- 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.
- How This Movie Marketing VP Is Making It Universal in
Brand Insider: Behind The Scenes on
09/24/2025
What does it really mean to push boundaries- not just at work, but in life? For Nicole Schlegel, VP of Digital Marketing at Universal Pictures, it meant strapping on a snowboard in her 40s after
saying no in her 20s...just to prove she could. That same curiosity and drive have fueled her 18-year career at Universal Pictures, where she pivoted from publicity to digital back when Facebook was
still new and Instagram felt daunting. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Nicole talks with Lisa Singer about building a career defined not by job-hopping, but by asking questions, speaking up,
and constantly learning. She also shares what it meant to receive a prestigious invite to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, her career highlight of working on the Academy
Award-winning film Oppenheimer campaign, and her ultimate happy place- no surprise there, the movie theater!
- 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.