Welcome to First Things First, Adweek’s new daily resource for marketers. We’ll be publishing the content to First Things First on Adweek.com each morning (like this post), but if you prefer that it come straight to your inbox, you can sign up for the email here.
The 2019 Hot List: The Digital, Publishing and TV People and Brands That Shined Brightest
Despite all the buzz surrounding TikTok, Snap, Netflix and Fortnite, this year’s Hot List honorees also include OGs, as some legacy media brands continue to show new players who’s boss. From Media Visionaries David Crane, Marta Kauffman and Kevin Bright, the executive producers of Friends, to TV Creator of the Year Chuck Lorre and Publishing Executive of the Year Meredith Kopit Levien, our honorees demonstrated how to push boundaries in an industry transforming at lightning speed.
Read more: Check out all of this year’s honorees.
- How the Producers of Friends Made a Show That’s as Popular Now as It Was 25 Years Ago
- For Ava DuVernay, ‘Heart-Expanding’ Storytelling Matters More Than the Medium
- The 2019 TV Hot List: The Year’s Biggest and Buzziest Shows, Networks and People
- The 2019 Digital Hot List: The Platforms and Innovators That Shaped a Pivotal Year
- The 2019 Publishing Hot List: The Print and Digital Media Brands Paving a Way to Profitability
Presenting the Winners of Adweek’s Readers’ Choice: Best of Tech Awards
Over the last several months, we asked you, our reader, to weigh in on which ad-tech and mar-tech companies you deemed to be the best of the best across a variety of categories. Last month, we announced the finalists, and now—after three rounds of voting and roughly 50,000 votes—we are happy to reveal the winners in each category.
Read more: See the winners in all 22 categories, including Verizon Media, Sprinklr, The Trade Desk and AdColony.
CMOs at Kimberly-Clark and Hyundai Motor Company Step Down
The average tenure for a CMO is a little shorter than four years. And after the last week, that number will surely be dropping. First Tony Weisman announced he was leaving Dunkin’ before the end of the year. Since Friday, two more revealed that they’ll be leaving their brands as well: Dean Evans from Hyundai Motor Company and Giusy Buonfantino from Kimberly-Clark. Combined, they spent about 5.5 years in the CMO position at their respective brands.
Read more: What’s next at Hyundai and Kimberly-Clark.
Just Briefly: The Rest of Today’s Top Stories and Insights
Ad of the Day: Drink at Your Own Risk: Liquid Death Hires Witch Doctor to Hex Its Water
Drinking water is good for you—just ask your doctor. But guzzling a new Austrian brand of H2O called Liquid Death could be hazardous to your health, according to a witch doctor.
Podcast: From Wall Street to Fashion to Tech, How The Trade Desk CMO Stays on the Cutting Edge
From her early days in finance to fashion, to now ad tech, Susan Vobejda defines her professional journey so far as a learning career. And with the desire to be on the cutting edge of tech and data-led growth, Susan made the move from CMO of Tory Burch to CMO of The Trade Desk. But even with a firm grasp on data as what she refers to as one of “the most important asset that you have,” Susan stresses the value of creativity for marketers.
How a Mentor Has Paid Off in Your Professional Life
Madalyn McLane, account director, Deutsch NY
One of our client’s interns reached out when the summer ended, to help figure out her next career move and options, since she wasn’t sure she wanted to stay brand side. I became her unofficial mentor and we exchanged numerous calls/texts throughout her search and as she debated which offer to accept. We stayed in touch as she took on her first agency gig. About a year later a spot opened up on my team that I knew she’d be perfect for. I offered it to her, and she accepted! She is now my right (and left) hand.
David DeMuth, president and CEO, Doner
I’ve had several mentors, but the most meaningful and profound was as a 20-something starting my advertising career. I learned a ton from him—how to think, how to write, how to present, how to lead and manage clients, even how to dress and show up as an ambitious, engaged young professional. And how not to do some things. (They don’t really teach that stuff in college.) And I am forever grateful.
Laura Small, vp and director of people, RPA
One of my best mentor matches was between an svp of strategy and the woman who was (at the time) one of our community managers. They knew each other slightly prior to their mentoring relationship, and they built an amazing rapport and connection. The mentor was able to push the mentee into defining a key role for herself beyond her day-to-day job, which enabled her to rise up and be perceived differently. She has now left the organization for a consulting position, but they still work together and support one another.
