- MMGY Global's CEO Continues Going Somewhere Good in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
12/18/2025
What if the biggest myth about leadership is that once you reach the top, you finally have it all figured out? Katie Briscoe would tell you the opposite. As CEO of MMGY Global, she believes careers
aren't defined by a single breakthrough moment, but by a series of micro-transformations - the pivots, stretches, and seasons that quietly shape how you lead and who you become. In this episode of
Brand Insider: BTS, Katie opens up to Lisa Singer about the evolution that comes with each career stage - from early pivots, to taking the helm of a global company. She talks about the leadership
traits that served her early on, the surprising ways they had to shift as CEO, and why curiosity - not certainty - is what sustains long-term success. Katie also offers powerful advice for women
navigating ambition and self-doubt: go for the role even if you don't check every box, manage your energy like a non-negotiable asset, and trust that growth comes from learning in motion - not waiting
until you feel ready.
- How This Kepler VP Keeps Her Future In Focus in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
12/04/2025
Nicole Moore thrives on innovation - but to her it isn't about disruption, it's about the everyday decisions that make life/work better even when plans fall apart. The Kepler Group's VP of Client
Excellence knows innovation isn't just a buzzword - it's a mindset shaped in real time, by real life. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Nicole talks with Lisa Singer about pushing the status quo
through life's shifting seasons - navigating marriage, motherhood, career, and even chaos with grace over perfection. She shares a leadership lesson she learned early on that continues to guide her
today: a quote from Coco Chanel, "keep your head, heels, and standards high." Nicole also shares her proudest breakthrough - realizing you can show up for what matters most, even when you can't
physically be there.
- How This Alurx Leader Went Viral On TikTok & The Power Move Behind It! in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
11/19/2025
Julia Stewart went from IHOP waitress to becoming the pancake house chain's first-ever female CEO - and that's not even the coolest thing about her career! Before joining IHOP, Julia, now Founder &
CEO of the wellness app Alurx, became the President of Applebees, but after being promised - and then denied - the CEO role, Julia walked away. She later joined IHOP as CEO, and in one of the boldest
full-circle moves in business, she acquired Applebee's and fired the ex boss that told her she'd never be CEO-- Now that's a power move! In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Julia talks with Lisa
Singer about her mindset, resilience, and unapologetic clarity that shaped her rise. She shares her leadership philosophy and why she believes every setback is just a setup for a better move forward.
Julia also opens up about navigating a male-dominated industry, the power of a long-term plan (she's had one since high school), and why when she mentors women it's less about guidance, but instead
encouragement and a "bit of a push".
- How X&O's Expert in Residence Turns Big Ideas Into Action in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
11/13/2025
In both business and life, strategy is everything- something Jennifer Zimmerman is well versed in. X&O's Expert in Residence is a lifelong problem-solver and self-described "Michael Clayton" of her
family, bringing the same big-picture thinking she applies to global brands into the details of everyday life. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jennifer talks with Lisa Singer about the yin and
yang of leadership- how seeing the macro vision and managing the micro moments aren't opposites, but reflections of the same drive to lead, create order, and move things forward. From knowing your
worth to knowing when to step off, Jennifer shares lessons that resonate far beyond the boardroom.
- How Artists&Outlaws CEO & President Is Daring To Disrupt in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
11/05/2025
What does it take to reimagine a legacy brand while honoring its roots? For Shari Day, CEO and President of Artists&Outlaws, that question became central after she purchased the bohan agency three
years ago. Rather than rushing a rebrand, she took her time - getting to know her people, defining who they were, and waiting until the new name truly fit. Now, as the agency celebrates its 35th year,
its next chapter has officially begun. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Shari shares with Lisa Singer the story behind Artists&Outlaws - and how their new name captures both the craft and
rebellious spirit of her team. Shari opens up about blazing her own trail from the early days of the '80s to leading one of Nashville's top independent agencies. She also talks about finding your
voice in a boys' club industry, balancing career and motherhood, and why sometimes the smartest move is to take your three-ring binder-and your power-with you.
- Because This Breakwater Studios Marketing Exec Is Worth It in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
10/29/2025
What does it really take to be creatively brave? For Kirstin Falk, Senior Advisor of Brand Strategy & Partnerships at Breakwater Studios, it means trusting your instincts, speaking your truth, and
pushing past the herd mentality. Her team's short film, "The Final Copy of Ilon Specht," tells the story of a woman who did just that- it also won the Grand Prix at Cannes this year. Kirstin shares
with Lisa Singer how Ilon's iconic L'Oreal tagline, "Because I'm worth it," remains just as relevant today as it was decades ago- and how authenticity, mentorship, and fearless creativity are still
the keys to meaningful work. From her early days in D.C. politics to building award-winning campaigns, Kirstin opens up about the lessons learned, the barriers faced, and the importance of emotional
safety in creative environments. She also talks about facing fears (whether it's pitching bold ideas or dirt biking through the desert), the power of women supporting women, and why discomfort can be
a catalyst for growth.
- How This DAA Media & Marketing Exec Is Fueling Her Growth in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
10/22/2025
Ever wonder what it takes to rise to the C-suite while staying true to yourself? Brittany Sadlouskos, COO of DAA Media & Marketing, knows firsthand. From starting out in field marketing at
Jack-in-the-Box to leading a top agency, she has built a career grounded in authenticity, relationships, and a willingness to pivot when opportunity calls. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS,
Brittany opens up with Lisa Singer about how mentors and female leaders inspired her, the mindset shifts that helped her step into her own voice, and why advocating for your work is essential. She
also shares how she balances the complexities of career and family, why creating safe spaces for others to thrive is necessary, and how giving back-both personally and professionally-can make an
impact far beyond the office.
- The Power Of This Girlilla CEO in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
10/15/2025
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for Nashville-based music marketing CEO and founder of Girlilla Marketing, Jennie Smythe, the cause is deeply personal. Eight years after her breast
cancer diagnosis, she continues to navigate the realities of survivorship-while embracing each day with gratitude, purpose, and a drive to create change. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jennie
shares her journey with Lisa Singer, the hope she feels for a breast cancer vaccine in our lifetime, and how trusted resources like Susan G. Komen helped her turn fear into advocacy. With a client
roster of a who's who in household names- including Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Darius Rucker, Brooke Shields, and Kristin Chenoweth- Jennie also opens up about building her all-female agency, writing
her memoir Becoming Girlilla, and why betting on yourself is always worth the risk.
- How This Zip Leader Continues To Thrive in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
10/09/2025
What do people often get wrong about you when they first meet you? When asked the same question, Jinal Shah turned it around - first asking what impression she made. It was a fitting response from a
leader who believes communication goes far beyond words. As Zip's Chief Customer & Marketing Officer put it, "We're communicating even when we're not communicating." In this episode of Brand Insider:
BTS, Jinal shares with Lisa Singer her approach to both leadership and life. Whether guiding Zip's rapid growth or navigating motherhood, she does both with constant reflection and what she calls
"personal change management." Because to grow as a leader, you can't stand still - you have to keep evolving. Jinal also reveals the two principles that have held enduring value throughout her
journey: the relationships that define her legacy and the investment in herself that fuels it. From following her curiosity as a young journalist in India to becoming one of Forbes' 50 Entrepreneurial
CMOs, she's learned that no one else is coming to bet on you - so you better bet on yourself.
- What Makes This Gannett/USA Today Marketing Leader Thrive in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
10/01/2025
What does it mean to be a "wild card"? For Jenny Huang, it's meant never following the obvious path-and thriving because of it. At just 16, she left a small town in China to move to the U.S. alone,
chasing her dream of becoming a concert pianist. Years later, when the pandemic shut down the music world, she took another leap, pivoting into advertising where she quickly rose through the ranks,
creating award-winning campaigns for Fortune 500 brands. Now, as the first Director of B2B Brand Marketing at Gannett | USA Today Network, Jenny brings that same resilience, curiosity, and boldness to
corporate America. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, she shares with Lisa Singer how being underestimated taught her to craft her own path, why failure became one of her best teachers, and how
she's continuing to redefine what it means to stand out.