Alicia LeBeouf, Head of Industry — Retail and E-Commerce at Meta, sits down with John Storms, GM and Head of Media Network at Lowe's Companies, Inc., to discuss the future of retail media, data-driven personalization and omnichannel innovation.

Key Takeaways:

(03:05) Retail media connects ads to shoppers in relevant ways.

(06:04) Scale and measurement rely on automation and AI.

(07:21) AI helps automate and improve service for partners.

(11:57) Customer journeys are long, nonlinear and cross many channels.

(14:29) First-party data enables better personalization and results.

(17:44) Advanced analytics provide deeper insights and learning.

(19:15) Tracking new customers and incremental impact is essential.

(26:22) Omnichannel campaigns boost offline results and drive higher returns.

Resources Mentioned:

Alicia LeBeouf
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicialebeouf/

Meta
https://www.linkedin.com/company/meta/

John Storms
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-storms-883428b6/

Lowe's Companies, Inc. | LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/lowe's-home-improvement/

Lowe's | Website
https://www.lowes.com/

Shoptalk
https://shoptalk.com/

#innovation #technology #genz #metaverse #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing

On this episode, Jane Ostler, EVP of Global Solutions Marketing and Thought Leadership at Kantar, joins Shekhar Deshpande, Head of Strategy, Global Clients, at Meta. They discuss how brands can create high-impact advertising by integrating creative effectiveness with data-driven insights.

Key Takeaways:

(04:28) Data removes guesswork and reveals useful insights.

(07:08) Creative quality strongly affects advertising profitability.

(11:38) Experts and AI must work together for insights.

(13:59) Human connection boosts ad impact by 81%.

(15:50) Marketers often undervalue humans in advertising.

(17:59) Blending brand and product improves ad results.

(21:01) Phones are today's most personal ad platform.

(23:57) Quick cuts are now used in traditional media.

(26:41) Consistent visuals make brands more memorable.

(31:52) Data helps accurately predict ad performance.

(35:02) AI speeds production but doesn't ensure strong ads.

Resources Mentioned:

Jane Ostler
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeostler/

Kantar | LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/kantar/

Kantar | Website
https://www.kantar.com/

Shekhar Deshpande
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shekhardeshpande/

Ad Age Report on Creative Effectiveness
https://adage.com/article/special-report-cannes-lions/research-meta-kantar-and-creativex-announces-new-era-storytelling/2568276

Meta
https://www.linkedin.com/company/meta/

#innovation #technology #genz #metaverse #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing

We're joined by Dimi Albers, Global CEO of DEPT®, to explore how brands can scale creative ideas and deliver true personalization. Dimi shares insights on aligning technology with customer motivations, creating seamless experiences across the journey, and understanding both opportunities and limitations of data.

Key Takeaways:

(02:29) AI practice that goes deeper than traditional digital agencies.

(04:10) Growth and competitive success are the real AI opportunities.

(06:58) Automation and machine learning transform content creation at scale.

(09:35) Creativity must align with available data and platform limits.

(13:27) Scaling digital campaigns requires smarter content optimization.

(17:36) Deeper customer journeys drive effective personalization.

(21:40) Understanding and applying technology to drive transformation.

(24:03) Personalization requires strong data stacks and AI tools.

(26:10) Technology moves fast, but organizational change takes time.

(28:07) Marketing teams will grow, not shrink, with technology.

Resources Mentioned:

Dimi Albers -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimialbers/

DEPT® -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/deptagency/

DEPT® -

https://www.deptagency.com/

Meta Advantage Suite -

https://www.meta.com/

#innovation #technology #metaverse #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing #AI #productivity #evolution #creative #differentiation