The brndBrief Podcast

How Leaders in 6 Different Industries Are Making AI Work Without Losing Their Teams

In this special episode of The brndBrief Podcast, we bring together insights from our guests this second season discussing how AI is transforming their businesses and industries. Leaders from venture studios, e-commerce, healthcare, events, marketing, and media share practical applications of AI tools in their daily operations, from coding assistance to creative auditing to patient data analysis.  The conversation tackles widespread concerns about job displacement, with guests arguing that AI should free employees to think strategically rather than simply reduce headcount. A recurring theme across all segments is the "business to human" principle — that despite AI's power, authentic human connection and oversight remain critical differentiators. Key points include: 📌 Venture studios are building leaner, AI-enabled companies that reach profitability faster with less capital, requiring $100-200M exits instead of billion-dollar valuations as development costs drop and teams stay smaller. 📌 AI tools work best as accelerators for people with existing expertise — developers code faster, marketers analyze performance data more deeply, and professionals break through creative blocks, but the human provides direction and quality control. 📌 Companies should avoid reflexive cost-cutting when AI increases productivity. The goal is giving teams capacity to think, strategize, and pursue higher-value work instead of rushing through research and reports without time to analyze them. 📌 The "business to human" (B2H) approach will separate winners from the pack as AI adoption spreads. When generic AI tools produce similar outputs everywhere, companies that prioritize authentic human connection and customized experiences will stand out. ------------------------ 🎙️SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST ON APPLE PODCAST If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe, and leave a review. Thanks! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brndbrief-podcast/id1724388941 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brndbrief-podcast/id1724388941]  ------------------------ Guest Information Melinda Joseph, VP of Marketing & Communications at InVitro Capital https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindajoseph/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindajoseph/]  https://invitrocapital.com/ [https://invitrocapital.com/]  Gabrielle Richards, Brand Director at Trafilea/Shapermint https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellerichards/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellerichards/]  www.trafilea.com [http://www.trafilea.com]  Amberly Dressler, VP of Corporate Marketing at isolved https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberlydressler/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberlydressler/]  https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ [https://www.isolvedhcm.com/]   Michele Hart, Director of Marketing and Communications at BostonSight https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelespilberghart/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelespilberghart/]  https://www.bostonsight.org [https://www.bostonsight.org] Monica Jackson, Chief Experience Curator at Prissi Productions, LLC https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-jackson-brandmarketer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-jackson-brandmarketer/]  www.prissi-productions.com [http://www.prissi-productions.com]

How to Apply Consumer Marketing Empathy to Transform B2B Relationship Building

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, newest guest Megan Bell, Creator & Host of InsHER Podcast, discusses how she built an engaged community around her podcast through organic social media growth, personal branding, and authentic storytelling rather than paid advertising or corporate positioning. Megan also explains how her background in sensitive consumer markets like natural foods and fertility wellness shaped her empathetic approach to B2B insurance marketing. Key points include: 📌 Megan maintains her podcast presence through her personal LinkedIn rather than creating a company page, finding that personal accounts generate higher engagement and allow for more authentic connections with her audience. 📌 Her background in consumer goods and natural products, particularly in sensitive areas like fertility wellness and food allergies, provided valuable empathy and humanization skills that differentiate her B2B insurance marketing approach. 📌 Committing to weekly episodes from the start created accountability and audience expectations, while collaborating with industry partners on topics like ageism and neurodiversity expanded reach and provided diverse perspectives. 📌 Bell uses AI primarily for overcoming creative blocks and improving efficiency, specifically mentioning Zoom's AI summary feature for interview notes and AI assistance for refining messaging, while avoiding AI for fact-checking due to reliability concerns. ------------------------ 🎙️SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST ON APPLE PODCAST If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe, and leave a review. Thanks! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brndbrief-podcast/id1724388941 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brndbrief-podcast/id1724388941]  ------------------------ Guest Information insherpodcast.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-bell

How to Measure Real ROI Beyond Vanity Metrics in Consultancy

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, newest guest Cindy Deekitwong, Vice President of Head of Innovation & Marketing at Aperia Corporation, explores her "Business to Human" approach to B2B marketing, the importance of voice of customer research across global markets, and how consultancies measure success through client business growth. Cindy discusses upcoming packaging industry trends including increased localization due to policy changes and Aperia's development of a new platform connecting customer insights directly to product development. Key points include: 📌 Moving beyond traditional B2B and B2C categories, Cindy advocates for "B2H" marketing that recognizes all business interactions ultimately happen between people, requiring authentic human connection rather than purely AI-generated content. 📌 Understanding customers requires continuous research across generational and cultural differences, as buying behaviors shift from older generations who relied on handshake deals to newer generations with different expectations and values. 📌 For consultancies, the primary ROI metric should focus on helping clients grow their business through increased sales, improved profit margins, cost savings, and operational improvements rather than traditional marketing vanity metrics. 📌 Political and economic changes are driving packaging companies toward more localized operations within regions and countries, creating increased demand for contract packaging services and supply chain restructuring support. ------------------------ 🎙️SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST ON APPLE PODCAST If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe, and leave a review. Thanks! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brndbrief-podcast/id1724388941 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brndbrief-podcast/id1724388941]  ------------------------ Guest Information https://www.aperiacorporation.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-deekitwong/

How to Break Through to Fortune 500 C-Suite Executives Leveraging Hyper-Personalized Marketing

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, guest Elizabeth Hague, Director of Executive Marketing and Insights at Indeed, highlights the current challenges facing brand marketers during economic uncertainty, including frequent layoffs and the pressure to "do more with less" while maintaining authentic customer experiences.  The conversation explores how AI is reshaping both the hiring process and job seeking experience, creating a "black hole" effect where thousands of AI-generated applications flood popular job postings. Key points include: 📌 Brand, creative, and organic marketing roles are typically the first eliminated during layoffs, despite marketing driving revenue, while companies shift to agencies that are "easier to fire". 📌Job seekers are competing against thousands of AI-generated applications on popular job postings, making the process feel demoralizing and creating a "black hole" effect for legitimate candidates. 📌 Moving from mass marketing to one-to-one executive engagement demands deep persona research, custom experiences, and leveraging internal C-suites to connect with external executives at their level. 📌 Indeed is integrating Glassdoor more deeply into their operations, focusing on work wellbeing programs that measure employer brand sentiment, and positioning themselves as a comprehensive talent acquisition platform beyond traditional job boards. ------------------------ 🎙️SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST ON APPLE PODCAST If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe, and leave a review. Thanks! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brndbrief-podcast/id1724388941 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brndbrief-podcast/id1724388941]  ------------------------

How to Build Legal Marketing Strategies Leveraging Specialization Over Generalization

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, guest Roy Sexton, Chief Marketing Officer at Vedder Price discusses the unique challenges of marketing in the legal industry, where attorneys are trained to be autonomous and competitive, and how the profession has evolved since marketing was once forbidden for law firms. This conversation explores how leaning into specialization rather than trying to be all things to all people is the key in marketing today. Key points include: 📌 Roy's approach to new roles involves walking around, meeting people, understanding their pain points, and looking for patterns before implementing any major initiatives — a strategy that builds trust and identifies real problems to solve. 📌 Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, law firms should focus on their distinctive expertise areas and create compelling, specific content that positions them as authorities in their niche practices. 📌 Use AI tools to polish, refine, and enhance content rather than having them do the work entirely, treating AI as a collaborative partner that allows teams to "level up" and think strategically rather than just execute tasks. 📌 Drawing from Walt Disney's philosophy of putting a sidewalk where people naturally walk rather than building fences, successful marketing means removing barriers and making it easier for prospects to engage with your content and expertise. ------------------------ 🎙️SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST ON APPLE PODCAST If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe, and leave a review. Thanks! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brndbrief-podcast/id1724388941 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brndbrief-podcast/id1724388941]  ------------------------ Guest Information https://www.vedderprice.com/ https://linktr.ee/roysexton