In the age of globalization, it's no surprise Generation Z members feel pressure about what to be when they grow up. They are also acutely aware of the state of many Millennials who are paying off large amounts of student debt and working in jobs paying less than they had anticipated.

Over the next few years, the retail landscape will change in some very fundamental ways. None of these changes will be bigger than the impact felt from the rise of the multicultural shopper.

How can machines best accelerate uniquely human design?

A recent article published by the New York Times highlights the increasing role brands are playing in our escalating culture wars, with the NFL finding itself as the latest brand on the frontlines.

Let's face it. Reaching consumers, in general and reaching affluent consumers, in particular, is becoming more and more challenging. The McCarthy Group notes that 36% of high-income consumers feel they are constantly followed by advertising online. Even more concerning is a finding that 84% of Millennials don't trust advertising.

There is not one simple definition so there is not one simple strategy to reach them, and connect.

Marketing automation makes it easy for companies to streamline certain repetitive marketing tasks like emails and social media. However, many traditional marketing automation models only allow for email nurturing, which ends up shortchanging your customers by not allowing for the type of nurturing they need to really connect with your business and make a purchasing decision.

Even as marketers are figuring out how to maximize mobile, here come more innovations speeding down the technology highway: artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR). It seems business travelers think these innovations are generally positive.

TheSkimm, littleBits, Salesforce. What do these disparate brands have in common? Each has successfully grown its business by actively engaging the help of communities outside its organization.

When was the last time you received a media RFP that said, "Put together the best overall marketing plan that you can for brand X"? I've seen hundreds of RFPs to date and none have asked anything similar.