Former Global Director at The Coca-Cola Company on Marketing & Innovation

Alev Gokce is a brand builder & innovation strategist, running her own consulting business. She is the former Global Director of Brand and Innovation at The Coca Cola Company.

Conversation Summary

Alev Gokce shares her insights on working in the field of marketing and innovation. She discusses her experience as a consultant, mentor, and educator, as well as a Global Brand & Innovation Director at The Coca-Cola Company. Alev emphasizes the importance of strategy in marketing and how it remains a fundamental aspect despite the advancements in technology.

She also highlights the role of culture in fostering creativity and innovation within organizations. Alev shares her journey from starting out in marketing to becoming a global director for branding and innovation at The Coca-Cola Company.

She discusses the challenges of driving innovation in large companies and the need for a mindset shift to embrace risk-taking and long-term investment in ideas. Innovation in the corporate world is often hindered by the pressure for immediate success and the lack of patience to nurture new ideas. The culture of innovation needs to be fostered by giving employees more breathing room and evaluating their performance differently.

Sustainability is a growing concern for brands, and it should be integrated into every aspect of a company's strategy and operations. Transparency and accepting mistakes are crucial in building trust with consumers.

Apple and Google are examples of brands that consistently deliver on their promises and meet customer needs. Pursuing personal passions, such as interior design, can also contribute to professional growth and understanding of human behavior.

Keywords: Alev Gokce, branding, innovation, marketing, strategy, culture, consultant, mentor, educator, technology startup, journey, global director, Coca-Cola, challenges, risk-taking, long-term investment, innovation, corporate world, success, patience, culture of innovation, sustainability, brands, transparency, mistakes, Apple, Google, personal passions, interior design