What does it really take to be creatively brave? For Kirstin Falk, Senior Advisor of Brand Strategy & Partnerships at Breakwater Studios, it means trusting your instincts, speaking your truth, and pushing past the herd mentality. Her team's short film, "The Final Copy of Ilon Specht," tells the story of a woman who did just that- it also won the Grand Prix at Cannes this year. Kirstin shares with Lisa Singer how Ilon's iconic L'Oreal tagline, "Because I'm worth it," remains just as relevant today as it was decades ago- and how authenticity, mentorship, and fearless creativity are still the …

Ever wonder what it takes to rise to the C-suite while staying true to yourself? Brittany Sadlouskos, COO of DAA Media & Marketing, knows firsthand. From starting out in field marketing at Jack-in-the-Box to leading a top agency, she has built a career grounded in authenticity, relationships, and a willingness to pivot when opportunity calls. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Brittany opens up with Lisa Singer about how mentors and female leaders inspired her, the mindset shifts that helped her step into her own voice, and why advocating for your work is essential. She also shares how she …

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for Nashville-based music marketing CEO and founder of Girlilla Marketing, Jennie Smythe, the cause is deeply personal. Eight years after her breast cancer diagnosis, she continues to navigate the realities of survivorship-while embracing each day with gratitude, purpose, and a drive to create change. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jennie shares her journey with Lisa Singer, the hope she feels for a breast cancer vaccine in our lifetime, and how trusted resources like Susan G. Komen helped her turn fear into advocacy. With a client roster of a who's who in …

What do people often get wrong about you when they first meet you? When asked the same question, Jinal Shah turned it around - first asking what impression she made. It was a fitting response from a leader who believes communication goes far beyond words. As Zip's Chief Customer & Marketing Officer put it, "We're communicating even when we're not communicating." In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jinal shares with Lisa Singer her approach to both leadership and life. Whether guiding Zip's rapid growth or navigating motherhood, she does both with constant reflection and what she calls "personal change …

What does it mean to be a "wild card"? For Jenny Huang, it's meant never following the obvious path-and thriving because of it. At just 16, she left a small town in China to move to the U.S. alone, chasing her dream of becoming a concert pianist. Years later, when the pandemic shut down the music world, she took another leap, pivoting into advertising where she quickly rose through the ranks, creating award-winning campaigns for Fortune 500 brands. Now, as the first Director of B2B Brand Marketing at Gannett | USA Today Network, Jenny brings that same resilience, curiosity, and …

What does it really mean to push boundaries- not just at work, but in life? For Nicole Schlegel, VP of Digital Marketing at Universal Pictures, it meant strapping on a snowboard in her 40s after saying no in her 20s...just to prove she could. That same curiosity and drive have fueled her 18-year career at Universal Pictures, where she pivoted from publicity to digital back when Facebook was still new and Instagram felt daunting. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Nicole talks with Lisa Singer about building a career defined not by job-hopping, but by asking questions, speaking up, …

What does it mean to show up as your authentic self at work? For Jill Cress, it meant ditching the stiff navy suits of the 90s banking world for ruffled blouses and bold plaid dresses. That choice didn't just set her apart- it helped shape a career built on creativity, curiosity, and breaking the rules in the best way possible. From MasterCard to National Geographic, and now as Chief Marketing & Experience Officer at H&R Block, Jill's willingness to take risks has defined her brand both personally and professionally. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jill talks with Lisa …

What shapes who we become? For Daphne Leroy, it's her Queens roots, immigrant parents, and a summer job that opened her eyes to the power of media and marketing-laying the foundation for a career she never could have imagined growing up. A board member for the Fiver Children's Foundation, this media executive is also a passionate advocate for opening doors and creating pipelines for the next generation. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Daphne shares with Lisa Singer how growing up in such a diverse city shaped her perspective to embrace different backgrounds-not to mention, giving her that New …

Radhika Duggal is definitely not shy, but prefers to speak when she can make an impact. Having held senior marketing positions at various Fortune 100 companies; including Deloitte, Pfizer, JP Morgan Chase, and at the time of this interview, Super.com. Today the innovative executive is continuing to make an impact, now serving as SVP, CMO for Major League Soccer. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Radhika explains that instead of being the loudest person in the room, being the most intentional one is the better path. She also shares a behavior learned from her mother- one she's now passing …