iRobot CMO on turnaround, 'Shark Tank' secrets, AI and that old Will Smith movie

Blumhouse CMO Karen Barragan gives tips and tricks for Halloween marketing as well as the value of seasonal fans for expanding Blumhouses reach. She discusses the increasing mainstream attention on horror, beginning with Warner Bros. 2017 "It" campaign, and how brands can lean in. Plus, behind the scenes of the creation of the "Black Phone 2" and "Five Nights at Freddy's 2" marketing campaigns, and lessons from "Megan 2.0's" box office flop.

Zelle has tweaked its marketing strategy as it has looked to embrace being an emotionally resonant brand. Last month, it worked with its creative and strategic agency of record Pereira O'Dell to launch "When It Counts," a new brand platform that positions everyday payments as acts of care. It also marks a new level of maturity for the brand, which in 2014 saw Americans send more than $1 trillion across 3.6 billion transactions. Andrea Gilman, chief marketing officer at Zelle and Paze network operator Early Warning Services, discusses this change, Gen Z behavioral changes she's observed this year and Early Warning's AI approach, including how it used the tech in Zelle's latest campaign.

Athena Kasvikis is managing iRobot amid a turnaround more than 18 months after regulators nixed its acquisition by Amazon. But she's also been an entrepreneur who led Behave Bras to success on "Shark Tank." She brings classical Procter & Gamble marketer training to bear on Roomba, arguably the most iconic brand in robots, as interest in robotics and AI soars, in part thanks to Elon Musk. Here she talks on those things plus her outlook on CTV, data-based targeting, agency relations and how that "I, Robot" movie wasn't named after the company, or vice versa.

Meta's top marketer discusses the latest strategies digital advertisers need to know from search engines to social media. And he weighs in on agencies, automation and AI, in an industry worried about its future.

Spectrum Reach shows how having the right data can drive performance, brand safety and advertiser confidence.

How the owner of Lunazul tequila, Deep Eddy vodka and a high-end bourbon and whiskey portfolio is tapping into fast moving social media and food trends without losing sight of its roots. Blevins also discusses new agency relationships with Mono and Assembly.

Creator marketing is a huge part of Blizzard Entertainment's strategy. As the developer of properties with global appeal, such as World of Warcraft, Overwatch and Diablo, it has no trouble finding fans in all corners of the world, including basketball player Luka Dončić, who plays at one of the highest possible ranks in Overwatch. CMO Monica Austin discusses a recent partnership with Dončić, plus why Blizzard sees value in partnering with creators who are vocal critics of its work. She also discusses balancing Blizzard's global marketing strategy with region-specific campaigns.

Ad Age reporters discuss AI, and the industry transformation being caused by emerging technology. From influencer clones and shopping agents to contract terms and ad tech tools, listen to hear how marketers can strategize for the industry’s AI future. This series is in celebration of Ad Age’s Future of Advertising 2030 editorial package, which includes insights across marketing, media, agencies and technology. Read more here, and subscribe to Ad Age All Access to read the full series, including deep reporting, exclusive data, expert insights and interactive elements. Through September 26, get the best deal yet on an Ad Age All Access subscription. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~Read Ad Age’s Future of Advertising 2030 package ~How AI will impact creativity ~Building a 2030-ready tech stack ~The changing role of agencies in the AI future ~5 things to do to get ready for 2030 ~The future of social media and influencer ~How shopping will be different in 2030

Ad Age technology reporter Asa Hiken breaks down the state of AI search advertising, what ads on ChatGPT may look like, how much they'll cost and the different approaches companies including OpenAI, Google, Meta and Perplexity are taking. Plus, how marketers can strategize for consumers' changing AI habits. YouTube announced new ad tools that will give creators more power to curate sponsorships across their content libraries. Read how YouTubers are becoming more like traditional media networks. And a tax change set for 2026 threatens the future of free agency food. Get the info on how lunches might become the next differentiator for recruiting talent. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~Everything to know about AI search ads ~Inside Perplexity's ad test ~Answer engine optimization tips ~Listen to Grillo's CMO on the importance of experiential activations

On this episode, Luker also talks about what Grillo's looks for in partnerships.