Pivoting From Creative to CEO: Tips from Madison Ave Leadership Coach Rob Schwartz

“AI Is the Cheat Code and the Game Is Life” - How AI Can Change Your Community and Career - A Sit Down With Will .i. am

Doug Melville interviews seven-time Grammy winner and founder of the Black Eyed Peas Will.i.am [http://will.i.am/] at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativit in France. The discussion is about implementing AI for creativity and problem-solving. Will.i.am [http://will.i.am/] shares his history in the tech space over the past 20 year and his pivot from music into hardware, recounting early work with music executive and entrepreneur Jimmy Iovine, building of an AI watch with contextual voice capabilities, and being an early investor in companies like Tesla, Twitter, Lovable, Anthropic, and others. He explains his platform, FYI.ai, and its value proposition as a secure, collaborative messenger for large files and IP protection. Will.i.am [http://will.i.am/] argues it’s too early to fear AI and compares it to a life “cheat code” people should learn.  DM Doug: @DougMelville [https://www.instagram.com/dougmelville/] www.DougMelville.com [https://dougmelville.com/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Origins of "Tendernism" - A Sit Down with Nick Yepremian, Founder of Destination Smokehouse

Doug Melville sits down with the owner/operator of Destination Smokehouse Nick Yepremian, in an exclusive interview. His Southern California restaurant was where “Tendernism” was born. But after the success of generating hundreds of millions of views on social, Walter ‘Unc’ Johnson and Nick separated. Nick explains how “Tendernism” originated, discusses the trademark controversy, the equity conversation, the Keith Lee visit, and looks to clear up and address misconceptions about Walter’s role, while outlining plans to refocus locally and expand to other cities. Destination Smokehouse in Murrieta, California [https://destinationmurrieta.com/] DM Doug: @DougMelville [https://www.instagram.com/dougmelville/] www.DougMelville.com [https://dougmelville.com/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

From eBay Side Hustle to $500,000,000 in Sales - A Sit Down With Fashionphile’s CEO and Co-Founder Sarah Davis and Ben Hemminger

Doug Melville hosts Sarah Davis and Ben Hemminger, founder and co-founder of Fashionphile, now CEO and COO of the largest ultra-luxury handbag and accessory retailer in the U.S. They trace their roots from selling on eBay in 1999 and bootstrapping the business, including a strategic early base in Beverly Hills to build trust and credibility through authentication guides and strong feedback. They discuss partnering after an earlier startup, leaving stable career paths, and finding product-market fit in luxury resale. Fashionphile has grown to hundreds of millions in revenue, 400+ employees, 14 locations and major flagships in San Diego, LA, and New York, plus London and Tokyo offices. They cover supply-vs-demand dynamics, the “pay her fast and fair” seller strategy, brand relationships, pricing trends, and evolving authentication tools and anti-fraud efforts, and close with advice to start quickly and obsess over customers. Fashionphile.com [https://www.fashionphile.com/] Fashionphile on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/fashionphile] DM Doug: @DougMelville [https://www.instagram.com/dougmelville/] www.DougMelville.com [https://dougmelville.com/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Pivoting From Creative to CEO: Tips from Madison Ave Leadership Coach Rob Schwartz

Doug Melville sits down with Rob Schwartz, former TBWA\Chiat\Day CEO and now a certified performance and leadership coach to talk about what he’s hearing most from clients right now: anxiety and uncertainty about what to do next, from seasoned executives to early-career talent, especially with AI and layoffs reshaping work. Rob shares how he starts coaching sessions with simple humanity and deep listening, then helps clients clarify goals using the GROW framework (goal, reality, opportunity, will). Rob and Doug discuss why AI can be helpful but can’t replace a coach’s ability to read body language and create real breakthroughs, plus Rob’s own pivot into coaching during COVID.  DM Doug: @DougMelville [https://www.instagram.com/dougmelville/] www.DougMelville.com [https://dougmelville.com/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Life After the NBA: From Injury to The Birth of Actively Black - A Sit Down with CEO Lanny Smith

Doug Melville welcomes in Lanny Smith to discuss his pivot from basketball to entrepreneurship as the founder of athleisure brand Actively Black. Lanny recounts playing college basketball, and signing as an undrafted free agent with the Sacramento Kings shortly before a knee injury ended his NBA career after 33 days, triggering an identity crisis. He explains how faith helped him launch his first brand, Active Faith, which Steph Curry later partnered in, and how experiences with racism and the 2020 social climate led him to launch Actively Black. Lanny discusses the brand’s “This is Not a Fashion Show” New York Fashion Week event featuring figures such as Ruby Bridges, and the daughters of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. As always, Doug closes with asking his guest for the best advice they've received, and Lanny tells us about rejecting fear. For more of Lanny Smith: Lanny's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/l.smith23/] www.ActivelyBlack.com [https://activelyblack.com/] DM Doug: @DougMelville [https://www.instagram.com/dougmelville/] www.DougMelville.com [https://dougmelville.com/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.