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In The Key Of D | Digital Marketing Podcast

What can Digital do for you? In The Key Of D is a podcast about digital marketing featuring conversations with top Twin Cities business leaders and digital experts. Host Kathy Hollenhorst and co-host Gino Giovannelli explore why digital matters and how it helps entrepreneurs, business leaders, and marketing professionals make their businesses better.


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Featured Episode

Making the Change from the Middle with Jim Cuene
episode 16

Making the Change From the Middle with Jim Cuene

One primary goal of digital transformation is to streamline the consumer experience. And while technology is the key enabler, real change often happens at the cultural center of an organization. The marketers and leaders in the middle might need an outside champion to unlock digital’s full potential within a company. Jim Cuene is the Founder & CEO at Fahren, a consultancy that offers expert talent, guidance and advising to large organizations that are seeking digital transformation. In this episode, Jim lends his wealth of digital knowledge to incisive conversations around making cultural shifts, balancing slow leadership with fast action, adhering to the leadership stack, and why there’s never been a better time to be a marketer than right now.

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  • Making the Change from the Middle with Jim Cuene
    episode 16

    Making the Change From the Middle with Jim Cuene

    One primary goal of digital transformation is to streamline the consumer experience. And while technology is the key enabler, real change often happens at the cultural center of an organization. The marketers and leaders in the middle might need an outside champion to unlock digital’s full potential within a company. Jim Cuene is the Founder & CEO at Fahren, a consultancy that offers expert talent, guidance and advising to large organizations that are seeking digital transformation. In this episode, Jim lends his wealth of digital knowledge to incisive conversations around making cultural shifts, balancing slow leadership with fast action, adhering to the leadership stack, and why there’s never been a better time to be a marketer than right now.

    Listen

  • Stand It Up, See What Happens with Jake Miller
    episode 15

    Stand It Up, See What Happens with Jake Miller

    Jake Miller is a human mission statement. The Founder and CEO of Fellow embodies his company’s mission to help people brew ridiculously good coffee by offering the best gear and guidance on the market. Fellow has seen incredible growth in part because of Jake’s steadfast belief in human-centered design and valuing relationships over transactions. Digital has enabled entrepreneurs like Jake an opportunity to start conversations directly with customers and it’s transforming almost every industry. He joins the podcast to discuss getting as close to your customer as you can, using digital to creatively market and sell physical products, and how taking the right risks can pay off.

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  • How Understanding POEMs Drives Digital Integration with Adam Dince
    episode 14

    How Understanding POEMs Drives Digital Integration with Adam Dince

    Can you hear that? It’s your data speaking, and Adam Dince wants you to listen.
    From the early days of building websites to leading digital experience teams, Adam’s career spans over 20 years of digital marketing evolution, with a focus on using organic and paid search to reach the right person at the right time with the right content. Adam is a lifelong student of data who wants to know what can be learned about the customer through search behavior and history. Adam joins the podcast to discuss the necessity of an omnichannel digital marketing strategy, best practices for reaching customers online; the evolution of paid, owned and earned media; and his pivotal 80/20 social listening rule to help grow your audience.

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  • Episode 13: Giving Freedom Within the Guardrails—Featuring Kymm Bartlett Martinez
    episode 13

    Giving Freedom Within the Guardrails—Featuring Kymm Bartlett Martinez

    Every brand wants to go viral. But as a marketing or business leader, how do you know when your messaging is going off the road? Install guardrails, says executive Kymm Martinez. Staggering success has followed Kymm from her work with CPG giant General Mills to her current role as VP/Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at the University of St. Thomas. She understands that as digital evolves, trendsetting marketers must pay attention to cultural transitions, take risks on experimental channels, and understand brands as more than just products, but also as the people who use the brand. In this episode of In the Key of D, Kymm shares a wealth of insight on leadership and fostering creative freedom that stays between the rails.

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  • Episode 12: Making Easy Things Even Easier with Cole Ranzau
    episode 12

    Making Easy Things Even Easier with Cole Ranzau

    Knowing and anticipating what your customer needs from digital experiences is easier said than done. For business leaders first entering this evolving world of user experience strategy and the “tech stack,” it can feel like climbing an ominous mountain. Thankfully, Cole Ranzau, who leads an experience strategy team at Strategic Education, Inc. (SEI), joins the podcast to help us get our footing on how to use digital to create compelling experiences. Cole digs into using focused data and analytics to tell engaging stories, breaks down his “3-Headed Attack” for solving UX challenges, and explores why the “making easy things even easier” mindset is pivotal to building successful digital experiences for customers.

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  • Episode 11: Going Over-the-Top with Pete Harrison
    episode 11

    Going Over-the-Top with Pete Harrison

    Startups don’t have the luxury of being sluggish out of the gate. Analytics are more rigorous, budgets are more constrained, and investors are watching the clock. It’s not so much “less is more” as “do more with less and do it quickly" for these small to midsize businesses working to launch their company and products. Pete Harrison, seasoned startup advisor and digital marketing leader, joins the podcast to share his insights on leveraging digital channels and testing to get to market more quickly. He explains how OTT (over-the-top) TV Advertising (ads for streaming TV) compares to Linear TV Advertising (ads for broadcast TV), plus why and when to use these channels.

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  • Episode 10: How a 153-Year-Old Startup Goes Digital — Featuring Steve Yaeger
    episode 10

    How a 153-Year-Old Startup Goes Digital—Featuring Steve Yaeger

    For the Star Tribune, delivering quality journalism to the people of Minnesota for 153 years has made it the largest newsgathering force in the Midwest and one of the most touched newspaper brands in the US. But the advent of the digital age has brought the challenges of adapting to changing reader behavior, an accelerated news cycle and the prospect of a print-less future. How do they navigate these massive global shifts? Steve Yaeger, CMO at the Star Tribune, joins the podcast to talk about the award-winning media brand’s digital transformation journey, customer acquisition, and the company’s focus on long-term sustainability.

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  • Episode 9: If You Host It, Will Anyone Actually Come?—Featuring Wendy Blackshaw
    episode 9

    If You Host It, Will Anyone Actually Come?—Featuring Wendy Blackshaw

    When you’re a leader in uncharted territory—like trying to plan a mega-event during a pandemic—what do you do? Make your own map. Brand visionary and dynamic leader Wendy Blackshaw has been making her own map using digital tools throughout an adventurous career. Wendy joins the podcast to talk about how digital has changed what’s possible in marketing, her experience building mega-event brands (including Super Bowl LII & the upcoming NCAA Women’s Final Four 2022), and why trusting your team of experts is vital to successful outcomes.

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  • Episode 8: Bridging the Divide—Featuring Aaron Keller
    episode 8

    Bridging the Divide—Featuring Aaron Keller 

    We are living in an increasingly digitized world, but we'll always be physical beings. Good design is no longer either only digital or only physical—it must function in both spaces, harmoniously. Capsule co-founder & CMO, design philosopher and author Aaron Keller brings his thoughtfulness to the show to discuss digital design theory and practice, sustainable packaging, and why designers must see the consumer as a human being first.

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  • Episode 6: Keep the Talent, Lose the Fear
    episode 6

    Keep the Talent, Lose the Fear—Featuring Darin Lynch

    What’s the secret sauce for creating a digital culture that promotes company flexibility, talent retention, and fun? Hint: It’s not just a pint of Irish beer (although that can help). Award-winning business leader & Irish Titan CEO/Founder Darin Lynch joins to talk about how weaving digital and technology throughout your business practices can nurture a culture that keeps the best talent around, drives change, and promotes scalability for businesses, while also fully enjoying the journey.

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  • Episode 7: Evolution Not Revolution
    episode 7

    Evolution Not Revolution - Featuring Stuart Harris 

    “Go big or go home” doesn’t equal success for companies undertaking digital transformation. It’s so important to hit smaller, measurable goals before swinging for the fences. As Group President of Digital Transformation at Emerson Stuart Harris knows, companies must have a clear strategy before deploying new technologies. He joins the podcast to discuss the key aspects of driving digital change and how Emerson is helping their customers evolve dynamically.

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  • Episode 5: Welcome to the Sh*t Show
    episode 5

    Welcome to the Sh*t Show-Featuring Andrew Eklund

    Ciceron CEO Andrew Eklund has captained his crews through multiple major economic storms over the past 20 years, and has stayed afloat by being adaptive and innovative. He joins the podcast to discuss why “economic reinvention”—using digital channels—is key to business survival in times of crisis, how to empower a fast & nimble team, and most importantly: why he loves the band Phish.

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  • Episode 4: Small Bets Placed Often
    episode 4

    Small Bets Placed Often—Featuring Jen Swanson

    Digital transformation is not a toaster, you can’t just plug it in and expect it to work. It’s also not a big budget project that you wash your hands of after the end-date. So, what is it? One way to think of it is as a series of small bets, placed often. Founder and principal of her own highly-successful consulting business and former VP of Digital at Optum, Jen Swanson joins the podcast to discuss digital risk and reward, how she helps companies integrate digital into their business strategy, and why projects end but products endure.

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  • Episode 3: Measure Twice, Cut Once
    episode 3

    Measure Twice, Cut Once—Featuring Andrew Benson & John Dusek

    When Shakespeare wrote "To thine own self be true," he might have been talking about Andrew Benson and John Dusek, who together co-founded Straight Line Theory, a company focused solely on user experience (UX) research and design. Andrew and John join the podcast to help us understand what UX design is all about, the challenges of developing digital products that are easy to use, and why users should influence technology, not the other way around.

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  • Episode 2: Why Sears Could Have Been Amazon
    episode 2

    Why Sears Could Have Been Amazon—Featuring Craig Herkert 

    Dust from the Digital "big bang" is still settling. Global retail executive & Advisory Board member Craig Herkert knows the digital world is in its infancy and that change is just what business leaders and professionals sign up for. Craig joins the podcast to talk big picture: adapting to survive, the ethics of moving with—not in front of—your consumer, and why Sears failed to become Amazon.

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  • Episode 1: Let's Get Digital
    episode 1

    Let's Get Digital—Featuring Kathy Hollenhorst & Gino Giovannelli

    What is digital transformation and why does it matter to business leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals? In this pilot episode for "In the Key of D" host Kathy Hollenhorst and co-host Gino Giovannelli help frame-up the big questions around using digital, how to get started and preview the fascinating topics we'll dig into with our guests.

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    Guests

    Adam Dince

    Adam Dince

    Adam Dince is the Director of Digital Experiences at Collegis Education where he leads the SEO/CRO, User-Experience/Front-End, and Marketing Automation practices.

    Adam has over 20 years of experience in search marketing, content strategy, and other digital channels. He has worked both agency and client-side including MRM/McCann and iCrossing, and has led strategy for some of the largest brands in the world.

    Kymm Bartlett Martinez

    Kymm Bartlett Martinez

    Kymm is the first-ever VP / Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Communications Officer (CMO/CCO) for the University of St. Thomas, the largest private university in Minnesota. Prior to joining St. Thomas in 2016, Kymm spent nearly 20 years in general management and marketing with General Mills. 

    Cole Ranzau

    Cole Ranzau

    Cole Ranzau is a passionate digital marketer who has spent the majority of his career working with the Minnesota Timberwolves and more recently in higher education at Strategic Education Inc. Over his 8 year career he has some great experience in many different areas of digital including paid search, SEO, conversion rate optimization, UX, and content strategy/ He has led multiple site redesigns and is currently leading a Testing Insights & Experience Strategy team at SEI.

    Pete Harrison

    Pete Harrison

    Pete Harrison is a startup marketing advisor based in San Francisco. He’s helped founders at over 40 early-stage companies launch and scale their ideas into a business — including Travelocity, TripIt, TopGolf, Kespry, NerdWallet and Thumbtack — with 14 positive client exits to date.

    Steve Yaeger

    Steve Yaeger

    Steve is Star Tribune’s chief marketing officer and senior vice president of circulation. Steve is responsible for directing the company’s consumer marketing, customer acquisition, distribution, retail sales, and customer service. Prior to joining Star Tribune in 2012, Steve co-founded Aspyrion, a marketing consultancy that worked with leading regional and national brands.

    Wendy Blackshaw

    Wendy Blackshaw

    Known as strategic alliances brand visionary and dynamic leader, Wendy has generated over $100M in sponsorship revenue, co-op advertising, media sales, and billions of brand impressions in my collaborative leadership roles with MN Super Bowl, Sun Country Airlines, Mall of America, MN North Stars, Rollerblade and numerous media organizations.

    Aaron Keller

    Aaron Keller

    Aaron is a founding partner and managing principal of Capsule, where he leads brand development, strategy, research and naming for the firm’s clients. He is also a column writer for Twin Cities Business Magazine and co-author of the Physics of Brand.

    Craig Herkert

    Craig Herkert

    Craig Herkert is an Adjunct Professor and Advisory Board member serving CPG start-ups. Craig was the CEO at Supervalu from 2009 to 2012. From 2004 to 2009, he served as President and CEO Americas at Wal-Mart International. From 2000 to 2003, he was COO of Walmart International.

    Andrew Benson & John Dusek

    Andrew Benson & John Dusek

    Andrew Benson and John Dusek are co-founders of Straight Line Theory. Founded in 2002, Straight Line Theory is a UX research and design company based in Minneapolis. Their team helps companies make web sites, apps and digital products easier to use.

    Jen Swanson

    Jen Swanson

    Jen Swanson is the Founder & Principal for Jen Swanson Consulting, a digital transformation and product leadership practice that helps organizations deliver exceptional, profitable digital products and services.

    Andrew Eklund

    Andrew Eklund

    Over the past 25 years, Andrew has led Ciceron and our clients through the entire history of our digital world. He’s able to do so by finding and hiring the very best creative, media and data experts in the field who push each other to be better, faster, smarter — an education delightfully known as the “Ciceron MBA.” 

    Darin Lynch

    Darin Lynch

    Darin Lynch is the Founder and CEO of Irish Titan, a digital agency focused on ecommerce & digital, design & creative, content & strategy. Darin offers over 25 years of digital, marketing, sales, technology and leadership experience ranging from Fortune 100 financial firms to national retailers to start-up and early stage companies.

    Stuart Harris

    Stuart Harris

    Stuart Harris became group president of Digital Transformation for Emerson’s Automation Solutions business in September 2019. In this role, Harris leads a business responsible for leveraging Emerson’s technologies and expertise to help drive business performance for key industries.

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    Creatis, Inc. Headquarters
    227 Colfax Ave. N.
    Suite 150
    Minneapolis, MN 55405

    Tel: 612-333-3233

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