The Brand Called You

From 15 years of competitive figure skating in Switzerland to thriving as a content creator in Singapore, Marion Müller’s journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and cultural discovery. In this episode of The Brand Called You, she shares her insights on adapting to new beginnings, finding hidden gems in Singapore, and embracing a life built on passion and persistence.

00:36- About Marion Müller

• Marion is a full time content creator.

In this episode of TBCY, host Stephen Ibaraki sits down with Meridith Grundei, a Strategic Communication Partner and Experience Director with a remarkable journey from theater and improv to consulting for tech giants like Amazon, AWS, Google, Pfizer, and Panasonic. Meridith opens up about her transformative life inflection points, overcoming shyness through the arts, and harnessing the power of storytelling to help leaders amplify their presence and create authentic connections.

From her early experiences as a dancer terrified to use her voice, to becoming a trailblazer in improv and youth theater at Second City, Meridith shares inspiring lessons on personal growth, resilience, and leading with curiosity. Hear how she redesigned her career after personal and family upheavals, ultimately channeling her creative talents into empowering others.

If you’re looking for guidance on overcoming confidence barriers, finding your authentic voice, or elevating your impact as a leader, this episode is full of actionable insights and heartfelt storytelling.

Welcome to this inspiring episode of TBCY featuring Maryam Berijanian, a multi-award-winning researcher in Generative AI and a top student in STEM across Europe and the US. Hosted by Stephen Ibaraki, this conversation dives deep into Maryam’s personal journey from being a curious child in a STEM-centric family to winning prestigious scholarships and awards, conducting groundbreaking research in AI, robotics, computer vision, and large language models (LLMs).

Learn how Maryam navigated competitive academic environments, adapted to new cultures in the Netherlands and Germany, and ultimately found her passion at Michigan State University. Maryam provides valuable insights into the evolution of AI, her perspective on the future of AGI/ASI, and practical career advice for aspiring researchers and students—especially women in STEM.

Discover tips on staying relevant in the rapidly changing AI landscape, the importance of networking, and leveraging cutting-edge tools like Gemini and OpenAI for research. Don't miss her encouraging message to young girls dreaming of careers in science and technology!

Unlock the secrets to powerful leadership communication in this insightful episode of The Brand Called You, featuring Salvatore Manzi, a communications coach from Denver, Colorado. Host Ashutosh Garg dives into Salvatore’s journey, exploring what inspired him to become a coach, and discovers actionable strategies to build trust, inspire teams, tell memorable stories, and foster mindful, inclusive workplaces.

Salvatore shares:

• The pitfalls of ineffective communication and how to avoid them,

• His “You, Then Me” principle for relevance and rapport,

• How to lead with clarity and purpose,

• Real-world examples of inspiring leadership,

• Proven frameworks for crafting impactful messages,

• Tips to stay authentic under pressure,

• Storytelling techniques to move minds,

• Tools to build trust and psychological safety,

• The power of mindfulness and mindful design,

• Balancing emotional intelligence with decisiveness,

• Grounding techniques for leaders in times of crisis.

Discover how Joe Schmit turned a 40-year sports broadcasting career into a masterclass in storytelling, mentorship, and creating meaningful impact—showing that small actions often leave the biggest impressions.

00:35- About Joe Schmit

His book “Silent Impact” Influence Through Purpose, Persistence and Passion is now in its second edition. His new book is titled “The Impact Blueprint,” A Step by Step Journey to a Life of Significance. caster, community leader and popular keynote speaker. 

Discover how ADHD, mindfulness, and self-compassion can unlock hidden strengths, foster connection, and reshape midlife growth. Ron Souers shares insights from coaching, advocacy, and his podcast journey.

00:38- About Ron Souers II

• Ron is a Strengths coach. 

• He's also the host of the podcast named Don't Mind Me, I Just Have ADHD!.

Entrepreneur and visionary Brett Hurt shares how love, not fear, will shape the future of humanity. From AI and quantum leaps to spiritual awakening, he believes our next decade will decide whether we enter an age of abundance or self-destruction. The choice begins within—when love conquers fear.

00:36- About Brett Hurt

• Brett is the CEO of Love Conquers Fear as well as the CEO of Hurt Family Investments.

• He's also a fellow member of the YPO.

In this powerful conversation, branding expert Cat Holt, Founder & Chief Brand Officer of Coologee, Inc., shares her journey from psychology and art to shaping iconic campaigns like Progressive’s Dr. Rick. She reveals how humor drives truth, why brands must be treated as business assets, and how AI is transforming customer experience—without losing the human touch.

00:37- About Cat Holt

• Cat is the founder and Chief Brand Officer of Coologee, Inc.

In this inspiring episode of TBCY, host Sandeep Tyagi sits down with Ashish Kumar Chauhan, the Managing Director and CEO of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), known as the father of modern financial derivatives in India. Ashish shares his incredible journey from a small village in Gujarat to building India's most advanced stock exchange and pioneering technological revolutions in the financial ecosystem. Discover behind-the-scenes stories from the founding days of NSE, challenges faced, and his philosophy of "Sthit Pragya"—maintaining equilibrium in the face of ambition and adversity.

We dive deep into the evolution of India’s capital markets, retail investor participation, the transformative power of technology like AI in finance, and valuable career advice for young professionals. Ashish also opens up about his personal life, values, and passions beyond work, including his love for cricket and social causes.

Whether you're interested in finance, technology, or personal growth, this episode is packed with wisdom, anecdotes, and reflections from one of India’s most influential financial leaders.

Unlock the power of peer-led business leadership, in this exclusive episode of TBCY with Manolo Vega, Chairman of REF (Renaissance Executive Forums). Host Ashutosh Garg dives deep with Manolo to explore REF’s peer advisory model, its global footprint, and the exciting launch plans for the Indian market.

Discover how REF forums operate, what sets them apart from other leadership networks, and why collective intelligence and wisdom are the cornerstone of their philosophy. Manolo shares insights on member selection, the importance of trust and diversity, and how Indian leaders can tap into REF’s international network for game-changing collaborations.

If you’re a business owner, CEO, or leader seeking real growth and a trusted circle of peers—don’t miss this conversation!