In Episode 82 of the Digital Velocity Podcast, Erik Martinez is joined by consultant and hospitality industry veteran Mark Maynard for a conversation that bridges the gap between high-touch restaurant experiences and high-scale direct-to-consumer businesses.

Mark shares hard-won lessons on building brands that customers love and teams that perform. This episode reveals how purpose, culture, and emotional connection can drive performance across industries, from jazz clubs to ecommerce storefronts.

Leaders will gain actionable takeaways on:

• How to define and live a brand purpose that attracts the right customers and employees
• The hidden cost of misaligned culture in fast-scaling businesses
• Why customer experience is emotional — and how it can differentiate commoditized products
• Lessons from hospitality that translate directly to brand loyalty and retention

Whether you're leading a lifestyle brand, scaling a DTC startup, or optimizing customer experience in a competitive space, this episode offers cross-industry wisdom on how to build purpose-led companies that grow with heart and impact. Linkedin - Mark Maynard Maynard Consulting