How a 25-Year Marketing Veteran Stays Innovative at Cuisinart
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Editor Marie Albiges interviews Mary Rodgers, director of marketing communications at Cuisinart, kitchen appliances for professional and home chefs. Rodgers discusses her 25-year career with Cuisinart (0:55), how she’s helped to grow its marketing department to what it is today (3:20), and how the brand’s entrepreneurial spirit aided its pivots during the COVID-19 pandemic (5:56).
In addition, Rodgers shares how she’s kept up with emerging kitchen product and food trends over the past year-and-a-half (11:20), how her leadership style has evolved over the years (16:32), and the challenges she faced as a woman leader in the industry (21:00). Rodgers discusses how she ensures professional development is a priority for her team (23:16), as well as what she’s most looking forward to for the rest of the year, including learning Italian and making homemade pasta(26:10).
With more than 20 years of experience in the housewares and tabletop industry, Mary Rodgers has been with Cuisinart since 1996. She has significantly expanded the marketing communications department while spearheading industry-first initiatives that have given the company even greater stature as an innovative leader. She currently serves as director of marketing communications for Cuisinart, where she oversees all consumer communication touchpoints for the brand portfolio.
In addition to her commitment to company growth at Cuisinart, Mary finds time to be an active member in numerous community and industry associations, including the Association of National Advertisers, the James Beard Foundation, the International Housewares Association, the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and more. She is an inductee of Les Dames d’ Escoffier International, chosen as a Marketing Hall of Femme Honoree, was named a top woman in digital by Cynoposis Media and a Visionary by Consumer Goods Technology.
Date: August 24, 2021
Credits: Mary Rodgers
Duration: 30:52
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