As a world traveler who loves to learn, Stacey Pool embodies the “growth mindset.” With over twenty years of experience in consumer marketing, she has held a variety of leadership roles across multiple industries and has a strong track record of utilizing guest insights to deliver strong business results.  

In this episode, Stacey and I discuss the brand refresh she is leading at Noodles & Co. with digital initiatives and data components. Stacy knows it is people that fuel it all and has learned that being a balanced leader requires you to be able to adjust quickly to changing needs.

 In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The importance of broadening your skill set and being an agile leader
  • The way digital and physical engagement intersect
  • How Noodles & Co. is using data to improve both the guest experience and profit margins

 Key Highlights

  • [03:45] How did Stacy end up as CMO at Noodles & Co.
  • [07:00] How lateral moves helped Stacy in her current executive roles
  • [09:00] The importance of agility and cross-training in leadership
  • [10:45] What Stacy learned from her transition to the food industry
  • [13:20] Noodles & Co. overview and differentiators
  • [15:20] The new brand positioning Stacy brought to the company
  • [18:25] The 100-day action plan and how it had to be adjusted
  • [21:00] How Noodles & Co. is approaching the digital transformation
  • [24:00] The data world Noodles is trying to build
  • [26:50] How data storage and usage have evolved
  • [28:25] How Stacy approaches the people side of the business
  • [32:10] The two experiences that shaped who Stacy is as a person
  • [33:50] Why people should give themselves more grace
  • [35:15] The importance of CDPs for marketers
  • [37:22] The work Stacy is doing with Community First and other brands to watch
  • [40:15] The threat of the unknown and the need to pivot quickly

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Alan B. Hart is the creator and host of “Marketing Today with Alan Hart,” a weekly podcast where he interviews leading global marketing professionals and business leaders. Alan advises leading executives and marketing teams on brand, customer experience, innovation, and growth opportunities. He has consulted with Fortune 100 companies, but is an entrepreneur at his core, having founded or served as an executive for nine companies.