As a kid, Macy's CMO Rich Lennox had two dreams: to be the next Chuck Yeager, or to be a veterinarian. But after a “bizarre series of accidents,” he took a different path: joining J. Walter Thompson before leading a series of incredible brands. Listen to Rich as he discusses why hypnotizing a focus group might be a good idea (spoiler: it helped him crack an entirely new diamond market for De Beers!); why he's been so effective at turnarounds at places like Zales ("you have to be the type who runs towards fires rather than away"), and what it means to be responsible for not only the Macy's brand, but also one of America's most beloved traditions: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.