Good Company with Michael Kassan

A few months ago, Meta – née Facebook – surprised the world with a rebrand and a stated intention to play a major role in building the next version of the internet. In this episode, we sit down with VP Global Business Group Nicola Mendelsohn, who sheds light on the name change and shift in business strategy as she takes on a new global role within the company. Mendelsohn also gives her take on defining the elusive term “metaverse” and how marketers can begin to dip their toes in a medium that’s still in the making. We also discuss the ongoing privacy conundrum in advertising and how the company is hoping to build guardrails in the future. 

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When it comes to the future of education, Steven Wolfe Pereira fancies himself a prognosticator. It’s a title he’s earned rightfully, having set his sights on reforming ed-tech all the way back in 2016 when he formed Encantos, a direct-to-consumer creator platform that helps kids learn. In this episode, we sit down with the co-founder and CEO to discuss how he disrupted the fragmented world of kids’ apps by bringing video, audio, books and games together in one place; why entertainment had never been truly factored into ed-tech previously; and why getting learning right is so important for the future of the workforce. He also muses on his experiences growing up bilingual and putting connection with multicultural audiences at the center of business. 

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Cristina Ferrare knows the secret to creating a booming career out of wearing many hats – from supermodel to The New York Timesbestselling author to TV host to entrepreneur. Her advice: if you have belief in something, you’ll flourish. She’s even named her new business venture accordingly. We chat with Cristina about FLOURISH Body, Mind, Soul, a company focused on the impact food has on the body and diseases that stem from unhealthy eating habits, which she founded inspired by both a lifetime love of cooking and a new perspective on food-as-medicine after overcoming cancer. 

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Travis Montaque is optimistic that one day, a dream scenario will unfold across the media, marketing and general business community: he calls it the “inclusion age,” a utopian time when DEI initiatives are so firmly and seamlessly integrated into daily life that they no longer become necessary. That’s the vision and ambition of Group Black, the media collective and accelerator focused on the advancement of Black-owned media properties, of which he’s co-founder and CEO. We sit down with him to discuss how he believes we can build a more inclusive corporate America. Plus, he talks to us about Holler, the messaging technology company he founded which focuses on conversational media; we also touch on mentorship and his path to entrepreneurship. 

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Precarious conditions and a little bit of discomfort are par for the course for Wendy Clark – and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Her latest thrill: making the leap from senior marketer to CEO. In this episode, we talk to the global CEO of dentsu international and former Coca-Cola executive about the transition, including the massive challenge of leading an organization of 45,000 people and why “micro-knowing” is more effective than micromanaging. She also reflects on why the Great Resignation has really become “the Great Reckoning” for leaders and outlines how she’s building a more diverse workforce that considers a fully-lived life a high priority for better business. 

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Artis Stevens has an important message for America: providing youth access to the positive adult relationships that they need to thrive shouldn’t be nearly as daunting as many assume it is – often, the act of being present for one kid can be enough. In this episode, we sit down with the President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters America to discuss the organization’s goals to make access to mentorship more equitable for young people of diverse backgrounds, as well as his experience as the organization’s first Black CEO and why that sets an important example for youth on what their opportunities can be. We also discuss the future of technology in mentorship and the massive opportunity for corporate America to get involved and benefit their own pipelines. 

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To Allison Statter, authenticity isn’t a buzzword – it’s a lifestyle and a raison d’être for her business. We sit down with the co-founder and CEO of creative marketing and communications agency Blended Strategy Group to talk about how she went from spending 17 years in traditional talent management for stars like Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez to building a business from scratch that would fill the wide gap between the modern needs of brands and talent. She also discusses her predictions for the future of influencer marketing, collaborating with best friend Kim Kardashian, and why women should take a chance on the burgeoning cannabis market. 

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Laura Desmond has great expectations for the advertising industry and for its ability to return to an era of glory. It’s for good reason – as a former operator who ran Starcom MediaVest Group for years and eventually moved over to the investment side, she’s seen every perspective of the marketing industry, its opportunities and its challenges. We sit down with the operating partner of Providence Equity and founder and CEO of Eagle Vista Partners to chat on being both an intrapreneur and entrepreneur, why ads should never become scarce and why she’s bullish on the retail media space.

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Satan meets a perfect Match in 2020. The Peloton Wife drowns her sorrows with Aviation American Gin. Ryan Reynolds and his agency Maximum Effort have created some of the buzziest advertising over the past two years, capitalizing on what they like to call “fastvertising.” From selling low-cost premium wireless to blockbuster films, Reynolds and his agency have found a way to continuously create attention-grabbing campaigns and have become one of the creative agencies to watch. In this episode, Reynolds talks through the creative process, how difficult it is to deliver viral hit after hit, and how he deals with his most difficult client: himself.

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Reese Witherspoon is one of the most beloved and accomplished actors and producers, having earned an Academy Award, SAG, BAFTA, Emmy awards and numerous other nominations and accolades throughout her career. She was inspired to transform her role in Hollywood—at times, trading in scripts for business plans and advocacy. Since forming her media company Hello Sunshine, Reese has become one of the most prolific names in creative content, not only due to groundbreaking films like Wild and Gone Girl and high-end television shows such as Big Little Lies, The Morning Show and Little Fires Everywhere, but also because of the business’s values: inclusive stories that celebrate all women, both onscreen and behind the camera. In this episode, Reese shares how her love of reading books coupled with her passion for acting influenced the media empire she’s built, how she views the creative landscape today and how empowered women empower women.

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