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In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with art director, lecturer and creative director Fiona Hayes. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Fiona comment on the photographic environment as they see it through the exhibitions, magazines, talks and events that Fiona has seen over the previous weeks. Fiona Hayes Fiona Hayes is an art director, designer, consultant and lecturer with over 30 years' experience in publishing, fashion and the art world. She has been a magazine art director ten times: on Punch, Company, Eve, the British and Russian editions of Cosmopolitan, House & Garden,GQ India (based in Mumbai), MyselfGermany (in Munich), and Russian Vogue (twice). Between 2013 and 2019, as Art Director of New Markets and Brand Development for Condé Nast International, based in London and Paris, she oversaw all the company's launches – 14 magazines, including seven editions of Vogue. She still consults as Design Director at Large for Vogue Hong Kong. In 2002 she founded independent photography magazine DayFour, publishing it continuously until 2012. She is Co-Author and Art Director of The Fashion Yearbook, and creative director of books for South African media consultancy Legacy Creates. Outside the publishing world, she has been Art Director of contemporary art auction house Phillips de Pury in London and New York, and Consultant Art Director of Russian luxury retail group Mercury/TSUM. (Fiona would like to point out she is not Russian: she is proudly Irish and studied Visual Communication and History of Art and Design at NCAD Dublin.) She currently divides her time between design consultancy for commercial clients, and lecturing at Oxford Brookes University, the Condé Nast College of Fashion and Design, London, Nottingham Trent University, Ravensbourne University, and Leeds University. She lives in West London. @theartdictator Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work zas a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career Scott has art directed numerous advertising campaigns, worked as a creative director at Sotheby's, art directed foto8magazine, founded his own photographic gallery, edited Professional Photographer magazine and launched his own title for photographers and filmmakers Hungry Eye. He founded the United Nations of Photography in 2012, and is now a Senior Lecturer and Subject Co-ordinator: Photography at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, and a BBC Radio contributor. Scott is the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Routledge 2014), The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Routledge 2015), New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography (Routledge 2019), and What Does Photography Mean To You? (Bluecoat Press 2020). His photography has been published in At Home With The Makers of Style (Thames & Hudson 2006) and Crash Happy: A Night at The Bangers (Cafe Royal Books 2012). His film Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay was premiered in 2018. Scott's next book is Inside Vogue House: One building, seven magazines, sixty years of stories, Orphans Publishing, is on sale February 2024. Image: André Coelho, EFE RJ - Río de Janeiro/World Press Photo 2025 Mentioned in this episode: https://www.worldpressphoto.org/calendar/2025/london-uk https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/astronomy-photographer-year/exhibition https://www.eadweardmuybridge.co.uk © Grant Scott 2025
This week it's a look under the hood of Highland Brewing in Asheville. The venerable institution has been going strong for more than 30 years and has grown and adapted over two generations of ownership. From the Craft Brewers Conference in Indianapolis, this episode was recorded before the death of Highland Brewing founder Oscar Wong. Guests are: Nikki Mitchell the VP of Brand Development and Brock Ashburn, the VP of Operations. For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.SponsorsBrewery Branding Co.Since 2009, Brewery Branding has been crafting merch that helps breweries thrive.They're born and raised in Portland, Oregon, giving them front row seats to the craft beer revolution and inspiring them to serve as your industry ally for everything branded: apparel, headwear, drinkware, and all the “wouldn't it be cool if…” ideas you can dream up. Brewery Branding has been there, done that, and made the t-shirts to prove it. Brewery Branding didn't rise to the top by being just another supplier; they're your merch mercenaries ready to get in the trenches with you. Their expert design team, online stores, warehousing, and fulfillment services are here to make your life easier—and your custom goods more profitable than painful.Whether you're refreshing your retail space, gearing up for festival season, or launching a new product in retail, Brewery Branding delivers custom goods that are on-trend, on-brand, and ready to succeed. From the smallest batch to the biggest order, nothing gets them more excited than raising a glass to your success.Stomp StickersStomp Stickers is a proud member of the Brewers Association that produces a wide variety of printed brewery products such as beerlabels, keg collars, coasters, beer boxes and much more. Stomp's website features an easy-to-use design tool, low quantity orders, fast turn times, and free domestic shipping. Visit StompStickers.com and use code THINKBEER for 15% off your first order.The 5th IngredientIf you're running a brewery owner or operator, Beer30 by The 5th Ingredient is the ultimate command center. The most powerful brewery management software on the market, Beer30 handles the entire brewing workflow, from recipe development to production. Once your beer is brewed and ready, it seamlessly manages your inventory and streamlines your brewery's sales and distribution--all in the same easy-to-use platform. Beer30 lets you get back to the beer and the people that made you fall in love with this industry in the first place. And no other brewery management software gives you the ability to truly master your business and get the insights that you need to thrive in an increasingly competitive industry. Visit the5thingredient.com/AllAboutBeer today to learn more and receive 3 free months of Beer30.Host: John HollGuests: Nikki Mitchell and Brock AshburnSponsors: Brewery Branding, All About Beer, Stomp Stickers, The 5th Ingredient, Tags: Asheville, History, Brewing, Volleyball, evolutionPhoto: John Holl
In this episode of the FHS Podcast, Daria Smith speaks with Ryane Binmahfooz, Brand Development Executive at Baraka, a visionary Saudi real estate company reimagining urban destinations. Ryane shares Baraka's approach to brand development, balancing cultural authenticity with modern design and innovation. They explore how projects like Monolog and Fizz Time capture the spirit of local communities while aligning with the goals of Vision 2030. From storytelling through architecture to integrating digital tools for immersive experiences, this episode highlights how Baraka is shaping the Kingdom's future—one brand at a time.
In this episode, we were pumped to welcome ConRoy Smith! An absolute multi-hyphenate, he's a multi-talented actor, musician, and veteran fitness coach who shared his inspiring journey from professional athlete to the entertainment industry. With an extensive background in rugby and coaching, ConRoy shares how the discipline and resilience he cultivated in sports have shaped his approach to his acting career and the personal branding around all of it.Learn About...- The Transition from Sports to Acting: Discover how ConRoy made the leap from professional rugby to pursuing his passion for storytelling through acting, and the pivotal moments that guided his journey.- Embracing Your Personal Brand: Understand the importance of recognizing yourself as a brand, and how to cultivate an authentic presence in the entertainment industry.- The Role of Discipline: ConRoy shares insights on maintaining consistency and discipline amidst the unpredictable nature of acting, and how his athletic background supports his creative endeavors.- The Power of Relationships: Learn how building genuine connections and being a good human can open doors and create opportunities in both acting and marketing (ourselves).- Creative Collaboration: Explore how ConRoy and his peers are taking charge of their careers by creating their own projects and fostering a supportive artistic community.Our Guest...ConRoy Smith is a working actor, musician, and veteran fitness coach based in San Diego/Los Angeles. A former professional rugby player and collegiate track athlete, he brings high-level discipline and presence to every role he plays whether that's on camera, on stage, or leading a workout.With more than a decade of coaching experience, ConRoy knows what it means to show up for people and for himself. His background in sports and wellness gave him the foundation to pursue his passion for storytelling through acting. Known for being reliable, fun to work with, and consistent, ConRoy is intentional about building a creative career that inspires others to lean into their own version of excellence.~._.*._.~Making a Marketer is brought to you by Powers of Marketing - providing exceptional podcast experiences & online and in-person events since 2013. Check out episode 171, and if our show moves you, please share it and let us know your thoughts!Take our LISTENER Community Survey!!! HERE** Our editor Avri makes amazing music! Check out his music on Spotify ! **
In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with art director, lecturer and creative director Fiona Hayes. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Fiona comment on the photographic environment as they see it through the exhibitions, magazines, talks and events that Fiona has seen over the previous weeks. Mentioned in this episode: The Power and the Glory https://www.newportstreetgallery.com/exhibition/current/ Gabriel Moses, Selah https://www.180studios.com/selah Photo London https://photolondon.org/ Fiona Hayes Fiona Hayes is an art director, designer, consultant and lecturer with over 30 years' experience in publishing, fashion and the art world. She has been a magazine art director ten times: on Punch, Company, Eve, the British and Russian editions of Cosmopolitan, House & Garden,GQ India (based in Mumbai), MyselfGermany (in Munich), and Russian Vogue (twice). Between 2013 and 2019, as Art Director of New Markets and Brand Development for Condé Nast International, based in London and Paris, she oversaw all the company's launches – 14 magazines, including seven editions of Vogue. She still consults as Design Director at Large for Vogue Hong Kong. In 2002 she founded independent photography magazine DayFour, publishing it continuously until 2012. She is Co-Author and Art Director of The Fashion Yearbook, and creative director of books for South African media consultancy Legacy Creates. Outside the publishing world, she has been Art Director of contemporary art auction house Phillips de Pury in London and New York, and Consultant Art Director of Russian luxury retail group Mercury/TSUM. (Fiona would like to point out she is not Russian: she is proudly Irish and studied Visual Communication and History of Art and Design at NCAD Dublin.) She currently divides her time between design consultancy for commercial clients, and lecturing at Oxford Brookes University, the Condé Nast College of Fashion and Design, London, Nottingham Trent University, Ravensbourne University, and Leeds University. She lives in West London. @theartdictator Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work zas a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career Scott has art directed numerous advertising campaigns, worked as a creative director at Sotheby's, art directed foto8magazine, founded his own photographic gallery, edited Professional Photographer magazine and launched his own title for photographers and filmmakers Hungry Eye. He founded the United Nations of Photography in 2012, and is now a Senior Lecturer and Subject Co-ordinator: Photography at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, and a BBC Radio contributor. Scott is the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Routledge 2014), The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Routledge 2015), New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography (Routledge 2019), and What Does Photography Mean To You? (Bluecoat Press 2020). His photography has been published in At Home With The Makers of Style (Thames & Hudson 2006) and Crash Happy: A Night at The Bangers (Cafe Royal Books 2012). His film Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay was premiered in 2018. Scott's next book is Inside Vogue House: One building, seven magazines, sixty years of stories, Orphans Publishing, is on sale now. © Grant Scott 2025
Episode #148. The technical skill in this episode is brand purpose, providing marketers with the clarity on why their brand exists internally and externally, motivation for the whole organisation to get behind and creating a north star to focus on - whether that's strategic or tactical choices or how to bring this to life. Joining Abby is her guest Helen Jeremiah, Global Vice President for Croda, a company that makes specialised ingredients for beauty, personal care, and home care products. Having previously worked at Boots and Walgreen's Alliance Group, Helen is an experienced marketing leader who has worked across multiple disciplines including marketing, customer strategy, global marketing, global brand marketing, product development, insight and inclusivity. In this episode, Helen shares her definition of brand purpose and its significance beyond profit, authenticity, the importance of internal engagement, and agency partnerships to bring to life. Plus, her career highs and lows and advice for marketers of tomorrow. 00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Brand Purpose 00:03:03 Importance of Internal Engagement 00:04:48 Advice for Redefining Brand Purpose 00:07:08 Aligning Brand Purpose with Values 00:09:22 Multifaceted Nature of Brand Purpose 00:10:21 Stakeholder Engagement for Alignment 00:13:49 Measuring Brand Purpose Impact 00:16:43 Internal Perception of Brand Purpose 00:18:28 Helen's Personal Drive for Purpose 00:23:43 Agency Collaboration for Fresh Perspectives 00:25:49 Career Highs and Lows 00:31:51 Advice for Future Marketers Host: Abigail Dixon FCIM/ICF | LinkedIn Guest: Helen Jeremiah | LinkedIn The Whole Marketer podcast is here to support and empower the people behind brands and businesses with the latest technical tools, soft and leadership skills and personal understanding for a fulfilling marketing career and life as a whole. For more info go to www.thewholemarketer.com
ABOUT CLAIRE CODER:BIO: Claire Coder (Forbes 30under30) is a 28-year-old Thiel Fellow and founder and CEO of Aunt Flow. On a mission to make the world better for people with periods, Aunt Flow stocks public bathrooms with freely accessible tampons and pads. Through Claire's leadership, Aunt Flow launched patented tampon & pad dispensers in 60k+ bathrooms and raised $17m+ in venture capital. Coder launched her first company at age 16, designed a bag for Vera Bradley that sold out in 24 hours, and has her own line of GIFs. After getting her period in public without the supplies she needed, at 18 years old, Claire dedicated her life to developing a solution to ensure businesses and schools can sustainably provide quality period products for free in public bathrooms. Since 2016, Aunt Flow has worked with thousands of businesses and schools, including organizations like Google, Princeton University, Netflix, and 30+ professional sports stadiums, to offer freely accessible period product dispensers, filled with organic cotton tampons and pads. Aunt Flow has donated over 7 million organic cotton tampons and pads to menstruators in need since 2021. Claire's ultimate goal in life is for any menstruator to walk into any bathroom and never need to worry if they start their period, because Aunt Flow period products are freely available!Claire's story has been featured in TeenVogue, Forbes, Fortune, and she starred in TLC's Girl Starter Season 1. Claire speaks regularly surrounding her advocacy work, starting a social enterprise and journey as a female founder. For more information, please visit LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairecoder/ Websites:clairecoder.com (Personal)goauntflow.com (Company)SHOW INTROWelcome to the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast.EPISODE 78 … and my conversation with Claire Coder the Founder and CEO of Aunt Flow. On the podcast our dynamic dialogues based on our acronym DATA - design, architecture, technology, and the arts crosses over disciplines but maintains a common thread of people who are passionate about the world we live in and human's influence on it, the ways we craft the built environment to maximize human experience, increasing our understanding of human behavior and searching for the New Possible. The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is presented by VMSD Magazine part of the Smartwork Media family of brands.VMSD brings us, in the brand experience world, the International Retail Design Conference. The IRDC is one of the best retail design conferences that there is bringing together the world of retailers, brands and experience place makers every year for two days of engaging conversations and pushing the discourse forward on what makes retailing relevant. You will find the archive of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast on VMSD.com.Thanks also goes to Shop Association the only global retail trade association dedicated to elevating the in-store experience. SHOP Association represents companies and affiliates from 25 countries and brings value to their members through research, networking, education, events and awards. Check then out on SHOPAssociation.orgWhen Claire Coder was 18 years old she was at an event and she used a public restroom. While there, she discovered that she had unexpectedly started her period. And… she didn't have a quarter. Why she would have needed a quarter and what happened as a result of not having one is the subject of an exceptional entrepreneurial trajectory that has changed woman's public bathrooms around the country.We'll get to all of that in a moment but first though, a few thoughts… * * *What if you had an amazing idea that you knew was a no-brainer, an idea that provided something deeply necessary, but it seemed that everyone had overlooked it.What if you had a moment of insight from a personal experience that chartered out a clear path for providing a product and service that seemed to satisfy the deeply under met needs of more than 50% of the population?And what if when you took this moment of clear mental insight to a group of venture capitalists explaining that this was not just an idea that would not only satisfy a certain customer need but that could be an extraordinarily profitable business operation but when you asked for their involvement, they simply said… “NO”.And what if you heard “NO” 86 times when trying to get people interested in supporting your idea. Would you give up? Would you have already given up after the 1st or 10th or 50th “NO”? And what if you happened to be an 18-year-old young woman with this vision and enthusiasm and the subject of your VC pitches dealt with menstruation and woman's public bathrooms... How far do you think that would have gotten you?I could focus in on this intro by talking about the thing that we don't talk about, at least as a guy I can't imagine me and my guy friends would have ever talked about…as a teen, young man or frankly even today.Which is to say… women and monthly periods. I could focus in on this somewhat taboo subject of a naturally occurring bodily function that we somehow sweep under the social discourse carpet, despite that more than 50% of the population has one every single month. Or I could talk about the strange discomfort that comes up because somehow, we've made this discussion something to be ashamed about or talked only about between mothers and grandmothers and their daughters. The strange irony here is that the other 49.53% of the North American population will end up living with, perhaps marrying and having children with the 50+ percent of the population who has their period every single month and yet, we'd prefer not to talk about it…But, if I did focus on those subjects, which by the way are not unimportant to talk about, it would potential we derail another story about a passion for entrepreneurship and the overwhelming need to address the needs of a population who are wholly unserved.It takes a lot of guts to be an entrepreneur. Being an entrepreneur is not easy. In fact, there are a lot of people who would say you'd simply have a few screws loose to actually want to be an entrepreneur.It's highly risky and you carry an extraordinary amount of responsibility. Everything from fundraising and decision-making, planning operations, accepting both successes and failures.When the entire enterprise is your baby, and relies on you as the key driver of the big idea, it can be incredibly emotionally taxing. The working hours can be extraordinary too. If we think that an average work week is neatly packed into 40 hours, an entrepreneur may end up spending twice or maybe even three times that amount in trying to get their business off the ground...and there's constant pressure to keep on pushing forward. One success does not necessarily guarantee the next and so there's this cycle of continuing to push and to make forward strides create product extensions and to expand the brand footprint that is unrelenting. This is especially true if folks have lent you money to get your big idea off the ground.There's also a great degree of isolation that can emerge on the entrepreneurial path. You, and often you alone, are focused on birthing your brainchild, developing it and bringing it to market. This ‘child rearing', if you will, often happens in times of extraordinary uncertainty and ambiguity. In the current state of the world we live in today, ambiguity is the name of the game. What with the pace of change exponentially increasing, government shifting the rules of the game with tariffs and regulations, funding cuts and banning more that 250 words that according to PEN AMERICA are no longer considered acceptable including:advocacy, abortion, all-inclusive, biologically female, community equity, DEI, female, inclusive, sex, sexuality, vulnerable populations, and woman or women, just to name a few. So if your big idea is squarely focused on women, menstruation and period products, I would imagine it's tricky.So, this means that you have to be built for understanding the pace of change the ability to flex and move and be resilient when things don't happen to go your way. Like for example if you are launching a new product line and a COVID pandemic hits that effectively shuts your business down.You could stop and pack up shop and be done or you could be resilient and change direction asking ‘what do people need right now?, and turn what you thought was going to be a business into a completely different thing that was not at all what you had planned in the 1st place.As an entrepreneur, you also have to wear many hats. You are at the same time the company owner, marketing and sales rep. You're dealing with HR issues, product design and materials sourcing and assortment planning.You're often doing customer service and trying to keep them satisfied while dealing with shipments that go missing or supply chains that get disrupted, because of say tariffs, for example, when your products were coming from out of the country and all of a sudden now they are more expensive than you had anticipated.And you have to be good, I mean really good, at dealing with rejection and failure.Most entrepreneurs face repeated setbacks, investor rejections, failed launches or people who just don't get what you're trying to deliver - or straight out don't like what you're trying to deliver - and reject your product and actively work against you to shut you down.Resilience and a sense of purpose when faced with strong headwinds is an absolutely essential feature of being an entrepreneur.You want to become an entrepreneur? Then you had better show up at the game with a load of mad skills so that you can weather the multiple impending storms.Now… don't get me wrong, it's not all doom and gloom. It's not all uphill struggles like Sisyphus pushing a rock up a hill only to have it roll back down again.Entrepreneurship can be incredibly rewarding. It can bring something that you are passionate about into the world. Maybe it's something that had never existed before. Maybe it satisfies the need that is self-evident but others just haven't seen it yet. But to play in the arena of entrepreneurship you need to be able to recover from failures and keep moving forward regardless of whatever the setbacks were.Because they are inevitable.No one skates happily through entrepreneurship and starting a company without stuff just going off the rails from time to time. And that requires an amazing amount of intrinsic motivation and drive. You've got to be able to get up every morning and go get it. And you've got to be able to get up and do it without anyone behind you saying ‘go team go” pushing you to do it every single day.You might need an accountability buddy. That would be good. But in the absence of that person or group, you need to be able to be incredibly disciplined and willing to get back in the ring every day.You also have to have a certain level of risk tolerance. In fact, I would say you probably have to have a very high level of risk tolerance. No one in the entrepreneurial world makes it by being a wallflower; by being risk adverse and not wanting to step out into traffic and navigate all of the oncoming traffic.And while dancing your way through the crosswalk in oncoming traffic, you have to be pretty flexible and be willing to pivot in an oftentimes volatile environment. You also have to believe in your vision and have a well-crafted strategy to get you to the top of the mountain.Successful entrepreneurs can generally see a much bigger picture than other people. They see opportunities where others simply see closed doors and that often means when hearing “no” you don't implode like the Wicked Witch of the West when water was thrown on her, but you ask questions. Not just questions about ‘why?' but also ‘why not?'.You have to be conspicuously curious and have a compulsion to keep on asking questions, never being satisfied with the status quo.Your interpersonal skills also have to be incredibly well honed. You have to be good at networking, slapping backs, shaking hands and making people feel like they're the only people in the room who matter to you. You've got to be good at networking and pitching and you have to be an incredibly good leader which suggests that you have to be an effective communicator and be emotionally tapped in. Your EQ, as well as your IQ, has to be highly tuned.You have to carry a certain level of confidence without being arrogant.You have to believe in your ideas while staying open to feedback; weeding out what is good commentary and bad commentary.…what allows you to maintain a connection to your brand story and the products or services you believe need to be brought to market while at the same time always finding a balance between taking in what people say as constructive criticism and dismissing other commentary that doesn't seem to fit or takes you off track and away from your vision.And all of this brings us to the story of Claire Coder who at 18 years old goes into a public bathroom at an event and discovers she started her period.In an effort to have period products that met her in her moment of need, she goes to a dispenser on the wall and discovers that in order to get a tampon or pad she has to have quarter and who really carries quarters around in their pocket anymore? At that moment Claire is faced with accepting the only option available which is to go to the free roll of toilet paper on the bathroom stall and create a makeshift tampon.At that moment Claire decides that if toilet paper and paper towel are offered at no cost in public bathrooms why should tampons and pads cost $0.25.? and why is it that the box on the wall, that has likely been there for decades and that may likely not work in any case, an acceptable solution?Claire Coder was selected as one of Forbes 30under30 and is the 28-year-old founder and CEO of Aunt Flow. On a mission to make the world better for people with periods, Aunt Flow stocks public bathrooms with freely accessible tampons and pads. Through Claire's leadership, Aunt Flow launched patented tampon & pad dispensers in 60k+ bathrooms, 150 universities, 600 schools, 28 Fortune 500 company's offices and raised $17m+ in venture capital.After getting her period in public without the supplies she needed, at 18 years old, Claire dedicated her life to developing a solution to ensure businesses and schools can sustainably provide quality period products for free in public bathrooms.Since 2016, Aunt Flow has worked with thousands of businesses and schools, including organizations like Google, Princeton University, Netflix, and 30+ professional sports stadiums, to offer freely accessible period product dispensers, filled with organic cotton tampons and pads. Aunt Flow has donated over 7 million organic cotton tampons and pads to menstruators in need since 2021. Claire's ultimate goal in life is for any menstruator to walk into any bathroom and never need to worry if they start their period, because Aunt Flow period products are freely available! Claire Coder was the opening keynote presenter at SHOP Marketplace 2025 and I caught up with her after her presentation to have a chat…ABOUT DAVID KEPRON:LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/david-kepron-9a1582bWebsites: https://www.davidkepron.com (personal website)vmsd.com/taxonomy/term/8645 (Blog)Email: david.kepron@NXTLVLexperiencedesign.comPersonal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidkepron/NXTLVL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtlvl_experience_design/Bio:David Kepron is a multifaceted creative professional with a deep curiosity to understand ‘why', ‘what's now' and ‘what's next'. He brings together his background as an architect, artist, educator, author, podcast host and builder to the making of meaningful and empathically-focused, community-centric customer connections at brand experience places around the globe. David is a former VP - Global Design Strategies at Marriott International. While at Marriott, his focus was on the creation of compelling customer experiences within Marriott's “Premium Distinctive” segment which included: Westin, Renaissance, Le Meridien, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels and Gaylord hotels. In 2020 Kepron founded NXTLVL Experience Design, a strategy and design consultancy, where he combines his multidisciplinary approach to the creation of relevant brand engagements with his passion for social and cultural anthropology, neuroscience and emerging digital technologies. As a frequently requested international speaker at corporate events and international conferences focusing on CX, digital transformation, retail, hospitality, emerging technology, David shares his expertise on subjects ranging from consumer behaviors and trends, brain science and buying behavior, store design and visual merchandising, hotel design and strategy as well as creativity and innovation. In his talks, David shares visionary ideas on how brand strategy, brain science and emerging technologies are changing guest expectations about relationships they want to have with brands and how companies can remain relevant in a digitally enabled marketplace. David currently shares his experience and insight on various industry boards including: VMSD magazine's Editorial Advisory Board, the Interactive Customer Experience Association, Sign Research Foundation's Program Committee as well as the Center For Retail Transformation at George Mason University.He has held teaching positions at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), the Department of Architecture & Interior Design of Drexel University in Philadelphia, the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (L.I.M.) in New York, the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Montreal and he served as the Director of the Visual Merchandising Department at LaSalle International Fashion School (L.I.F.S.) in Singapore. In 2014 Kepron published his first book titled: “Retail (r)Evolution: Why Creating Right-Brain Stores Will Shape the Future of Shopping in a Digitally Driven World” and he is currently working on his second book to be published soon. David also writes a popular blog called “Brain Food” which is published monthly on vmsd.com. The next level experience design podcast is presented by VMSD magazine and Smartwork Media. It is hosted and executive produced by David Kepron. Our original music and audio production by Kano Sound. The content of this podcast is copywrite to David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design. Any publication or rebroadcast of the content is prohibited without the expressed written consent of David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design.Make sure to tune in for more NXTLVL “Dialogues on DATA: Design Architecture Technology and the Arts” wherever you find your favorite podcasts and make sure to visit vmsd.com and look for the tab for the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast there too.
In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with art director, lecturer and creative director Fiona Hayes. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Fiona comment on the photographic environment as they see it through the exhibitions, magazines, talks and events that Fiona has seen over the previous weeks. Mentioned in this episode: https://turnercontemporary.org/whats-on/resistance/ ]www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards https://autograph.org.uk Fiona Hayes Fiona Hayes is an art director, designer, consultant and lecturer with over 30 years' experience in publishing, fashion and the art world. She has been a magazine art director ten times: on Punch, Company, Eve, the British and Russian editions of Cosmopolitan, House & Garden,GQ India (based in Mumbai), MyselfGermany (in Munich), and Russian Vogue (twice). Between 2013 and 2019, as Art Director of New Markets and Brand Development for Condé Nast International, based in London and Paris, she oversaw all the company's launches – 14 magazines, including seven editions of Vogue. She still consults as Design Director at Large for Vogue Hong Kong. In 2002 she founded independent photography magazine DayFour, publishing it continuously until 2012. She is Co-Author and Art Director of The Fashion Yearbook, and creative director of books for South African media consultancy Legacy Creates. Outside the publishing world, she has been Art Director of contemporary art auction house Phillips de Pury in London and New York, and Consultant Art Director of Russian luxury retail group Mercury/TSUM. (Fiona would like to point out she is not Russian: she is proudly Irish and studied Visual Communication and History of Art and Design at NCAD Dublin.) She currently divides her time between design consultancy for commercial clients, and lecturing at Oxford Brookes University, the Condé Nast College of Fashion and Design, London, Nottingham Trent University, Ravensbourne University, and Leeds University. She lives in West London. @theartdictator Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work zas a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career Scott has art directed numerous advertising campaigns, worked as a creative director at Sotheby's, art directed foto8magazine, founded his own photographic gallery, edited Professional Photographer magazine and launched his own title for photographers and filmmakers Hungry Eye. He founded the United Nations of Photography in 2012, and is now a Senior Lecturer and Subject Co-ordinator: Photography at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, and a BBC Radio contributor. Scott is the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Routledge 2014), The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Routledge 2015), New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography (Routledge 2019), and What Does Photography Mean To You? (Bluecoat Press 2020). His photography has been published in At Home With The Makers of Style (Thames & Hudson 2006) and Crash Happy: A Night at The Bangers (Cafe Royal Books 2012). His film Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay was premiered in 2018. Scott's next book is Inside Vogue House: One building, seven magazines, sixty years of stories, Orphans Publishing, is on sale now. © Grant Scott 2025
Today, we are joined by Lorraine K. Lee.Lorraine K. Lee is an award-winning global keynote speaker, an instructor for Stanford Continuing Studies and LinkedIn Learning, and the author of Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career (Wiley, 2025). She is recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice and has more than 300,000+ LinkedIn followers and over a decade of experience leading editorial teams at the world's top tech firms. Lorraine has been invited as a guest speaker to some of the world's most recognizable brands including Zoom, Cisco, Amazon, ASICS, Hilton, and McKinsey and Company. She covers a wide range of topics including creating engaging virtual presentations, growing your presence on LinkedIn, effectively communicating in a virtual world, leading collaborative remote and distributed teams that thrive, and designing impactful virtual and hybrid meetings. Before starting her own company, Lorraine was a founding editor at companies like Prezi, SlideShare, and LinkedIn. In these roles, she collaborated with global business leaders and helped launch core products including LinkedIn Daily Rundown and LinkedIn Newsletters. Lorraine has been featured in publications including Forbes, Inc., Bloomberg, ReadWrite, and Entrepreneur, and has also been a guest on many podcasts.In this episode, we explore the art of personal branding and why it's essential for career success in today's professional landscape. From crafting a unique and powerful introduction to leveraging LinkedIn effectively, Lorraine shares actionable techniques that help professionals stand out without feeling inauthentic or overly promotional.Key topics include:Why everyone already has a personal brand and the importance of being intentional about itHow to share accomplishments authentically using data and collaborative languageThe EPIC framework for defining your personal brand elementsMastering virtual presence through the TEA approach: Tech, Energy, and AestheticsBuilding a strategic LinkedIn presence that opens doors for opportunitiesLorraine K. Lee's Book: "Unforgettable: Master the Art of Making Your Personal Brand Stand Out" LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lorraineklee-Website and live online programs: http://ims-online.comBlog: https://blog.ims-online.com/Podcast: https://ims-online.com/podcasts/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesgood/Twitter: https://twitter.com/charlesgood99Chapters:(00:00) Introduction(01:30) Tip: The Foundation of Good Work Before Brand Building(03:10) Technique: Becoming CEO of Your Own Career(05:40) Tool: Sharing Accomplishments Without Bragging(07:00) Technique: The EPIC Framework for Brand Development(10:20) Tool: Creating a Unique and Powerful Introduction (UPI)(12:50) Technique: The TEA Approach for Virtual Presence(16:00) Tip: Using Body Language to Enhance Video Presence(17:40) Tool: Transforming Small Talk Into Meaningful Conversations(20:00) Technique: Leveraging LinkedIn Beyond Job Hunting(22:40) Conclusion#CharlesGood #LorraineKLee #TheGoodLeadershipPodcast #PersonalBranding #LinkedInStrategy #VirtualPresence #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalVisibility #CommunicationSkills #VideoPresence #NetworkingTips #AuthenticPersonalBrand #ContentStrategy #EPICFramework #PersonalBrandBuilding #CareerAdvancement #LeadershipPresence #VirtualCommunication #ProfessionalNetworking #ThoughtLeadership
Beer has faced no shortage of headwinds in recent times, from changing consumer tastes to global tariffs. What does all that mean for the industry moving forward? For answers, we spoke with Kris Sjolander, Vice President Brand Development at United States Beverage (USB). USB is a leading independent beverage company in the U.S., specializing in imported and U.S. craft beer, ciders, and specialty beverages.
The CPG Guys are joined by Michael La Kier, Vice President Brand Development at the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) the largest affiliation of independent grocers in the U.S. andaround the world, boasting 2,500 U.S. stores and 7,500+ globally. This episode was recorded at the 2025 Commerce Media Brand Summit produced by WB Research.Find Michael on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaellakier/Find IGA on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iga-inc./Find IGA online at: https://www.iga.com/Michael answers these questions:What is the history of retail media at IGA and how can brands activate on it?How can independents help brands regain their volume through customer acquisition?How does IGA help its members with assortment planning?Why should all marketing efforts drive actions?How has IGA partnered with Instacart?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comCPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.comRhea Raj's Website: http://rhearaj.comLara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/WB Research: https://www.wbresearch.com/DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual's use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.
Coach, speaker, and author Patrick Galvin joins Roy to discuss the principles laid out in his recent book The Connector's Way. Patrick's work focuses on the essential role of personal connection and relationship building in our day to day life, our business practices, our sense of success, and more. As co-founder and partner of The Galvanizing Group and author of several books exploring the nuances of social connection and trust building, Patrick helps high-performing companies and individuals achieve greater levels of success in business by strengthening internal and external relationships. Patrick and Roy dig into the many ways to practice relationship building, the pitfalls of networking without connecting, why it pays to be “the keener,” and much more.Highlights from our conversation include:The important distinction between connecting and networking (5:02)Ways in which hybrid/remote work impact connection (7:11)Using Patrick's methods to build trust, engagement, and performance (9:16)Embedding relationship building into company culture and leadership development practices (12:53)The intersection of connection and recruiting (18:52)Balancing work, life, and maintaining strong relationships (20:58)Metrics that leaders can use to track or improve their ability to foster connections (26:36)How Patrick sees technological advances impacting the formation and maintenance of relationships (29:59)Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode.Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities.Subscribe to How I Hire:AppleSpotifyAmazon
Jonathan Weaver is the Chief Marketing Officer at Db Journey Jonathan Weaver is a Global Marketing Leader with roles across Nike SB, Womens & Football, Burton Snowboards and currently at Db having been part of the team to drive the LVMH LLV minority investment. From the UK, living in Portugal with his wife Mareike, and two kids, Lenny and Lilly after living in Portland, USA, Austria, France and the UK. In this episode, he shares his journey through the action sports industry, his early experiences snowboarding, his transition into the corporate world with brands like Burton and Nike and his current role as CMO of DB. He discusses the cultural shifts he encountered, the importance of community in sports, and the strategic growth of DB in the travel gear market.Jonathan discusses: Growing up snowboarding on the dry slopes in the UK.Transitioning into the action sports industry through resourcefulness.Burton provided valuable insights into marketing and brand management.Nike's level of resources and opportunities in sports marketing.Cultural shifts in corporate environments can be challenging but rewarding.CrossFit's similarities with action sports in terms of community and lifestyle.Navigating women's sportswear requires understanding market dynamics. COVID-19 prompted significant career decisions and relocations.DB's growth strategy focuses on leveraging its action sports roots.Planning for the future is essential for career development.You can follow what Jonathan Weaver is up to on LinkedInLike what you hear? Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.The Group Y Live Podcast come out across all podcast players with a new episode every two weeks on Thursday. Past guests on The Rad Season Show include Truls Brataas, Stacy Peralta, Wim Hof, Mike Cessario, Tod Richards, Gerry Lopez and more.Contact Oli Russell-Cowan On Instagram olirussellcowan On LinkedIn at olirussellcowan Thanks for listening & keep it rad!
In this episode of The Art of Franchise Marketing, Katherine LeBlanc, Chief Marketing Officer at 4Ever Young Anti-Aging Solutions, shares her expertise on balancing long-term brand development with immediate results from transactional media. Drawing from her experience with brands like Smoothie King, Painting with a Twist, and Color Me Mine, Katherine explains how focusing on systems, integrations, and guest experience can drive impactful marketing outcomes.Katherine also discusses how data, creative strategies, and customer experience work together to create a winning formula for brands looking to grow sustainably while delivering short-term results.
In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with art director, lecturer and creative director Fiona Hayes. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Fiona comment on the photographic environment as they see it through the exhibitions, magazines, talks and events that Fiona has seen over the previous weeks. Fiona Hayes Fiona Hayes is an art director, designer, consultant and lecturer with over 30 years' experience in publishing, fashion and the art world. She has been a magazine art director ten times: on Punch, Company, Eve, the British and Russian editions of Cosmopolitan, House & Garden,GQ India (based in Mumbai), MyselfGermany (in Munich), and Russian Vogue (twice). Between 2013 and 2019, as Art Director of New Markets and Brand Development for Condé Nast International, based in London and Paris, she oversaw all the company's launches – 14 magazines, including seven editions of Vogue. She still consults as Design Director at Large for Vogue Hong Kong. In 2002 she founded independent photography magazine DayFour, publishing it continuously until 2012. She is Co-Author and Art Director of The Fashion Yearbook, and creative director of books for South African media consultancy Legacy Creates. Outside the publishing world, she has been Art Director of contemporary art auction house Phillips de Pury in London and New York, and Consultant Art Director of Russian luxury retail group Mercury/TSUM. (Fiona would like to point out she is not Russian: she is proudly Irish and studied Visual Communication and History of Art and Design at NCAD Dublin.) She currently divides her time between design consultancy for commercial clients, and lecturing at Oxford Brookes University, the Condé Nast College of Fashion and Design, London, Nottingham Trent University, Ravensbourne University, and Leeds University. She lives in West London. @theartdictator Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work zas a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career Scott has art directed numerous advertising campaigns, worked as a creative director at Sotheby's, art directed foto8magazine, founded his own photographic gallery, edited Professional Photographer magazine and launched his own title for photographers and filmmakers Hungry Eye. He founded the United Nations of Photography in 2012, and is now a Senior Lecturer and Subject Co-ordinator: Photography at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, and a BBC Radio contributor. Scott is the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Routledge 2014), The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Routledge 2015), New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography (Routledge 2019), and What Does Photography Mean To You? (Bluecoat Press 2020). His photography has been published in At Home With The Makers of Style (Thames & Hudson 2006) and Crash Happy: A Night at The Bangers (Cafe Royal Books 2012). His film Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay was premiered in 2018. Scott's book Inside Vogue House: One building, seven magazines, sixty years of stories, Orphans Publishing, is on now.
Fred Miller and Judith Katz of The Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group have spent the last few decades on the cutting edge of diversity and inclusion thought leadership and organizational development. For the last 50 years, KJCG has assisted organizations in creating inclusive, collaborative workplaces that leverage differences to achieve higher performance and engagement. Judith and Fred have co authored multiple books on diversity, inclusion, collaboration, trust, authenticity, and teamwork, and they join Roy to discuss their latest groundbreaking book, The Power of Agency: Cultivating Autonomy, Authority, and Leadership in Every Role.Highlights from our conversation include:The next crucial step beyond inclusion and diversity (2:30)How agency impacts organizational efficiency and performance (4:24)The key difference between empowerment and agency (7:18)A leader's role in an agency-forward organization (8:50)How to evaluate a leader for their capacity to promote agency (10:00)What this leadership shift means for organizations (11:10)How the COVID 19 pandemic influenced changes around agency (12:28)Six critical factors that foster a culture of agency (16:00)How to avoid a “runaway train” when implementing this strategy (18:36)The first steps leaders can take toward unleashing agency (20:42)How to evaluate the level of agency in an organization (22:45)Common barriers in unleashing agency (23:30)The important distinction between being kind and being nice (24:55)How AI and other technologies might affect agency in the workplace (27:06)Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode, and check out Roy's past conversation with Fred and Judith on recruiting, supporting, and retaining a diverse workforce.Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities.Subscribe to How I Hire:AppleSpotifyAmazon
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In this episode of Confessions of a B2B Entrepreneur, host Tom Hunt interviews Emily Dunlop, founder of The Good Marketing Club, about her journey from scaling a B2B brand from $2M to $45M ARR to launching her own venture. Emily shares valuable insights on brand building, the power of authenticity in business transitions, and how to stay true to your values while scaling.
On today's podcast, Leslie Nunnery speaks with Katie Miller, the director of brand development for Sight and Sound Theaters. Together, they explore the rich history of the theater, its immersive experiences that bring Bible stories to life, and the ministry's mission to inspire and connect audiences with scripture. Katie shares personal anecdotes about the challenges faced by the organization, including a devastating fire, and emphasizes the importance of obedience and faith in overcoming obstacles. They also discuss opportunities for families to engage with the arts and the exciting future plans for Sight and Sound. Meet the Guest: As the oldest grandchild of Sight & Sound's founders, Katie first stepped onto the stage when she was four years old, making her the first member of the family's third generation to be a part of the ministry. Throughout her 35-year tenure, Katie has served in various capacities within the company, including human resources, marketing, and business development. As Director of Brand Development, Katie spearheads Sight & Sound's growth initiatives and brings alignment to each of the brand's extensions through strategic partnerships, marketing, communications, and creative development. She also serves as the primary spokesperson for the ministry, including on camera host for all live broadcast events. Katie is passionate about connecting Sight & Sound's past to its future, introducing audience members from around the world to the Sight & Sound story.https://youtu.be/3mkCvodypJY Additional Resources: Find out more about Sight and Sound Theatre HERESecure your ticket to see Sight and Sounds production of Jonah on Friday night at all of our TTD locations in 2025. Dayton HERE, Pigeon Forge HERE, and Branson HERE Podcast Sponsor: Sight & Sound is a storytelling company passionate about bringing true stories of redemption to life on stage and on screen that reveal the power of the Gospel. Since its beginning as a traveling multi-media show in 1976, Sight & Sound has inspired over 30 million people with stories from the pages of scripture and history. Today, Sight & Sound operates two live-theater venues, immersing over a million people each year in state-ofthe-art original productions. In 2020, Sight & Sound launched an online streaming platform, welcoming a new global audience from over 175 countries around the world. Most recently, Sight & Sound expanded into feature films, debuting at #2 in movie theaters across the nation. Sight & Sound is headquartered in Lancaster, PA with over 800 employees companywide.For more information, visit www.sight-sound.com.
In today's episode recorded in Warsaw, Poland, the Regional Marketing Manager of Durban Tourism Musa Ndabeni discusses the city of Durban's tourism plans to tap into the central European market. She is impressed with the incredible interest shown in the destination during the week's interaction with the travel trade during the Africa showcase CEE roadshow in Prague, Bucharest and Warsaw. Musa is a Travel and Marketing specialist with vast experience in Corporate New Business & Brand Development, she has worked for multiple Giant Brands including HRG Rennies, Tourvest Group and TWF currently exploring Digital Marketing opportunities for Destination Promotion opportunities.
Career coach and HR consultant Kate Sargent returns for the third installment of our series exploring tips, insights, and advice for job seekers. Kate is the founder of KJS Consulting, where she helps candidates prepare and polish all aspects of their job search strategy. Prior to starting her coaching business, she recruited for brands like The North Face, Allbirds, Method, and The Citizenry. In Part 3 of their deep dive, Kate and Roy discuss the art – and science – of negotiation. Together, they dig into the complexities of reaching agreeable compensation for a new role, the pros and cons of equity, how to leave a job graciously, and the importance of maintaining positivity through employment changes. Highlights from our conversation include:Negotiating compensation when fielding a job offer (1:43)Skillfully navigating and understanding equity, bonuses, and benefits (5:03)Other important variables to be aware of while negotiating a new role (7:16)How to quit and gracefully negotiate your exit (12:33)When, why, and where to get HR involved (14:27)The nuances of separation agreements (16:36)Contracting after leaving your role versus making a clean break (21:48)Dos and don'ts of posting on social media after leaving your job (23:02)Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode, and check out Part 1 and Part 2 of Roy and Kate's job search series, as well as our in-depth conversations about networking and interviewing.Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities.Subscribe to How I Hire:AppleSpotifyAmazon
With a career spanning decades and work with brands like AT&T and Disney, Angelo shares his insights on how businesses can maximize their marketing efforts without committing to a full-time executive.We dive deep into the role of a fractional CMO, the common mistakes businesses make in marketing, and how to effectively position and scale brands. Angelo also shares his signature "APPLES" framework for strategic marketing and gives invaluable advice for entrepreneurs, business owners, and consultants looking to refine their marketing approach.If you've ever wondered whether your company really needs a full-time CMO, or how to get the most out of a fractional marketing leader, this episode is for you!Timestamps & Key Topics[00:00:00] Introduction to Angelo Ponzi & the role of a fractional CMO[00:02:00] Why Angelo didn't change his surname despite the association with Ponzi schemes[00:05:00] What drives Angelo? The excitement of working across different industries[00:07:00] The racehorse vs. mule analogy: Why fractional CMOs are high-intensity strategic players[00:09:00] What types of companies benefit most from hiring a fractional CMO[00:12:00] Do businesses really know their marketing problems? Why external assessments are key[00:14:00] How Angelo helps companies align their leadership teams and uncover market opportunities[00:17:00] The biggest marketing mistakes businesses make & how to avoid them[00:20:00] Learning from bad experiences: Why failure can be your biggest teacher[00:23:00] The APPLES Framework: Angelo's step-by-step approach to marketing strategy[00:28:00] Finding the right clients as a consultant: Not all business is good business[00:30:00] Where to find Angelo and how to connect for fractional CMO servicesCall to Action
Clara has taken an interest in Meghan Markle's ever changing name and product line. American Riviera Orchard Montecito doesn't exactly roll off the tongue does it? From a postponed Netflix cooking show to featuring her husband randomly but intentionally, Clara has all the details. Plus, Jessica Simpson has just done a cover shoot and interview for The Cut with her sister Ashlee and is launching a new album with a new sound and zero f*cks. Recco of the week has to be Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (trigger warning, it's definitely an emotional but beautiful watch).Follow these gossip girls on insta: @soph_lyons & @clazzykabanaHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Achieving near-perfect customer satisfaction levels is more difficult in creative fields, such as brand development, which makes it all the more impressive that London : Los Angeles has an A+ rating from the BBB. Go to https://www.thelolaagency.com/post/lo-la-receives-bbb-a-rating for more information. London : Los Angeles (LO:LA) City: El Segundo Address: 840 Apollo Street Website: https://www.thelolaagency.com
Please join us for this episode of Wake Up Legendary, which features a special discussion on the fundamentals of brand development.Subscribe to Legendary Marketer on YoutubeFollow Legendary Marketer on FacebookFollow Dave on Instagram
Career coach and HR consultant Kate Sargent is back for Part 2 of our three-part discussion series around strategies, guidance, and best practices for job seekers. Kate is the founder of KJS Consulting and has led extensive recruiting efforts for brands like The Citizenry, Method, The North Face, and Allbirds. In Part 2, Kate and Roy explore the ins and outs of interviewing. Together, they dig into important topics like recommendations for feeling and appearing prepared, ways to successfully frame competencies and experience, how to best approach challenging interview questions, and much more. Highlights from our conversation include:Important things to research about a company before your interview (1:44)Preparing for difficult interview questions (3:47)How to clearly and accurately convey leadership experience (7:14)Going high level in answering interview questions vs. getting into the details (9:39)Cues to be aware of (11:24)How to communicate weaknesses or limited experience (17:24)The value of having good questions prepared as an interviewee (20:54)How to follow up after an interview (24:30)Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode.Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities.Subscribe to How I Hire:AppleSpotifyAmazon
In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with art director, lecturer and creative director Fiona Hayes. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Fiona comment on the photographic environment as they see it through the exhibitions, magazines, talks and events that Fiona has seen over the previous weeks. Fiona Hayes Fiona Hayes is an art director, designer, consultant and lecturer with over 30 years' experience in publishing, fashion and the art world. She has been a magazine art director ten times: on Punch, Company, Eve, the British and Russian editions of Cosmopolitan, House & Garden,GQ India (based in Mumbai), MyselfGermany (in Munich), and Russian Vogue (twice). Between 2013 and 2019, as Art Director of New Markets and Brand Development for Condé Nast International, based in London and Paris, she oversaw all the company's launches – 14 magazines, including seven editions of Vogue. She still consults as Design Director at Large for Vogue Hong Kong. In 2002 she founded independent photography magazine DayFour, publishing it continuously until 2012. She is Co-Author and Art Director of The Fashion Yearbook, and creative director of books for South African media consultancy Legacy Creates. Outside the publishing world, she has been Art Director of contemporary art auction house Phillips de Pury in London and New York, and Consultant Art Director of Russian luxury retail group Mercury/TSUM. (Fiona would like to point out she is not Russian: she is proudly Irish and studied Visual Communication and History of Art and Design at NCAD Dublin.) She currently divides her time between design consultancy for commercial clients, and lecturing at Oxford Brookes University, the Condé Nast College of Fashion and Design, London, Nottingham Trent University, Ravensbourne University, and Leeds University. She lives in West London. @theartdictator Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work zas a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career Scott has art directed numerous advertising campaigns, worked as a creative director at Sotheby's, art directed foto8magazine, founded his own photographic gallery, edited Professional Photographer magazine and launched his own title for photographers and filmmakers Hungry Eye. He founded the United Nations of Photography in 2012, and is now a Senior Lecturer and Subject Co-ordinator: Photography at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, and a BBC Radio contributor. Scott is the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Routledge 2014), The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Routledge 2015), New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography (Routledge 2019), and What Does Photography Mean To You? (Bluecoat Press 2020). His photography has been published in At Home With The Makers of Style (Thames & Hudson 2006) and Crash Happy: A Night at The Bangers (Cafe Royal Books 2012). His film Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay was premiered in 2018. Scott's next book is Inside Vogue House: One building, seven magazines, sixty years of stories, Orphans Publishing, is on sale February 2024. Mentioned in this episode: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/the-80s-photographing-britain https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/linder-danger-came-smiling/ © Grant Scott 2025
Career coach and HR consultant Kate Sargent returns to the podcast for a special, three-part deep-dive into advice, insights, and recommendations for job seekers. Kate is the founder of KJS Consulting and has an impressive track record in recruiting for major brands like The North Face, Allbirds, Method, and The Citizenry. At KJS Consulting, Kate helps job seekers contextualize, articulate, and organize their stories in order to land ideal opportunities. In Part 1 of this conversation series, Roy and Kate dig into the functions of different kinds of recruiters, best practices for candidates in cultivating relationships with search firms and consultants, major do's and don'ts during the hiring process, and the long range perspective necessary to building a comprehensive job search strategy.Highlights from our conversation include:Ways in which Kate supports and coaches job seekers (3:12)Understanding the role of different recruiters and how they work (4:30)Why communication from recruiters might feel inconsistent or challenging at times (5:58)How candidates can evaluate whether or not a search firm is a good fit (10:18)What candidates should expect when reaching out to a recruiter (12:29)Effective ways for candidates to build relationships with search consultants (15:00)Respecting the recruiter during the hiring process (16:08)The importance of candidate honesty and accuracy in targeting opportunities (21:51)Leveraging your relationships for a long game strategy (23:43)Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode.Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities.Subscribe to How I Hire:AppleSpotifyAmazon
Unlock the secrets to crafting a brand that not only captures hearts but also stands firm in the legal arena. Join us as Erik Pelton, a renowned trademark attorney and former examiner at the US Patent and Trademark Office, shares his expertise on building memorable and legally protectable brand names. With Erik's guidance, learn how to avoid the common pitfalls that many businesses stumble into and discover the strategic advantage of securing trademark protection early on. This episode promises to equip you with the knowledge to lay a solid foundation for your brand's future success.Navigate the emotional and strategic challenges of small business branding with us. Through personal stories and real-world examples, we delve into the complexities of trademark protection and the importance of a strong brand name. From addressing trademark infringement issues to exploring resolutions outside of court, we highlight how proactive intellectual property protection serves as essential insurance. For small businesses with limited resources, investing in trademark protection isn't just wise, it's crucial for sustainable growth and partnership opportunities.Visit: http://www.erikpelton.com/Send us a text
In this soul-inspiring conversation, Kara interviews Deevo, a brand storyteller and personal brand strategist, who shares his journey of discovering his purpose, the power of creativity, and how we can all connect more authentically in business and life. They explore the importance of personal branding, embracing your unique gifts, and creating meaningful connections.Episode Topics:- Personal brand development- Entrepreneurial journey and mindset- Creativity as a muscle- Spiritual and energetic connectivity- Building intentional business communities- Navigating career transitionsInsights:- Not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur, and that's okay- Creativity requires consistent practice and nurturing- Personal branding is about audience perception, not just visual aesthetics- We are energetically connected beings with the potential to manifest our ideas- Surrounding yourself with like-minded, growth-oriented people amplifies your impactEpisode Highlights:00:00 Welcome and Intro00:51 Introduction to Branding and Storytelling03:22 Authenticity in Personal Branding04:27 Photography and Storytelling06:48 Branding Strategy Development09:14 Brand Alignment and Strategy Development11:58 Understanding Personal Branding13:21 Becoming the Brand15:25 Quality of American Produce15:56 Branding and Business Identity17:46 Brand Development and Audience Engagement19:49 Branding Strategy for Real Estate Agency20:36 Clarification of Personal Branding21:32 Business Strategy and Communication22:10 Building a Community and Ecosystem24:42 The Power of Community and Connection26:22 Transitioning from Unfulfilling Work29:03 Pursuing Personal Interests and Career Transition31:03 Career Transition and Entrepreneurship32:40 Managing Stress and Creativity34:48 Exploring Personal Passions and Growth37:14 Embracing Intuition and Creativity39:27 Impact of Technology on Engagement39:57 Nurturing Creativity42:08 Embracing Curiosity and Risk-Taking44:05 Creating Space for Creativity45:43 Energy and Connectivity47:42 Creative Manifestation and Experience Recreation50:10 Miracles and Opportunities50:41 Interconnectedness of Nature52:34 Communication and Connection in Nature and Humanity55:32 Human Connection and Societal Structure57:46 Shifting Consciousness and Energy01:00:23 Audience Growth and Impact01:01:26 Branding vs. Marketing
Board recruiting advisor Kris Stred breaks down the role and impact of an effective board and how to find experienced directors. Kris has over 15 years of board search experience and is the founder of Stred Executive Search LLC. Before starting her own firm, Kris was a lawyer for publicly-traded and privately-held companies. Her first-hand involvement with the board's fiduciary duties in high-stakes situations and the important dynamics of teams of business leaders propelled her to become a recruiter. She gained a deep understanding of what it takes to form a balanced and functional board of directors.Highlights from our conversation include:The role and common structure of a board (3:19)How boards are evolving (5:59)When companies should develop a board (7:20)Why companies might look for professional support when recruiting a board (9:28)Pitfalls of the traditional board recruiting process and how to avoid them (11:56)The biggest difference between board and executive recruiting (15:27)What to look for in a board candidate (17:42)Screening for mission and values (21:14)One vital lesson from successes and failures (22:40)Mitigating risk factors (24:00)Key advice for incoming directors (25:27)Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode.Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities.Subscribe to How I Hire:AppleSpotifyAmazon
Join me for a candid conversation with Laura Van Antwerp, the inspiring mind behind Your Sober Pal and Your Sober Pal Adventures. We dive into her journey from full-time corporate gal to business owner extraordinaire, the power of authenticity in building a personal brand, and how her sober lifestyle mission resonates with thousands of individuals online. Laura's vulnerability and candidness in sharing her entrepreneurial journey are beyond inspiring; this is an episode you do not want to skip and a must-listen for anyone building a brand with purpose and heart.Connect with Laura at her website or on Instagram and TikTok. Like what you hear? Click subscribe and leave a review, then join me each week as I take on the many questions women have about building a business - and brand - their way. Ready to shine online? Book a free Discovery Call to learn more about developing a standout brand + online presence → Book Your Discovery CallFor a full list of our branding services → https://brandpsyche.co/work-with-us
Here is our favorite podcast from 2024! If you didn't have a chance to listen to this episode earlier in the year, now is your chance! WATCH OUR NS BUILDERS BRAND BREAKDOWN VIDEO HERE: https://youtu.be/a27JGE7TbNc Today we talk to Nick Schiffer, the visionary behind NS Builders and a titan in the realm of social media within the home building industry. With a following of over 300,000 across various platforms, Nick has leveraged his expertise and passion for craftsmanship to become a leading figure in sharing valuable insights, project showcases, and invaluable tips for both enthusiasts and fellow contractors. Join us as we explore the origins of NS Builders and the man himself, Nick Schiffer. Discover how his commitment to intentionality and high-quality craftsmanship became the cornerstone of his brand and how these values have guided the evolution of NS Builders. We delve into the strategic decisions behind focusing on brand development and the pivotal moments that marked the growth of his business. Furthermore, Nick discusses common pitfalls contractors and home builders face in their social media strategies and how to build a brand that lasts. This episode offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a creative entrepreneur who has successfully merged craftsmanship with digital savvy to build a powerful brand in the home-building space
Noto Group's team of principal search consultants break down key workforce and leadership trends they're seeing for 2025 and beyond. Sara Spirko, Lena Knofler, and Tami Bumiller discuss predictions and actionable advice for those seeking top talent in the year ahead.Highlights from our conversation include:Challenges, opportunities, and reflections on 2024 (2:27)How client and candidate priorities are shifting (5:01)3 essential competencies for modern leaders (10:00)How boards and CEOs can leverage search firms for success in 2025 (13:00)What's making employers competitive in the talent market today (17:46)Creative compensation packages (20:11)Smart solutions to persistent hybrid/remote/on-site challenges (22:35)Attracting top talent to outlying locations (22:58)Current factors to consider when asking candidates to relocate (25:12)Guidance for executives seeking new roles this year (26:29)Reasons to be optimistic in 2025 and beyond (29:29)Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode.Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities.Listen to How I Hire:AppleSpotifyAmazon
This episode is brought to you by LMNT, SuppCo, and Fatty15. Emily Duncan, the visionary behind Fenix Athletica, is back to confront the unconscious beliefs that sabotage our health and fitness pursuits. She sheds light on how these limiting beliefs, particularly among women, can distort perceptions of body image, nutrition, and exercise, often leading to self-defeating behaviors. Our conversation challenges prevalent myths within the fitness industry, and Emily offers her unique perspective on the intricate balance between caloric intake, energy expenditure, and hormonal cycles, empowering you with a more informed approach to your wellness journey. Follow Emily @em_dunc Follow Chase @chase_chewning ----- In this episode we discuss... (00:00) Unconscious Beliefs in Health and Fitness (12:04) Which Beliefs Impact Your Health and Wellness Most? (22:04) Why Men and Women Need Different Strategies (28:10) Changing Beliefs (33:33) Fasting Protocols (40:46) Balancing Fat Loss and Recomp Strategies (47:11) Building Discipline (52:12) How Anyone Can Stay Adherent (55:33) How to Focus on Practical Solutions (01:05:15) High-Level Health and Fitness Coaching (01:09:48) Brand Development (01:18:28) Energetic Pushes in Business Strategy (01:23:49) Deepening Spiritual Practice and Grounding (01:31:52) Exploring Spiritual Tools and Inner Authority (01:38:21) Building Community on Social Media ----- Episode resources: See how your supplements stack up at https://www.Supp.co/everforward Get a FREE electrolyte variety pack with any purchase at https://www.DrinkLMNT.com/everforward Save an additional 15% on the C15:0 essential fatty acid 90-day starter kit at https://www.Fatty15.com/everforward Watch and subscribe on YouTube Emily was previously on Ever Forward Radio in episodes 618 and 43 Learn more at FenixAthletica.com
Few people have established the credibility and connections that Jessica Hamilton has when it comes to recruiting in the financial crime space. Jess is the go-to recruiter in London for financial crime roles, with over a decade of experience partnering with clients to build out their teams. In our conversation, Jess shares the fascinating story of how a discussion in a pub first got her interested in specializing in financial crime recruitment. She went on to launch and build highly successful teams, first at Robert Walters, then Investigo where she led the top-performing financial services recruitment team globally. Recently, Jess took her career to the next level by launching her own firm, FincSelect, with business partner Ian Christie. Jess reveals the keys to her success, including focusing on being a trusted advisor, not just a transactional recruiter. Her "soft sell" marketing approach, sharing valuable insights and building real relationships, has made her the recruiter of choice in her market. Episode Outline and Highlights [02:24] How Jess got into recruiting marketing roles to Financial Crime. [07:16] Key factors in building the biggest billing desk in Investigo. [12:58] Discussion of Jess's power phrases: “The placement is the prize, not the program” & “The art of the soft sell” [16:15] Becoming a credible thought leader through LinkedIn. [24:36] How panels and other platforms can help establish your expertise in your niche community. [32:09] Video phone calls and LinkedIn messaging to get a “larger surface of luck.” [40:28] Doing BD daily - Jess shares their best practice. [43:45] How to drive and use referrals from clients and candidates as a primary metric. [53:25] Navigating work-life integration by prioritizing and being task-focused. Nuggets of Wisdom from Jess Jess shared insightful perspectives on her recruitment cadence and approach in our conversation. Below are the power phrases she shared that I am sure will resonate well to recruiters and business owners, both new and tenured: "The placement is the prize, not the program" Jessica stresses the importance of focusing on long-term outcomes rather than immediate successes. In her experience, success in recruitment comes from investing time and effort into understanding the market deeply, building expertise, and creating value for clients beyond merely filling roles. "The art of the soft sell": Jessica highlights the effectiveness of positioning oneself as a knowledgeable consultant rather than a traditional recruiter. She builds trust and credibility by demonstrating expertise, being genuinely curious, and consistently engaging with the market (e.g., hosting events, having insightful conversations, and creating content on LinkedIn). This approach fosters a natural demand for her services, emphasizing the value of being seen as an advisor who shapes team structures and strategies. Using Referral as a Metric to Drive Growth Another interesting approach shared by Jess is how they use referrals as a primary metric. She has created a sustainable practice by prioritizing the quality of relationships that generate ongoing referrals. Some key strategies she shared for building a referral-based business are outlined below: Tracking all referral sources meticulously in your CRM Using brief, personal outreach messages focused on relationship-building Leveraging WhatsApp (desktop) for efficient communication management Building strategic partnerships with complementary businesses Always asking for referrals in every conversation Treating candidates and clients with equal importance Focus on authentic relationships over formal referral schemes "How can you decide if you're the best if no one's referring you?" This mindset has enabled Jessica to build a business where quality relationships drive consistent growth rather than relying solely on direct business development efforts. Brand Development as the new “BD” in Recruitment One of the most important takeaways from Jessica's approach is how she redefines BD—not as "business development," but as "brand development." Instead of relying solely on the usual cold calls and sales tactics, Jessica has carved out a thriving niche by positioning herself as a thought leader in financial crime recruitment. Her strategy shows that by consistently building your personal and professional brand, you can create a steady flow of inbound opportunities. Some strategies she implements are as follows: Posting consistently on LinkedIn (3x weekly) between 10 am-4 pm Tuesday-Friday Sponsoring strategic industry events as the sole recruitment partner Building credibility through association with industry leaders (ex. International Compliance Association) Jessica Hamilton Bio and Contact Info Jessica is pretty much synonymous with financial crime recruitment in London. She is the most well-known recruiter in her space and is seen as a thought leader and industry expert. She has featured in a book of financial crime compliance experts "Financial Crime Fighter - Book of Mentors", alongside many global heads of banks and industry. She speaks on industry panels and is the recruitment expert on the new ICA course for new MLROs. Jess has been recruiting for just over 10 years and created her first financial crime desk from scratch initially at Robert Walters in London, after meeting a girl in a pub who did financial crime (Jess thought the role sounded interesting) Jess then went onto replicate this at another global recruitment agency, based in London (Investigo) where within 2 years, she had built it to the top billing desk in financial services, globally. It was at Investigo she met her business partner, Ian Christie. After the birth of her first son, Ian approached Jess to start out on there own, and after returning from maternity leave the founded FincSelect in 2022. Jessica on LinkedIn FincSelect website People and Resources Mentioned Ian Christie on LinkedIn Connect with Mark Whitby Get your FREE 30-minute strategy call Mark on LinkedIn Mark on Twitter: @MarkWhitby Mark on Facebook Mark on Instagram: @RecruitmentCoach Subscribe to The Resilient Recruiter If you've been enjoying the podcast, please take two minutes to leave a review. Your review is greatly appreciated because it helps us attract a bigger audience and help more recruiters.
In this extended episode, editor, writer and curator of photography Bill Shapiro, art director, creative director and lecturer Fiona Hayes and UNP founder and curator Grant Scott look back on 2024 and forward to 2025 whilst reflecting on photo exhibitions, books, social media, publishing and the expectations of the Twenty First Century photographer. Bill Shapiro Bill Shapiro served as the Editor-in-Chief of LIFE, the legendary photo magazine; LIFE's relaunch in 2004 was the largest in Time Inc. history. Later, he was the founding Editor-in-Chief of LIFE.com, which won the 2011 National Magazine Award for digital photography. Shapiro is the author of several books, among them Gus & Me, a children's book he co-wrote with Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and, What We Keep, which looks at the objects in our life that hold the most emotional significance. A fine-art photography curator for New York galleries and a consultant to photographers, Shapiro is also a Contributing Editor to the Leica Conversations series. He has written about photography for the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, the Atlantic, Vogue, and Esquire, among others. Every Friday — more or less — he posts about under-the-radar photographers on his Instagram feed, where he's @billshapiro. Fiona Hayes Fiona Hayes is an art director, designer, consultant and lecturer with over 30 years' experience in publishing, fashion and the art world. She has been a magazine art director ten times: on Punch, Company, Eve, the British and Russian editions of Cosmopolitan, House & Garden,GQ India (based in Mumbai), MyselfGermany (in Munich), and Russian Vogue (twice). Between 2013 and 2019, as Art Director of New Markets and Brand Development for Condé Nast International, based in London and Paris, she oversaw all the company's launches – 14 magazines, including seven editions of Vogue. She still consults as Design Director at Large for Vogue Hong Kong. In 2002 she founded independent photography magazine DayFour, publishing it continuously until 2012. Outside the publishing world, she has been Art Director of contemporary art auction house Phillips de Pury in London and New York, and Consultant Art Director of Russian luxury retail group Mercury/TSUM. She currently divides her time between design consultancy for commercial clients, and lecturing. She lives in West London. @theartdictator Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career Scott has art directed numerous advertising campaigns, worked as a creative director at Sotheby's, art directed foto8 magazine, founded his own photographic gallery, edited Professional Photographer magazine and launched his own title for photographers and filmmakers Hungry Eye. He founded the United Nations of Photography in 2012, and is now a Senior Lecturer and Subject Co-ordinator: Photography (Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate) at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, and a BBC Radio contributor. Scott is the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Routledge 2014), The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Routledge 2015), New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography (Routledge 2019), and What Does Photography Mean To You? (Bluecoat Press 2020). His photography has been published in At Home With The Makers of Style (Thames & Hudson 2006) and Crash Happy: A Night at The Bangers (Cafe Royal Books 2012). His film Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay was premiered in 2018. Scott continues to work as a photographer, writer and filmmaker and is the Subject Coordinator for both undergraduate and post graduate study of photography at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, England. © Grant Scott 2025
In this conversation, Michael Kauffman, founder of Catskill Crew, shares insights on building a successful local newsletter, focusing on community engagement, monetization strategies, and the importance of authenticity in content creation. He discusses the growth of his newsletter, the role of polling and feedback in shaping content and product, and the various revenue streams he has developed, including events and partnerships with local businesses. Kauffman emphasizes the significance of building a trusted brand and the potential for local newsletters to fill gaps left by traditional media.00:00 Introduction to Michael Kauffman and Catskill Crew03:05 The Media Landscape in the Catskills09:04 Growth Strategies and Content Creation15:05 Targeting the Right Audience21:18 Building Trust and Relationships with Advertisers29:54 Building Community Through Events36:39 Brand Development and Merchandising42:18 Exploring Real Estate Opportunities52:07 The Value of Local Newsletters and Community Engagement58:16 The Future of Catskill Crew and Community GrowthLinksVisit Catskill CrewFollow Michael on X (@MikeyPesto)Start your own local newsletter on BeehiivSubscribe to the Monetize Media newsletterFollow Kyle on X (@KyleScottL)Kyle's brandsAccessGMT.comWalkingTheBoards.comTip.NewsOnPattison.com
Organizational psychologists Dr. Ted Freeman and Dr. Stacey Philpot return to the podcast with a deep dive into their approach to working with teams. Ted is the founder of Ted Freeman Advisory, where he applies his decades of experience in organizational knowledge and strategy to help companies function more smoothly. His clients include major brands like Arcteryx, Eileen Fisher, Bristol Myers Squibb, Wüsthof.Stacey is a managing partner at Executive Development Consulting, where she utilizes over two decades of leadership development, executive coaching, and high-performance succession planning. Stacey's clients include Apple, General Mills, Harley Davidson, Johnson & Johnson, and Nike.Ted and Stacey often collaborate on their advisory work, leveraging their combined experience in organizational effectiveness and culture and brand development to help increase the competitive edge of some of the world's largest companies. Both are longtime friends and colleagues of Noto Group and How I Hire.In this episode, Ted, Stacey, and Roy delve into the complex dynamics inherent to working with teams. They discuss challenges they consistently hear from leaders, how to enhance a sense of inter-team competency, the necessity of translating and communicating context between leaders and teams, as well as commonly accepted myths about what constitutes a high-performing team.Highlights from our conversation include:How leaders and team members struggle with team dynamics in different ways (5:35)Common concerns expressed by leaders about teams (9:21) How to diffuse and rectify a lack of trust between leaders and teams (11:29)Important guidelines for Ted & Stacey's approach (14:17)What high-performing teams really look like (18:33)Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode.Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities.Subscribe to How I Hire:AppleSpotifyAmazon
In this episode of the Ganjapreneur podcast, host TG Branfalt is joined by Witt Rabon, co-founder and COO, and Jamar Brown, co-founder and President of Brand Development for DRO, a Colorado-based cannabis lifestyle brand that has been redefining cannabis culture since its launch in 2014. DRO stands out by weaving authentic storytelling, cultural identity, and bold design into its clothing and cannabis products. In this episode, Witt and Jamar share the origins of DRO, reflecting on how their personal journeys—from professional sports and corporate branding to a shared love for cannabis—helped shape the company's unique voice and vision. They delve into how DRO transitioned from an idea sparked during their time as coworkers to a thriving lifestyle brand blending cannabis and fashion. Other topics discussed in this interview include: The importance of connecting with consumers through authentic, relatable stories The role of design in bridging cannabis culture with mainstream audiences The importance of advocacy, social equity, expungement, and using their platform for cannabis education DRO's approach to licensing deals, and the challenges and opportunities of entering big-box retailers And more! This episode offers a compelling look at the intersection of cannabis, culture, and business, highlighting DRO's journey as a brand that honors legacy culture while helping shape the current landscape of the legal cannabis industry. Learn more about DRO: https://drolife.com https://droflower.com
John Sampogna is the co-founder and CEO of Wondersauce, a modern advertising agency that specializes in brand storytelling, paid media, e-commerce, and digital experiences.In this episode of DTC Pod, John discusses brand storytelling strategies across all sorts of media channels. He shares insights on crafting impactful campaigns and tips for finding and leveraging undervalued marketing gems like connected TV, static out-of-home, and podcasts. We explore the importance of understanding target audiences, the 3-3-3 rule for keeping your messaging on point, and finding that sweet spot between top-of-funnel brand-building and lower-funnel performance tactics.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Brand Storytelling Strategies2. Buying and Crafting Campaigns3. Linear vs Connected TV4. Audience Understanding5. 333 Rule for Messaging6. Advertising Tactics and Budgeting7. Undervalued Marketing Channels8. Brand Story vs Product StoryTimestamps00:00 John Sampogna's background; Wondersauce vision03:54 Serving Fortune 1000 businesses and DTC startups06:05 Starting and scaling an advertising agency10:11 What is brand storytelling and how can brands get it right13:23 Media budgets and audiences in funnel strategy18:44 Connected TV, static out-of-home, and podcasts25:42 Strategizing for connected TV vs linear TV28:58 Steps for creating an effective brand or product story34:28 How Wondersauce onboard and work with clientsShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more. Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok John Sampogna - CEO and Co-Founder of WondersauceBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic
Are you thinking of starting a podcast? Or maybe you already have a show and are wondering how to take it to the next level? Today's guest shares everything you need to know to launch and grow a successful, purpose-driven podcast. Erik Cabral is a leading expert in brand development, trusted by Fortune 100 and Inc. 5000 companies to define and deliver their core messages. Having built thousands of brands over his career, Erik has shared the stage with powerhouse brands like Shark Tank's Matt Higgins and Kevin Harrington, VaynerMedia, David Meltzer, and Hal Elrod of the Miracle Morning. As the founder of On Air Brands, Be Your Brand, PodMAX, and theMindado Investment Group, Erik is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs develop their personal and corporate brands through podcasting and media strategies. His work has been featured in major publications and has contributed to raising millions in capital for his investor clients. Preventing Podfade After launching dozens of podcasts, Erik says the biggest obstacle is “podfade”–where a podcast gradually disappears over time because they run out of content ideas. Thousands of new shows were created in the past few years, but very few of them survived past 20 episodes. The reason comes down to a lack of purpose. If you don't have a clear goal for your show, it's unlikely to last. That's why Erik's company has shifted more into personal branding. Before launching a podcast, be clear on your goals, your mission, and who you want to serve. Focus on your purpose, because that's what makes great content. In Erik's own business, he's rebranded his podcast to The Erik Cabral Show and is focused on incorporating his faith into his brand. His mission is to build personal brands that glorify God and speaking openly about that has helped attract people who share those values. What to Know Before Starting a Podcast If you want to start a podcast, the first step is to manage your expectations. The average number of downloads per episode is 29. That may not sound like a lot, but even a small audience can create momentum in your business! If you have 30 loyal listeners every week, that's the same as having 30 people in a room who are eager to learn from you. Don't believe the noise on social media that says you need massive numbers to create an impact. When it comes to growing your show, podcasting is like starting a business. It starts with word of mouth and your personal network. Most of the biggest podcasts are hosted by someone who already had a personal brand with a large following. Audience growth is a slow build, so don't give up too soon. Enjoy this interview with podcasting expert Erik Cabral… Soundbytes 13:47-14:06 “It's what we call pod fade: all these shows got started, and the statistics are running away from me, but all the hundreds of thousands of podcasts that started during that era, we benefited from, for sure, but then a lot of them faded because they didn't have clarity and purpose and an end goal in mind.” 15:05-15:25 “If I asked you to speak at my event and there were 30 people in the room that were going to be hungry and eager to learn from you, and you have an hour-long opportunity to get into their minds and in their hearts…would you take that? Absolutely. You have this every week you're speaking on your own stage about whatever you want to talk about every single week.” 33:32-24:04 “There is a purpose outside of money. Your purpose could be money and earthly things and earthly desires and material things. But I've recognized, and I've been around a lot of successful people…sharing the room in stages with millionaires and billionaires. I've recognized there are people that aren't happy with all that money, but the ones that are have that greater purpose, and they're usually God fearing people that know there's something bigger than themselves beyond this life here on Earth.” Quotes “Podcasting is very much like starting a business. We have to start with friends and family, word of mouth. We have to grassroots.” “Having a podcast, especially with a YouTube channel, you're set apart for most business owners who don't want to do that.” “We want to build personal brands that glorify God.” “Building a business is personal. It comes from us, our heart.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Erik's website: https://www.erikcabral.co/ Free podcasting guide: https://www.erikcabral.co/guide Connect with Erik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikcabral/
Kim Speed is a brand visibility expert, business mentor, speaker, recipient of the Most Influential Business Woman in Brand Development and Amazon best-selling author of Branding on a Shoestring. How to recreate your small business identity and increase sales results in 83 days or less. During her years in the corporate world Kim worked in advertising as a Creative Director for some of the biggest global brands including Coca-Cola, TD Bank, Ford and Molson Coors. After leaving the world of advertising, Kim started her own business, Purple Moon Creative, Brand and Marketing Boutique, where she helps budding and building entrepreneurs courageously step into their own spotlight to create brands that stand out and attract clients.
In this episode, Vivien Bohme, founder and CEO of Bohme, shares her inspiring journey from growing up in an immigrant household to building a successful fashion retail brand. She reflects on how early responsibilities shaped her entrepreneurial mindset, including advocating for her family and managing household logistics at a young age. Vivien discusses the challenges and strategies behind Bohme's growth, including navigating store design, maintaining brand relevance, and fostering talent within her organization.
In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with art director, lecturer and creative director Fiona Hayes. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Fiona comment on the photographic environment as they see it through the exhibitions, magazines, talks and events that Fiona has seen over the previous weeks. Fiona Hayes Fiona Hayes is an art director, designer, consultant and lecturer with over 30 years' experience in publishing, fashion and the art world. She has been a magazine art director ten times: on Punch, Company, Eve, the British and Russian editions of Cosmopolitan, House & Garden,GQ India (based in Mumbai), MyselfGermany (in Munich), and Russian Vogue (twice). Between 2013 and 2019, as Art Director of New Markets and Brand Development for Condé Nast International, based in London and Paris, she oversaw all the company's launches – 14 magazines, including seven editions of Vogue. She still consults as Design Director at Large for Vogue Hong Kong. In 2002 she founded independent photography magazine DayFour, publishing it continuously until 2012. She is Co-Author and Art Director of The Fashion Yearbook, and creative director of books for South African media consultancy Legacy Creates. Outside the publishing world, she has been Art Director of contemporary art auction house Phillips de Pury in London and New York, and Consultant Art Director of Russian luxury retail group Mercury/TSUM. (Fiona would like to point out she is not Russian: she is proudly Irish and studied Visual Communication and History of Art and Design at NCAD Dublin.) She currently divides her time between design consultancy for commercial clients, and lecturing at Oxford Brookes University, the Condé Nast College of Fashion and Design, London, Nottingham Trent University, Ravensbourne University, and Leeds University. She lives in West London. @theartdictator Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work zas a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career Scott has art directed numerous advertising campaigns, worked as a creative director at Sotheby's, art directed foto8magazine, founded his own photographic gallery, edited Professional Photographer magazine and launched his own title for photographers and filmmakers Hungry Eye. He founded the United Nations of Photography in 2012, and is now a Senior Lecturer and Subject Co-ordinator: Photography at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, and a BBC Radio contributor. Scott is the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Routledge 2014), The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Routledge 2015), New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography (Routledge 2019), and What Does Photography Mean To You? (Bluecoat Press 2020). His photography has been published in At Home With The Makers of Style (Thames & Hudson 2006) and Crash Happy: A Night at The Bangers (Cafe Royal Books 2012). His film Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay was premiered in 2018. Scott's book Inside Vogue House: One building, seven magazines, sixty years of stories, Orphans Publishing, is on now. © Grant Scott 2024
Jackson Jeyanayagam is an accomplished executive leader whose work has spanned across many industry sectors and a wide range of organizations. He began his career on the agency side, where he worked for 15 years before pivoting into digital marketing, P&L management, and DTC growth for top brands like Chipotle, Clorox, and AB InBev. Jackson also has experience on the startup side, having served as CMO for Boxed, a DTC startup. Most recently, Jackson was responsible for founding and scaling RTD brand Hey, Hei for AB InBev, helping to incubate the brand and develop a startup mentality under AB InBev's larger corporate umbrella. Jackson and Roy discuss the parallels between agency work and developing a startup, the necessity for widening the hiring funnel to better include outside strategies and perspectives, and the ways in which conventional interviewing methods are keeping brands from attracting and securing top tier talent.Highlights from our conversation include:Jackson's experiences at startups vs. more established brands (2:07)How he builds teams when coming into new organizations (5:11)Jackson's process for determining opportunities for change (and what not to mess with when starting a new role) (8:19)Gauging intentional and unintentional toxicity within one's team (13:21)The intersection between curiosity, vulnerability, learning, and hiring (16:07)How Jackson is intentional about influencing and shaping culture (21:58)His process for making executive-level hiring decisions and who's involved (23:18)Ensuring the hiring process is equitable and attractive to a diverse range of talent (24:06)Talent market trends Jackson's noticed from both the candidate and hiring sides (25:26)Visit HowIHire.com for transcripts and more on this episode.Follow Roy Notowitz and Noto Group Executive Search on LinkedIn for updates and featured career opportunities.Subscribe to How I Hire:AppleSpotifyAmazon
Robin Daniels is on the Product Thinking Podcast to discuss how it's possible to transform working cultures through the careful construction of a supportive community atmosphere. Robin, Chief Business and Product Officer at Zensai, explains to Melissa Perri how his remarkable journey through product management and marketing across leading tech companies like Salesforce and LinkedIn has led him to where he is today. The pair ponder the question of what sparks joy in a corporate setting, and they discuss how a weekly check-in system that promotes self-reflection among employees is a far more functional system than the outmoded annual performance review method of performance management. Tune in to discover Robin's insights on driving growth through product-led strategies and the evolving landscape of product management.
Zach Ranen is the co-founder of David, a protein bar brand which disrupted the market with 50% more calories from protein than any other bar and a groundbreaking dollar-to-protein ratio. In this episode of the DTC POD, Zach shares David's pre-launch and launch strategies, leading to 1M+ dollars in sales in the first week. This includes engaging with influencers like Peter Attia and Andrew Huberman and giving away 20,000 product samples. Zach also gives insights into their R&D process, how they built the David brand, their product-led approach to growth, and future plans.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Pre-Launch and Launch Tactics2. Product-Led Approach to Growth3. Product Sampling Marketing4. Influencer Partnerships5. Viral Marketing Strategies6. Brand Development 7. Naming and Visual IdentityTimestamps00:00 The idea behind David protein bars05:59 From working in private equity to founding Raize and eventually David16:55 Balancing taste with nutrition in developing David protein bars24:22 David as a product-led company27:52 Brand building for David: name, packaging, launch35:04 Key lessons on manufacturing, distribution, product launch, and virality43:53 David's $10M seed funding, key investors, and influencers48:10 Next steps for growth, channel allocation, strategyShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more. Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• #243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTok Zach Ranen - Co-Founder and President at DavidBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic
What if everything you thought was fueling your business growth is actually holding you back? In this episode, we dive deep into the hidden flaws in your data that could be sabotaging your success. Discover how to fix these cracks, align your strategy, and build a powerful "brand orbit" that not only keeps you in business but propels you to new heights. This is the game-changer you've been waiting for – don't miss out!Beyond The Episode Gems:• Get Your FREE 3-Step Pitch Guide [Downloadable]• Learn More Starting Your Own Business With Amazon's Delivery Service Program• Start Creating Exceptional Sites & Business Solutions Using Wix Studios • Grow Your Business Faster Using HubSpot's CRM Platform• Book Your Tickets For Content Marketing World, Use My Code "SANDIDGE100" For $100 Off Tickets!• Use The Same Recording Platform I Use For My Podcast, Try Riverside.fm For Free• Buy Troy's Book, Strategize Up That Is Referenced In This Episode: StrategizeUpBook.com• Discover All Podcasts On The HubSpot Podcast Network#####Support The Podcast & Connect With Troy: • Please Give A Rating & Review For The iDigress Podcast: iDigress.fm/Reviews• Follow Troy's LinkedIn @FindTroy• Get Strategy Solutions & Services: GrowWithTroy.com• Follow Troy's Instagram @FindTroy