Search Captions & Ask AI

Driving Disruptive Creativity at L’Oréal: Inside Adam Kornblum’s Innovation Playbook

October 10, 2025 / 29:44

This episode of Marketing Matters features discussions on guerrilla marketing, creativity in branding, and the upcoming Brandstorm competition. Guests include Adam Cornblum, Chief Creative Officer at L'Oreal, and co-hosts Barbara Khan and America Swed.

Adam Cornblum shares his experience with guerrilla marketing, emphasizing the importance of disruptive creativity in large companies like L'Oreal. He discusses how to drive buzz and word of mouth, even with a limited budget.

The conversation highlights Cornblum's entrepreneurial journey, including his early attempts to pitch a credit card game to American Express and how he leveraged storytelling in marketing campaigns.

Listeners learn about the Brandstorm competition, which invites college students to pitch innovative ideas for L'Oreal brands. Cornblum explains the entrepreneurial culture at L'Oreal that encourages creativity and collaboration.

The episode concludes with insights on how nostalgia and unexpected marketing strategies can engage audiences, using examples from successful campaigns like Saravee and Juicy Tubes.

TLDR

Adam Cornblum discusses guerrilla marketing and the Brandstorm competition at L'Oreal, emphasizing creativity and disruptive storytelling.

Episode

29:44
00:00:00
Hello and welcome. You're listening to Marketing Matters on the Wharton podcast
00:00:05
network, our weekly podcast where we analyze the latest in advertising, marketing, customer behavior, new
00:00:10
product launches, branding, retailing. I'm Barbara Khan, the Patty and JH Becker Professor of Marketing, and I'm
00:00:17
joined by my co-host, America Swed, the Whitney M. Young Jr. Professor of Marketing and the brand identity. Hello,
00:00:25
America. >> Hi, Barbara. Okay, so I was talking to my 14-year-old Zora Fabiana Reed and uh
00:00:32
as you know her, she's been on the program >> and she is fiercely into skin care in
00:00:36
the beauty space. You know this >> and she's beautiful skin. >> I love it. You know what she asked me?
00:00:42
She said, "Daddy, I want a gift." >> And I said to her, you know what I'm
00:00:45
going to do because I'm affiliated with the Wharton School? I'm going to bring
00:00:48
in the number one beauty company in the world. That's number one. And then point
00:00:53
number two, from a HR and talent perspective, because she might be interested in working at one of these
00:00:58
companies, I'm going to also potentially bring in the company that does the number one youth innovation event in the
00:01:05
world. >> Oo, >> and I'm going to get dad credit for this. So, what what have we got today
00:01:09
that we are super excited about? are so lucky to have here with us in the studio, which is really fun to be in
00:01:17
person like this, Adam Cornblum, who's the chief creative officer for US brands
00:01:23
at L'Oreal. And I have to say, Adam has been on the show before. Yes. He really
00:01:28
knows marketing manners and he knows his marketing and he's the most creative guy
00:01:33
we've had in a really long time. >> And you you must not be on every day.
00:01:38
>> Adam, we are so psyched to have you. Welcome. >> You're totally cool. Can I just going to
00:01:42
give you some props to start off here? >> Well, this is great, >> dude. You are like a brand yourself. The
00:01:46
the jewelry when I when I saw you >> I noticed you took yours out. >> You know what I'm telling? I got to we
00:01:51
got to level up, man. >> Yeah. No, I love it. >> So, we are excited to have you here and
00:01:54
we we want to pick your brain for the next 24 minutes. >> I'll tell you why it is so exciting to
00:01:59
have him here. He drives disruptive creativity across 17 brands. But what's cool about him is he started the first
00:02:07
in-house guorilla marketing creative agency. He is previously he was the senior vice president and global head of
00:02:15
digital marketing at Sarave and we talked about that with him last year but that is such a cool campaign we got to
00:02:21
talk about it again. >> Definitely. >> Tell us first of all tell us what it
00:02:24
means guerilla marketing creative. Why why did you start that? What's going on
00:02:27
with that? Yeah. So, you know, I think uh especially in this traditional atmosphere that we're in, traditional
00:02:33
advertising, um the idea is how do we disrupt, especially a big company, right, like L'Oreal with all these big
00:02:40
brands, um we really can't do things the same way. We have scale, but in order to
00:02:46
really disrupt, we need to do guerilla social media type of marketing. But if we had a brand, we were starting
00:02:53
$100,000, right? we would choose to do some stuff that would really build buzz, that would really drive word of mouth.
00:03:00
And I think that it's important that no matter how big you get, you remember
00:03:04
that, right? So, you kind of want like imagination to meet budget. >> Um, and I think that that's the really
00:03:11
the goal. >> And what's cool about you is that even though you have a what looks on paper
00:03:16
like a pretty traditional background, you came to it in different ways. Like for in before you got here at L'Oreal,
00:03:23
you were at Oggovy which is one of the biggest advertising agencies in the world and I would think you know
00:03:28
traditional marketing that's ogvy but that's not how you got to right. You
00:03:33
came through a different door. >> No, it's true. Yeah. No, I started as an
00:03:36
entrepreneur. Um, I was in college, senior, supposed to go to law school and I remembered that I added credit cards
00:03:44
to the game Monopoly when I was like 8 years old and uh I mentioned it to some like finance guy and I was a philosophy
00:03:51
guy. So, I was like, when I met this person, I was really scraping for a conversation to have with this finance
00:03:56
guy because I'm like philosophy. Yeah. And I like dug as deep as I can go and
00:04:00
then remembered that I had a credit cards to Monopoly. And I said it and he was like, you know, we're going to be
00:04:04
going through a credit crisis. Like, you should think about doing this. Interesting.
00:04:07
>> So, I go back to school and I Google a credit card game. And I see that Visa
00:04:12
came up with uh the game of life with Hasbro. Got it. >> But it was a debit card game.
00:04:17
>> Debit card. So everyone was like, "Oh, kids." You know, they're just trying to
00:04:20
get their brand in front of everyone. They're not even teaching. So I was like, "Oh, wow." You know, I could take
00:04:24
this credit card game, take American Express's like gold, platinum, blackard
00:04:28
system, >> put it on a game, sell it to AMX for $300 million. >> That was like my thought as a senior in
00:04:35
college, you know, didn't necessarily happen. The $300 million or or or American Express part, but um however,
00:04:43
my first >> The game part happened. >> The game part happened. But when I uh so
00:04:46
I pursue this, I graduate, supposed to go to law school. >> And so I build a business plan. I read
00:04:52
about how to file some like trademarks and copyrights and you know do all this stuff. And then I'm like
00:04:56
>> a law school background. >> The law school. Yeah. I pretend I pretend I was like I can get into law
00:05:00
school. I could be a lawyer, you know, like I could do this. I got this. I just read a book. Um so my first move was
00:05:06
actually to call the CEO of American Express. Um so I go I lived like an hour away from New York City. I drive down to
00:05:13
American Express because I figured if like I'm in the lobby, I won't just take
00:05:17
no for an answer when I call. So I call the back of the platinum card and I'm
00:05:21
like, "Hey, can I please speak to Kenchanol?" He was the CEO at the time.
00:05:25
And they're like, "Huh?" You know, so I like kind of kept going and then they're
00:05:30
like, "I'm sorry, sir." No. Then I was like, "Oh, you know, I said a few more
00:05:34
things." They put me on hold and I was like, "They're asking somebody."
00:05:38
>> Wow. >> Like I think I can like pull this off. So I'm like, "Please tell whoever you
00:05:42
ask that I have the refute to Visa's game of life." And I get put through.
00:05:46
>> So like his his personal assistant gets on and uh he's like, "All right." So
00:05:51
like, "What do you got?" Give him the elevator pitch. And he's like, "Do you
00:05:55
want to like send something over?" And I was like, "Yo, I'm up. I'm downstairs.
00:05:58
I'll send it up." So I was like, "I feel like I feel like Jason Bourne." You
00:06:01
know, >> I'm in the lobby. >> Yeah. I'm in I'm in the lobby. you know,
00:06:05
it's also like 15 like this was like not appropriate, but back then it was like
00:06:11
>> Yeah, it was a hustle. >> Um, so I knew at that point I probably had like three weeks before American
00:06:16
Express was like, "Sorry, kid. Life doesn't come that easy." >> So I started calling like billionaires
00:06:21
and like millionaires and being like, I'm in talks with American Express, which was in theory true, right?
00:06:26
>> Um, so I land this meeting with this billionaire. He passed away. His name
00:06:30
was Charles Wong. He um co-founded Computer Associates. So, I get this meeting. I mean, it took like 40 calls.
00:06:37
>> Yeah. >> Every day. >> Um, so I score this meeting with him and
00:06:42
it was my first business meeting like in the real world. I have no idea what I'm
00:06:45
doing. So, I read all of his books >> and I'm like, "All right, I'm going to
00:06:48
tailor my presentation to the chapters of his books, you know, and like try to mirror his language a little bit."
00:06:53
>> Good thinking. Um, that's marketing >> is the only thing I knew how to do, you
00:06:56
know? I was like, I mean, I read about how to do that, you know. Um, and so I get this meeting, I meet with him, and
00:07:04
he's like, "All right, so like, what do you need from me?" This is a life lesson
00:07:08
that whenever someone powerful and rich says, "What do you need from me?" You
00:07:11
just have an answer. You know what I mean? Like, you just throw out a number, it doesn't make a difference. And I'm
00:07:17
like, "I need you to make some phone calls." >> You know, remember, I'm a kid,
00:07:21
>> okay? Like, I just graduated. I just need some someone to help me out. >> Yeah.
00:07:25
>> Um, and he's like, "Well, listen, >> what a waste of He's like, "If you ever
00:07:28
need any money, come back to me." So, I left just being like, "This is so
00:07:33
strange," you know? Like, >> this went so good, but I but so wrong at
00:07:37
the same time. Like, I don't get it. Like, I mean, I was right there. >> Um,
00:07:41
>> and then so I leave just being like, I just need a billionaire, but not for
00:07:46
money clearly because I would have asked for it if I had any brains, right? >> Um, but just for social capital,
00:07:50
>> social capital. So, I decide like I was reading about Howard Hughes, Walt Disney
00:07:54
at the time. And I was like, you know, if Howard Hughes was alive today, like what does MySpace look like?
00:07:59
>> And like who better to come out with like a new credit card game than a
00:08:03
billionaire to like try to fix the planet, the world, some martyr mission. >> Y.
00:08:08
>> So, I create this fictitious billionaire, >> build all these websites, like hack
00:08:13
Google. At the time, like if you Googled Monopoly, you found like this billionaire trying to save the credit
00:08:17
crisis, you know. Um, and yeah, amassed millions of followers. MySpace was big at the time, so this is like a hot
00:08:24
minute ago. >> Yeah. Um, understood. >> Yeah. And uh, the CEO of Hasbro gets
00:08:29
wind of the billionaire. This was on purpose. >> Fake billionaire. >> Yeah. Yes. He was he So, but the
00:08:35
>> And did you answer the phone like as the fake billionaire? >> So, actually, the fake billionaire
00:08:39
actually had a personal assistant, >> you know? So, it was like a universe. It
00:08:43
was just me and my best friend that like we just went down this hole. Yeah, >> like the personal assistant's name was
00:08:48
Jamie Sky with two Y's. Like don't know how we got there. >> Um but yeah, it was pretty pretty
00:08:54
fascinating. But throughout like the journey, >> it was pretty crazy to like, you know,
00:08:58
meet with different people. >> Um and yeah, so the CEO of Hasbro gets wind of it
00:09:03
>> on Facebook >> and uh we have a conversation and he invites us in and they acquire the game.
00:09:10
>> Wow. >> Um all in like nine ten months and I had literally no idea what I was doing.
00:09:15
>> Wow. So that was like a really cool start. >> Pretty surreal, >> you know.
00:09:19
>> And that is what you mean by gorilla marketing, right? >> Yes. I mean like social, right? Like any
00:09:25
anything we could do like we were taking uh like you know when you see like you're driving by like on a parkway and
00:09:31
you see a sign it's like vote for blank. Yeah. You know like we were just actually picking up those putting white
00:09:36
pieces of paper on top of them and then printing out our own stuff. So we weren't even buying new ones, you know.
00:09:40
We were >> um just and putting them everywhere. We're getting like cease and desist
00:09:44
letters from towns and like New York. It was awesome. When we got a cease and desist, we were like, "Yo, they're
00:09:50
noticing us." >> You know, >> that that's your big that's your KPI.
00:09:55
You start getting season. >> So, like I know we talked about this a little last year, but I do want to build
00:10:00
on it just because it was such a huge success. So, you took that same kind of idea, which is crazy in my opinion. This
00:10:06
whole story is ludicrous, but you did it with Saravee. I mean I'm so like you're
00:10:11
telling us that story because it's this idea of the creative way of approaching
00:10:16
something and it can yield real results. So tell us quickly like the intuition behind Sarah Bay. I mean now it's been a
00:10:23
while like when it happened which was I think the Super Bowl of 2024 is when it was really big.
00:10:28
>> I remember at the time everybody knew this campaign. I mean really everybody.
00:10:33
It was so wellnown cuz you were in the right place at the right time with a crazy silly idea in my
00:10:40
>> opinion. >> But it matches this and this is what you mean by gorilla marketing versus right.
00:10:46
>> You know I think that all too often like we just don't realize that if we don't
00:10:49
have a story just create one >> and I think that that's >> no but but that is what marketing is
00:10:55
right like it's imagination. it meets reality and like you get people to believe something or they want to
00:11:01
believe something >> and I think like you know for Saravee at the time with the Super Bowl it was like
00:11:06
well how do we create a story >> that actually owns the Super Bowl before the Super Bowl even starts
00:11:12
>> you know and I think it was like what's the story we can tell >> um and one of the ideas was all right
00:11:19
well you know we want to >> we want to say that >> when you say as she hears it she's like
00:11:25
wow So I mean I guess like principally speaking Michael Sarah saying that he developed Saravee which was Sarah
00:11:32
actually developed with dermatologists obviously >> which he clearly didn't develop
00:11:35
>> which right clearly didn't develop it I suppose like plays on this fictitious
00:11:39
storytelling right >> um but it's immersive and people you know and like we love being told stories
00:11:45
like it doesn't change >> so it was like all right well how do we bring people into a bigger story
00:11:50
>> but I think what really worked which is the same thing with this madeup
00:11:53
billionaire you know idea is that it wasn't It wasn't like you were fooling
00:11:57
people. People knew that Michael Sierra did not invent. >> It was incredible.
00:12:03
>> I mean, but that's the beauty of it. It's such a good story, you know, and I
00:12:08
think that's kind of the gorilla aspect of it like that. Maybe that's what you
00:12:12
mean by developing this at L'Oreal now. >> Yeah. No, totally. I mean, I think it's,
00:12:16
you know, it's really at the heart it's like disruptive storytelling where
00:12:19
you're like, I want to pay attention to that. I'm curious. I'm intrigued. I want
00:12:22
to follow along, >> you know, and I think at the heart that's that's truly the goal because
00:12:26
we're like in this attention economy. Yeah. >> So, how do we get attention, right?
00:12:30
>> And then you're not going to get attention just like doing what everyone
00:12:32
else does. That's correct. >> Stuff you got to say. I mean, Michael Sarah, I remember at the time like he
00:12:38
wasn't a social media star. >> He doesn't even have social media. Wait,
00:12:41
wait. He doesn't he doesn't even have social media. Okay. >> Such a ludicrous choice. And the only
00:12:46
reason was Sarah V. Michael. But you know, but the amazing part about that is is it's a great lesson because him not
00:12:54
having social media was like, "Okay, we need to build a story around him and get
00:12:59
people to talk about it around him." Whereas I think a lot of brands when they have like a big spokesperson, they
00:13:04
go, "All right, our spokesperson's going to post." Yeah. >> And it's like, okay. And sometimes they
00:13:08
stop there where it's like, "Our spokesperson can't post >> because he doesn't have social media. He
00:13:12
doesn't have a smartphone, you know. Um, so >> on the internet, you know,
00:13:16
>> and he didn't invent the product. >> And he didn't invent the product.
00:13:18
>> He didn't invent the product. >> What I loved about that story though was
00:13:22
part of the reason Sarave is a great brand and it's part of your positioning
00:13:26
is because it was invented by the right people, dermatologists, not Michael Sarah.
00:13:32
>> Exactly. >> I mean, and that's why this crazy story, >> it was crazy like a fox, but I don't
00:13:38
know how much was deliberate or lucky or whatever, but it was crazy. >> Super deliberate. Super del.
00:13:43
>> Yeah. And I think I think a big a big point here. >> I think a big point here is is the idea
00:13:49
that because what we're talking about here is not creating a gimmick. That's
00:13:52
something else. We're talking about >> we're talking about deep deep thought,
00:13:56
you know? So the more you actually pull back like the messaging just keeps getting deeper and better. I mean that
00:14:02
was what was so good about this campaign. And then like you said creativity or whatever you said
00:14:07
craziness I forget exacts big budget when you get to Super Bowl. That's big budget. Now you take this
00:14:15
idea and you scale it. >> Once you become bigger and you have a budget, it's easy to rely on the budget.
00:14:21
It makes total sense. Like we all we're all here every day. You start making a
00:14:24
few dollars and you're like, "Oh, okay. I forgot that maybe what five bucks
00:14:28
feels like when that's all I have." >> Um, so I think it's like a good reminder
00:14:31
of how do you take $100,000 and make it feel like $5 million. I love that, >> you know? And I think like that's like a
00:14:37
huge thing that I don't think uh, you know, we think about often enough. So, I
00:14:42
don't know if you have ever heard of Juicy Tubes. >> Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
00:14:46
>> Wait a minute. Lip gloss. >> Juicy tubes. Where's this going?
00:14:51
>> Not what you think. >> So, it is a lip gloss. But that's cool.
00:14:55
But but here's the thing. >> Oh, well, I was going to say, so the reality is if you've heard of it, it
00:15:01
might be because maybe you've kissed a lot of people that have had Juicy Tubes
00:15:04
and you're like, that's a better kiss. >> Oh, well, wait, hold on. So, I mean, so
00:15:09
right now, you know, I'm just saying like it's kind of like there's a stud
00:15:12
vibe. I studi I don't know about I'm too busy in Bible study studying. I don't know about all
00:15:19
this kissing people. I don't know. I'm just But um Totally. Yeah. Yeah. No, I I
00:15:22
get you. I get you. It was It was a vibe. >> It's a vibe. >> It's a vibe.
00:15:26
>> Yes. Thousand%. So, this was really really popular in the 2000s. Yeah. >> So, the ask was like, "How do we make it
00:15:32
cool again?" >> Yeah. >> Right. So the thinking was we so obviously
00:15:36
there's the nostalgia and it would be easy just to pick some people who were
00:15:40
really popular back then. Yeah. >> But we were thinking okay like let's
00:15:43
pick some popular people at the same time let's change the narrative right like from a guy's perspective maybe you
00:15:49
know Ed Westwick Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl. Maybe he remembers all those kiss scenes because he remembers like
00:15:56
everyone putting on juicy tubes. Yeah. >> Putting on like that lip gloss and the
00:16:00
flavor and the taste, you know, and the stickiness. like that's what you know
00:16:03
what he remembers right >> and yeah in fact him yeah he remembered and it got crazy engagement right like
00:16:11
super mega millions of like organic views I mean there was a lot of layers and a lot of different um you know
00:16:17
celebrities who took part but you know like nostalgic celebrities like him and also just not what you'd expect
00:16:23
>> so I also think that's part of it it's the unexpected >> the unexpected but now here's something
00:16:27
I'm going to throw out there Barbara because we've been talking about you
00:16:30
know when this goes wrong the Cracker Barrel example when there's when there's legacy and you
00:16:34
try to move it forward and you fail fast. >> So So I love the idea like how what's
00:16:40
the decision? >> I mean I think the Cracker Barrel story is the exact opposite of what he's
00:16:44
talking about. >> But I appreciate that. >> The intent was the same. The intent was
00:16:47
to say hey we need to talk we need to bring this forward. We need to we need to modernize this and maybe down the
00:16:53
authentic storytelling. What I like when you look at him when he tells these stories you could see he's getting in
00:16:59
these people's heads you know it's like and that's It's not like, and I think
00:17:03
this is where disruptive marketing, right, there's a fine line, right, of just like throwing a brick through a
00:17:08
window and being like, I'm disruptive. And it's like, okay, well, now you're
00:17:12
getting arrested, you know? So, that's a little too far. So, but like, so there's
00:17:17
a fine line between like being just disruptive for disruptive sake and having true intention and storytelling
00:17:22
and purpose behind it. And this is really like, you know, what we're trying to do.
00:17:26
>> Wow. That's incredible. One of the things we talked about at lunch with you
00:17:30
because we went to lunch before was like it was a great lunch was that part of what you like I think at L'Oreal or what
00:17:36
people said at lunch was that you've got this entrepreneurial culture there and I
00:17:41
think that's part of what you're saying too. How can I but you're a really big
00:17:44
company you know you have all these brands all this stuff how do you allow this kind of
00:17:50
>> entrepreneurial creativity to flourish and not get crushed by uh corporate
00:17:55
goals and >> you know honestly like the super seniors they really believe in this like
00:18:01
creativity they really really do like they're brand marketers at at heart there's a saying that's like uh sees
00:18:07
what has started >> um and like the French culture and like the entrepreneurial way of how L'Oreal
00:18:12
started and where we are today. >> I mean like when it comes from the top that this is what's expected then it
00:18:18
really you know this is the culture we're in. We need to be disruptive. >> Yeah.
00:18:22
>> Um >> and that's you know why this is all transpiring. >> But one of the ways is to connect with
00:18:27
young aspiring creatives to offer their ideas in some sort of and bring them into the fray if you will and to think
00:18:36
about creating a collective community and environment where people can offer up their ideas maybe in teams.
00:18:42
>> Yes. and to potentially >> kind of like an incubator but but on a
00:18:46
super scale creative level. >> So So we're talking about brands. >> Brand
00:18:50
ladies and gentlemen, we were talking about brands. Adam, can you can we >> that was you teed that up? I mean I
00:18:56
everyone was just like they were like drooling like what is this thing? You know
00:19:02
>> how do they do it? How do they get entrepreneurial creativity >> at scale at L'Oreal?
00:19:10
>> Yeah. And really so it's all tell people what it is. >> Let's talk about the global competition.
00:19:15
Yes. So global competition >> judge status. >> Well, but I it's all intertwined.
00:19:19
>> It's all connected. Yes, it is. >> Because basically these teams are
00:19:22
pitching ideas, right? To change the future of a category. Yes. >> Do they get do they get a a a sentence
00:19:29
to start with and then do they have to do it for a particular brand or how does that
00:19:33
>> So they'll get a sentence to to circle, you know, to that they'll message
00:19:37
around. But yes, but so there will be something like a category that the intent will be
00:19:43
>> you and your team change it whether that's you know >> a new product or a crazy campaign.
00:19:50
>> That's that the kind of take the brand by storm. Is that the >> disrupt it?
00:19:55
>> Take the brand wait a second. >> Hold on Barbara you don't work in
00:19:59
marketing. >> I'm telling you she's a guru. >> She is a Jedi. This is mind tricks over
00:20:04
here. It's a brand that stor this is phenomenal and it's brand >> but that is the idea right% but but you
00:20:10
can feel like this is the entrepreneurial culture got >> right like going okay like anybody
00:20:15
doesn't matter who you are you know any age I mean obviously to a point um and
00:20:20
you know like we want to hear amazing ideas and we want to make them happen >> correct
00:20:25
>> and that's there's something special about that >> so there's a there's a national
00:20:28
competition of teams teams of three >> all college students >> all all college students give me the age
00:20:34
range 18 to 30. >> Yeah, because and I do know this because you were saying if you use some of our
00:20:39
products, maybe you can look a little younger and you and you were going to try to pretend like you were doing I
00:20:46
nearly I almost forgot that this was the whole joke to you're not passing. >> Listen, okay, that's fine. I I'm going
00:20:52
to coach at least one of the teams, maybe five. >> Yeah, I know. One I'd be a little
00:20:56
disappointed. I'm just saying I expect to see you. >> Exactly. Undergrad teams 18 to 30. the
00:21:03
the official competition or the proposal starts November 3rd, I believe. Okay. Yes, perfect. And so as me as many how
00:21:10
many applications, a ton of people try for this. This is a big deal. >> Thousands and thousands. It's a big
00:21:13
deal. >> Thousands and thousands. This is the number one youth innovation event in the
00:21:17
world. Okay. It's been going on for how much? 30 years, something like that.
00:21:23
>> Adam's like, "Yeah, at least 30." >> No, I mean, I'm not going to give I'm
00:21:27
not going to give some >> It's like my point. I mean, no, it's it's I mean, I was a judge actually a
00:21:31
few years ago. So, I mean, >> let me ask you, you're a judge, so how do you win? What What are you looking
00:21:35
for? >> Amazing. >> Amazing. >> By the way, storm. >> Say it again, sir.
00:21:41
>> Storm. L'Oreal. >> Storm. That's the official sort of the portal
00:21:49
to put your teams and to Okay. >> November four is come up with something to change your brand. Amazing. And the
00:21:56
criteria be amazing. >> Okay, we have we haven't edited, ladies and gentlemen.
00:22:01
>> Brand just for the record, I read the underline. >> You have broken through the fourth wall.
00:22:14
Get out of here. >> So, for the record, for the >> I I knew it sounded wrong, but literally
00:22:19
it says underline storm. And I'm like, you know what? Like, I'm just kind of
00:22:24
peeking here. That's funny. It's like, okay, it's one of these. >> I think I think we can leave it in.
00:22:30
>> Okay, >> but like and I think everyone will appreciate >> the correction right now. Tell us that
00:22:34
>> it is. Okay, let me say this one more time. >> Creative way to get people to pay
00:22:38
attention. >> That's right. Say it wrong first. >> Wait, wait, wait. We need to buy storm.
00:22:44
And also forward it. So for anyone who's listening and then stop listening, but
00:22:48
maybe he's listening again. >> Okay. >> Right. Because this is there was an
00:22:52
underlying gorilla marketing. Also, I guess I'm just an idiot for not being able to remember brands.
00:22:59
I mean, jeez. >> Yes. >> You know, >> brandstorm. November. >> You would think one can remember 18. You
00:23:06
guys make me nervous. We're sorry. This is exciting. You know, we're going to
00:23:09
we're going to put together teams at Penn and other schools, lots of schools.
00:23:12
There's a competition that happens nationally and then the winner of the national competition goes on to the
00:23:17
global compet which is in >> which is in Patty >> Paris. Yeah. As we don't say as
00:23:25
>> I've learned this >> is that good? Is my French good? >> I feel like you're really good at this.
00:23:29
>> I'm telling you. I'm trying. >> The way you said L'Oreal before. Can you
00:23:31
Can you do it for >> only for my fans? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> When the way you say it, you know.
00:23:38
>> I mean, it's pretty good. Pretty good. >> It's good. No. >> And that's all that's pretty much all
00:23:42
the guidance you give them. Just like >> Yeah. Oh, let it be free. >> Oh, this is a open brief.
00:23:46
>> Open brief. >> This isn't we're this is an entrepreneurial thing. We're not looking
00:23:49
to be like here. >> Yep. Got it wrong again. >> Oh dear. What's this?
00:23:54
>> Oh dear. >> We're getting all kinds of help here, ladies. I know in that room.
00:24:01
>> No, I know. Wow. >> Ladies and gentlemen, we have a we have a a current and event update.
00:24:08
>> The news is breaking at this show. We break the news like in real time. And
00:24:13
>> so obviously it hasn't been up on the website yet. Um and I think it's being
00:24:17
plugged into the website while we speak, which is why I'm getting these papers.
00:24:22
But this is what gorilla marketing is, >> right? What we're looking for. Now, I'm
00:24:26
going to tell you for real, okay? Because I knew the whole time. I just wanted to see if you were paying
00:24:30
attention because, >> you know, everyone I wanted to see if actually my the team was paying
00:24:34
attention. >> It's a good They are. They are. >> We're looking for scalability,
00:24:38
>> scalability, >> feasibility, >> feasibility, >> sustainability, sustainable,
00:24:43
>> innovative, >> innovative. >> Ah, so those are the guidelines you
00:24:46
refused to give us before, >> which I think also means amazing. Yeah, I think I mean you know I I suppose in
00:24:51
my mind amazing was that >> those four things he was amazing that's interesting
00:24:55
>> but I mean those aren't that limiting so like >> yeah I I think I could have gotten away
00:25:00
with >> with amazing >> you know like you know like I don't know
00:25:04
how I feel about >> but but here on the marketing matters program we are into the details so we we
00:25:09
will give the details so >> this it is important it is important >> this is awesome this is going to be an
00:25:13
incredible event >> so it's brandtorm >> brandstorm >> la' laurel.com
00:25:17
>> yep and And as a matter of fact, there's an event tonight, right, with with Adam
00:25:21
will be speaking to the students here at Penn. >> Okay. Can you tell us some of your
00:25:25
brands? >> Yeah. Talk talk us through cuz you are running the whole thing.
00:25:29
>> We're running out of time, but tell us some of the US brands because people may
00:25:33
not know the brands that L'Oreal owns cuz you're a house of brands. You're not
00:25:37
>> Yeah. No. So, I'm just going to tell you. I mean, we have >> 38 brands. I actually think we just
00:25:42
acquired some. So, we >> might be 39. I mean like it's this number grows um from we have Maybelline
00:25:49
Kes Lancome Caravee obviously Skin Sudicles Lar Ro Pose um let's see Ralph Lauren Fragrance
00:25:59
>> there's so many hold on Urban Decay Urban Decay yeah it Cosmetics I'm I'm just kind of going
00:26:06
through this is nice >> I said Essie >> oh you said it sorry >> but I mean but that's solid that you
00:26:10
said it again everybody will remember a very Cool brand. >> This guy such >> But what's cool about these brands is
00:26:17
they're all so different. They have such identity and they have such legacy.
00:26:22
>> Legacy. I mean, speaking of legacy, so for Maybelline, right, that maybe it's
00:26:26
Maybelline Jingle, we actually just brought it back >> with Yeah. with Miley Cyrus where she
00:26:31
actually included it in a in a song. >> And then the ask now to like people, you
00:26:37
know, is make a make some content. Make and just do maybe it's Maybelline. Make
00:26:41
it make it yours. May make the jingle yours and you can enter to win to be uh in a commercial. I can't say which
00:26:47
commercial because apparently like we're not allowed to say that. >> Wow.
00:26:51
>> But it's a legit one next year. >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
00:26:55
>> Like super legit. >> And how what do I need to do to get my entry to the top of the
00:26:59
>> All you need to do is just maybe it's Maybelline and and like just like that
00:27:04
like we do it together. I just I I may disqualify you though, >> you know. So maybe don't do it with me
00:27:10
and then you just need to like hold the product up, you know, show us some love.
00:27:13
I feel like you have nice eyelashes. So maybe maybe you are using this new bubble thing because, you know, I think
00:27:18
it's gone viral. >> Legitimately Well, I'm very excited because my skin regimen is going to
00:27:23
absolutely go to next level thanks to Adam and his colleagues. I'm saying that
00:27:26
right. Next level big time. >> Yeah% 100%. This is great. I love the idea of inviting the community in. Yes.
00:27:32
to co-create because that going back to the Barbara's point about entrepreneurship and imagination and all
00:27:38
of these amazing things, happy accidents occur because you're bringing in people
00:27:42
with and you're you're basically outsourcing the creative talent which is
00:27:45
genius to do. >> And what I think is also just talking to you for a half an hour or however long
00:27:49
we've been here, it sounds like such an amazing place to work. >> I mean because it sounds like
00:27:55
creativity, fun, this kind of stuff. That's what it's about and that's what
00:27:59
beauty and these products should be about. I mean, the brand building, the product innovation, you know, it it
00:28:05
really is amazing. And I mean, personally, I love the French culture. I didn't realize, but I guess as a
00:28:10
philosophy guy, it makes so much sense. >> See how we did that? >> Well, no, but I mean like the but the
00:28:16
reality is like the French culture with like the productive debating, right? So,
00:28:21
taking a cool idea, a clever idea, and like, you know, really putting it through the ringer. The same way if
00:28:25
you're an entrepreneur, right? It's like, well, you're you're telling a lot
00:28:29
of people about this idea and you're trying to filter, you know, like, what do I do? What what advice do I really
00:28:33
take cuz that person didn't really know what they were talking about, >> right? Right. Right. Pressure test.
00:28:38
>> You pressure test it. Yeah. And it's amazing to go back and forth. >> And we're in an attention economy and
00:28:43
now people care about all these brands. This is >> it's beautiful. >> And if you want to be a part of a storm
00:28:48
>> storm, >> right? >> It's brand stom. >> So that's where I was going right now. I
00:28:54
was going to thank you for joining us and asking you to remind our listeners once more where they should go to keep
00:29:00
up with all of this great stuff you're talking about. >> Yes. Brandstorm.
00:29:07
Nice. >> That's where you go. That's where you sign up. >> Very, very cool.
00:29:10
>> Yeah. >> And where do I sign up to be your personal intern? So, >> get the party.
00:29:16
>> We We can chat about that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> We'll do that offline. This is exciting.
00:29:21
>> Well, this is awesome. >> Well, thanks again. That's all we have
00:29:23
time for today. We'd like to thank our producers, Erin Tran and Marissa Rena.
00:29:27
Thank you all for listening today. We'll be back next week. Till then, this has
00:29:30
been Marketing Matters on the Wharton Podcast Network. I'm Barbara Khan here
00:29:35
with America's Reed. [Music]

Badges

This episode stands out for the following:

  • 60
    Most creative

Episode Highlights

  • Meet Adam Cornblum
    Adam Cornblum, chief creative officer at L'Oreal, joins the podcast to discuss innovative marketing.
    “Adam has been on the show before. Yes. He really knows marketing manners.”
    @ 01m 20s
    October 10, 2025
  • Guerilla Marketing Explained
    Adam shares insights on guerilla marketing and its impact on big brands.
    “In order to really disrupt, we need to do guerilla social media type of marketing.”
    @ 02m 48s
    October 10, 2025
  • The Birth of a Game Idea
    A college student's idea for a credit card game leads to an unexpected journey.
    “I remembered that I added credit cards to the game Monopoly when I was like 8.”
    @ 03m 45s
    October 10, 2025
  • The Power of Storytelling
    The conversation shifts to the importance of storytelling in marketing campaigns.
    “If we don’t have a story, just create one.”
    @ 10m 51s
    October 10, 2025
  • Juicy Tubes Comeback
    The hosts discuss how to revive a nostalgic product like Juicy Tubes.
    “How do we make it cool again?”
    @ 15m 32s
    October 10, 2025
  • Nostalgic Marketing
    Exploring how nostalgia can drive engagement with unexpected celebrity choices.
    “It's the unexpected that drives engagement.”
    @ 16m 23s
    October 10, 2025
  • Brandstorm Competition
    A national competition for college students to pitch innovative ideas for brands.
    “This is the number one youth innovation event in the world.”
    @ 21m 17s
    October 10, 2025
  • Creative Collaboration
    Encouraging community involvement in brand creation and innovation.
    “We're outsourcing the creative talent, which is genius to do.”
    @ 27m 43s
    October 10, 2025

Episode Quotes

  • You know what I’m telling? I got to level up, man.
    Driving Disruptive Creativity at L’Oréal: Inside Adam Kornblum’s Innovation Playbook
  • This is so strange.
    Driving Disruptive Creativity at L’Oréal: Inside Adam Kornblum’s Innovation Playbook
  • How do we create a story that actually owns the Super Bowl?
    Driving Disruptive Creativity at L’Oréal: Inside Adam Kornblum’s Innovation Playbook
  • It's not like throwing a brick through a window and being disruptive.
    Driving Disruptive Creativity at L’Oréal: Inside Adam Kornblum’s Innovation Playbook
  • This is the number one youth innovation event in the world.
    Driving Disruptive Creativity at L’Oréal: Inside Adam Kornblum’s Innovation Playbook
  • It's beautiful.
    Driving Disruptive Creativity at L’Oréal: Inside Adam Kornblum’s Innovation Playbook

Key Moments

  • Guest Introduction01:40
  • Game Idea Pitch04:04
  • Guerilla Marketing09:21
  • Storytelling in Marketing10:51
  • Nostalgia Marketing15:36
  • Brandstorm Launch21:05
  • Creative Collaboration27:46
  • Event Announcement29:21

Tension Over Time

Words per Minute Over Time

Vibes Breakdown