What does it actually take to build a marketplace from scratch?

In this episode, we’re joined by Harriet Noy, Founder of Hazaar, a student marketplace connecting brands with Gen Z audiences to sell excess stock through exclusive drops.

From early-stage struggles with supply to a full pivot into a B2B model, Harriet shares how staying scrappy and not perfect helped unlock growth.

We cover:
The pivot that changed everything
Scrappy marketing tactics that actually worked
How to onboard brands without heavy integrations
Building a team the right way
Why too much advice can slow you down
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
02:10 – The idea behind Hazaar
06:45 – Early challenges & proving the model
12:30 – The pivot to B2B
18:20 – Scrappy marketing tactics
25:10 – Working with brands & onboarding
31:40 – Hiring & building a team
38:00 – Mentorship & decision-making
44:20 – Lessons & what they’d do differently

Everyone sees the household names. But how do you stay at the top?
In this episode of Digital Cheesecake, we sit down with Helen Cutmore (Bacardi, ex-M&S) to unpack the real world of global Marketing Leadership.
From retail giants to spirits powerhouses, Helen shares the strategic moves that turn a product into a cultural icon. We cover:
• The "secret sauce" global brands have that startups miss
• Why performance marketing is quietly overshadowing brand building
• What separates a good marketer from a great one in 2026
• Key focus areas for marketing leaders this year
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:15 Realising the brand marketing niche
07:40 What turns a product into a brand people love?
13:10 The "Global Brand" advantage startups ignore
21:20 Brand vs. Performance: The ultimate debate
29:45 Good vs. Great: The skill that changes everything
36:20 Advice for future CMOs
🎧 Listen on Spotify: [link]
🍏 Apple Podcasts: [link]

Most people see the brand now. But how did it actually start?

In this episode, we sit down with Molly Goddard from Desmond & Dempsey to unpack the real journey behind building a luxury loungewear brand.

From failing uni to launching a business, Molly shares what those early months actually looked like and how they turned uncertainty into momentum.

We cover:

• The reality of starting from scratch

• When the brand started to click

• Building a distinctive brand world around slow living

• The move from online to in-store

• Lessons learned the hard way

• What’s next for the brand

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:15 The origin story

08:40 Early struggles

15:10 First big breakthrough

22:30 Building the brand world

30:45 Hiring & team growth

38:20 Lessons learned

45:00 Future opportunities

#MarketingPodcast #BrandBuilding #D2C #FounderStory #Ecommerce

What does it take to go from CMO to founder?

In this episode, Andrew Higgins shares the journey behind building Parsnipp — from the initial idea through to launching in one of the most exciting areas of marketing today.

We explore how AI search is evolving, what it means for brands, and why this shift presents a huge opportunity for marketers willing to adapt early.

Learn more about Parsnipp here: https://parsnipp.com/

In this episode:

The journey from CMO to founder

The story behind Parsnipp (and its name)

What GEO is and why it matters

How AI search is changing marketing

The evolution of SEO

Lessons from building in a new space

What marketers should focus on in 2026

🎧 Listen now:

Youtube:

Apple:

Fiver: https://fiverr.partnerlinks.io/3ci0r5r179mi

Quillbot: https://try.quillbot.com/4hew88esymv8

Trainual: https://start.trainual.com/aecgw0yogmw7

#founder #cmo #marketingpodcast #marketing #AISearch #AI #GEO #SEO

Most businesses don’t have a marketing problem.

They have an agency selection problem.

We’ve seen it too many times: brands overpaying, underwhelmed when they can't align, and stuck in partnerships that never deliver.

In this episode, we unpack what actually makes a great agency relationship work:

• Transparency in pricing and expectations (Jack)

• Strong communication and knowing when to go in-house (Ellie)

• Culture, case studies, and team health (Sarah)

We also flip the lens, what agencies themselves need to fix if they want to survive in 2026.

Because the best results don’t come from hiring the biggest name… they come from hiring the right fit.

🎧 Listen here:

#marketingleadership #digitalmarketing #agencygrowth #marketingstrategy #careerdevelopment

Burnout nearly ended Mike Mudie’s corporate career but it also sparked a completely new path.

In this episode of Digital Cheesecake, we talk about how stepping away from corporate life led Mike to launch Authentic Brew and rethink how work, energy and wellbeing should fit together.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

02:15 – Early signs of burnout 06:40 – The moment everything changed

11:20 – Life after corporate marketing

16:05 – Starting Authentic Brew 21:30 – Managing energy as a founder

25:10 – Advice for marketers in high-pressure roles

Follow Digital Cheesecake for more conversations with marketing leaders and founders.

Use these Marketing tools:

Fiver: https://fiverr.partnerlinks.io/3ci0r5r179mi

Quillbot: https://try.quillbot.com/4hew88esymv8

Trainual: https://start.trainual.com/aecgw0yogmw7

In this episode of Digital Cheesecake, we’re joined by Wizz Selvey, founder of Valerie, to talk about navigating perimenopause while leading, building, and performing in demanding marketing careers.

A hot topic as we come down from International Women's Day.

Women are often expected to manage symptoms quietly while continuing to perform at the same level professionally but Wizz is challenging that silence.

We explore the stigma surrounding menopause at work, what conversations are still missing, and how leadership evolves when your health and priorities shift.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• The moment Wizz decided to start Valerie

• Why menopause is still rarely discussed in the workplace

• Performing at work while managing symptoms

• What people don’t talk about enough with perimenopause

• Building a brand in the women’s health space

• How leadership evolves over time

If you’re interested in marketing leadership, career longevity, and the realities women face in the workplace, this is an important conversation.

#menopause #womenshealth #IWD #IWD2026 #internationalwomensday #perimenopause

Ellie is weeks away from giving birthm and simultaneously trying to hand over her entire business.

In this weeks episode of Digital Cheesecake, we talk a topic close to our hearts, a raw and honest episode from Ellie on preparing for maternity as a marketing director.

We discuss:

-Handing your business over

-Finding that unicorn hire

-Maternity Leave Guilt

and much more

Is there ever a “right” time to have a baby as a founder?

Or do you just jump and adapt?

🎧 Stream this episode now on:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/qrAJCYdC7Ao

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-cheesecake-marketing-and-growth-podcast/id1780522616