In this episode of Marketing Happy Hour, Cassie and Ally sit down with Lisa Bubbers — Chief Brand Officer at Orchestra and Co-Founder of Studs — for a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how the world’s most culturally relevant brands are built. Lisa breaks down the real story behind Studs’ breakout success, the early risks that paid off, and how she now leads strategy for a portfolio of ambitious brands navigating growth and transformation. She shares how Orchestra decodes audience signals, pressure-tests hunches with data, and designs systems for rapid learning, bold decision-making, and breakthrough creative. Whether you’re an early-career marketer or a seasoned brand leader, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on instinct vs. insight, innovation, and building brands people actually care about.

Key Takeaways:

// How Studs broke through the noise and became a category-defining brand in retail.

// The early, risky decisions that shaped Studs’ identity and long-term traction.

// How Orchestra identifies cultural signals and emerging trends before they gain steam.

// Why great brands balance instinct with insight—and how to know which to trust when.

// What an “innovation system” actually looks like inside a modern marketing organization.

// How to design brand teams for speed, iteration, and breakthrough creativity.

// Why the C-suite must cultivate entrepreneurial agility to drive results in fast-moving markets.

// Top advice for young strategists who want to work inside an integrated model like Orchestra.

// How to build brands that are culturally relevant, emotionally resonant, and impossible to ignore.

Connect with Lisa: LinkedIn

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