Building Brands through Digital PR with James Roach

What does it really take to turn an idea into a successful challenger brand?In this episode, Tom Whittle, Founder of Mission, shares the unconventional journey that took him from a career in law, to cycling across South America and running across Iceland, to building one of the UK's most exciting performance nutrition brands. Tom discusses breaking into retail, winning partnerships with elite sports teams, the mistakes and lessons that shaped Mission's growth, and why focus, conviction and knowing when to change direction are so important when building a successful brand.

What does it take to become a modern growth leader when the role extends far beyond marketing?In this episode, Gaston Tourn, Chief Growth Officer at Oddbox, joins us to explore how marketing leadership is evolving and what it takes to drive growth at the highest level. Drawing on his background and interests in marketing, storytelling, philosophy and computer science, Gaston discusses balancing brand building with short-term performance, growth without compromising on purpose, the changing role of the CMO, and how marketers should approach AI.

Digital PR has evolved far beyond link building, but what role does it play in building modern brands? In this episode, James Roach, Head of Digital PR at Honcho, joins us to explore why digital PR is becoming a core part of the marketing mix. From the relationship between brand, SEO and AI to measuring success, building high-performing teams and adapting strategies for AI search, James shares practical insights into how the discipline is evolving and what it means for brands, PR professionals and marketers alike. 

Stepping into management is one of the biggest career transitions you'll make -but why are so few people prepared for it?In this episode, Eleanor Manuel, Head of People & Culture at Kite Factory, joins us to explore what it really takes to become an effective manager. From delegation and difficult conversations to emotional intelligence and psychological safety, Eleanor shares practical advice to help new and experienced managers lead with confidence.

Creative has become the biggest growth lever in modern marketing, but what separates good creative strategy from great?In this episode, Jordan Perez Hughes, Marketing Director at Catalyst, joins us to explore why creative has overtaken media buying as the key growth lever for performance marketing. From creative testing and team structures to AI and scaling high-performing campaigns, Jordan shares practical insights from working with some of the fastest-growing consumer brands in the market.

What does it take to make inclusion truly meaningful at work?In this episode, Kianna Briggs, Head of Talent Acquisition and Inclusion at Medialab, joins Pivotalk to explore how to embed DEI into the fabric of a business, not just policies. From building trust and empowering communities, to changing hearts and minds, Kianna shares the wins, challenges, and lived experiences that have shaped her approach to inclusive hiring and culture-building.

Search is evolving – fast.In this episode, Luke Stanford, Global Head of Search at Zenith UK, unpacks what the future of search really looks like. From fragmented user journeys and the rise of visual search to the growing influence of AI and agentic tools, Luke shares sharp, practical insights on how brands can stay visible – and competitive – in an increasingly complex search ecosystem.

What does SEO success really look like in the age of AI?In this episode, Dan Liddle, Senior SEO Director at iCrossing UK, joins us to break down what’s changed - and what hasn’t - in search. From navigating ChatGPT to redefining value in content, Dan shares sharp, honest insights on how brands can stay visible, relevant, and measurable.

How do you scale brand impact without losing sight of purpose?In this episode, Millie Allen, Head of Marketing at Ocean Bottle, shares her path to leadership in a mission-led business - from defining brand values to balancing growth with sustainability. Millie opens up about building teams, staying curious, and the lessons that have shaped her career.

What does it really take to scale a brand?In this episode, Josh Lachkovic, Founder of creative growth agency Ballpoint, joins us to explore how brands can grow without losing their edge, and introduces the 'growth artisan'. Covering creative constraints, AI, and startup-style thinking, Josh shares candid insights on what works - and what doesn’t - when building for impact.