In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, our newest guest Allyson Burroughs, Founder of Holt Whitley Consulting, LLC, shares insights from her extensive career in B2B and B2G marketing, emphasizing the importance of aligning marketing strategies with overarching business goals. The discussion explores the evolution of marketing in the digital age, the role of brand building, and the critical skills needed for marketing professionals in the coming years.

Key points include:

📌 Marketing initiatives must be firmly anchored to business strategy rather than chasing trendy tactics - leadership alignment and clear documentation of goals are essential for success in highly regulated industries.

📌 Brand remains central to business success, especially as digital landscapes evolve - with changes like AI-generated search results pushing brands down search pages, building brand trust and awareness is more critical than ever.

📌 Avoid getting overwhelmed by trends; instead, concentrate on initiatives that support core business objectives.

📌 Future marketing success requires a dual focus on technological advancement (particularly AI) and human elements - professionals need to balance understanding new tools while maintaining empathy, discernment, and intentional partnerships across different business functions.

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Guest Information

www.linkedin.com/in/allysonwburroughs 

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Stefany Jones, founder and CEO of Hustle Mama Magazine. Dr. Jones shares her remarkable 24-year journey from writing a book inspired by Proverbs 31 to building a multimedia empire that includes a magazine, university, podcast, radio platform, and app. She discusses how being a single mother and executive with multiple side hustles shaped her brand's mission to empower women globally. The conversation explores the evolution of women's media, the balance between technology and human connection, and her strategic approach to building organic audience engagement.

Key points include:

📌 Hustle Mama Magazine originated from Dr. Jones’s book, which celebrated resilient women juggling careers, family, and personal growth.

📌 The magazine pioneered digital publishing technologies, including being among the first to use flipbook technology and integrate video/audio streaming within pages.

📌 Dr. Jones emphasizes the Importance of balancing technological innovation with authentic human connection in business.

📌 After 12 years of publication, Hustle Mama released its final quarterly issue in October 2023, with Dr. Jones focusing on new ventures including expansion into Africa.

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Guest Information

https://hustlemamamagazine.com 

IG: @hustlemamamagazine

FB: @hustlemamamagazine

Pinterest: @hustlemamamag

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, we sit down with Kacie Luaders, founding producer of Could Be Pretty Cool, an audio production company specializing in arts, entrepreneurship, and innovation content. Kacie shares how the company emerged during the 2020 pandemic as a response to the surge in podcast creation and corporate support for independent creators. The conversation explores how Could Be Pretty Cool evolved from theatrical sound design roots to producing content for nonprofits and universities, while examining the changing landscape of arts and cultural experiences. 

Key Points:

📌 Could Be Pretty Cool adapted to post-pandemic changes by pivoting from corporate-supported content to producing podcasts for nonprofits and universities, maintaining their focus on telling stories about innovators in arts and entrepreneurship.

📌 The company successfully integrated technology with in-person experiences through interactive live podcast recordings, using tools like Mentimeter to facilitate real-time audience engagement while maintaining meaningful human connections.

📌 Looking ahead, Kacie advocates for increased funding and support for independent artists to create immersive local storytelling experiences, moving beyond commercial installations to focus on community-driven narratives.

📌 The company continues to grow through strategic partnerships, including an upcoming residency with an Atlanta-based podcast production company and involvement in the Emory Arts and Social Justice Program.

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Guest Information

www.couldbeprettycool.com 

@couldbeprettycool

In this episode of The brndBrief podcast, we speak with Joe Weinlick, CMO/Strategist of WeinlickWorks, about evolving brand strategy trends and effective marketing approaches. 

Joe shares insights from his extensive experience working with both large corporations like Microsoft and smaller clients through his fractional CMO services. The conversation explores how brand strategies have evolved toward simplicity in response to shorter attention spans and increasing market noise, while also diving into the impact of AI on marketing and the importance of internal brand alignment. 

Key Points:

📌 Brand strategy is shifting toward extreme simplicity to cut through market noise, with B2B brands following the simplified approach traditionally used by major consumer brands like Nike and Coca-Cola

📌 HR departments represent an overlooked marketing opportunity - integrating brand messaging into recruitment, onboarding, and internal communications can strengthen overall brand effectiveness

📌 While AI tools can assist with marketing tasks, they currently produce generic content that requires human strategic oversight to provide real value to clients

📌 The fractional CMO model is growing as a way for smaller companies to access high-level marketing strategy without the cost of a full-time executive, though the role's scope is still being defined in the industry

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Guest Information

https://www.weinlickworks.com/

LinkedIn

@jweinlick

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, we speak with Kimberly Evans, Founder & CEO of Just Her Rideshare, Inc., a women-centric rideshare company focused on empowering women and ensuring safety for both drivers and passengers. This conversation touches on Kimberly’s journey as a fourth-generation entrepreneur, discussing her inspiration behind the company, the unique challenges of building a business in the rideshare space, and the importance of community in her mission.

Key points include:

📌 Kimberly’s personal experiences and concerns about safety inspired her to create Just Her Rideshare, offering an empowering, secure rideshare option for women.

📌 Challenges in capital raising and attracting talent required Kimberly to innovate with limited resources and seek team members who value the mission.

📌 Just Her Rideshare’s community platform, Just Her Hub, fosters a support network for women, enhancing both driver and customer loyalty.

📌 Looking ahead, Kimberly envisions Just Her Rideshare as a leader in prioritizing safety within the evolving rideshare industry.

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Guest Information

https://justherrideshare.com

@justherride

@kimmyevans98

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, guest Gabija Adele, Founder of CapitalBoost — an outsourced sales agency specializing in working with AI and SaaS tech founders — reveals key sales strategies and tools that have been pivotal for the growth of her company and the businesses she’s worked with. 

Key points include:

📌 The importance of adaptability and knowing when to pivot in business, highlighting the need to monitor traction and adjust strategies accordingly.

📌 CapitalBoost’s key sales strategies, stressing the need to deeply understand the buyer persona, including their interests, challenges, and behaviors.

📌 The evolution of CapitalBoost's business model, moving from helping startups attract capital to focusing on sales for tech and SaaS founders.

📌 The influence of Gabija’s unique background as a professional athlete on her entrepreneurial mindset, particularly in goal-setting and maintaining discipline.

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Guest Information

www.capitalboost.io

@gabija_adele

@capitalboost.io

In this episode of The brndBrief Podcast, we chat with guest Denise Reese, Founder of Grace The Collection — a brand offering a unique array of accessible luxuries for the individual who navigates the realities of life with elegance and grace. Denise talks about the behind-the-scenes of her journey to founding the brand, highlighting her strategic approach since day one. 

Key points include:

📌 Strategic Approach: With a background in sales and a clear vision, Denise meticulously planned every aspect of her business, from product selection to branding, ensuring a thoughtful and strategic approach.

📌 Overcoming Challenges: Denise recounts a significant setback in her early days that nearly derailed her business before it even started, which forced her to reassess her business strategy and ultimately led her to discover new partnerships.

📌 Commitment to Women Empowerment: From product design to partnerships, Grace the Collection embodies a commitment to empowering women in business. 

📌 Strategic Growth: Denise reveals that the brand will introduce new products, such as room and linen spritzes while pursuing opportunities for retail expansion and increased brand recognition.

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Guest Information

https://gracethecollection.com/ 

@gracethecollection

@neiceyreese

This special episode of The brndBrief Podcast, we bring together discussions about the integration of AI and technology across various industries, exploring how it impacts creativity, customer experiences, and business operations. 

Key points include:

📌 Balancing Human Connection and Tech Integration: The crucial role of human involvement in shaping technological progress, ensuring alignment with customer needs and preserving authenticity across sectors like beauty, fashion, marketing, and film production.

📌 Enhancing Customer Experiences: The role of AI in enhancing customer experiences through personalized interactions and product recommendations while maintaining authenticity and personalization in design processes.

📌 The Changing Role of Creatives: With AI tools becoming more sophisticated, questions arise about the future of traditional creative roles. While AI can streamline tasks like graphic design and content writing, it also poses a potential threat to certain professions within creative industries.

📌 Adapting to Technological Shifts: The rapid evolution of AI necessitates constant adaptation, with businesses and creatives needing to establish clear policies and boundaries around AI usage to navigate legal and ethical considerations.

📌 Impact on Industry Dynamics: Incorporating AI into sectors such as music distribution signals a shift towards digital optimization and potential workforce restructuring, challenging traditional roles and workflows.

📌 Legal Considerations and AI: Protecting AI-generated content poses challenges, requiring clarity on the extent of human involvement, as well as monitoring copyright regulations and legal precedents. 

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Guest Information

Tiffini Gatlin - Latched and Hooked Beauty

https://www.latchedandhooked.com/

Cedric Gray - The Style Maverick
https://www.thestylemaverick.com/ 

Justin O. Cooper - JOC Media and Entertainment

https://www.jocmedia.com/

Veronica Woodruff - Travelsist

https://www.travelsist.com/ 

Necie Armstrong - Supernatural Baby

https://supernatural-baby.com/

Tami McQueen - BIP Ventures

https://www.bipventures.vc/ 

Tia Robinson - Vertical Activewear

https://www.verticalactivewear.com/ 

Freddy Cameron - Cookies

https://cookies.co/ 

Whitney Osei-Akintaju - Cadeline Group

https://cadelinegroup.com 

Rochelle Porter - Rochelle Porter Design

https://rochelleporter.com/ 

Erika Ward - Erika Ward Interiors

https://erikaward.com/links 

Sharon Toerek - Toerek Law

www.legalandcreative.com

Nick Love - ONErpm

https://onerpm.com/ 

Megan Grant - Cherish Tours

https://www.gocherishtours.com/

This episode of The brndBrief Podcast features guest Megan Grant, Founder and Chief Memory Creator at Cherish Tours, a unique tour company empowering women through purposeful travel experiences. In this conversation, Megan shares the journey behind the creation of Cherish Tours and discusses the meticulous process of crafting meaningful and impactful tours for women travelers.

Key points include:

📌 Cherish Tours Mission: Drawing from her background in hospitality and personal travel experiences, Megan founded Cherish Tours, which aims to support women in business and create meaningful travel experiences that positively impact the places visited.

📌 Crafting Unique Tours: Megan personally curates each tour itinerary, visiting destinations and forming partnerships with women-owned or led businesses.

📌 Supporting Women in Business: Cherish Tours intentionally partners with women-led businesses in various destinations, ensuring that travelers' spending supports local women.

📌 Future of Travel and Adaptation: Post-pandemic, Cherish Tours prioritizes traveler safety while embracing shifts towards purposeful travel and supporting small businesses, and their introduction of tailor-made tours expands their impact by providing personalized travel experiences.

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Guest Information

Company Website

https://www.gocherishtours.com/ 

Nordic Getaway

https://www.gocherishtours.com/iceland-adventure 

Social Media Links

IG - https://www.instagram.com/gocherishtours/  - @gocherishtours

LI - https://www.linkedin.com/company/cherish-tours-llc/  

FB - https://www.facebook.com/gocherishtours