How to Transform Random Acts of Marketing into Intentional Marketing: A Conversation with the CMO of Purdue University

Or listen on:

Read transcript

About the Episode

What do Lululemon, Bombas, Warby Parker, and Indianapolis' St. Elmo Steak House all have in common?

These brands have all served as creative inspiration to R. Ethan Braden, the Senior Vice President and the chief marketing officer at Purdue University, over the course of his career.

Before joining Purdue University, Ethan worked for Eli Lilly & Company for ten years where he served in a variety of senior marketing and sales leadership roles in the U.S. and throughout the emerging markets.

On this week's episode, Ethan shares a behind-the-scenes look at how he led Purdue's 300+ person marketing and communications team through a historic brand evolution for the university.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation on how to listen to your constituents to discern your school's unique value proposition, how to empower faculty and staff so that they fully adopt and embody a brand shift, and where to source creative inspiration from (whether for a rebrand or an enrollment marketing campaign).

People in this episode

Host

Seth Odell

Seth Odell is Founder and CEO of Kanahoma, the fastest growing digital marketing agency in higher education, and host of The Higher Ed Pulse.

Mallory Willsea

Mallory Willsea is a strategist and consultant working at the intersection of higher education.

Interviewee

R. Ethan Braden

Ethan Braden serves as Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Texas A&M University. Formerly Ethan was executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer for both Purdue University and Purdue Global which has been ranked as one of the Top Ten Most Innovative Schools in America by U.S. News and World Report for five consecutive years.

Other episodes

Technology + Data

All Episodes

Episode 7: The Rise of the AI Creative

JC is joined by Mike McGetrick to examine how AI is transforming the creative process in higher education marketing.

with

Dr. JeanCarlo (JC) Bonilla

Episode 71: How Pretzels Became One of Higher Ed’s Most Memorable Enrollment Marketing Campaigns

Marketing + Communications

All Episodes

Episode 71: How Pretzels Became One of Higher Ed’s Most Memorable Enrollment Marketing Campaigns

Safaniya Stevenson sits down with Andy Schneider, Dean of Admissions at Marquette University, to unpack the now-famous admissions pretzel—an unconventional campaign that sends 10,000+ pretzels to admitted students each year.

with

Safaniya Stevenson

Episode 108: You’re Not Behind on Agentic AI

Technology + Data

All Episodes

Episode 108: You’re Not Behind on Agentic AI

Mallory Willsea sits down with Doug Gapinski, Account Director at 8th Light, to unpack the real story behind agentic AI.

with

Mallory Willsea

Pulse Check: The Reputation Rethink - Part 5

Marketing + Communications

All Episodes

Pulse Check: The Reputation Rethink - Part 5

Host Day Kibilds sits down with student leaders Kathleen Parks (Texas A&M) and Mac Mahoney (Dartmouth) to discuss how they’re creating spaces for respectful dialogue and meaningful conversation on campus.

with

Dayana Kibilds