In this episode of The Speed of Culture podcast, Matt Britton sits down with Kelly Mahoney, Chief Marketing Officer at Ulta Beauty, live from CES 2026 in Las Vegas. In this interview, Kelly unpacks how Ulta Beauty’s loyalty program and personalization engine drive nearly all sales. They also discuss why motivation-based marketing segmentation has replaced traditional demographics, and how AI-powered personalization in beauty and wellness retail shapes everything from recommendations to creative execution. The conversation further explores Ulta Beauty’s omnichannel customer journey, its evolving beauty and wellness retail strategy, and how Adobe CDP and Adobe Firefly creative automation support marketing at scale.

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In this episode of The Speed of Culture, Matt Britton sits down with Milo Speranzo, Chief Marketing Officer for Lenovo North America, live from CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Milo breaks down what it took to deliver Lenovo’s sold-out Sphere showcase, the product story behind AI PCs, servers, wearables, and Motorola, and why edge computing AI privacy now shapes a new hardware refresh cycle. The conversation also explores the Lenovo FIFA World Cup partnership, FootballAI analytics, and Milo’s leadership mantra for 2026: learn, iterate, and be a goldfish.

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In this episode of The Speed of Culture podcast, Matt Britton speaks with Rachael Zaluzec, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Customer Experience and Brand Marketing at Volkswagen of America. Rachael explains how the Volkswagen ‘Drivers Wanted’ campaign returns as a cultural statement about independence and identity. The conversation explores 2026 Automotive marketing trends, the role of AI in automotive customer experience, and how Volkswagen is blending heritage with modern technology while preparing for the future of autonomous driving Volkswagen strategy.

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In this episode of The Speed of Culture podcast, Matt Britton sits down with Jennifer Wilson, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Lowe’s, to examine how one of America’s largest retailers is executing a modern marketing strategy rooted in culture, experience, and long-term relevance. Jennifer breaks down Lowe’s brand transformation, from expanding beyond traditional home improvement into lifestyle and community, to using AI in home improvement retail, scaling creator partnerships, and building a powerful retail media network. The conversation offers a clear look at how brands evolve without losing trust, and what it takes to stay relevant as consumer behavior, technology, and culture continue to shift.

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In this episode of The Speed of Culture, Matt Britton sits down with Melissa Harrison, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), live from CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Melissa breaks down how CES grew from a gadget showcase into a cross-industry business hub where enterprise innovation, media, creators, and global partnerships collide. They explore what it takes to build a 13-venue event at this scale, how CTA markets a two-sided marketplace of attendees and exhibitors, the rise of the creator economy at CES, and why AI at CES 2026 marks a turning point from theory to real-world application.

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In this episode of The Speed of Culture, Matt Britton sits down with Tom Donaldson, Senior Vice President and Head of Creative Play Lab at the LEGO Group, live from CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Tom introduces LEGO SmartPlay at CES 2026, a new platform powered by LEGO SMART Brick technology that allows LEGO creations to respond to how they are played with, all through interactive LEGO play without screens. The conversation explores LEGO System in Play innovation, long-cycle R&D product development, and how creativity and AI leadership shape the future of play.

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In this episode of The Speed of Culture podcast, Matt Britton sits with Selina Sykes, VP and Global Head of Digital Marketing and Social-First, Unilever, Beauty & Wellbeing, for a deep look at the company’s marketing transformation. Selina breaks down how Brand DNAI, AI in content creation, digital twins, creators, and cultural insight come together to build “desire at scale.” She also explains how AI agents and agentic shopping will rewrite the future consumer journey, and why authenticity and community matter more than ever in global beauty.

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In this episode of The Speed of Culture podcast, Matt Britton sits down with Jessica Ling, EVP of Global Advertising at American Express, to explore how Amex is redefining premium for a new generation. Jessica breaks down the shift from exclusivity to experiential access, how the brand consistently delivers emotional and rational value, and what it takes to build modern connection across culture, sports, entertainment, and travel. She also dives into AI and the future of commerce, the power of personalization and connected experiences, and the evolving role of creators and live sport in customer engagement and brand storytelling at scale.

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