The Flip Side of Strategic Ambiguity In our last RFP Clarity post, we made the case for purposeful restraint in RFPs, explaining how leaving some space can prompt more revealing, strategic responses. But not all ambiguity is helpful. In fact, when key details are missing or unclear, it can lead to confusion, misalignment, and responses…
Spotify has “Wrapped.” We have Taste Track. Just as Wrapped rounds up a listener’s habits and highlights, Taste Track is our midyear restaurant recap, reflecting how we ate dinner out in the first half of 2025. As strategic, analytical types, we turned the lens on ourselves: when and where we dined, how often, which new places stood…
The Assumption of Clarity It’s common to think that the more information you include in an RFP, the better the outcome will be. After all, clarity is kind, right? And a comprehensive brief should, in theory, yield more accurate and aligned responses. But there’s a nuance worth exploring: not everything needs to be defined up…
In his 2005 Stanford commencement address, Steve Jobs famously said: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.” It’s true – and I believed it long before I ever heard that quote. My own nonlinear career path has unfolded more like a series of unexpected links than a straight…
Even the most thoughtfully constructed RFP will generate questions. That’s not because you left something out; it’s because your bidders bring a different perspective. What seems obvious inside your organization may feel ambiguous, incomplete, or open to interpretation to someone on the outside. That’s not a flaw in the process, It’s an opportunity. Smart Agencies…
Whether you manage RFPs regularly or only occasionally, this series is designed to help you approach the RFP optimization process with more clarity and more confidence. The Silence Is Familiar You issued an RFP and eagerly awaited the responses. But when they arrived, something felt off. Maybe the submissions were vague. Or misaligned. Or too…
Stepping Into a New Role After more than a decade at Allied Global Marketing, including the past three years as EVP of Strategy & Innovation, I’ve stepped away from full-time agency life to begin a high-impact new chapter through SW14 Group. My time at AGM was nothing short of extraordinary. I’m proud of the work…
By Arlene Wszalek and Tom Wszalek The Big Picture Recent creator economy trends across media, tech, and entertainment point to a single, powerful theme: Control is the new currency. From interface updates to monetization shifts to alternative ownership models, platforms and creators alike are renegotiating who controls visibility, tone, and value. At the same time,…
(Originally published on Allied Global Marketing’s Knowledge page.) From AI-powered personalization to AR-enhanced environments, guest expectations are rapidly evolving. In this post, I explore key takeaways from CES 2025 and how forward-thinking entertainment and hospitality brands can embrace emerging tech to create smarter, more seamless guest journeys. Read the full article on the AGM website
(Originally published on Allied Global Marketing’s Knowledge page.) We’re heading into a year that promises big shifts in audience behavior, platform innovation, and how brands define success. I shared my perspective on what’s ahead with Allied Global Marketing—highlighting the seven trends that I believe will shape 2025. From AI-powered personalization to the growing fusion of…
(Originally published on Allied Global Marketing’s Knowledge page.) When it comes to major events packed with brands, booths, and activations, it’s easy to get swept up in the noise. But does showing up always equal standing out? In this article for Allied Global Marketing, I unpack the pros and cons of participating in high-clutter events…
(Originally published on Allied Global Marketing’s Knowledge page.) A modern marketing strategy is only as strong as the data behind it—but not all data is created equal. In this post for Allied Global Marketing, I explore how brands can shift their focus from passive metrics to intelligent insights that drive real impact. From aligning data…
(This post was originally published on The Drum.) This article explores how automation and generative AI are reshaping the modern marketing agency—from media buying and reporting to creative development and strategy. It highlights not only the tools transforming the industry but also the shifting expectations of clients and talent. While the tech is evolving fast,…
(Originally published on the Allied Global Marketing Knowledge page.) Your brand is never “finished”—it’s a living system that needs regular check-ins to stay aligned with your audience, your goals, and the cultural moment. In this article for Allied Global Marketing, I dive into how and why to conduct strategic brand audits. From evaluating brand equity…
The Insight There’s a significant gulf between consumers aware of a given product or service (those who have heard of it), and those familiar with it (meaning they could explain the product or service, and what it offers, to someone else). Awareness by itself is insufficient to differentiate your product from competitors, or to enable…
We live in challenging, if not unprecedented times. It’s hard to not be reflective about both the past and future. I’ve had the privilege of leading teams and organizations in my professional life. I’ve experienced both success and failure. I’d like to think more of the former than the latter. Reflecting on that experience in…
Presented to Work In Progress Las Vegas, June 18, 2019.
Wow! What a World Series! I’m somewhat of a neutral party (being a long time and now long suffering Dodger fan), so I was able to calmly sit back and enjoy the intensity and drama of the Series as it unfolded. And hats off to the Cubs who finally brought the trophy home after 108…
Full disclosure: I love wine. It’s a fascination and affection that goes beyond just consumption. So, one has to cut me a bit of slack in trying to connect entrepreneurship with a glass of wine. Truthfully, it’s an enticing framework to share some more serious observations and insights gained over the years. So, pop the…
Have you ever been “dressed down” by your supervisor in front of your peers? I have on more than one occasion in my business career. It’s a tactic of intimidation and a sure sign of a supervisor that considers fear to be an important ingredient in getting things done. After all, you can’t be soft…
The terms leader and manager are often used interchangeably. C-Level executives are often referred to as company managers or senior management. In a typical corporate structure, there is generally a manager position and title, often indicating the first opportunity for one to oversee people or other resources. At the same time, there isn’t ordinarily a…
Why? Because it is likely that it will be an unproductive, wasteful use of your time. Now, meetings do have a value if held for the right reason and managed properly, but one doesn’t have to survey too many studies to conclude that the odds are against you. Late last year, I read with interest…
When I was a young Product Manager at Mattel, I was tasked with negotiating an important promotional deal. It was really my first meaningful negotiation assignment and involved confronting an eclectic artist/designer whose external eccentricities actually belied his business savvy. I recall vividly sitting in my boss’s office with my “adversary” and stumbling my way…
Hi there! We’ve noticed a lot of interest in this post recently (which is cool, since it’s a decade old). There’s an updated version of it here! It occurred to me recently that certain concepts, trends, guideposts, whatever you want to call them, kept coming up in my reading, research, discussions, and consultations. They’re not…