Cultural Fluency Makers Compilation Episode

In this special compilation episode of Cultural Fluency Makers, we revisit some of our most impactful conversations from the past year to examine how today’s leading brands stay culturally relevant in a constantly shifting marketplace.

From Gen Z and Hispanic consumers to niche communities like gamers and wine enthusiasts, the challenge is the same: moving beyond cultural relevance as a buzzword—and toward true, actionable cultural fluency.

We’ve brought together a powerhouse group of industry leaders to share how they’re doing exactly that:

• Linda Bethea, Former CMO, Danone
• Kevin Moeller, Head of Beverages Growth Strategy & Insights, PepsiCo
• Nicole Moreo, Director, Marketing Science & Technology, North America, LinkedIn
• Kevin Sherlock, VP of Marketing & GM, Laundry, Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
• Andrew Rebhun, Chief Marketing & Experience Officer, CAVA

Key takeaways from the episode:

• Empathy over data
  • To truly understand the “why,” you have to experience the world the way your consumer does
• Mental availability matters:
  • 92% of people buy from their “Day One” list of three brands—long before they’re ready to purchase.
• AI as infrastructure
  • AI has moved beyond the hype and is now foundational to uncovering unmet needs and accelerating creativity.