From Here To There

In this episode, we sit down with David Lee, Chief Creative Officer at Squarespace, to trace his journey from a restless teenager in suburban Montreal to leading one of the most design-forward companies in the world. David shares how skate culture and DIY design first opened his eyes to creativity, what he learned at the Rhode Island School of Design (including the life-changing lesson of drawing...

In this episode, we explore the unconventional path of Jeremy Jones, who transformed his passion for punk rock, skateboarding, and counter-culture creativity into a thriving advertising and marketing career. Jeremy shares how making band flyers and touring with musicians became his informal MBA in marketing, teaching him branding, promotion, and creative problem-solving long before he understood w...

In this episode, we sit down with Emma Donelan, Marketing and Communications Director at Data.org, to explore how data and artificial intelligence are being harnessed to address some of the world's most pressing social challenges. Emma shares the powerful work Data.org is doing through global innovation challenges and capacity-building initiatives that bridge technology and humanitarian impact. Di...

Join us for a fascinating conversation with David Boyle, Director at Audience Strategies, a data company that builds capabilities that merge traditional audience research with AI-powered analysis. David shares how his love for mathematics' predictability became the foundation for a diverse career spanning AI, data analytics, strategy consulting, philanthropy, politics, and even the music industry....

In this engaging episode, we follow Andrew McKechnie's remarkable career trajectory from his early days as a marketing student at Auckland University of Technology to becoming a strategic marketing leader driving innovation in climate technology. Andrew's journey showcases the power of adaptability and continuous learning in building a truly global marketing career. Discover how Andrew's foundatio...

In this fascinating episode, we explore the intersection of historical wisdom and modern business leadership with John Lewis Gaddis, Professor at Yale University and renowned author whose book, "On Grand Strategy," has unexpectedly captivated the business management community. Gaddis reveals how centuries-old strategic principles remain profoundly relevant for today's executives and entrepreneurs....

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Joel Grabenstein, VP of Sales, Brand, Product Marketing at Yakima Products, as he shares his dynamic career evolution from tourism and hospitality education to becoming a respected marketing leader in the outdoor industry. Joel's story demonstrates how unconventional educational backgrounds can become powerful assets when combined with strategic thinking...

In this thought-provoking episode, we dive deep with Alistair Croll, an entrepreneur, author, and conference innovator who has spent decades helping organizations make better data-driven decisions and understand the hidden systems that shape business and society. He authored the bestselling "Lean Analytics" and has helped launch seven major industry conferences including O'Reilly's Strata and the...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Amber Armstrong, CMO at Salesforce, as she shares her dynamic career evolution from sales professional to top-tier marketing leader. Amber details her pivotal transition to IBM following her MBA, where she spent 14 transformative years mastering diverse roles and building the foundation for her executive success. In this episode, Amber offers valuable pe...

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, renowned data visualization expert and Founder, Speaker, Author at storytelling with data. She traces her fascinating career path from banking to becoming Google's go-to specialist for their People Analytics team. Cole reveals how she transformed her passion for clear communication into a revolutionary approach to data present...

In this inspiring conversation with Rich Karlgaard, Futurist & Editor-at-Large at Forbes Magazine and author of "Late Bloomers," he candidly shares his transformative journey from academic struggles in junior high and high school to eventual triumph at Stanford University. Rich's story challenges society's obsession with early achievement and offers hope for those who feel they're falling behi...

In this insightful episode, Beth Wood, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer at Principal Financial Group charts her unconventional path from finance to marketing excellence across iconic brands like Frito-Lay and Johnson & Johnson. She reveals how strategic networking and deep customer understanding became her foundation for success, even propelling her into entrepreneur...

In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Moksha Fitzgibbons, President at Complex, the leading digital media brand for Gen Z and millennials who are passionate about music, style, art and culture.  Moksha shares valuable insights into how youth culture and emerging technologies have revolutionized media consumption, and why hard work, st...

Join us as we explore the entrepreneurial evolution of Jason Deelstra, whose marketing prowess began with selling Rice Krispies treats as a child and blossomed into an impressive career shaping recognizable brands.  In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Jason Deelstra, SVP, Marketing & Experience at Sunrun, the #1 clean energy pro...

Dive into the remarkable career journey of Cristy Hatter, a marketing maverick who has transformed brands and built impressive business success across multiple industries.  In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Cristy Hatter, VP of Brand at Lectric eBikes, the fastest-growing electric bike company in the nation.  From her roots in mus...

Marketing isn't just about tactics—it's about listening deeply and creating meaningful connections across diverse industries. In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Jen Rapp, CMO at Superside, the world's leading AI-powered creative service. Jen shares her career journey--highlighting her 10-year journey at Patagonia, running product P...

Career development isn't just about degrees—it's about pursuing passions. In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Jon Shanahan, VP, Marketing at TRX, a company providing world-class equipment, training & education to empower movement for every body. Our guest reveals his early obsession with buying laptops and hard drives, leading t...

Marketing isn't just about campaigns—it's about transforming varied experiences into powerful brand stories. In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Marcelo Kertesz, CMO at MANSCAPED. Our guest reveals how diverse experiences shape innovative brand leadership. Growing up, he was inspired by his father's political campaign and Disney Wor...

Entrepreneurship isn't just about products—it's about transforming skepticism into opportunity while empowering others. In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Wyatt Ewing, Founder and CEO at Ice Barrel, a company specializing in cold therapy training tools. He shares his journey from selling high-end art to founding Ice Barrel, highlig...

Marketing isn't just about campaigns—it's about solving problems and creating transformative brand moments. In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Aron North, CMO & Strategic Advisor at Mint Mobile. He shares his journey of transitioning from a pre-med to a business degree because he loved marketing, eventually leading him to work...

Marketing isn't just about metrics—it's about the balance between creativity and analytics to create meaningful connections. In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Kris Heineman, Director of Marketing at Pelican. Pelican is the global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance protective cases, used by professionals in th...

Marketing isn't just about campaigns—it's about storytelling and connecting with audiences in authentic ways. In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Rick Loughery, VP of Global Marketing at GoPro. Rick discusses his early roles in PR and tech PR, including a pivotal move to California during the tech boom. He highlights how he joined G...

Entrepreneurship isn't just about ideas—it's about creating transformative experiences and solving problems creatively. In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Greg Randolph, VP of Marketing at DECKED, a company that designs innovative storage and organization solutions for pickup trucks and cargo vans. Greg shared his career journey fr...

Marketing isn't just about messaging—it's about serving clients with integrity while nurturing the next generation of leaders. In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Elizabeth Kelly, Vice President, Marketing at Mariner Wealth. She discusses her transition from journalism to marketing, emphasizing the transferable skills between the tw...

E-commerce leadership isn't just about sales—it's about creating seamless experiences that connect people with their passions. In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Mike Nett, General Manager of Trading Cards and Sports Memorabilia at eBay. From Pepsi to collectibles, Mike reveals his journey through ecommerce and how customer obsessi...