Humans & Brands

Many careers follow a straight line. Evin Shutt, CEO and Partner of 72andSunny, took the opposite approach. From middle school teacher to the first employee (and now CEO & Partner!) at one of the most creative agencies in the world, her story is about having the courage to pivot when something doesn't feel right. Host Lauren Douglass sits down with Evin to explore her "pendulum" approach to wo...

What happens when you refuse to let corporate politics kill your creativity? This week, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Drew Train, Co-Founder and CEO of Oberland, who left it behind to start his own shop, and hasn't looked back since. Drew gets brutally honest about why independence matters and the creative process that doesn't happen at a desk. He doesn't hold back on what's broken in advert...

What happens when you stop fighting who you are and start using it as your superpower? Tune in with Lauren Douglass this week as she interviews Karen Riley-Grant, Chief Marketing Officer of Vuori, to unpack this. From starting on the Gap sales floor in Daytona Beach to leading marketing at one of the biggest apparel brands, Karen's journey is proof that your authentic self is your biggest asset. W...

In a world increasingly going digital and looking towards AI, why are in-person experiences more powerful than ever? Carley Faircloth-Kilmurray, Global CMO at Spiro, argues that IRL experience aren't just fun events to attend - they're business critical. Hosted by Lauren Douglass, they talk about why leaders are quick to cut experiential budgets (hint: measuring ROI wrong), how AI has made human c...

What's it really like to be president of one of the biggest agencies in the world? Melissa Levy, President of Digitas, pulls back the curtain on her 20-year journey from finance to the C-suite. In this conversation, Melissa gets real about the myth of work-life balance (spoiler: doesn't exist), why she compartmentalizes everything, and her "flush it and move forward" philosophy that's gotten her t...

What happens when you decide to stop wearing a corporate mask and just be yourself at work? On this episode, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Nadalie Dias, CMO of Hearts & Science, to find out. After years of being told to be less direct and less dominant, Nadalie hit a breaking point and chose authenticity over acceptance. We talk about the gendered feedback that shaped her career, why she...

Host Lauren Douglass sits down with Susan Howe, CEO of Weber Shandwick, for a conversation about leadership, growth, and the power of knowing yourself. Susan shares how she built her career by leaning into curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning. She talks about what it means to lead with intention, why positive energy is a choice she makes every day, and how she stays grounded while lea...

In this episode, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Kate Rush Sheehy, Chief Strategy Officer at GSD&M, for a conversation about the power of curiosity, the misunderstood narrative around women in leadership, and why building brands people care about starts with empathy. Kate shares the personal story behind her love for advertising, what motivates her as a strategist, and how growing up with...

In this special bonus episode of Humans & Brands, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Adrianne del Sol, VP, Digital Commerce + Omnichannel Marketing at Kimberly-Clark, and Kerel Cooper, CMO of GumGum, for a refreshingly human conversation about marketing, meaning, and how we show up in work and life. We unpack what separates great marketing from forgettable, why the human element often gets lo...

In this episode of Humans & Brands, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Sarah Leinberger, Vice President, Head of Marketing at Yoobi, for a conversation about bold pivots, people-first leadership, and the quiet power of being inherently good. Sarah opens up about her recent leap from a large corporate environment to a smaller, mission-driven company and how she’s always followed energy over ti...

On this episode, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Samantha Avivi, Chief Marketing Officer of Bayer, to talk about leadership, purpose, and knowing when to pivot. Samantha, a seasoned marketing leader with an iconic advertising legacy in her DNA, shares how curiosity, values, and courage have shaped her journey and helped navigate a purpose-driven career in brand leadership. She reflects on the...

Host Lauren Douglass sits down with Jessica Ling, EVP of Advertising at American Express, for a conversation about what makes a great leader and how discomfort often signals the right next step. Jess shares how leading with heart, consistency, and trust has shaped her career, and reflects on the challenges of managing people. They talk about the importance of playing the long game, staying grounde...

In this special episode of Humans & Brands, Lauren Douglass sits down with long-term friend Shannon Pruitt, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Stagwell, and powerhouse communicator, author, and Founder & CEO of Digital and Savvy, Maha Abouelenein, to unpack one of the most transformational mindset shifts we can make: self-reliance. Maha shares the inspiration behind her book, The Seven Rule...

In this episode, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams running back, former University of Michigan standout, and co-founder of Peak NIL. Blake opens up about his journey from small-town roots to college football fame and how the rise of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) changed his life. They dive into how Blake turned brand deals into long-term investments, why he co-founded...

This week, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Raj Register, CMO of Stellantis (the auto giant behind Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and more) for a conversation that’s equal parts leadership masterclass and personal reflection. Raj opens up about her unexpected journey from mechanical engineer to marketing exec, how a stint in Istanbul helped spark her pivot, and why building a career you love means trus...

This week, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Kristine Segrist, Global Head of Consumer Marketing at Canva, to chat about leadership, creativity, and how to build teams that aren’t afraid to take big risks. But beyond the strategy and marketing genius, Kristine opens up about the myth of balance: how being a leader and a mother means learning to lean into one area at a time and accepting that the...

What do coolers, rideshares, and green powders have in common? In this episode of Humans & Brands, Lauren Douglass sits down with Aussie marketing powerhouse Paulie Dery, CMO of AG1 and former brand whisperer at YETI and Uber. With his signature laid-back vibe and razor-sharp insight, Paulie makes a compelling case that creativity isn’t just nice to have, it’s the lifeblood of brand-building a...

This one’s for the creators, the founders, the quiet rebels, and anyone who's ever hesitated to hit "post." What if the fear of being “cringe” is really just the fear of being seen? In this episode of Humans & Brands, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Courtney Johnson, personal brand strategist and unapologetic truth-teller, to explore how we can all move past the fear of judgment and show u...

What happens when the title you’ve worked your entire career for is suddenly gone? Who are you beyond the job, beyond the success, beyond the identity that’s been wrapped up in what you do? In this deeply personal and thought-provoking chat on Humans & Brands, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Swan Sit, a powerhouse in digital transformation who has led some of the world’s biggest brands. Bu...

What makes a brand truly resonate with people? Why do some brands inspire deep loyalty while others struggle to stay relevant? In this episode of Humans & Brands, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Dr. Marcus Collins, a marketing professor, best-selling author, and one of the brightest minds in the world of branding. Dr. Collins takes us on a deep dive into how brands have evolved from simple...

This week, host Lauren Douglass chats with Damaune Journey, Chief Growth Officer at 72andSunny, about his non-linear path to leadership, how his background has shaped his approach to creativity, and why he believes human ingenuity is more important than ever in an AI-driven world. They also dive into why diversity in media and messaging matters, and Damaune’s commitment to ensuring that future gen...

What does it take to pull off a Super Bowl ad? This week on Humans & Brands, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Vinny Rinaldi, Head of Media & Analytics at Hershey’s, to uncover the strategy, creativity, and chaos behind Reese’s latest big game moment. From meticulous planning to multi-agency collaborations, Vinny reveals the highs and headaches of executing one of the year’s most anticip...

He’s usually the one asking the questions, but this time, we’re turning the tables. On this special crossover episode of Humans & Brands, host Lauren Douglass sits down with the one and only AdTechGod: the anonymous, meme-wielding, insight-dropping voice that’s been shaking up the adtech industry. Known for his hot takes and making ad tech actually interesting, he’s built a massive following w...

We've got an exciting episode for you today! In this episode of Humans & Brands, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Marissa Solis, SVP of Global Brand and Consumer Marketing at the NFL. From her roots in Mexico to leading brand strategy for one of the most iconic sports leagues, Marissa shares the real story behind her career moves: what it took, what she learned, and what she’d tell her 23-y...

In this episode, host Lauren Douglass sits down with Angela Clark, VP of Digital at Patagonia, to explore her journey through the marketing world and how she landed at one of the most iconic brands out there. Angela dives headfirst into the bold, unconventional strategies reshaping the brand’s online presence: from pushing boundaries in e-commerce to redefining customer engagement, she shares how...