Sparkling Sips: Reading the Tea Leaves with Fluent's Jessica Batty

Sparkling Sips: Reading the Tea Leaves with Fluent's Jessica Batty

Sparkling Sips: Reading the Tea Leaves with Jessica Batty What if one of the biggest assumptions in commerce today is already outdated? In this episode of Sparkling Sips, Cristina and Jacqui sit down with Jessica Batty, SVP of Marketing at Fluent, to unpack a shift many marketers are feeling—but few are willing to say out loud: consumers are tired of social media. Jessica shares her perspective on the growing disconnect between endless scrolling and meaningful engagement, arguing that marketers have become trapped in fragmented ecosystems designed to serve platforms more than brands. As consumers seek more intentional, human-centered experiences, she believes the future belongs to companies that can earn attention—not just buy it. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience across Salesforce, Thomson Reuters, Taboola, Protege, and now Fluent, Jessica reflects on what it takes to champion ideas before the market is ready. From trusting your instincts to navigating skepticism, she offers a candid look at the leadership required to identify emerging trends and bring others along for the journey. The conversation also explores: • Why social media may be losing its power as a discovery engine • The hidden cost of fragmented measurement and platform incentives • How brands can build deeper, longer-lasting consumer relationships • Why "what got you here won't get you there" has never been more relevant • The importance of balancing data, intuition, and conviction as a leader One of Jessica's most memorable observations? Brands have often been "buying a first date and calling it a marriage." The future of commerce will belong to those who invest in relationships that last far beyond the first click. This is a conversation about consumer behavior, marketing evolution, and the courage it takes to see what's coming next before everyone else does. Because at SHeCOMMERCE, we're always looking beyond the basket and asking: what's next? Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood. SHeCOMMERCE:  Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/ [https://shecommercepodcast.com/] LinkedIN:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/  [https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/ ] YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast [http://www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast] DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Episode 18: Elizabeth Neubauer-Donovan, No Apologies, No Buzzword Bingo - Motherhood, Measurement & Modern Commerce

What happens when one of commerce media’s most respected voices gets radically honest about leadership, motherhood, ambition, burnout, and the invisible emotional labor women carry every single day? You get this episode. In this deeply personal and insight-packed conversation, Cristina and Jacqui sit down with Elizabeth Donovan — commerce media leader, podcast host, connector extraordinaire, and recent honoree on The Drum’s Commerce Media Power 100 — to unpack the realities behind the titles, the travel, and the LinkedIn headlines.  From navigating motherhood while leading at the highest levels of commerce media, to discussing infertility, leadership empathy, work-life imbalance, and why women need to stop apologizing for being fully human at work — Elizabeth brings vulnerability, humor, and sharp industry perspective in equal measure. The conversation also dives into the evolving commerce media landscape:  • Why collaboration — not just consolidation — is the future of retail media  • The importance of being “data ready” and identity-led  • Why measurement is still one of the industry’s biggest unresolved challenges  • The danger of buzzwords without business outcomes  • How strong leaders create more leaders, not followers But beyond the commerce conversation, this episode is ultimately about redefining success on your own terms. About choosing what matters in different seasons of life. About creating your own village. And about building workplaces where women don’t have to hide motherhood, ambition, or vulnerability to succeed. Raw, funny, emotional, strategic — this is one of those conversations that reminds us why SHeCOMMERCE exists in the first place. Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood. 🎧 SHeCOMMERCE:  Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/ [https://shecommercepodcast.com/] LinkedIN:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/  [https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/ ] YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast [http://www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast] DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Episode 17: Rachel Tipograph on Motherhood, M&A and the Myth of Omnichannel

What happens when one of commerce’s sharpest minds decides to call BS on outdated retail models and build something entirely new? In this episode of SHeCOMMERCE, Cristina and Jacqui sit down with Rachel Tipograph — founder and CEO of MikMak (now part of Spins) — for an unfiltered conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, retail media, and motherhood. Rachel shares the real story behind leaving Gap to launch MikMak before “retail media” was even an industry buzzword. From pitching skeptical investors as a solo female founder to building one of the most influential commerce enablement platforms in the market, Rachel breaks down the grit, conviction, and calculated risks it took to scale a business that changed how brands connect media to measurable sales. But this conversation goes beyond commerce. Rachel opens up about becoming a mother while navigating a major acquisition, why she has zero tolerance for corporate inefficiency, and how motherhood completely reshaped her perspective on time, leadership, and what actually matters. Cristina, Jacqui, and Rachel also dive into: • Why “no-bullshit leadership” matters more than ever • The future of omnichannel commerce and retail media • Building high-performance cultures that actually value people • Why equity and employee ownership change company culture • The myth of “having it all” for women leaders • The evolution of DTC brands, Amazon, TikTok Shop, and shopper behavior • How MikMak was essentially “TikTok shopping before TikTok” This episode is equal parts founder masterclass, leadership therapy session, and commerce future-casting. Because at SHeCOMMERCE, it’s never just business — it’s personal. Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood. SHeCOMMERCE:  Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/ [https://shecommercepodcast.com/] LinkedIN:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/  [https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/ ] YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast [http://www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast] DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Episode 16: When the System Bends: Career, Motherhood and Bold Choices that Change Everything with Fizza Ijaz

In this deeply honest and empowering episode of SHeCOMMERCE, Cristina and Jacqui sit down with global marketing leader Fizza Ijaz for a conversation that goes far beyond career titles and polished LinkedIn headlines. Together, they unpack the invisible labor of working motherhood, the systems women are still forced to navigate, and the tension between ambition, identity, family, and fulfillment. From advocating for policy change at Nestlé Pakistan to navigating international relocations, dual-career dynamics, and career reinvention, Fizza shares what it really looks like to build a global career without losing yourself in the process. One of the episode’s most powerful moments centers around the groundbreaking travel policy Fizza helped implement for breastfeeding mothers — proving that meaningful workplace change often starts when women stop quietly adapting and start asking better questions. The conversation also dives into: • Why “having it all” is often the wrong conversation • The emotional reality behind career pivots and sabbaticals • Redefining success outside of hustle culture • Why sponsorship and advocacy matter more than ever • The courage it takes to bet on yourself — even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed Cristina and Jacqui also tackle the broader societal expectations placed on working mothers, calling BS on performative motherhood standards and the unequal burden women continue to carry at home and at work. This episode is equal parts vulnerable, strategic, and validating — a reminder that success does not have to look linear to be meaningful. Because at SHeCOMMERCE, we believe leadership, motherhood, ambition, burnout, identity, and career growth all belong in the same conversation. Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood. SHeCOMMERCE:  Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/ [https://shecommercepodcast.com/] LinkedIN:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/  [https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/ ] YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast [http://www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast] DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Sparkling Sips: Sip & Tell Edition on 3-Hour Parenting - Boundary Setting or Out-of-Touch?

Sip Happens… and this week, Jacqui & Cristina are spilling ALL the tea.  In this Sparkling Sips – Sip & Tell edition, the ladies dive headfirst into the internet firestorm around “3-hour parenting” — the controversial idea that intentional, focused time with your kids matters more than endless hours of exhausted presence. But as always at SHeCOMMERCE… it gets deeper. Because this isn’t just about parenting. It’s about privilege, invisible labor, workplace expectations, and the exhausting performance metrics women are still being judged against — both at home and at work. Cristina and Jacqui unpack:  * Why “quality over quantity” parenting feels liberating for some — and wildly unrealistic for others  * The invisible labor no one talks about (school forms, appointments, meal planning… sound familiar?) * Emma Grede’s controversial take on presenteeism and why facetime in the office still impacts career growth  * Whether “being seen” matters more than actual output in today’s corporate culture  * Why younger employees may still need in-person mentorship and relationship-building  * How women are disproportionately penalized in both caregiving AND career progression  * Whether presenteeism is becoming the modern glass ceiling This episode asks the uncomfortable questions: Are we rewarding impact… or optics? Is corporate presenteeism just performative productivity? And who can actually afford the luxury of “balance”? As always, Jacqui & Cristina keep it real, honest, funny, and unapologetically personal — because surviving bedtime counts too. Favorite moments: * “The real luxury isn’t time—it’s help.” * “Presence without support is just pressure.” * “If you’re not in the room, you’re not in the conversation.” * “Some days it’s three magical hours… some days it’s surviving bedtime. And both count.” So where do YOU land? Is this a genius reframe? Completely unrealistic? Or are we all just living somewhere in the messy middle? Because at SHeCOMMERCE… it’s not just business, it’s personal. Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood. SHeCOMMERCE:  Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/ [https://shecommercepodcast.com/] LinkedIN:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/  [https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/ ] YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast [http://www.youtube.com/@SHeCOMMERCEPodcast] DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.