- 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.
- Keeping Step With Bombay Sapphire's Brand Director in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
06/18/2025
What makes someone want to go beyond just marketing a brand to actually building it from the inside out? For Jaime Keller, Brand Director of Bombay Sapphire at Bacardi, it all goes back to her roots
as an athlete-she's competitive, driven, but most of all, a total team player. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jaime shares with Lisa Singer how starting out on the agency side gave her the
big-picture perspective she needed, but it was her desire to go deeper-to truly shape a brand from the inside-that led her to where she is today. She also talks about leading through failure, the
power of working as a team, and how she's learned to find balance in her busy life without needing a week-long vacation to do it.
- How This USIM VP Stays Lit From Within in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
06/12/2025
Have you ever felt like you had something real to offer, but weren't sure how to harness it or when it was okay to speak up? Melissa Sierra, the EVP of Media Integration at USIM, opens up about
finding her voice and showing up with purpose-even when the path feels uncertain. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Melissa talks with Lisa Singer about navigating imposter syndrome, the power of
giving yourself grace, and the importance of making others feel seen and heard. She also shares her dreamer mentality, Virgo drive, and her childhood inspiration to pursue a career in advertising.
Hint: she's the boss!
- How This Hattie B's Hot Chicken CMO Is Spicing Things Up! in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
06/04/2025
Have you ever found yourself in a moment where everything just... clicks? Where life, family, and career all seem to align, even if only for a fleeting phase? That's exactly where Anne McGraw, CMO of
Hattie B's Hot Chicken, finds herself right now. With a new role that lets her combine her love of food and restaurants with her passion for storytelling, and her daughters still at home-though just
on the edge of flying the nest-Anne is holding onto every moment. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Anne opens up with Lisa Singer about her "sliding doors" moment that changed everything and the
realization that sometimes we don't even know other paths are possible until we make that first bold move. The self-described "Space Nerd" also talks about the career pivots that shaped her leadership
style, and why trusting your voice-especially as a woman in the room-is one of the most powerful tools you can develop.
- How This Novartis Director Is Leading With Purpose in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
05/22/2025
What drives someone to pivot in their career - especially when things are going well? For Chelsea Marti it was purpose. Novartis' director of content talks about those "aha" moments- when you start
asking yourself not just what you do, but why - and how that led her to making a bold move from a successful tech career into a mission-driven role in healthcare. In this episode of Brand Insider:
BTS, Chelsea shares with Lisa Singer why rejection (including from Novartis years earlier) didn't stop her - and how persistence and a little competitive edge helped her break into an industry where
she could make a difference. She talks openly about growing up in a blue-collar family, the challenges of breaking into corporate life without connections, and the power of bold marketing in
healthcare - especially when it comes to women's health.
- From Elite Athlete To Marketing Leader- How This TAG Heuer Pro Keeps Ticking in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
05/14/2025
How does a former professional athlete become the marketing force behind one of the world's most iconic luxury watch brands? TAG Heuer's Marketing & Digital Director, Rachel Walsh, shares her
unconventional journey- from playing professional field hockey across Europe to shaping brand narratives at Adidas, Rituals Cosmetics, and now TAG Heuer. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, she
talks with Lisa Singer about how years of playing elite-level hockey around the world shaped her leadership style and drive for excellence. She opens up about her final storybook moment as an
athlete, winning the Dutch Championship in her last professional match, and how that drive continues to fuel her in the corporate world. Rachel also talks about the value of being uncomfortable,
staying curious, and refusing to be boxed in-whether in sports, style, or business. And her latest challenge? Let's just say it leaves her legs shaking-and her mind completely free.