The brndBrief Podcast

Most B2B sales cycles push for speed, but Rachel Montague closes deals that sometimes won't happen for three years. As CMO of the oldest Black-owned food service company in the U.S., she runs marketing strategies that couldn't be more different: throwing survey parties for college students while building multi-year relationships with university presidents. This episode reveals why her longest sale...

Marketing leaders say they want visibility into what happens after a lead reaches sales, but most never actually look. Latasia Cox, founder and CMO of Framework Marketing Consulting, breaks down where that fear comes from and why the fix isn't more effort, it's better systems. This episode gets into the real reasons marketing keeps getting treated as expendable, and what to do about it. Key Takeaw...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, guest Kevin Kinghorn, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Portland Trail Blazers, discusses how small-market sports teams navigate budget constraints while building identity-driven fandom. He tackles the the shift from broad awareness campaigns to targeted, values-based marketing that puts the brand in the hands of fans through their "p...

Most marketing leaders face constant pressure to prove ROI on every initiative, which often kills the brand-building work that drives long-term growth. Ed Fuchuck, General Manager at Tank Garage Winery, operates in an environment where the owner has a marketing background and understands that not everything belongs on a spreadsheet. This episode explores how Tank Garage makes brand deposits that c...

In this special episode of The brndBrief Podcast, we bring together insights from our guests this second season discussing how AI is transforming their businesses and industries. Leaders from venture studios, e-commerce, healthcare, events, marketing, and media share practical applications of AI tools in their daily operations, from coding assistance to creative auditing to patient data analysis. ...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, newest guest Megan Bell, Creator & Host of InsHER Podcast, discusses how she built an engaged community around her podcast through organic social media growth, personal branding, and authentic storytelling rather than paid advertising or corporate positioning. Megan also explains how her background in sensitive consumer markets like natural foods and f...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, newest guest Cindy Deekitwong, Vice President of Head of Innovation & Marketing at Aperia Corporation, explores her "Business to Human" approach to B2B marketing, the importance of voice of customer research across global markets, and how consultancies measure success through client business growth. Cindy discusses upcoming packaging industry trends in...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, guest Elizabeth Hague, Director of Executive Marketing and Insights at Indeed, highlights the current challenges facing brand marketers during economic uncertainty, including frequent layoffs and the pressure to "do more with less" while maintaining authentic customer experiences.  The conversation explores how AI is reshaping both the hiring process and j...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, guest Roy Sexton, Chief Marketing Officer at Vedder Price discusses the unique challenges of marketing in the legal industry, where attorneys are trained to be autonomous and competitive, and how the profession has evolved since marketing was once forbidden for law firms. This conversation explores how leaning into specialization rather than trying to be a...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, Rose Crichton-White joins us to discuss her work as Director of Marketing, Development and Special Events at Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. The 127-year-old nonprofit community music school serves over 80 sites across NYC, offering both paid music classes and free resources to underserved communities. Rose oversees the external affairs that keep this orga...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, newest guest Robert Hanna, Director of National Sales & Marketing at Cohn & Dussi, LLC, a specialized Boston-based litigation firm focusing on creditors' rights, commercial litigation, and financial services law, discuss regulatory changes in the debt collection industry, the practical limitations of AI in legal work, and proven marketing strategie...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, newest guest Monica Jackson, Chief Experience Curator at Prissi Productions, LLC, how the company evolved from social event planning to creating brand activations and corporate social responsibility initiatives. The discussion covers practical strategies for measuring event ROI, balancing technology with human connection, and building sustainable practices...

In this episode, Michele Hart, Director of Marketing and Communications at BostonSight, shares how she built a marketing function from the ground up for a unique nonprofit healthcare organization that operates both clinical services and commercial product lines. Michele discusses the strategic challenge of managing brand identity across multiple business verticals while serving diverse audiences i...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, guest Amberly Dressler, VP of Corporate Marketing at isolved, shares how isolved developed their "People Heroes" brand positioning to elevate HR, payroll, and benefits professionals who were often seen as compliance-focused rather than strategic contributors.  Amberly provides key insights on their customer storytelling approach, which analysts have called...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, newest guest Gabrielle Richards, Brand Director at Trafilea/Shapermint, a tech e-commerce group that has built an ecosystem of empowering brands including Shapermint, Truekind, and The Spa Dr., discuss how Shapermint transformed the shapewear industry by shifting the conversation from shame to body confidence while growing to 12 million customers. The conv...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, Melinda Joseph, VP of Marketing & Communications at InVitro Capital, shares insights on how InVitro Capital functions as a venture studio, operating in the space between venture capital and private equity - with a focus on building startups in a capital-efficient way. Melinda discusses her role in marketing and brand positioning for both the venture st...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, newest guest Salwa Petersen, CEO and Founder of Chéribé Beauty, a clean salon-grade haircare brand focused on textured hair. Salwa shares her journey from Chad to Harvard, where traditional beauty wisdom from her homeland inspired her to create an innovative haircare line featuring the proprietary Chébé Complex™. Their conversation explores Target's recent...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, Kelli Kelley sits down with Nikkia Adolphe, Co-Founder and Head of Strategy of BrandSavor Media + Marketing, a strategic marketing and communications consultancy focused on brand storytelling. This conversation explores successful brand reinvention strategies, the role of cultural relevance in storytelling, and the importance of maintaining consistent bran...

In the second season of The brndBrief Podcast, host Kelli Kelley discusses LinkedIn marketing strategies for B2B companies in 2025. The discussion challenges outdated approaches to thought leadership, revealing that 82% of companies are still using playbooks from 2022 — providing actionable insights on evidence-based storytelling, hyper-personalized content creation, and employee influencer engage...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, our newest guest Allyson Burroughs, Founder of Holt Whitley Consulting, LLC, shares insights from her extensive career in B2B and B2G marketing, emphasizing the importance of aligning marketing strategies with overarching business goals. The discussion explores the evolution of marketing in the digital age, the role of brand building, and the critical skil...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Stefany Jones, founder and CEO of Hustle Mama Magazine. Dr. Jones shares her remarkable 24-year journey from writing a book inspired by Proverbs 31 to building a multimedia empire that includes a magazine, university, podcast, radio platform, and app. She discusses how being a single mother and executive with multiple side hustles shap...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, we sit down with Kacie Luaders, founding producer of Could Be Pretty Cool, an audio production company specializing in arts, entrepreneurship, and innovation content. Kacie shares how the company emerged during the 2020 pandemic as a response to the surge in podcast creation and corporate support for independent creators. The conversation explores how Coul...

In this episode of The brndBrief podcast, we speak with Joe Weinlick, CMO/Strategist of WeinlickWorks, about evolving brand strategy trends and effective marketing approaches.  Joe shares insights from his extensive experience working with both large corporations like Microsoft and smaller clients through his fractional CMO services. The conversation explores how brand strategies have evolved towa...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, we speak with Kimberly Evans, Founder & CEO of Just Her Rideshare, Inc., a women-centric rideshare company focused on empowering women and ensuring safety for both drivers and passengers. This conversation touches on Kimberly’s journey as a fourth-generation entrepreneur, discussing her inspiration behind the company, the unique challenges of building...

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, guest Gabija Adele, Founder of CapitalBoost — an outsourced sales agency specializing in working with AI and SaaS tech founders — reveals key sales strategies and tools that have been pivotal for the growth of her company and the businesses she’s worked with.  Key points include: 📌 The importance of adaptability and knowing when to pivot in business, high...