On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Alan Philips, the Chief Creative Officer of REEF. REEF is the largest operator of mobility, logistics hubs, and neighborhood kitchens in the United States, and is aiming to connect the world to your block. Today, you'll learn: What is REEF? What does "connecting the world to your block" mean? How the pandemic took REEF's vision for what might happen to neighborhood evolution over the next 5-10 years, and "accelerated positive c...
Aug 10, 2020•31 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Jordan Nathan, the Founder & CEO of Caraway. Caraway is on a mission to craft well-designed, non-toxic ceramic cookware that thoughtfully raises the standards of what you cook with. Today, you'll learn: How a brush with teflon poisoning led Jordan to found Caraway Despite the fact that ceramic cookware has been around for ~10 years, how Jordan made Caraway stand out As a digital-first business, how Caraway tells stories in ...
Aug 06, 2020•28 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Lorna Sommerville, the Chief Marketing & Customer Experience Officer at Function of Beauty. Function of Beauty is the world’s most customizable hair care and body care brand. Today, you'll learn: Why Lorna chose Function of Beauty as her next play following years in CPG and, most recently, DTC leadership at Harry's Lorna's leadership values; what makes a truly good marketing team? How Function of Beauty builds truly 1:1 rel...
Aug 04, 2020•31 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Dana Marineau, the Chief Marketing Officer of Rakuten Rewards. Rakuten Rewards is a cash-back and shopping rewards company headquartered in San Mateo. Dana recently joined the org in June 2020. Today, you'll learn: Why Dana came to Rakuten after years at Credit Karma and EA. (Did you know Dana originally wanted to be a news anchor?) Plus, the new challenges which await Dana Advice on becoming more authentic; specifically, how t...
Aug 03, 2020•36 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Tracy Marek, the Chief Marketing Officer of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cleveland Cavaliers are an American professional basketball team competing in the NBA. Today, you'll learn: Why Tracy joined the Cavs 17 years ago; the journey, including LeBron's impact How Tracy guides her team to a culture of connecting directly and individually with every ticket holder and fan Deep dive into how the Cavs stand tall on social issues; ho...
Jul 30, 2020•36 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Heidi Zak, the co-founder and CEO of ThirdLove. ThirdLove is an American company producing and selling bras, underwear, loungewear and nightwear. It has pioneered the sizing of bras in half cups. Today, you'll learn: How a poor experience on a trip to Victoria's Secret led to Heidi founding the company The TL Effect: what is it? What was the inspiration for it? What does it benefit? How ThirdLove harnesses the lightning of its ...
Jul 28, 2020•25 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Nancy Richardson, the Chief Marketing Officer of Good Man Brand. Good Man Brand provides game-changing comfort engineered to help you to achieve your personal best, and is on a mission to impact one billion lives. Today, you'll learn: What brought Nancy to Good Man Brand, including a rich history with individual learnings along the way; namely, "paid media is not a winning strategy," "make every dollar feel like 20," and "give ...
Jul 27, 2020•29 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Mike Raffensperger, the Chief Marketing Officer of FanDuel. FanDuel offers daily fantasy contests for cash prizes & legal wagering on sports betting markets for all major sports. Today, you'll learn: Why Mike joined FanDuel after stints within media, TV, and Amazon As an "unabashed geek," what Mike is geeking out about right now in the marketing world How Mike foresees the world of sports franchises coming together for offi...
Jul 23, 2020•33 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Drew Green, the CEO of Indochino. Indochino is the largest privately held custom apparel brand globally, specializing in made-to-measure clothing. Today, you'll learn: Why Drew came to Indochino; his thoughts on challenges and opportunities How Drew has adapted the brand given the pandemic; plus, how the model is actually suited well to it Given that personalization IS the brand, how that core value translates into the way cons...
Jul 21, 2020•30 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Leslie Emmons Burthey, the VP of Marketing at FabFitFun. FabFitFun is a subscription box of beauty, fashion, wellness, and fitness products which aims to deliver happiness and well-being to everyone, everywhere. Today, you'll learn: Why Leslie joined FabFitFun; what she loves about the brand How the leadership of a team to connect authentically with consumers has changed through the pandemic; what are some new learnings? The wa...
Jul 20, 2020•34 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Brad Charron, the CEO of ALOHA. ALOHA is a consumer goods brand offering lines of clean, plant-based protein products. Today, you'll learn: Brad's journey to ALOHA; how he focused the brand from a general marketplace to its current selection How ALOHA's focusing flowed through to its culture (even before the pandemic); how that has benefited the brand How ALOHA has leaned into the renewed importance on health during COVID, and ...
Jul 16, 2020•33 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Daniella Yacobovsky, the co-founder of Baublebar. Baublebar is a jewelry and accessories company which designs products that help their community experiment with fashion and personal style. Today, you'll learn: The founding story of Baublebar; what it is, and why Daniella founded it after years in finance How Baublebar has navigated the ebbs and flows of social commerce and influencers through the ten years of its existence. Ho...
Jul 14, 2020•32 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Scott Hudler, the Chief Marketing Officer of Torchy's Tacos. Torchy's is a "craft casual" concept focused on one thing and one thing only: damn good food. Today, you'll learn: Why Scott ventured to Torchy's following years in CPG and large restaurant chain What is "craft casual"? How is Torchy's hoping to build that model out? The "Damn Good" mantra; how it overlaps with the way Scott thinks about building brands; how "damn goo...
Jul 13, 2020•34 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Burke Morley, the VP of Brand and Executive Creative Director at Purple. Purple is an American comfort technology company based in specializing in the direct-to-consumer sale of mattresses, seat cushions, back cushions, pillows and platform bases. Today, you'll learn: Burke's journey to Purple; with a number of industries' worth of experience, is there a common link between the jobs on Burke's resume? Burke's many hats at Purpl...
Jul 09, 2020•37 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by TULA Skincare's founder, Dr. Roshini Raj, as well as its CEO Savannah Sachs. TULA Skincare is a personal wellness brand offering clean + effective probiotic skincare made with superfoods. Today, you'll learn: Why Dr. Raj founded TULA; the discoveries about probiotics' effects on skincare and the opportunity therein; Savannah's journey to join the brand How the brand leans in to the current trend of self-care during the pandemic...
Jul 07, 2020•35 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Amina Pasha, the Chief Marketing Officer of Thrive Market. Thrive Market is an American e-commerce membership-based retailer offering natural and organic food products. Today, you'll learn: Amina's journey to Thrive Market; a description of the business Thrive Market's unusual, yet effective early investors: how they made for a foundation of authentic word-spreading How membership is prioritized at the brand; how to empower mem...
Jul 06, 2020•33 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Sarah Bishop, the VP of Marketing for NYCFC. NYCFC, or New York City Football Club, is an American professional soccer club based in New York City that competes in Major League Soccer, the highest level of American soccer, as a member of the league's Eastern Conference. This is Sarah's first season at the helm. Today, you'll learn: Sarah's journey to NYCFC; why sports? How to market a sport right now: a product which cannot exi...
Jul 02, 2020•30 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Bart Schaller, the CMO of Synchrony. Synchrony is a premier consumer financial services company delivering customized financing programs across key industries including retail, health, auto, travel and home, along with award-winning consumer banking products. Today, you'll learn: Bart's steering of Synchrony from the GE days through its separation from the industrial giant; how that impacted its business How Synchrony shifted i...
Jun 30, 2020•38 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Minjae Ormes, the Chief Marketing Officer of Visible. Visible is a Verizon-owned prepaid wireless provider. Today, you'll learn: Minjae's journey to Visible How Visible strives to disrupt wireless and serve people in the simplest way possible The "actions before words" which Visible has taken given recent contexts, including supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs How culture plays a role every step of the way when it com...
Jun 29, 2020•32 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Deborah Wahl, the Global CMO of General Motors. GM is a Detroit-based American automotive giant housing such brands as Cadillac and Chevrolet. Today, you'll learn: After spending years in automotive before exploring other industries (including a stint at McDonald's), what sparked Deborah's return to auto? Why GM? Given pressures on the auto industry, how Deborah instills hope and inspires the same confidence and creativity whic...
Jun 25, 2020•27 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Melanie Chase, the Chief Marketing Officer of Next Insurance. Next Insurance is an online insurance provider for small businesses and contractors. This is also Melanie's first ever podcast! Today, you'll learn: Why Melanie joined Next after years in CPG and tech; how Next's offering makes it similar to a more stereotypical consumer brand COVID's undeniable inordinate impact on small business and entrepreneurs; what they'll lear...
Jun 23, 2020•24 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Vanessa Meyers, Senior Vice President of Growth at Sun Basket. Sun Basket is a San Francisco-based subscription meal delivery service that ships members fresh organic and sustainable ingredients and recipes every month, allowing them to cook their own meals. Today, you'll learn: What Sun Basket is; what about food drew Vanessa in to the brand after working across consulting, hospitality, and transportation The importance of "se...
Jun 22, 2020•29 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Kenzie Hagan, the VP of Growth at VINEBOX and Usual Wines. VINEBOX and Usual Wines, which are linked brands, offer wine sampler and by-the-glass subscriptions. Today, you'll learn: What about wine, this business model, and growth as a function is of particular interest to Kenzie Ways in which the pair of brands listen to consumers (including the increasing importance of SMS. read: a wine hotline!) and share stories of their sub...
Jun 18, 2020•27 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Lawrence Scotland, Senior Vice President of Digital and Brand Marketing at Performance Kitchen. Performance Kitchen is a Vancouver-based nutritious frozen prepared meals brand focused on powering active lives inspired by the Mediterranean diet. Today, you'll learn: Lawrence's journey to Performance Kitchen; how the brand evolved based on consumer insights around health What is important to Lawrence when finding the right career...
Jun 16, 2020•31 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Jill Gregory, the Chief Marketing Officer of NASCAR. NASCAR, or The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, is America's foremost auto racing sanctioning body. It is also a sport of which this podcast's host is a lifelong fan. This interview was recorded on Thursday, June 11, the day after NASCAR banned the Confederate flag at its events and properties. Today, you'll learn: How Jill came to NASCAR; how she got to know t...
Jun 15, 2020•40 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Stuart Foster for a discussion on how service-based industries will need to rewrite their playbooks as the world reopens. Stuart was most recently Chief Marketing Officer of Topgolf, and previously spent years in the marketing leadership team at Hilton. Today, you'll learn: Stuart's thoughts on current marketing playbooks; why he believes they should be thrown out The years of marketing education currently being absorbed in wee...
Jun 11, 2020•33 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Carl Daikeler, the CEO and Co-Founder of Beachbody. Beachbody is a platform offering home workout videos and nutrition guides. Today, you'll learn: Why Carl founded Beachbody (which includes the admission that he, himself, isn't a fitness guy) The growing importance of fitness at home in the current context (and how it's been reflected in Beachbody's growth) Standout stories of Beachbody consumers, plus how these individual sto...
Jun 09, 2020•30 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Ryan Boyko, the Founder & CEO of Embark. Embark offers dog DNA testing services to consumers, breeders, and veterinarians, and strives to be the world leader in dog genetics. Today, you'll learn: Why Ryan founded Embark; how it started with a passion for data and how a consumer-facing pet health brand was a by-product of that The stories of dog owners for whom Embark was a literal life-saver; how Embark takes advantage of t...
Jun 08, 2020•28 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Marissa Jarratt, the Chief Marketing Officer of 7-Eleven. With a total of 70,000 locations worldwide, 7-Eleven is the world's largest convenience brand. Today, you'll learn: How 7-Eleven's locations are propping up neighborhoods during quarantine The "mental second gear" that kicks in when thinking about 7-Eleven; the memories people associate with the brand. (Mine is getting ice as part of my yearly summer vacation -- did you ...
Jun 04, 2020•35 min
On today's episode of Authentic Influence , Adam Conner is joined by Mauria Finley, the Founder & CEO of Allume. Allume is a personal styling and fashion service helping women feel more confident and their best. Today, you'll learn: Why Mauria founded Allume; how folks interact with a styling service right now given most folks aren't out and about How a high level of service develops loyalty beyond a simple string of transactions; the extent to which it will cement brands in consumers' minds...
Jun 02, 2020•29 min
