About this episode

In this episode, Adam and Laura discuss the future of marketing and strategy in 2026 while being interviewed by Izzie Macdonald from PepsiCo.

The tables have been turned in this episode of The Persuasion Game podcast, as Adam and Laura get a taste of their own medicine in the hot seat. Izzie Macdonald, Global Cultural Insights Capability Lead at PepsiCo, takes on the role of host. Izzie has years of research and insights experience at Touchstone Partners and with almost a decade under her belt at Pepsi. Adam and Laura give their views on where marketing, strategy and insights might be heading in 2026, and the adaptations that will be needed to get us there. They also reveal their New Year resolutions, both professional and personal, for the year ahead. Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn for updates. Subscribe to The Persuasion Game Newsletter on LinkedIn. Want to know more about us? Visit our website here: thisistheforge.com This is an 18Sixty production for The Forge. CHAPTERS: (00:00) Introduction (02:08) Career Journeys in Marketing and Strategy (09:27) The Future of Agency Models (15:48) The Role of AI in Innovation (23:26) Importance of Context in Client Partnerships

People in this episode

Host: Izzie Macdonald

Guests: Adam, Laura

Topics covered

• marketing
• strategy
• insights
• future trends
• AI in innovation
• client partnerships

Keywords

• marketing strategy
• 2026 insights
• AI innovation
• client partnerships
• New Year resolutions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PepsiCo, Touchstone Partners, The Forge, The Persuasion Game

More episodes of The Persuasion Game

• How creators unlocked growth for Vaseline, with Nathalia Amadeu, Unilever · April 14, 2026 · 42 min
• What children can teach us about creativity and marketing, with Sarah Horowitz, Crayola · March 10, 2026 · 27 min
• The view from the C-Suite: inside PepsiCo’s insights revolution, with Stephan Gans · February 3, 2026 · 31 min
• Why ambition will help us be better marketers in 2026, with Sophie Devonshire, CEO, The Marketing Society · January 6, 2026 · 29 min
• 2025’s Christmas Ads: Which ones will drive sales? · December 16, 2025 · 30 min
• Unlock brand growth with marketing's secret weapon, with Richard Shotton · December 2, 2025 · 29 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Persuasion Game podcast page.