"We learned it from the ground up, and we had nothing but failure at the beginning." That beginning was 30+ years ago when Barbara Kerry and her husband co-founded Script to Screen, one of the nation's leading direct response television companies today. After producing countless infomercials and DRTV spots, they decided to launch a product of their own, Banjo Minnow. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Barbara talks with me about why she's always learning, being ready to make the tough decisions, and carrying on. She also shares some pretty cool job perks...like hanging out with the royals at …

"I kind of set goals for myself throughout my career, I said, okay, I want to be at this level by this age. Kind of it would push myself to get to certain places." Taryn Rayment's current place is CMO of FTD & Pro Flowers, and she even got there ahead of schedule! In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Taryn talks with me about her strategy behind getting from point A to point B, taking on the heritage of a 100-plus year old brand, and where she believes all would-be marketers need to work at least once.

"I hope this is encouraging for people to say, if you know your strengths and you have enough wherewithal to close the gaps where you know they exist, go for the role." Ashley Honore Smith went for the role at Finance of America Reverse even though her qualifications didn't quite check off all the boxes. Cut to four years later, and she's definitely closed the gaps; most recently being promoted to S.V.P of Brand & Strategic Communications, Finance of America Companies. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Ashley tells me she hopes her story will encourage women to stop …

"There is no such thing as being able to not do what it is that you want. You just might have to create that opportunity for yourself." Lauren Thermos refuses to restrain herself, something her younger self was sometimes guilty of. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, e.l.f.'s senior director of global & US integrated marketing, talks with me about banking data to build confidence, seeing beyond what's in front of you and what a little disillusion in the marketing industry inspired her to create...and it wasn't crap!