Super Bowl ads, Bad Bunny, and the business of cultural risk, with Autodesk’s Dara Treseder

The Super Bowl ads and halftime show are analyzed by Dara Treseder, CMO of Autodesk, who assesses what made an ad successful this year. Simplicity, sincerity, and statement-making were key, with many ads falling flat due to forgettability and insincere celebrity use. Anthropic and Pepsi stood out for their bold approaches, while the Bad Bunny halftime show was seen as a unifying, joyful statement despite some controversy. Treseder also reflects on Black History Month, the rise of anti-Black sentiment, and the importance of finding joy as a form of resistance in challenging times. She shares her perspective as a Black woman in America, emphasizing the need for integrity and love in making statements, whether red, blue, or purple.