCommerce environments has been key to driving conversion online Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
MikMak Founder & CEO Rachel Tipograph and Profitero’s President Sarah Hofstetter tackle what’s relevant in eCommerce today for the world’s biggest brands. Each episode they’ll share tips worth millions in sales, while interviewing the bravest marketers on how to navigate eCommerce’s latest consumer and retailer dynamics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
South Africa