Create Brand NV

At 55, Ravi Teja Bommireddipalli walked away from a 30-year career leading global tech companies — including Robosoft Technologies, which built platforms for Warner Bros., Disney, ESPN, and McDonald's — to bootstrap his own AI startup from scratch. What he's building might change how your entire company operates. Ayatt AI is an agentic AI platform that goes far beyond ChatGPT. It observes your bus...

In this episode of the Create Brand NV podcast, Nicole Alicea and Maria Daly sit down with Jayme Ribeiro Neto, longtime media executive and now franchise owner of School of Rock Clearwater, for a thoughtful conversation about reinvention, leadership, entrepreneurship, and building something meaningful after a major career transition. Jayme shares his journey from Brazil to the U.S., from an MTV in...

In this insightful interview, Sharon Toerek, a marketing and intellectual property attorney, shares guidance on protecting creative work, understanding intellectual property, and navigating the complexities of AI-generated content. Perfect for creative agency owners, brand leaders, and entrepreneurs looking to safeguard their innovations and monetize their IP effectively. Topics covered: Introduct...

Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews are changing how people find information online. Instead of clicking through multiple websites, users increasingly receive summarized answers instantly. This has led many business owners to ask an important question: Is SEO dead? But the real issue isn’t whether search engine optimization still works. The real question is: If AI...

Many organizations believe they are simply sharing updates with their audience. In reality, every announcement shapes perception. In this solo episode of the Create Brand NV Podcast, Nicole Alicea explores a critical but often overlooked marketing principle: the difference between operational language and brand language . A recent real-world example from a healthcare practice illustrates how a see...

In this episode, Nicole Alicea sits down with Tampa City Councilmember and Tucker Hall president Bill Carlson to explore the lessons government can draw from the business world. They discuss the importance of mentorship, the differences in financial management between the two sectors, the adversarial nature of politics, and the significance of relationships in governance. Carlson emphasizes the ne...

In this conversation, Dr. Shane Combs discusses the importance of empowering young leaders, particularly from Gen Z, in the workforce. He emphasizes the need for businesses to adapt to the changing landscape by embracing divergent thinking, purpose-driven work, and mental health awareness. The discussion also covers the significance of work-life balance, career development expectations, and the im...

Nicole Alicea interviews George Swetlitz, co-founder of Right Response AI, about leveraging AI for review responses and sentiment analysis. They discuss the challenges of scaling review management across multiple locations, the importance of helpful and personalized responses. Takeaways: - More people today read reviews than visit websites. - Responses to reviews are for prospective customers, not...

Nicole sits down with entrepreneur, speaker, and “Medicare Matchmaker” Rosie Paulsen to unpack a life powered by grit, faith, and focus. From selling her first agency to leading Simple & Reliable Insurance Services (SNR) , Rosie shares how moving from tactics without strategy to a true North Star grew her business 600% and how small, daily improvements compound into big wins. They dig into per...

Host Nicole Alicea sits down with Nelcy Baltz, a community leader, entrepreneur, and breast cancer survivor turned nonprofit founder. Nelcy shares her powerful journey—from a shocking breast cancer diagnosis to founding Believe Cancer Foundation (believecf.org), a nonprofit that provides emotional and physical support to cancer patients and caregivers. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Nelcy's per...

Nicole Alicea, President and CEO of Brand NV, an integrated digital marketing, branding and advertising agency, discusses the integration of AI in marketing, emphasizing its benefits and limitations. She shares insights on how AI can enhance marketing strategies while highlighting the importance of human creativity and expertise. The discussion also covers the significance of understanding custome...

Dottie Groover-Skipper, founder of the Heart Dance Foundation and a relentless advocate against human trafficking, substance abuse, and exploitation, shares her journey from corporate wellness to building a mission-driven nonprofit that supports vulnerable individuals in the adult entertainment industry. She offers insights into the challenges, strategies, and careful approach required to tackle t...

Fraud doesn’t just happen to big corporations—it happens to small businesses every day. And most business owners don’t see it coming. In this episode, Nicole Alicea sits down with retired banker Cynthia Weiss to uncover how fraud actually happens inside businesses—and the simple mistakes that leave companies exposed. From internal embezzlement to vendor scams and wire fraud, Cynthia shares real-wo...

Anthony Koffman, Mission and Ethics Director at BayCare Health System, discusses BayCare’s rich history and legacy, and how Mission and Values guide daily operations—from business decisions to community programs. We also discuss ethics in healthcare, sharing stories of tough decisions regarding patient care, such as organ donation and end-of-life matters. Anthony also introduces us to BayCare’s fo...

We had the privilege of sitting down with the incredible Linda Hurtado-Bond, a Fox 13 TV news anchor , Emmy Award-winning journalist, best-selling author, breast cancer survivor, and mother of five! Linda opened up about how she juggles her high-profile career at Fox 13, writing thrilling novels, and raising a family, all while staying true to her passions. In this episode, Linda breaks down the e...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Shane Combs—former ad agency owner and Assistant Director of Academic Programs at the University of South Florida—to explore what it really means to reinvent your career and guide others in finding their path. Shane shares his journey from leading a regional advertising agency to working closely with first-year college students through USF’s Exploratory Curric...

In this episode of Create Brand NV, host Nicole Alicea welcomes back employment law attorney Charlotte Fernee Kelly for an insightful discussion on women’s rights in the workplace, particularly surrounding pregnancy and lactation. Charlotte sheds light on critical laws like the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Pregnant Workers' Fairness Act (PWFA), and the Pump Act, offering guidance on how these law...

James Neely, SVP of KUDUCOM™, joins me to explore the intricacies of growing your company in a tech-centric environment with a remote and hybrid workforce. In this episode, we delve into three main areas: Adapting and Scaling Your Business: Discover best practices for adapting to remote work, scaling your business, and implementing effective hybrid workforce strategies. Learn how to recruit top ta...

Michael Budensiek, owner of The Fit Effect, shares his entrepreneurial journey of building, scaling, and ultimately selling a multi-location gym business. This conversation also dives into a powerful truth: the discipline you build through fitness and self-care directly impacts your success in every other area of life. Michael breaks down how consistency, structure, and taking care of your body tr...

In this episode, we sit down with Eric Parker, a Special Operations combat veteran with nearly 30 years of experience in high-threat security environments. His career spans military service, private security contracting with Blackwater in Iraq and Afghanistan, and federal service with the Diplomatic Security Service. Eric shares firsthand stories from operating in war zones, leading protection tea...

In this episode, Nicole interviews Dave and Alex Trudeau of Clear Armor. Dave, the founder and CEO, shares his journey of creating the strongest protective glass laminate after a personal break-in experience. Alex, the COO, discusses the operational side, detailing installations in schools, police departments, businesses, and homes. The Trudeaus explain Clear Armor's innovative product, designed t...

Geek out with us on the future of AI in SEO! In this episode, we welcome Greg Brooks, partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Search Tides. Hear the latest in AI-driven SEO strategies and learn the "secret sauce" to ensure your business ranks well on Google, Bing and other search engines.

In this episode of the Create Brand NV Podcast, Nicole Alicea sits down with JP Lebel, founder of Lebel Landscaping, to break down how he built a thriving Tampa-based company from the ground up—starting with nothing more than a college side hustle knocking on doors and mowing lawns. What began during the 2008–2009 recession as a way to make ends meet quickly evolved into a full-scale operation. To...

Not everyone is qualified to make accurate valuations, so don't let someone tell you you're too expensive. Know your worth. Price yourself correctly. Effectively tell the story of the value you bring to the table. Join me as I share my thoughts on pricing, worth, and value.

Learn the difference between B2B and B2C marketing, marketing and advertising, and bias in marketing advice. If you have 20 minutes and love talking shop, join me!