Andy Judd

“I grew up across a few states and then after spending my last two years of high school in Edmond, Oklahoma, I headed to OU. Initially, I was a math major, inspired by an exceptional high school teacher. As I progressed at OU, I realized my need for a discipline that offered practical application of my studies, which prompted my transition to Price College where I chose to major in marketing. I’ve always been drawn to the communication aspects of marketing, ultimately getting a minor in Communications as well.”

“During my MBA, I served as the graduate assistant for the Integrated Business Core (IBC) Program in its formative years. The entrepreneurship program also launched during this time, and I was fortunate to enroll in one of its inaugural classes, Entrepreneur Field Studies. This class allowed me to partner with a local company in a consulting capacity. Price College’s marketing program gave me the flexibility to take courses in finance, supply chain, administration, and strategy, broadening my business skill set. This well-rounded education enabled me to excel beyond peers who may have more narrowly focused within marketing. As a result, I’ve become a more effective and well-rounded business leader, adept at discussing commercial strategies with operations and enhancing my financial acumen to build better strategies with my finance partners.”

“I began my career at Campbell Soup, managing marketing for several brands, including the iconic red and white condensed soup. I led efforts during a significant renovation period, successfully rebalancing the nutritional proposition by reducing sodium levels while maintaining the same taste experience and relaunching the brand. Notably, we updated the Campbell’s label for the first time in 50 years. I then transitioned into the health and wellness sector, joining WhiteWave Foods as Director of Marketing which brought me to Boulder, Colorado. I worked on both scale brands like Silk and emerging brands like So Delicious Dairy Free, as well as witnessed the company’s acquisition by Danone. Motivated by evolving trends in health and wellness, and a desire to work with products that aligned with my values, I became the Chief Marketing Officer at ONE Brands, known for its high protein, low sugar bars. We grew the company significantly before selling it to The Hershey Company. I joined poppi about eighteen months ago when its market penetration was less than 5% and brand awareness at 10%. Since then, we’ve increased brand awareness to nearly 30% and market penetration to 15%, tripling nearly every key metric. Our impact on the industry has been profound as we are working diligently to revolutionize a $42 billion soda space. A pivotal moment this past year was launching our new campaign ‘The Future of Soda’, which was the most watched spot in this year’s Super Bowl.”

“The best marketers have three essential skills: analytics, project management, and creativity. I have worked diligently to build highly competent teams by harnessing these skills from my employees in the collective, focusing on finding each member’s superpower. For example, my brand team excels in analytics and project management, while my social team is wildly creative. Not every role requires mastery in all three areas but having a team where these skills are balanced ensures we function effectively as a whole. I also continue to employ technical experts that have a deep understanding of the relative systems they oversee whether it’s Google, Amazon, or social media. Whereas I can provide oversight and the application of brand strategy into their technical universe, they bring specialized knowledge in a rapidly changing field.”

“While not every marketing role requires proficiency in analytics, project management, and creativity, developing all three of these skills is vital especially for those aiming forleadership positions. The path to career advancement is no longer a ladder climb to the top, but, instead, a rock wall climb to the summit, requiring lateral moves or event temporary steps back to ultimately climb higher. Being a student is a lifelong journey. You can’t stop learning along the way. Price students are characterized as incredibly industrious. I remember faculty receiving feedback from recruiters that OU students don't get outworked, and they don't come into the workplace with an entitled expectation. That’s the culture of Price College students. It’s the same lesson I share with my children: the real secret to career success is simply - Do the work. Keep learning. There's no shortcut. ”