The Diary Of A CMO™ with Eyitayo Olayemi

Retail in Africa isn’t for the faint of heart: Low consumer trust. Fierce competition. Price wars that never end. 💯 But Dr. Melanie Van Rooy, CMO of Clicks Group, has seen it all and built brands that thrive in the middle of it. If retail is the ultimate test of marketing, Melanie’s playbook is one you’ll want to steal. With a PhD in econometrics and decades leading marketing at Makro, Dis-Chem, and now Clicks, she’s mastered the art of turning spreadsheets into stories and store floors into moments consumers actually care about. 📌 On this all-new Episode 24 of The Diary of a CMO™, we unpack:✅ How to build brands in African retail beyond discounts ✅ Blending data and customer experience to drive growth✅ Why loyalty programs aren't gimmicks but hard economics✅ The pillars of building or rebuilding trust in Africa's retail marketIf you’re in marketing, retail, or leadership, this conversation will feel like you're sitting in a marketing leadership program at a prestigious institution. 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO

Few names in African advertising carry as much weight as Alistair King; one of Africa’s most iconic creative leaders. A living legend! From founding King James in 1998 to selling it to Accenture 24 years later, his journey is an incredible story of bravery, leadership, and legacy. 📌 Alistair held nothing back during our conversation. We chronicled every step of his incredible career and life; a side of him I'm sure so many have never seen before. From life's curve balls to family and everything else. This isn’t just another podcast episode. It's a "biography". It’s a rare chance to sit with one of Africa’s greatest creative leaders and learn what it really takes to build something that matters. 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO

In this episode of The Diary of a CMO™, Dr. Nkiru Olumide-Ojo takes us inside her world of impact storytelling, multi-market brand leadership, and purpose-driven communication. From navigating Africa’s rich cultural diversity to managing crises, mentoring the next generation, and reshaping corporate communications for the future, Dr. Nkiru shares wisdom grounded in two decades of experience. She also opens up about her PhD journey, her work with the Lighthouse Network, and her philosophy on balancing a demanding career with a fulfilling personal life.🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO

From Johannesburg to Amsterdam, Natasha Maharaj has helped shape brands that don’t just sell, but shift culture. 🇿🇦 ➡️ 🌎 From Unilever’s disciplined brand building to Nestlé’s commercial deep dives, from local cultural hits at Distell to scaling for 100+ countries at Heineken, Natasha Maharaj has walked the talk and has the battle scars to show for it. Now Global Brands Director at Heineken (overseeing brands like Desperados, Amstel & Tiger Beer), Natasha Maharaj joins me on this all-new episode of The Diary of a CMO™ to discuss:✅ Balancing local soul with global scale✅ Creativity in one of the world’s most regulated categories✅ The power of cross-functional, psychologically safe teams✅ Marketing’s biggest job today is to co-create, not control✅ How to keep 100-year-old brands hot with Gen Z...and so much more.This episode is a masterclass in building brands that last, building people and not just market share, and defying all odds including yourself. 📌 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO

In this episode of The Diary of a CMO, I sit with Ilaria Pasquinelli, Chief Marketing Officer at LIONS — the company behind Cannes Lions, WARC, and the Effies. We explore:Why some brands lead, others followHow to embed creative intelligence at scaleThe "Creative Effectiveness Ladder" and why every marketer should know itWhat’s the data telling us about long-term brand growth vs. short-term gains? How Cannes Lions is becoming more globally inclusive; from Côte d’Ivoire to KazakhstanFrom WGSN to WARC to Cannes, Ilaria has seen the industry evolve and she doesn’t hold back. She breaks down the intersection of creativity, effectiveness, and leadership in today’s marketing world.🎙 ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Diary Of A CMO™ is a thought-leadership podcast and content platform for leading minds in the advertising and broader marketing communications industry on the African continent and the world at large.The Diary Of A CMO™ hosts the world's brightest marketing as well as industry leaders across related media, tech, and creative industries.🔗 CONNECT WITH EYITAYO 📸 Instagram - /eyitayo_olayemi 👥 Linkedin - /eyitayo_olayemi 🐦 Twitter - /madnessmeta 🎥 YouTube Channel - /@TheDiaryOfACMO