The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Shelley Zalis, Founder & CEO of The Female Quotient. Founded in 2007, The Female Quotient (The FQ) is an equality services company that provides thought leadership platforms for women and develops solutions for organizations committed to closing the gender gap in the workplace.

Co-Hosting this episode with PVSB is Jacqui Dynowski, co-host of SheCommerce Podcast.

Follow Shelley on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyzalis/

Follow The FQ online at: https://www.thefemalequotient.com/

Shelley answers these questions:

1. What's the most compelling ROI data you've seen from CPG companies that have actually closed their internal gender gaps — and what did they do differently?
2. How big is that disconnect, and what's the cost to brand relevance when leadership doesn't reflect the shopper?
3. How have CPG companies — historically some of the biggest advertisers in the world — performed on the Gender Equality Measure (GEM) score, and where is the biggest gap still?
4. How do you counsel companies that are getting squeamish — and what do you say to those who argue that pulling back is a business-neutral decision?
5. For CPG companies deploying AI in marketing, hiring, and consumer insights, what guardrails should they be building in?
6. How are you seeing CPG executives use those spaces differently than other industries — and what conversations are you hearing most from women in the retail media and commerce ecosystem?
7. In CPG, where field sales, trade roles, and supply chain jobs often require significant travel and irregular hours, how should companies redesign work structures to stop losing women mid-career?
8. What does it look like when a male CPG CEO truly leads on this — versus when it's performative — and how can listeners of this podcast who are male executives actually show up differently starting Monday morning?
9. What do you see as the unique opportunity that Cannes creates for driving meaningful equality commitments from CMOs and brand leaders — versus it being another cocktail-party conversation that doesn't translate back to the office?
10. What are the two or three metrics that CPG companies should be tracking internally that most of them currently aren't — and how do you hold leadership accountable when the numbers don't move?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in the episode by Patrick Nommensen, Head, Strategic Initiatives, AMS & Europe, E-Commerce at TikTok.

This episode was record in Las Vegas at Shoptalk 2026.

Follow Patrick on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pnommensen/

Follow TikTok on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiktok/

Patrick answers these questions:

1. Patrick, you’ve been vocal about how TikTok Shop is “discovery-led commerce,” where shopping starts with inspiration, not intent. In 2026, reports by others have estimated there are over 80 million U.S. shoppers on the platform, how do you preserve that sense of discovery at scale?
2. There’s a perception that TikTok Shop is driven by viral, one-off purchases. But we’re now seeing brands build repeat purchase behavior and long-term customer value. What tools are TikTok Shop providing for brands to move from “viral moment” to sustained brand loyalty?
3. We see the huge stars, but your data shows that micro-influencers often have 2x the engagement for CPG brands. How is TikTok Shop’s affiliate model evolving to help a brand like PepsiCo and flavor swap chips manage multiple micro-creators at scale without a massive manual headcount?
4. Live shopping is often seen as an Asia-first behavior, but we’re seeing strong adoption in the U.S. What’s different about how U.S. consumers engage with LIVE, and where do you see the biggest opportunity?
5. Traditional e-commerce starts with search and intent. TikTok Shop starts with discovery and inspiration. How should CPG brands rethink their entire go-to-market strategy in a world where consumers don’t search—they discover?
6. Retailers like Walmart and Amazon have deep "closed-loop" measurement. How is TikTok Shop closing the gap to show a CPG Brand Manager exactly how a viral video on Tuesday led to an in-store purchase at a physical Kroger on Friday?
7. Amazon and Walmart have launched their own social feeds. What is the "moat" that TikTok Shop has that a legacy retailer can never replicate, no matter how much they invest in "social" features?
8. We’re hearing more brands describe TikTok Shop as a real-time “test kitchen” for product development. Can you share how brands are using the platform to test, iterate, and scale products faster than traditional retail cycles?
9. TikTok Shop is no longer just a test channel–many enterprise brands are now treating it as core infrastructure. What are you seeing from large CPG brands in terms of investment and long-term strategy?
10. If we sit down in 2030, is TikTok still an "App," or is it the underlying operating system for how the world discovers and consumes everything?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce.

This week’s topics:

• Uber Invests More in Delivery Hero
• DGMN introduces in-store audio
• Conagra's new CEO
• Goop Kitchen

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in the episode by Benoit Vatere, Chief Media Officer for Liquid Death. As one of the fastest growing non-alcoholic beverage brands, Liquid Death uses comedy and entertainment to make health and sustainability 50 times more fun. We take low-calorie beverages and package them into infinitely recyclable cans that compete with the fun marketing of unhealthy brands across beer and junk food.

This episode was record in Las Vegas at Shoptalk 2026.

Follow Benoit on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benoitvatere

Follow Liquid Death on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liquid-death

Benoit answers these questions:

1. Benoit, you’ve famously said Liquid Death is an entertainment company that happens to sell water. How do you maintain that "unfiltered" creative edge while managing the rigid P&L and distribution requirements of a global CPG?
2. You have a "Country Club" of fans who literally tattoo your logo on their bodies. In an AI world where algorithms try to predict loyalty, how do you protect and scale the "irrational" human connection your brand has built?
3. You’ve built a massive brand by doing the opposite of "best practices." What is one "traditional" CPG marketing rule that you think is officially dead in 2026?
4. Most brands use Retail Media for lower-funnel "search" (buying keywords). Liquid Death is a lifestyle brand that wins at the shelf. How are you using Retail Media Networks (RMNs) to drive discovery rather than just capturing existing demand?
5. Does Liquid Death focus strictly on the "Big 3" (Amazon, Walmart, Instacart), or are you finding unique value in the smaller, niche retail networks?
6. How is Liquid Death structured to ensure the "vibe" isn't lost in the math of an ad-stack?
7. How does a brand as visually loud as Liquid Death plan to win the journey from the living room sofa to the kitchen fridge?
8. How does a brand built on impulse and rebellion stay relevant when a literal robot is making the household grocery list?
9. Are you using GenAI to scale your content production, or do you find that AI currently lacks the "edge" or "danger" required for your brand voice?
10. How does Liquid Death sync its DTC data with physical retail signals to create a 360-degree view of your "Country Club" members?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Christian Hasshold, host of the In/Organic Podcast and Managing Partner of Resilient Edge M&A Advisors.

Follow Christian on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/

Follow the In/Organic podcast on Apple Podcasts at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inorganic-podcast/id1710070954

Follow the In/Organic podcast on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/show/0oa6R4M37vtys5II6clEfF?si=7fdee69be69747f4

Christian answers these questions:

1. How do you distinguish between a “nice-to-have” tuck-in acquisition and a transformational, growth-enabling deal in the lower/middle markets?
2. In the lower-to-middle market, what characteristics make an agency or SAAS target attractive to PE buyers versus strategic acquirers? Are there red flags you consistently see?
3. What valuation levers tend to move the needle most for digital agencies and B2B SaaS in private equity? In what scenarios do earnouts or seller financing play a critical role in aligning incentives post-close?
4. What’s a must-have due diligence checklist for an M&A in this space (e.g., tech stack, client concentration, monetization models, recurring revenue quality)? Any surprises you often encounter?
5. After closing, what are your top three priorities to de-risk integration and accelerate value realization in a digital agency or B2B SaaS platform?
6. How do you evaluate and incorporate AI and data-driven product improvements in these companies to unlock scale? Are there specific bets you’d avoid in early-stage growth scenarios?
7. For CPG brands and their agencies, what practical lessons can you share from the M&A and growth playbook that help them become more attractive to PE-backed buyers or to strike better LP-aligned partnerships?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Each week, the CPG Guys will riff on the hottest topics in the world of omnichannel commerce.

This week’s topics:

• Unilever acquires GRÜNS
• Sazerac Counters Pernod Ricard for Brown-Forman
• Nutella in Space
• Upfront Season

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Jason O’Toole, Head of Connected Commerce & Media, and Katie Tripodi, Director of US Digital Merchandising and eCommerce Expansion at Gildan, a leading manufacturer of everyday basic apparel. The Company’s product offering includes activewear, underwear, socks, and intimates sold to a broad range of customers, including wholesale distributors, screenprinters, embellishers, retailers or e-commerce platforms, as well as global lifestyle brand companies.

Follow Jason on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmotoole

Follow Katie on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-sierveld-tripodi-b945262

Follow Gildan on LinkedIn at: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/gildan

Follow Gildan online at: https://www.gildan.com/us/en

Jason & Katie answer these questions:

How have you structured your connected commerce teams internally to meet the demands of this complex omnichannel landscape and break down traditional silos?

1. For a legacy apparel brand, that is a bold and necessary move. What does your playbook for TikTok Shop look like, and how does your merchandising strategy there differ from a traditional dot-com?
2. In a world where 'attention is the new storefront,' how do you ensure that your upper-funnel brand storytelling actually connects to disciplined, bottom-funnel media systems?
3. When you are merchandising for a platform that is driven by viral moments and creator content, how do you forecast inventory and manage the digital shelf differently than you would for a predictable weekly cadence at a mass retailer?
4. How did you convince the organization to invest so heavily in that upper-funnel homepage placement rather than just fighting it out in bottom-funnel search?
5. you consciously chose to prioritize branded search and incremental ad-attributed sales as your main success metrics. Why were those specific metrics the best indicators of the consumer's path-to-purchase journey for apparel?
6. How do you approach digital shelf management—specifically regarding Product Detail Page (PDP) content, ratings, and reviews—to help the consumer confidently navigate that SKU complexity and hit the 'buy' button?
7. How do brands like Hanes and Maidenform approach 3P competition and brand protection across digital marketplaces to ensure the consumer gets an authentic, premium experience?
8. As consumer discovery shifts away from traditional search bars toward social feeds, creator recommendations, and even generative AI, what is the most critical muscle an apparel brand needs to build today to win the digital shelf in 2026 and beyond?

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC o

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Greg Brown, SVP of Innovation for the DAS Group of Agencies at Omnicom. Greg joins to share key themes coming from the 2026 SXSW which dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW® is best known for its conferences and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture.

Follow Greg on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsgregbrown/

Follow Omnicom online at: http://omnicom.com

Download Omnicom's SXSW 2026 Wrap Report here: https://www.omc.com/newsroom/omnicom-at-sxsw-2026-wrap-report/

Greg answers these questions:

1. Omnicom’s SXSW recap is titled “Where Growth Is Moving Next” — what was the single most unexpected signal you picked up in Austin that confirmed that framing for you personally?
2. For CPG brands that have built entire commercial models around scale and mass awareness, how disruptive is that shift really — and how urgently should they be acting?
3. For CPG brands whose products live on retailer shelves and retail media platforms, what does it mean practically when an AI agent intercepts a shopper before they ever reach a PDP?
4. Walmart is reportedly opening its doors to autonomous shopping agents while Amazon is moving to block them — two of the most important retail media platforms taking opposite positions. How should CPG brands be hedging right now?
5. Where do you see genuine participation-led growth opportunities for everyday CPG brands?
6. Gen Z and Gen Alpha were called out specifically — they don’t reject branded content, they reject inauthentic content. What’s the line between a CPG brand showing up credibly in culture versus coming across as cringe?
7. As CPG brands accelerate AI adoption across content, commerce, and consumer insights — where’s the line?
8. The report coins the phrase “the E-IQ economy.” What does leading with emotional intelligence actually look like in practice for a CPG marketer building campaigns in 2026?
9. What’s the realistic on-ramp for CPG brands to participate in immersive, experience-led growth without a Las Vegas budget?
10. As you look across all six themes from SXSW 2026, what’s the one move you’d tell a CPG Chief Marketing Officer to prioritize in the next 90 days — and what’s the one thing they should stop doing immediately?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.com
FMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.com
SheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
Rhea Raj’s Website: http://rhearaj.com
Lara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.