CMO Spotlight | Jaclyn Ruelle - Papa Johns

The CMO Spotlight is a chance to get an inside look into the minds and journeys of high-performing marketing leaders. 

Setup CEO, Joe Koufman, virtually sat down with Jaclyn Ruelle, the VP Head of Brand at Papa Johns, to talk about the impact that a positive attitude can have on an organization, lessons she learned from an impactful campaign, and more.

WATCH + READ THE RECAP BELOW (SCROLL TO THE END FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW)

Q1 | Is there any advice you would like to share?

“I like to subscribe to the idea of being a lifelong learner.”

Ruelle recommends to always find a way to spark curiosity and continuous learning in life. She also advises marketers to come to work with a “can-do” attitude. 

“Be the change you want to see…If you want to be a part of something that's moving, shaping, and morphing, don't just talk about it, be about it.” 

She believes that professionals can cultivate good spirits in the workplace by starting the day with gratitude and recognizing the impact that they’re having on the organization and beyond.

Q2 |  What is your superpower?

Ruelle’s zest for life and her energetic spirit is her superpower. They are the very attributes that draw people to her. She shared that people often “don't know where she finds her energy," but it makes her magnetic to positive experiences and opportunities. 

“I get really excited about most things. It allows me to rally teams and get people running towards the same thing, the same goal, the same North Star in mind. I like to be someone who people like to be around, and if you're an enjoyable, energetic person, sometimes that helps.”

Q3 | Tell us about an impactful campaign.

Ruelle worked on a Mother's Day campaign for American Greetings called "World's Toughest Job.” The team used a combination of creative and data insights to produce the four minute film. They decided to release the campaign four weeks before Mother’s Day with the hope that it would slowly gain traction, and it ended up catching fire within 72 hours of the release. Ruelle stated that “It was one of the most beautifully unexpected things because we thought it was going to take so long and then all of a sudden we thought, ‘Okay, I think we just caught a little bit of lightning in the bottle.’” The experience taught her about timing, planning, and creativity - all skill sets that she’s leveraged in her career since. 

Q4 | Is there a quote that inspires you?

Ruelle used to have a placard on her desk that read, "Hustle Hard," and those words alone kept her focused. 

“It's always resounding in me, even on the tired days. It's okay to pick it back up. Tomorrow's a new day.”

Q5 | Is there a book that you recommend?

Marcus Collins’ book For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be is Ruelle’s current recommendation because “it's all about the power behind why people buy and their different influences.” She loves it because, without complication, he lays out the core of a person’s desires and helps readers understand what drives people.

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For more marketing leadership advice and a view into the mindset of marketing executives in various industries, be sure to watch the full interview with Jaclyn Ruelle, and keep an eye out for more thought leadership from our CMO Spotlights.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW TO THE RIGHT.