How to stand out in the attention economy: Samsung US CMO takes 3 Pressing Questions

September 30, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Samsung’s US CMO, Alison Stransky, made a career out of watching commercials—and then figuring out how to make them work in a world where the algorithm is now a stakeholder. She came to Samsung after a decade at L’Oréal and six years at Google, and she brought a conviction that the company’s edge in the attention economy isn’t just better specs, but something more human. “Now that all of tech has gotten really incredibly good,” she says, “the thing that I think sets us apart is how we play to the human side.”

The algorithm is a stakeholder

Stransky’s core insight is that marketing today has two audiences: the consumer and the algorithm. You can’t ignore either. The algorithm rewards content that keeps people engaged, but the consumer only stays engaged if the content feels real. That tension is what makes the current moment hard. Her solution is to lead with human stories and emotional stakes, not feature lists. When Samsung launched its “AI Living” campaign, the team didn’t lead with technical capabilities. Instead, they identified four buckets—better entertainment, better health, better family care—and asked what each means for a real person. A fridge that recognizes ingredients isn’t about computer vision; it’s about meal planning, which is about time with your family. “We’re gonna hook you with that emotional storytelling,” Stransky says, “and now let’s take you on th

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

Never miss an episode of Behind the Business with Michelle Toh

Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Introduction: The Attention Challenge & Guest Intro** - Michelle Toh introduces the episode's theme: winning attention in the attention economy.
2 (01:22) **Early Career Spark: From Ads to Holistic Marketing** - Alison traces her interest in marketing back to a high school journal entry and a college co-op.
3 (02:44) **Lessons from L'Oreal & Google: Storytelling Meets Data** - Alison explains the distinct guiding principles she absorbed from two major career stops.
4 (04:52) **The Samsung Opportunity & Defining the Role** - Alison describes how she got the call from Samsung while on maternity leave and what the role entails.
5 (06:37) **Lightbulb Moment: The Complex Stakeholder Map** - Alison shares a key realization about marketing beyond just the consumer.
6 (07:57) **Pressing Question 1: Building Connections in the Attention Economy** - Alison outlines Samsung's strategy to break through in a fragmented, algorithm-driven landscape.
7 (10:28) **Brands That Cracked the Code & The Creator Shift** - Alison cites a brand she admires and explains the evolving role of influencers.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

What do you do when 97% of consumers already know your brand? Our latest guest is Samsung Electronics America CMO Allison Stransky, who takes 3 pressing questions about winning attention in an increasingly fragmented online world, the future of marketing and where AI fits in.

In this conversation, we dive into:

00:00: Introduction 01:18: How Allison found her path in marketing 02:45: Lessons from L’Oréal, Google and YouTube 04:50: How Allison landed her role 06:37: The career lesson that changed how Allison reaches audiences 07:54: Competing for attention in an algorithmic market 10:20: Which brands are winning 11:27: Building an influencer and creator strategy 14:54: How Samsung allocates its marketing budget 15:43: Why Samsung skipped the Super Bowl this year 17:13: Ad 18:14: Common generative AI marketing mistakes 19:55: AI skepticism, product bugs and getting it right 21:35: Are we in an AI bubble? 23:03: Inside Samsung’s “Solve for Tomorrow” program — AI fluency for the next generation 26:12: Ad 27:37: How Samsung markets its AI ecosystem 30:03: Daily routine, priorities, and work-life balance 32:16: Building a global marketing strategy37:18: Lessons about data and decision-making 39:02: Rapid-fire round 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays.

This episode is brought to you by our show sponsors:

QUO: Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BTB

FAIRE: Get 50% off your first wholesale order at https://www.faire.com/BTB (Terms may apply)

👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️ About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all — and also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property crunch. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Instagram: / bymichelletoh TikTo