On Brand: A Podcast About Branding For Brand Builders, By Brand Builders

Ruth Bernstein is Co-Founder and CEO of YARD NYC, an award-winning independent creative company. Her innovative work for brands like Athleta, Crocs, and Olly has helped transform their brands into cultural beacons. Previously, she was Chief Brand Officer for Robert Redford's Sundance. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Ruth Bernstein Ruth Bernstein is Co-Founder and CEO of YARD NYC, an award-winning independent creative company that turns brands into cultural beacons. Ruth is a pioneer and champion of female voices and leadership in an industry traditionally dominated by men. Since founding Yard, Ruth has helped build cultural brand platforms that have moved business, culture and teams - Athleta Power of She, Crocs Come as You Are, and Olly Happy Inside Out to name a few. Ruth has successfully developed YARD into an agency that services clients on a global scale and has been the recipient of numerous industry awards including being named an Ad Age Leading Woman in 2023

Brett Townsend is the Senior Vice President of Strategy at insights and analytics firm Quester. His work has helped brands such as Pepsi, Doritos, Ruffles, Walmart, Frigidaire, and Lowe’s innovate through better consumer insights. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Brett Townsend Brett Townsend is SVP of Strategy at Quester and has had a successful career of generating sizable revenue on both the corporate and agency sides of consumer insights. Brett has worked in domestic and global branding and innovation for major brands like Pepsi, Doritos, Ruffles, Walmart, Frigidaire, and Lowe’s. His work has led to successful innovations, brand extensions, product improvements, and marketing campaigns worth tens of billions of dollars globally. He has led insights teams at PepsiCo, Electrolux, and Lowe’s and he has worked across all major industries like FMCG, retail, food & beverage, durable goods, restaurants, and clothing. Along Quester President Tim Hoskins, Brett is co-auth

Michael Ian Kaye is the Chief Design Officer at SYLVAIN. From his years of experience in design helping shape, define, and impact some of today’s most recognizable brands from the WNBA to iconic book covers like Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point and Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club that have left an indelible impression on American culture. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Michael Ian Kaye Michael Ian Kaye is the Chief Design Officer at SYLVAIN, working with a diverse set of clients including Walmart, Meta, Kate Spade, Marriott, Stella Artois, Calvin Klein, IMG New York, Fashion Week, and The Information. His work in strategy, design, and communications has helped shape, define, and impact many well-known brands and institutions across industries. Kaye’s iconic designs for books like Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point and Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club have left an indelible impression on American culture. His work has received numerous awards and resides in the perma

Sali Christeson is the Founder and CEO of Argent. Sali had a vision to arm women with a wardrobe that delivers style, functionality, and self-expression as they take their seats at the table. Since its inception, Argent's mission has been centered around forwarding women's progress, both through its product collections and brand initiatives. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Sali Christeson Sali Christeson is the Founder and CEO of Argent, a venture-backed women’s clothing label on a mission to redefine workwear and drive forward women’s progress. A business major with an MBA from the University of South Carolina, Sali spent a decade in the Bay Area's finance and technology space, where she struggled to find work clothes that were bold, practical, and professional. For too long, workwear for women had been stagnant, constricting, and lacking key functional elements as simple as pockets. After reading hard statistics that women in the workplace are judged on appearanc

Sarah Acton is the Chief Customer Officer at BILL. Until recently she had been the Chief Marketing Officer. However, this is more than just a one-word title shift. It's a shift in the focus of BILL's branding, marketing, and sales efforts. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Sarah Acton Sarah Acton, the Chief Customer Officer at BILL, brings more than 25 years of experience in marketing and brand-building work in both consumer and business markets. Prior to BILL, she led both marketing and sales at Athos, a wearables company in the athletic performance space. Sarah was also responsible for global brand oversight during pivotal periods of growth at LinkedIn and consumer marketing leadership at Yahoo! An entrepreneur at heart, Sarah was the owner of a small retail business where she had first-hand experience with the rewards and challenges of running a business. Sarah holds an MBA from Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management and a B.S. in Marketing from Tul

Mark Abraham is a Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group and co-author of the upcoming book Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI. With stories from Starbucks, Lululemon, and Spotify, Mark shared how businesses today use AI to enhance their personalization and customer strategy. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Mark Abraham Mark Abraham is a Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group and the founder of the firm’s Personalization business, which he has built into a global team of more than 1,000 agile marketers, data scientists, engineers, and martech experts. Mark’s teams have accelerated the personalization efforts of over 100 iconic brands (e.g., Starbucks, Home Depot, and Google) and built some of BCG’s largest ventures and AI platforms, including Fabriq for personalization. Mark now leads BCG’s North American Marketing, Sales & Pricing practice. He's also co-authored the upcoming book Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI. From the Show W

Jonathan Stutz is the President of Global Diversity Partners and co-author of the book Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders. Based on his 25+ years as a leader at Amazon and Microsoft, his work helps leaders connect with their employees and build inclusive and equitable environments. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Jonathan Stutz Jonathan Stutz, M.A. (he/him/his) is the President of Global Diversity Partners whose mission is to help leaders and their employees build inclusive and equity environments so employees feel they belong. He has 25+ years of experience as a leader in two of the world's largest companies, Amazon and Microsoft. Jonathan earned his M.A. from City University of Seattle in Organizational Leadership and B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Bellevue, WA non-profit, Youth Eastside Services, and has served as a Human Services Commissioner for the cities of Bellevue and Kirkland, Washi

Barry LaBov, a two-time Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, is a celebrated author, podcast guest, and brand strategist. As Founder and CEO of LABOV Marketing, Communications, and Training, he helps clients discover and celebrate their brand differentiation. His upcoming book, The Power of Differentiation, will be distributed globally by Simon and Schuster. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Barry LaBov Barry LaBov is a two-time Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, a nationally recognized, respected author, podcast guest, and brand strategist. He is the Founder and CEO of LABOV Marketing, Communications, and Training — a full-service agency specializing in helping clients discover and celebrate their brand differentiation. LABOV’s clients include national and international brands in automotive, recreational products, premium spirits, motorcycles, PE firms, and more. He has an upcoming book entitled, The Power of Differentiation, Win Hearts, Minds and Market Shar

Ron Johnson has built his career breaking down the silos that exist between branding and HR. As Co-Founder and Managing Director of Blueprint Creative, he helps teams connect, tell better stories, and build stronger brands. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Ron Johnson Ron Johnson is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Blueprint Creative, the world's first 'Bhranding,' communications and design agency. Johnson is also the creator of The Branding Equation (Branding + HR = Bhranding), a business framework designed to help companies tear down the silos between their branding and HR teams and replace those silos with powerful organizational synergies. A guest contributor to FastCompany.com, Johnson recently published his first book Tighten Your Shoelaces: How The World's Leading Companies Defend and Grow Their Brands During a Crisis. From the Show What brand has made Ron smile recently? Ron shared a smile-worthy story of when his local coffee shop, Cafe 195, decided

Sandy Greenberg is co-founder of Terri & Sandy, an award-winning independent creative agency. She has led the development of iconic work for brands such as The Walt Disney Company, Freshpet, Nutella, and BJ’s Wholesale Club. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. Enjoy This Episode Now Download Episode Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify About Sandy Greenberg After rising through the ranks at DMB&B, JWT, and FCB, Sandy Greenberg founded Terri & Sandy in 2010 with her long-term creative partner, Terri Meyer, with diversity and independence in its DNA. Named Ad Age’s Best Small Agency in North America and ranked the EFFIE’S #1 Most Effective Independent Agency in the US, Terri & Sandy services an impressive client roster that includes iconic brands such as The Walt Disney Company, Freshpet, Nutella, and BJ’s Wholesale Club. Sandy has been the creative firepower behind some of the most notable campaigns for brands like Oreo, Peeps, Planters, Disney, and Gerber, and her

Carl Daikeler is the CEO and co-founder of The Beachbody Company, now known as BODi. For 26 years, he's led this trailblazing company through multiple brand expansions while helping people achieve their health and fitness goals. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Carl Daikeler Carl Daikeler is a visionary entrepreneur, and the CEO and co-founder of The Beachbody Company, leading innovator in the fitness and nutrition space. With a career spanning over four decades, Daikeler has been a trailblazer, pioneering unconventional and highly effective methods to help individuals reach their health and fitness goals. Daikeler co-founded Beachbody in 1998, now known as BODi, which has expanded into a powerhouse of fitness and nutrition tools under his leadership over the last 26 years. The brand is celebrated for its iconic programs such as P90X, Insanity, and 21 Day Fix, and its profound impact on millions worldwide. Over the years, Daikeler has overseen the development of cont

Cory Treffiletti is Chief Marketing Officer for Rembrand, where he focuses on driving digital growth through AI. A veteran CMO and digital marketing thought leader, his work has helped brands of all shapes and sizes navigate various digital disruptions. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Cory Treffiletti Cory Treffiletti is Chief Marketing Officer for Rembrand, where he focuses on driving digital growth through AI technology for B2B and B2C brands and creators. A 4-time CMO, Cory has led marketing efforts for both startups and Fortune 300 companies, including Voicea (acquired by Cisco), BlueKai (acquired by Oracle) and Oracle’s Data Cloud. An industry veteran since 1994, Cory also has previous experience leading digital strategies at FIS, Carat, and Omnicom. He is the published author of "Internet Ad Pioneers,” and writes the Original Digital newsletter in addition to penning his weekly contributions to Mediapost since 2000. He currently serves as an advisor for a numb

Bre Rossetti is Chief Strategy Officer at Arnold. Her work involves overseeing the integrated strategy offering at the agency for brands like Puma, Fidelity, McDonald's, and Progressive Insurance.  We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Bre Rossetti Bre Rossetti is Arnold’s Chief Strategy Officer, overseeing the integrated strategy offering at the agency. Bre has been critical to the evolution of Arnold's strategic offering, thanks to her ability to understand the combination of brand strategy and comms planning that has become one of Arnold's secret weapons. She has led brands that include Puma, Fidelity, Domino’s, McDonald’s, and TripAdvisor. Bre currently oversees all clients at Arnold including PNC Bank, Progressive Insurance, ADP, and Walmart’s Sam’s Club. From the Show Bre had some great quotes ... “It's easy for marketers today to get lost in the sauce” and “We need to find our brand's center of gravity instead of relying on matching luggage and funnels.” What bran

With 20 years of CPG experience, Kathy Guzmán Galloway has become known as the “The Clarity Wizard.” Her work for brands like Nature Made, REI, and Lay’s helps organizations transform data into strategy and action. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Kathy Guzmán Galloway Kathy Guzmán Galloway is an accomplished strategist, consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry veteran, and brand positioning expert. With 20 years of CPG experience, Kathy, known as The Clarity Wizard, has helped hundreds of organizations increase revenue and decrease risk by clarifying their brand positioning. She’s worked with brands like Nature Made, Lay’s, and Chiki Chiki Boom Boom, among others, to turn strategy and data into action. Kathy has worked with numerous CPG brands on their brand positioning, while also sharing her knowledge and frameworks to start-up founders with 7-Eleven's Brands with Heart program, REI + Founded Outdoors' BIPOC accelerator, and as a Master Teacher for SKU, the CPG Acce

Rob Meyerson is a brand consultant, professional namer, and co-author of the sixth edition of Designing Brand Identity. On his previous visit to the show, we discussed his work as a namer. For his return, we zoomed out to focus on how brands of all shapes and sizes can design an effective brand identity. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Rob Meyerson Rob Meyerson is a brand consultant and professional namer who runs Heirloom, an independent brand strategy and identity consultancy. With Alina Wheeler, he co-authored the sixth edition of the bestselling Designing Brand Identity: A Comprehensive Guide to the World of Brands and Branding. Rob is also the author of the book Brand Naming, creator and host of the podcast How Brands Are Built, and a contributor to leading publications such as Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider. From the Show What's in a name? As we know from Rob's last visit to the show, a lot. Designing Brand Identity is a tried and

Aisea Laungaue is a Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Anomaly LA. Throughout his global career, his work has sat at the intersection of marketing and entertainment for brands ranging from boy bands to whiskey brands. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Aisea Laungaue Aisea Laungaue was born to Tongan parents in New Zealand, growing up in Australia, and now calls Los Angeles home. All that means is that he has a lot of passports and can quickly tell you when the best times are to organize a call between all those countries. Aisea is Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Anomaly Los Angeles, where he’s overseen its growth from just himself as the first employee to a team of over 100 serving the likes of General Mills, HOKA, Expedia, and Inspire Brands (Jimmy John’s and Buffalo Wild Wings). His team's work has been recognized everywhere from Cannes and Effies, from the NYPost to Vogue. He was previously Co-Head of Planning at Anomaly New York with leadership stints at

Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel is a senior insights lead at Reddit and author of the book Cultural Intelligence. Her work as a cultural theorist and strategist helps people use data to understand their audience and explore challenging topics. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel Dr. Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel is a cultural theorist and strategist, specializing in inclusivity within marketing, media, and tech. Currently, a senior insights lead at Reddit, Dr. Gabriel earned her doctorate in cultural studies from Duke University and consulted for the world’s top brands at agencies like Wieden+Kennedy, Dentsu Creative, Kantar, and McCann New York. A lifelong activist, she helps brands ignite cultural innovation and leverage the power of media for good. Her insights have been featured by AdWeek, ANA, AW360, WSJ, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Teen Vogue. She is the author of Cultural Intelligence for Marketers: Building an Inclusive Market

Thomas Mustac is Otter PRr's medical and health industry PR specialist. His work helps brands in these complex industries navigate issues including — and especially — crisis communication. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Thomas Mustac Thomas Mustac is Otter PRr's medical and health industry PR specialist. He previously held positions at the Dr. Oz Show and New York Medical College. He has his Master's Degree from Iona University and received an Advanced Certification in Nonprofit Public Relations. He has a diverse background in healthcare, pharmaceutical, telehealth, tech, cosmetics, sports, and interior design public relations. From the Show What brand has made Thomas smile recently? Working in crisis PR, Thomas pointed us to Zara's recent PR challenges. Connect with Thomas on the OtterPR website and on LinkedIn. As We Wrap … Listen and subscribe at  Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS. Rate and rev

Micky Ogando is the founder and principal of creative agency Bakery. Their unique product-led process, cultural expertise, and creative storytelling have helped brands including Nike, DeLorean Motors, Diageo, Kellogg's, Shiner Brewery, and Acadia Health. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Micky Ogando Micky Ogando is the founder and principal of BAKERY, a Creative and Culture agency headquartered in Austin, TX. While Micky has experience working in both award-winning agency networks and boutique shops in his native Dominican Republic and the USA, he considers himself an industry outsider. Right before founding Bakery in 2010, he worked in the wildly creative video game industry, most recently at Bioware/EA Games where his team launched Star Wars: The Old Republic and Mass Effect franchise titles. Bakery’s unique product-led process, cultural expertise, and creative storytelling have helped it establish a growing roster of clients that includes Nike, DeLorean Motors, Di

Jenny Stiven is the founder of Clio Consulting, working as a geek influencer with properties like Star Wars, James Bond, Predator, Aliens, and more. She helps clients #spendthetime with fan communities through social and digital media and (gasp!) in-person events. We geeked out on all of this and more (Star Trek!) this week on the On Brand podcast. About Jenny Stiven Jenny Stiven created Clio Consulting in 2004 to act as an “inside” digital marketing resource for entertainment companies. She has worked with numerous digital agencies in executive roles producing groundbreaking and award-winning campaigns for Fortune 500 entertainment & gaming clients. A long relationship with 20th Century Fox and MGM enabled her to become a geek influencer in the digital and social space – with the Star Wars properties, the James Bond franchise, Predator franchise, Stargate franchise, Aliens and more. She works with both the IP owners and creators to help them communicate, interact, and build a community that lasts. Jenny's m