The Chips Stack Nicely For Frito-Lay CMO Jennifer Saenz
Asking what consumers needs, not what the brand wants to accomplish, puts an organization “in a much better place to come up with an idea that adds value ,” says Jennifer Saenz, CMO at Frito-Lay.
For this week’s episode of “Marketing Today,” I sat down with Jennifer Saenz, CMO at Frito-Lay. Saenz has a self-described “pretty meaty role” at Frito-Lay, where she oversees the full-portfolio of Frito-Lay brands, including long-term strategy of all the businesses; oversight of communications planning and creation and all creative work that’s done; oversight of the innovation pipeline and insights-capability building; and design and analytics.
“You have to start with the consumer,” she told me. “You can’t really ask the question, ‘What does my brand want to accomplish?’ You actually really need to ask the question, ‘Where is my consumer and what do they need from me right now?’ And I think if you go in with that perspective first, you’re in a much better place to come up with an idea that adds value to their lives that they’re willing to listen to.”
Highlights from this week’s “Marketing Today” podcast include:
- Where Saenz got her strong sense of curiosity and aptitude for lifelong learning. (1:32)
- Saenz talks about her job as Frito-Lay CMO: “I have, I think, the greatest role in the world.” (3:39)
- Saenz’s approach to driving the Frito-Lay brands. (5:37)
- Saenz and The Spotted Cheetah. (7:28)
- No Choice Doritos and the 2016 election. (11:32)
- Saenz’s take on brand building. (15:22)
- Storytelling and cultural engagement: Saenz looks at the future of marketing. (19:00)
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