Ever feel like your career is heading into apocalyptic mode-even when things aren't actually that bad? Jessica McCarthy, CEO & Founder of Brand Energy, gets it. She believes there's often a gap between what we feel and what's really happening, especially in today's hyper-connected, always-on world. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jessica opens up to Lisa Singer about navigating the unknown. From nearly becoming a brain surgeon to leading bold marketing campaigns for major brands, her path has been anything but conventional-and she credits that unexpected journey for teaching her the value of perspective, grit, and showing up …

What makes someone want to go beyond just marketing a brand to actually building it from the inside out? For Jaime Keller, Brand Director of Bombay Sapphire at Bacardi, it all goes back to her roots as an athlete-she's competitive, driven, but most of all, a total team player. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jaime shares with Lisa Singer how starting out on the agency side gave her the big-picture perspective she needed, but it was her desire to go deeper-to truly shape a brand from the inside-that led her to where she is today. She also talks …

Have you ever felt like you had something real to offer, but weren't sure how to harness it or when it was okay to speak up? Melissa Sierra, the EVP of Media Integration at USIM, opens up about finding her voice and showing up with purpose-even when the path feels uncertain. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Melissa talks with Lisa Singer about navigating imposter syndrome, the power of giving yourself grace, and the importance of making others feel seen and heard. She also shares her dreamer mentality, Virgo drive, and her childhood inspiration to pursue a career in …

Have you ever found yourself in a moment where everything just... clicks? Where life, family, and career all seem to align, even if only for a fleeting phase? That's exactly where Anne McGraw, CMO of Hattie B's Hot Chicken, finds herself right now. With a new role that lets her combine her love of food and restaurants with her passion for storytelling, and her daughters still at home-though just on the edge of flying the nest-Anne is holding onto every moment. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Anne opens up with Lisa Singer about her "sliding doors" moment that …

What drives someone to pivot in their career - especially when things are going well? For Chelsea Marti it was purpose. Novartis' director of content talks about those "aha" moments- when you start asking yourself not just what you do, but why - and how that led her to making a bold move from a successful tech career into a mission-driven role in healthcare. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Chelsea shares with Lisa Singer why rejection (including from Novartis years earlier) didn't stop her - and how persistence and a little competitive edge helped her break into an …

How does a former professional athlete become the marketing force behind one of the world's most iconic luxury watch brands? TAG Heuer's Marketing & Digital Director, Rachel Walsh, shares her unconventional journey- from playing professional field hockey across Europe to shaping brand narratives at Adidas, Rituals Cosmetics, and now TAG Heuer. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, she talks with Lisa Singer about how years of playing elite-level hockey around the world shaped her leadership style and drive for excellence. She opens up about her final storybook moment as an athlete, winning the Dutch Championship in her last professional …

How do you build a creative career while balancing the demands of real life-parenthood, passion projects, and everything in between? In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Nicole Stetter shares with Lisa Singer her unconventional journey from thrift store owner to head of creative at Saylor. Nicole opens up about becoming a mother before finishing college and how the discovery of remote work has helped transform her ability to balance ambition and parenthood. She explores the evolving norms around remote culture, especially its impact on working parents, and how structure, transparency, and boundaries have helped her thrive both professionally and …