- Why It's Better With This H&R Block CMO/CXO in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
09/17/2025
What does it mean to show up as your authentic self at work? For Jill Cress, it meant ditching the stiff navy suits of the 90s banking world for ruffled blouses and bold plaid dresses. That choice
didn't just set her apart- it helped shape a career built on creativity, curiosity, and breaking the rules in the best way possible. From MasterCard to National Geographic, and now as Chief Marketing
& Experience Officer at H&R Block, Jill's willingness to take risks has defined her brand both personally and professionally. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jill talks with Lisa Singer about
her leadership style, the human impact she strives to make, and her milestone moment ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange to celebrate H&R Block's 70th anniversary. She also shares
her passion for travel and discovering new cultures, the most magical place she's ever visited, and even her latest side hustle as a spirits entrepreneur...cheers to that!
- How This Media Marketing Leader Is Living Her Legacy Right Now in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
09/10/2025
What shapes who we become? For Daphne Leroy, it's her Queens roots, immigrant parents, and a summer job that opened her eyes to the power of media and marketing-laying the foundation for a career she
never could have imagined growing up. A board member for the Fiver Children's Foundation, this media executive is also a passionate advocate for opening doors and creating pipelines for the next
generation. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Daphne shares with Lisa Singer how growing up in such a diverse city shaped her perspective to embrace different backgrounds-not to mention, giving
her that New York swagger. She also talks about amplifying immigrant stories through her project Descendants of Hope, her philosophy of "progress over perfection," and her latest kitchen adventures.
- Why This Berkhemer Clayton CEO Refuses To Take No For An Answer in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
08/20/2025
What do you do when no one will hire you? If you're Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, you create your own opportunity-and end up building a trailblazing career. From Disney publicist to founding one of the
largest independent PR firms in Southern California, selling it, and later launching Berkhemer Clayton, the executive search firm she still leads today. Oh yeah, she also authored two books and
spearheaded a seven-year fight resulting in California passing the first law requiring women on public company boards! In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Betsy tells Lisa Singer how refusing to
take "no" fueled both her entrepreneurial journey and her legislative battle. She discusses her role at 50/50 Women on Boards and why board diversity is an economic imperative. Betsy also shares her
flying high pastime and why she has no plans to retire anytime soon.
- Shining A Light On The Everyday Magic Of This Yoobi Marketing VP in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
08/13/2025
How do you go from lugging around a giant camcorder as a kid-- pretending to host your own TV show-- to leading marketing for a national brand? For Sarah Leinberger, VP, Head of Marketing at Yoobi,
it's been anything but a straight path. She's done it all--marketing, branding, merchandising, HR--and learned the best roles often don't exist until you create them. In this episode of Brand Insider:
BTS, Sarah opens up to Lisa Singer about the teacher who first believed in her, how creating psychological safety is at the heart of building strong teams, and why she's a sucker for unforgettable
brand experiences-- like Barbie's Dream House colab with Airbnb. She also talks about her plunge into a frozen Minnesota lake, and how she unapologetically hoards Trader Joe's dill pickle seasoning.
- Why This Social House Co-Founder & CEO Veered Off The Beaten Path in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
08/06/2025
What does it take to start a business with nothing but a dream - and only $507 in your bank account? That's exactly how Norel Mancuso, CEO and Co-Founder of Social House, began her journey. At 27, she
packed up a van, hit the road, and somewhere in a Kentucky bar scribbled two words on a matchbook: Social House. From that bold leap to landing game-changing clients like Playboy, Norel knew her
instincts were spot on. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Norel opens up to Lisa Singer about her approach to leadership and life- why she believes in being fully herself, tattoos and all, and
why building a culture rooted in loyalty and values matters more than resumes and checked boxes. She also shares lessons she's learned about letting go, betting on herself, and how simply sketching a
bottle ended up changing the entire trajectory of her career.
- How This Velvet Taco Marketing VP Is Bringing In The Bold in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
07/30/2025
What happens when someone sees potential in you before you see it yourself? For Brooke Perry, that moment changed everything. Velvet Taco's VP of Marketing shares how a pivotal mentor shaped her
journey, and the bold advice that fueled her career: "If you're 80% sure, just do it." In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Brooke talks to Lisa Singer about embracing failure, speaking up-- even
when it's uncomfortable-- and creating a culture where being rebellious is all in a day's work. She also shares her personal take on balancing big career goals with even bigger life changes-- like
becoming a first-time Mom!
- This Dig Inn CMO Is Satisfaction Guaranteed. Seriously! in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
07/24/2025
What does great leadership really look like? For Jessica Serrano, CMO of Dig Inn, it's not about hierarchy- it's about leading "hip to hip," staying curious, and helping her team do work that truly
energizes them. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jessica shares with Lisa Singer the career lessons that shaped her leadership style- from taking the job no one wants to rejecting advice that
prioritizes likability over effectiveness. She opens up about leading with intention, showing the "quiet parts" of herself, and why, at the end of the day, her greatest motivation comes from the life
she and her husband are creating for their twins.
- Why This Melting Pot Exec Is Savoring Every Moment in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
07/16/2025
What happens when you stop waiting for permission to lead? Ana Malmqvist learned early on that when you see a gap, fill it- what's the worst thing that can happen? For Melting Pot's Chief Brand
Officer, it's not just about stepping up, it's about owning your voice, your value, and your impact. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Ana opens up with MediaPost's Lisa Singer about what it
really means to raise your hand, and why leadership is an essential skill, something you shouldn't, especially as a woman, be hesitant about. From her mother's trailblazing journey as a Cuban
immigrant and one of the only women in her med school class, to Ana's own rise through corporate leadership, she shares how perseverance, presence, and a deep belief in possibility shaped her path.
Ana also talks about owning your seat at the table, the responsibility she feels to carry her mother's legacy forward, and why she's doing what she's doing in the hope the future holds more minority
women in leadership, a torch she wants her daughters to carry as well.
- Why This Mattel Director Can Be Anything! in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
07/09/2025
What do attending nine schools in twelve years, glow-in-the-dark basketballs, and raising your hand have in common? For Leigh Anna Trelenberg, they all speak to perseverance and adaptability- the
common threads that run through her life and career. As Mattel's Director of U.S. Media, Leigh Anna shares how growing up all over the country and overseas has helped her develop the flexibility and
intuition she now brings to the ever-changing world of media. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, she joins Lisa Singer to talk about the power of listening before reacting, why some of her biggest
career wins came from simply raising her hand, and how sometimes the best path forward is to "just keep swimming." She also opens up about the unexpected ways motherhood has shaped her media
instincts, why her daughter Cameron is her greatest inspiration, and how her best day of the year is when they visit "mommy's toy company"- at least according to Cameron!
- Unlocking the Potential of This Brand Energy CEO in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
06/25/2025
Ever feel like your career is heading into apocalyptic mode-even when things aren't actually that bad? Jessica McCarthy, CEO & Founder of Brand Energy, gets it. She believes there's often a gap
between what we feel and what's really happening, especially in today's hyper-connected, always-on world. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jessica opens up to Lisa Singer about navigating the
unknown. From nearly becoming a brain surgeon to leading bold marketing campaigns for major brands, her path has been anything but conventional-and she credits that unexpected journey for teaching her
the value of perspective, grit, and showing up even when it's hard. Jessica also shares some no-nonsense advice on why doing the hard stuff early matters-explaining how it lays the groundwork for
getting to where you want to go.