Herd Mentality
The CU Herd Mentality Podcast brings you candid conversations between University of Colorado students and professionals across the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry. From emerging industry trends to career insights, each episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world's most dynamic sectors.
The views and opinions expressed in these episodes are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Colorado.
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Episodes
Monday Feb 23, 2026
Monday Feb 23, 2026
During this episode, Lewis explains how his role has evolved from account manager to U.S. sales director, walking through how he structures his weeks in four-week cycles, collaborates internally with the VP of Digital Commerce, and balances long-term brand strategy with short-term commercial pressures in a privately held company. Lewis dives into how he uses data and forecasting to make decisions, mainly prioritizing availability as the top growth lever, and how he uses market share and retailer “sales out” to guide choices. He shares a key story of defending price increases during the cocoa supply crisis and removing a top-selling SKU when the long-term metrics support it. Throughout the conversation, he shares leadership and career lessons for emerging professionals, emphasizing the importance of being comfortable with discomfort and rejection, relying on team and data over ego, and always starting from the consumer and working backward in negotiations and sales strategy.
Monday Feb 23, 2026
Monday Feb 23, 2026
In this episode, we sit down with Alden Zeff, Global Connected Commerce Associate Manager at Champion Petfoods, to explore how premium pet brands develop and display their identity in an increasingly digital and marketplace-driven world. We discuss the challenges of maintaining brand consistency across ecommerce, retail media, and brick-and-mortar channels, while balancing personalization, performance marketing, and long-term brand equity. The conversation highlights how pet humanization, sustainability, and data-driven commerce are shaping how premium pet brands show up for today’s pet parents.
Monday Feb 23, 2026
Monday Feb 23, 2026
Monday Feb 23, 2026
In this podcast, we interviewed Jessica Hamel, founder of PlantChi, a nutrient-dense seasoning brand built around simple, plant-based nourishment. We explored the company’s founding story, mission-driven values, real food ingredient positioning, and target consumer. We also covered the strategic trade-offs behind certain natural and organic certifications/claims, packaging decisions, conscious capitalism, consumer education, and DTC versus retail comparison as the brand continues to grow. Jessica offered thoughtful insights into build