Welcome to
Genuine Humans

Welcome to
Genuine Humans

This is Genuine Humans, exploring the stories behind the great marketing leaders of our time and how their journeys have influenced the brands they’ve brought to life.

Hosted by Tamara Littleton, CEO and Founder and Wendy Christie Chief People Officer of The Social Element.

Latest Episodes

Chloe Davies: It Takes a Village

This week, Tamara and Wendy are joined by the incredible Chloe Davies. She shares the inspirational story of how she came to found It Takes a Village and walks us through the work she’s doing now to help Black women’s voices be heard. Before founding It Takes a Village, Chloe’s roles included Head of Social…

Megan Harrison, St Pierre: Innovating through experience

Currently, Global VP Marketing, St Pierre, Megan Harrison has worked for major household names like Huggies and Warburtons, as well as challenger brands such as Roberts Bakery. Megan joins Tamara and Wendy to talk through her career in marketing and explore how she’s used her talents for science and creativity to create innovative campaigns. We…

Helen Jeremiah: Growing with the brand

Helen started out as a Lab Technician at the consumer products development division of Boots and worked her way up to become the interim CMO of Boots and then VP Marketing Director at Walgreens Boots Alliance before leaving in December 2023. Helen talks to Tamara and Wendy about her career path at Boots and her…

Katie Martin, innocent drinks: Leading with openness and authenticity

The Genuine Humans podcast returns with Tamara and Wendy chatting with Katie Martin, head of marketing excellence at innocent drinks. Katie takes us through her story, from her foray into acting, her early career in events and her love of shopper marketing. Katie also talks about the importance of being an authentic and emotionally intelligent…

Dom Dwight, Marketing Director at Taylors of Harrogate: The importance of sustainability

This week, we’re talking to Dom Dwight, marketing director at the home of Yorkshire Tea, Taylors of Harrogate. After university, Dom decided to continue working gigs with his band until the band decided to head to London to make their name, and Dom chose to stay back in Leeds and pursue a different career. He…

Kate Cox, CMO at BrightBid: Why marketing’s not the only unicorn

This week, we’re talking to Kate Cox, chief marketing officer of adtech company BrightBid. BrightBid uses AI, automation and human expertise to create more refined Google Ad recommendations for businesses. Kate started out in media planning and buying before moving on to marketing roles and has worked in marketing leadership roles for high-growth companies like…

Sally Henderson: Supporting High Stakes Leadership

This week, Tamara and Wendy talk to the hugely inspiring Sally Henderson, the High Stakes Leadership founder and mentor. Sally works with senior leadership teams during high-pressure situations – during crisis situations or M&As, for example – to equip them to excel when the stakes are high. She talks about the hardest decision she ever…

Jennie Thomson: On building brilliant teams

This week, Tamara and Wendy are chatting with the amazing Jennie Thomson. Jennie is currently the social media director at W Communications, and she has a wealth of agency and brand social and digital experience. From working with brands like Aldi and Weetabix to the tech giant Huawei, Jennie has helped brands navigate the ever-shifting…

Ruth Fittock: self-belief and career momentum

This week, we’re talking to the wonderful Ruth Fittock, marketing director of simply roasted crisps, who was one of the team behind the launch of Popchips and Vitamin Water. She tells Wendy and Tamara how burnout in her early career led her to reassess how she approaches life and work, the influence of strong women…

Kelly Best: Chance encounters & authenticity

Chief marketing officer at Virgin Red, Kelly Best, has wanted to work in marketing since childhood. Kelly, who has also held marketing leadership roles at Sky and TalkTalk, joins Wendy and Tamara to talk about creating opportunities from chance encounters, the importance of being your authentic self and the value of mentorship. Subscribe   Subscribe…

Bryan Scott: The power of persuasive leadership

Persuasive leadership has had a powerful impact on Bryan Scott’s career. Currently, the Marketing Communications Director at Ozone, Bryan recognises the positive influence a persuasive leader can have over their teams.  This week, Bryan joins Wendy and Tamara to discuss how persuasive leadership has influenced his career and talk about how he approaches resilience.  …

Reuben Arnold: Recognising & shaping talent

Reuben Arnold is currently Vice President at Claire’s Accessories and has previously held senior leadership roles for Eurostar, Virgin Atlantic and Starbucks. Reuben talks us through his career path and the essential role his early managers played in shaping who he is today. In this episode, you’ll hear about transforming and reinventing iconic brands and…

Claire Koryczan: Follow your curiosity

Claire Koryczan founded Imagine Beyond to help people develop their self-awareness and build trust in leadership teams. This week, Claire joins us on the Genuine Humans podcast, where we discuss the importance of mentorship, what good leadership looks like and why you should always follow your curiosity. Subscribe Subscribe to Genuine Humans to receive new…

Paul Sutton: Mental Health Awareness

This Mental Health Awareness Week, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Paul Sutton, social and digital marketing consultant (who also hosts the fantastic Digital Download podcast). Mental health awareness is important to Paul, who has balanced depression with running a successful business for years. We talk about what it’s like to experience mental health challenges…

Asad Dhunna: What ladder are you on?

Asad Dhunna spent much of his career working for PR agencies before founding strategic ED&I consultancy, The Unmistakables.  He’s taken inspiration and guidance from several previous managers and leaders, such as Richard Kanareck and Gioconda Beekman, who he worked with at Fleishman Hillard. He’s also inspired by current clients, such as Evelyn Espinal of Unilever.…

Dino Myers-Lamptey: No one has all the answers

We loved speaking to Dino Myers-Lamptey on our most recent episode of Genuine Humans. Dino is the founder of The Barber Shop, a strategic creative company that works with disruptive, purpose-led or purpose-seeking brands. He’s also part of the Conscious Advertising Network and on the Board of the Marketing Society.  He’s a natural entrepreneur. His…

Helen Tupper: Discover your potential

Helen Tupper cofounded Amazing If to help make careers better for everyone. Helen’s always had a fascination for business and leadership, and has spent her career working for some of the UK’s most recognisable brands. This week, Helen tells us about how her growth mindset has shaped her career and led to her desire to…

Jason Andree: Find The Positive In The Negative

Jason Andree has travelled all over the US during his career. After four years working in Switzerland, Jason became the CMO for healthwear start-up, Nufabrx. This week, we hear how Jason’s drive and determination to find positive changes from negative situations has been an invaluable skill in his success.

Francesca Theokli: Just Enjoy The Journey

Francesca Theokli has followed her heart throughout her career, leading her to her position as Marketing Director at Weetabix. In this episode, Francesca talks to Wendy and Tamara about her journey, inspirations and why she believes that everyone should lead in their spaces.

Emma Harris: #SlowTheF*ckdown

We last spoke to Emma Harris back in April 2021. Now, she’s returned to chat about how her life has changed after having a cardiac arrest. Tamara and Wendy were at lunch with Emma when it happened – they also share their experiences of the event. In the year and a bit since it happened,…

Kate Hartley: Good Communication Can Create Change

This week on Geniune Humans, Tamara LIttleton and Wendy Christie talk to Kate Hartley, the co-founder of Polpeo, and author of Communicate in a Crisis. Kate talks about how good communications can create change, why it’s critical to rehearse a crisis before you manage one for real, and the impact that a crisis can have…

Jodie Cook: Ten Year Career

Jodie Cook started her own business at 22 and sold it ten years later. Her book, Ten Year Career: Reimagine Business, Design Your Life, Fast Track Your Freedom, lays out the framework for others to transform their careers. Jodie benefited from having a mum who taught her how to be independent from a young age.…

Emma Inglis: Believe In The Brand

This week on Genuine Humans, Tamara Littleton and Wendy Christie are joined by the amazing Emma Inglis, head of brand marketing for Cath Kidston. From when she was really young, Emma was showing signs of how her career would pan out – she was always creative, loved playing ‘shops’ as a child, and had teenage…

David and Madeline McQueen: Step Into Your Magnificence

When David and Madeline McQueen co-founded the leadership development firm, Q-Squared, they set out to teach leaders how to use clarity, confidence and empowerment to thrive.  This week, they join Tamara and Wendy to talk about how they met and what led the couple to go into business together. We hear how their early lives…

Carole Scott: Give It A Go

Carole Scott (Head of Corporate Communications – UK, Ireland & Nordic – at Henkle) joins us this week. Carole’s desire for variety has led her to acquire a diverse range of experiences – from fundraising work to the academic sector to PR and now consumer goods. Carole has always been willing to try new things,…

Edward Pilkington: Take A Stand For What You Want To Do

It’s series seven of Genuine Humans, and we’re kicking off in style! Tamara and Wendy talk to Diageo’s Chief Marketing and Innovation officer (North America), Edward Pilkington. Edward has worked for Diageo for most of his career, but in that time, he has seized most of the opportunities he could – working in various roles…

Joanne Savage: Connecting With The Brand Purpose

Joanne Savage has never backed down from a challenge in her career. Starting at Unilever in Ireland, Joanne’s been driven by future possibilities and the prospect of helping businesses breakthrough to their next stage of development. Joanne has worked for businesses like Nokia and Argos, and even moved to Uganda to help set up a…

Ross Farquhar: Being True To Yourself

Ross Farquhar is the Marketing Director of Mochi ice cream brand (and TikTok viral sensation) Little Moons.  Ross chats to Tamara and Wendy about what it’s like working for a brand that’s been adopted en masse by millions of teenagers and young adults across the country.  We also hear about the importance of leading with…

Sophie Devonshire: Shaping The Future Of Marketing

Sophie Devonshire’s had extensive experience in business, which she’s distilled into two books – Superfast and LoveWork (which she co-authored with Ben Renshaw). Sophie wants to show people that business can be a force for good and have a positive impact on society. During her career – which has taken her around the world and…

Lisa Delaney: Follow Your Dreams

When Lisa Delaney left her home in Calgary with just $500 in her pocket to find her dream consulting job in London, she couldn’t have imagined where it would take her. Lisa’s worked for agencies and brands in London, Frankfurt and New York, and ran her own business – leading to her current position of…

Milimo Banji: Be Comfortable With Failure

Mils Banji’s on a mission. Through his company, TapIn, Mils wants to prepare 100 million young people for the world of work.  This week, Mils joins Tamara and Wendy to chat about what inspired him to set this inspirational goal for himself. We hear how his early childhood in Zambia and his experiences once his…

Sherilyn Shackell: A Female Entrepreneurs’ Daughter

Joining Tamara and Wendy this week is the incredible Sherilyn Shackell, founder and CEO of The Marketing Academy, the non-profit organisation which inspired and develops the best talent at all levels in marketing, media and communications.  Her story is extraordinary. She left school at 16 to join the family business, following in the footsteps of…

Jorie Sax: I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up

Jorie Sax says she still doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up. A psychology degree and an early career in law started her on a diverse path that has led her into senior roles at the Chicago White Sox, Miller Coors and now United Airlines.  On the podcast, Jorie talks about…

Tom Wallis: Make Things Happen

In this episode of Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Tom Wallis, CMO at Gusto.  Tom taught himself how to code as a child and graduated with a degree in engineering, which could explain his obsession with data and measurement in marketing. He was part of the team behind the success of the…

Tina Fegent: Support Each Other

In this week’s Genuine Humans podcast, Tamara and Wendy are joined by the amazing Tina Fegent, who is a pioneer in marketing procurement, as one of the first people to drive the development of the industry in the UK. Tina has more than 25 years’ experience as a global marketing procurement consultant and has her…

Leo Morejon: The Gold And The Shovel

This week, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Leo Morejon, who is probably best known for his team’s creation of the ‘dunk in the dark’ tweet from Oreo, a campaign that swept Cannes in 2013. Leo’s career has spanned agency, brand and technical sides of marketing. He talks about how he’s got comfortable with being…

James Davies: From Aspiring Bin Man to First Direct

In this episode of Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy talk to the charismatic James Davies, head of marketing at First Direct, about his path to success. From wanting to be a bin man at three years old to developing a passion for writing letters through his youth, James’ career saw him rise through HSBC to…

Tamara Littleton: Celebrating 20 Years of The Social Element

It’s been 20 years since Tamara Littleton founded The Social Element, so what better time to sit down and chat about what led Tamara here?  Series five of The Genuine Human’s podcast kicks off with Wendy Christie and Emma Harris talking to Tamara about everything from her early Masterchef-worthy escapades in the kitchen to the…

Michelle Goodall: Never Judge A Book By Its Cover

Michelle Goodall didn’t take a conventional route into marketing, but over the years, she has worked in B2B marketing, PR agencies, as an independent contractor and is now the CMO of Guild, an app purpose-built for professional groups. In this episode of Genuine Humans, we hear how Michelle’s childhood experiences led her to become an…

Mark Evans: Everybody Brings Something Different

Marketing needs to do a better job of, well, marketing itself. It needs to demonstrate what it is and how it contributes to achieving business goals. This is just one of the subjects that Mark Evans (MD of Marketing and Digital at Direct Line) discusses with Tamara and Wendy in this episode of Genuine Humans.…

Jane Michell: Body Positivity

Jane Michell, founder of Jane Plan, joins Tamara and Wendy in this week’s episode of Genuine Humans. Jane talks to us about her love of cooking, her experience of getting Jane Plan off the ground (despite having no previous business experience), the people who’ve inspired her, and her desire to create something different – a…

Elliot Moss: The Value of Values

Elliot Moss is a partner and the chief brand officer at law firm Mishcon de Reya. He’s also been a presenter on Jazz FM for the past ten years. Elliot talks to us about his extensive and varied experience – from running his own DJ business as a teenager (he messed up an A-Level by…

Arlene Wszalek: Played Scrabulous with Curt Smith

Arlene Wszalek has had a hugely successful and varied career. She helped launch AOL in the UK, managed Curt Smith (co-founder of Tears for Fears) and is now SVP of client solutions and strategic consulting for Allied Global Marketing. Her career has thrived on her love of music, tech and the kind of thoughtful, empathetic…

Cheryl Calverley: Take Your Time

Eve Sleep’s CEO, Cheryl Calverley, is the final guest in series 3 of Genuine Humans. Cheryl talks to Tamara and Wendy about her passion for psychology leading her to pursue a career in marketing. Cheryl counts Matt Burgess (now CEO of Kharisma), Margaret Jobling (now CMO of NatWest) and Mike Lloyd (now CEO of McCarthy…

Linn Frost: Be Yourself.

In this episode of Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Virgin RED’s marketing director, Linn Frost.  At nine years old, Linn knew she wanted to work in advertising. Growing up, Linn realised that she didn’t come from the typical background of many in the industry, but determined to achieve her dream, she went…

Gemma Greaves: Bringing People Together

In this episode of Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Gemma Greaves, founder of networking group, Cabal and co-founder of Nurture & Partners.  Ambitious and driven from childhood, Gemma knew that she wanted to set up her own business one day.  First at Cabal and now with Nurture, Gemma’s work revolves around celebrating…

Nam Nguyen: Build Your Own World

In this episode of Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Nam Nguyen, founder of creative agency, Supervillain. Nam started off by volunteering to help his community as a teen and went on to work for some of the biggest brands in a variety of roles. These experiences helped shape his leadership style, which…

Celia Pronto: Making A Difference

In this episode of Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by the Managing Director of Love Home Swap, Celia Pronto. Celia’s worked in marketing for global consumer, travel and automotive brands, but when it comes down to it, the most important thing for her is being able to say that she’s made a positive…

Mark Earls: The HERDmeister

In this episode of Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by renowned marketer and author, Mark Earls. Mark has had a long career working for various agencies and now as HERDmeister at HERD. His main focus is on researching human behaviour and cognition (and he’s published – and contributed to – several books covering…

Craig Inglis: An Enthusiastic Leader

In this episode of Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Craig Inglis, non-executive global chair at the Marketing Society. Craig started his career at travel agent, Thomson, as a graduate recruit and went on to work for Virgin Trains and John Lewis. For Craig, connecting with the purpose of the brand has been…

Ellie Norman: From Farm Life to Formula 1

In this episode of Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Ellie Norman, director of marketing and communications for Formula 1. Ellie’s career has been powered by serendipity and curiosity.  Growing up on a farm gave Ellie a childhood of freedom and exploration that helped to create her inquisitive nature. As she got older…

Toni Wood: The Power of Networking

In this episode of Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Toni Wood, Chief Marketing Officer of furniture comparison site ufurnish.com. Toni started her career at Sainsbury’s after the business sponsored her degree in retail marketing. After an early career in category management, Toni transitioned to brand management while working for Gillette. One of…

Sam Dolan: Focus On What You Love

In this episode of Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Sam Dolan, head of marketing for Aunt Bessie’s. Sam got her start in marketing after someone told her that she was “good at talking” so should “give it a go”. Just a few weeks into her first marketing job, Sam realised that she’d…

Jessica Myers: It’s All About Life Experience

In this episode of Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Metro Bank’s Director of Brand and Marketing, Jess Myers. Jess started her career with a bang by turning down a graduate placement with American Express and flying out to Australia to start a new life with her boyfriend. It turned out to be…

Tamara Strauss: The World of Travel

We kick off series two of Genuine Humans with Tamara and Wendy chatting with Tamara Strauss, global customer director at Premier Inn. Tamara joined the Premier Inn team just before the global pandemic hit. We hear about how she has handled getting to know her new team in very difficult circumstances, and how she’s maintained…

Emma Harris: A Vision That Came True

This week on Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Emma Harris, founder and CEO of Glow London. Emma’s brand experience includes Eurostar and Virgin, and her infectious enthusiasm, resilience and energy shine through in this episode.  For Emma, family and love lies at the heart of leadership. We hear about her passion for…

Lee Goodger: It All Began With A Holiday

This week on Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Lee Goodger, Head of Social at Huawei. Lee’s empathetic and grounded leadership style shines through the conversation. Childhood trips abroad with his grandad helped to spark his passion for marketing, and he went on to be inspired by a series of senior (and junior)…

Jag Sharma: A Tweet to the Mayor

This week on Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Jag Sharma, who has worked as a senior marketeer for leading brands including Mondelez and HSBC. Jag shares his wealth of experience with Tamara and Wendy, from his first job charming the people of Cardiff into taking tour bus rides, to his marketing career…

Amber Kirby: Be more John

In this week’s episode of Genuine Humans, hosts Tamara Littleton and Wendy Christie talk to senior brand-led marketer, Amber Kirby. Amber has helped shape some of our favourite brands, including Pringles (which she stopped from being launched in a bag), Boots, Virgin Holidays and Eurostar. Amber talks about her career journey, her challenges, and what…

Julie Doleman: Generous Mentor and Respected Leader

This week on Genuine Humans, Tamara and Wendy are joined by Julie Doleman, MD of Global Expansion at Experian.  Their conversation covers some of the innovations Julie is driving at Experian, including its shift in focus to creating a culture that’s truly customer-centric, and how that will develop in the year ahead. Julie shares her…

Lee McGuffie: From Global DJ to Virgin Red

In our very first episode of our new podcast, Genuine Humans, hosts Tamara Littleton and Wendy Christie talk to Virgin Red’s marketing and digital director, Lee McGuffie, about his extraordinary and fascinating career journey. Lee’s route into marketing was anything but traditional: he’s been an internationally-renowned DJ (playing in Ibiza and at Glastonbury) , been…

Introducing Genuine Humans