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What happens when an engineer-turned-entrepreneur brings B2C energy to B2B enterprise software and a borderline obsession with fixing broken meetings? You get Alina Vandenberghe—co-founder and Co-CEO of Chili Piper, the woman who turned scheduling software into a billion-dollar empire while managing teams across 38 countries (and somehow still finds time to make her employees build AI agents).

From starting work at 8 years old to building stealth iPad apps that caught Steve Jobs' attention, Alina's journey is equal parts inspiring and remarkable. In this episode, Becca sits down solo with one of enterprise software's most magnetic leaders to discuss how she turned corporate culture on its head.

You'll discover:
— Her early career wins (including a New York Times interview before she could barely speak English)
— Chili Piper's radical approach to decision-making and culture design
— Why every employee is required to build AI agents
— How LinkedIn became her unexpected writing school
— Why parenting, product-building, and personal growth are all connected by the same thread: curiosity

This episode is packed with tactical ideas and vulnerable reflections—from the power of documentation to the messiness of leadership to what it means to find joy while you're building something hard. Stick around for walkout songs, emoji debates, and a rapid-fire round featuring your favorite unhinged “hiccups or pinkies” question.

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What happens when comms pros finally take their own advice—and build platforms for themselves?

In this episode of Under Embargo, we sit down with Gabrielle Ferree—former VP of Global Comms at Bumble, Slack, and Salesforce—who's stepping off the corporate ladder to launch Off the Record, a new coaching and community space for comms professionals who are tired of doing it all in isolation.

We dig into:
— Emotional labor and why it never shows up in your promotion packet
— Post-COVID loneliness, leadership, and the death of swivel chair moments
— Why being "just a manager" is actually the most important job in the room
— The myth of the comms unicorn (spoiler: she doesn't need to be a media machine and a therapist)
— Building your own playbook when no one's done this job before

Whether you're a rising comms star or a battle-scarred VP, this conversation will hit. If you've ever juggled AI, crises, and emotional triage before your second coffee—this one's for you.

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In this episode of Under Embargo, Becca and Parry sit down with one of the best-kept secrets in enterprise comms—Alyssa Stone, head of Analyst Relations at Wiz (the cybersecurity darling recently acquired by Google).

With 25 years across SAP, Okta, and Ariba, Alyssa's seen it all—massive analyst tours, impossible PR expectations, and the slow but steady evolution of how we engage the people who influence tech buying.

She breaks down:
— Why AR is not pay-for-play (and what it actually is)
 — How a single slide can prep execs better than any 30-page doc
 — Why empowered teams are Wiz's real secret sauce
 — And what Devil Wears Prada taught her about comms strategy (yes, really)

Then, she opens up about parenting a neurodivergent child, building support systems inside companies, and why embracing brain differences isn't just the right thing to do—it's a competitive advantage.

This one has it all: golf analogies, Swiftie walkout songs, hiccup debates, and real-life tactical wisdom from someone who's lived (and modernized) every version of comms.

See you there?

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This episode is equal parts spicy comms truth and high-functioning marketing chaos (with a little ADHD sparkle on top).

We’re joined by Ashley Faus, Atlassian’s Head of Lifecycle Marketing and the author of Human-Centered Marketing: How to Connect with Audiences in the Age of AI.

We cover a lot of ground — and none of it is snackable. Modular, yes. Snackable, absolutely not.

•  Human connection vs. AI-generated sameness
•  The power of authenticity (real authenticity, not LinkedIn-polished perfection)
•  Why MQLs need to die
•  Brand vs. demand and why they're frenemies, not enemies
•  And yes, someone loses a pinky (you’ll have to listen)

This one is for the marketers who hate the word “marketer,” the comms pros tired of being called “PR,” and anyone trying to build trust while the robots learn to write press releases.

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The phrase “fractional comms leader” might sound like consulting fluff—but Roberto Muñoz is here to tell you it’s anything but.

In this episode, Becca and Parry get real with Roberto about:

— The rise of the fractional Chief Communications Officer
 — Why comms gets sidelined while marketing gets the glory
 — The C-suite’s collective misunderstanding of what comms actually does
— How comms should never be reporting to marketing (we said what we said)
— And what AI means for the future of measurement, media, and the PR pricing model

We talk measurement that matters (spoiler: it’s not impressions), why real thought leadership can’t be AI-generated, and the emotional gymnastics required to work in comms while being wildly underestimated by your peers.

And yes, there’s yelling about “thrilled to announce.”

This one’s for the comms pros who are sick of being the hospitality suite in the C-suite. If you've ever had to explain your value while delivering it, you're gonna feel this in your bones.

👊 No fluff. No filters. Just the truth about this wild industry we’re in.

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In this episode of Under Embargo, we’re joined by Linda Zebian, newly-minted VP of Communications at Muck Rack, for a conversation that’s equal parts insightful and unhinged—in the best way possible.

Linda breaks down what it’s like to do PR for a PR tech company (spoiler: it’s very meta), how her time at The New York Times shaped her leadership, and why the work she’s doing now is the most meaningful of her career.

We cover:
— Building a comms function from scratch inside a fast-growth tech company
— Why measurement in PR is broken—and what MuckRack’s doing to fix it
— The real impact of AI on the industry (is sentiment the next frontier?)
— Why PR still gets left off the thank-you email—and how we fix that

Also not to be missed: whether you’d take $100M for a very specific and very weird demise.

Yes, really.

Whether you’re in-house, agency-side, or somewhere in between—this episode is for every comms pro who’s tried (and failed) to explain their job to their mom.

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What happens when you create the only legit LinkedIn influencer ranking platform in the world… and then make the algorithm public?

You get bribe offers. Hate mail from millionaires. And a viral loop so strong it powers a 6-person startup with zero outbound sales.

In this episode of Under Embargo, we sit down with Jeremy Boissinot, CEO and co-founder of Favikon, the platform quietly transforming the B2B creator economy. 

We cover:

• The gamification of influence — and why clout is currency
• LinkedIn’s ranking blind spots (and how creators are cashing in anyway)
• Why Favikon is thriving in a space most VCs wouldn’t touch
• The ethical chaos of ranking real people — and what comes next

Also discussed: algorithm conspiracies, fake engagement pods, and how much Becca had to pay to outrank Parry. (Spoiler: still TBD.)

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What is a Chief Business Officer, anyway?

This week on Under Embargo, Parry and I sat down with Robin Daniels—Chief Business & Product Officer at Zensai—for a conversation that honestly left me thinking about everything from go-to-market strategy to workplace happiness to ethical leadership. (No big deal, right?)

If you don’t know Robin, he’s held exec roles at LinkedIn, WeWork, Salesforce, Box, Matterport—the man’s got receipts. But what stood out most in this convo wasn’t the resume. It was how deeply he cares about people.

✨ On redefining the CBO role
Robin’s not just leading marketing—he’s running a whole ecosystem of product, growth, and post-sales. He’s building categories, not just campaigns. Think: less “traditional CMO,” more “growth-obsessed storyteller-meets-operator.”

✨ On Zensai and the whole “human success” thing
Zensai’s mission is all about helping people thrive at work. It’s not fluffy. It’s grounded in skills, growth, and motivation—and it speaks to that thing we all secretly want: to love how we spend our days. Robin’s all in on that mission, and it shows.

✨ On why culture is the strategy
From his LinkedIn days to now, Robin’s learned that empathy isn't soft—it’s essential. One of my favorite moments? Him sharing how his team opened up through storytelling exercises. Made me want to do the same with mine. (And I just might.)

✨ On ethical leadership (aka: not being a jerk)
We talked about that current in tech where leaders forget that actions = brand. Robin’s take? Lead with integrity, or don’t lead at all. Because the ripple effects—on people, on brand perception, on retention—are real.

✨ On marketing that actually matters
Robin doesn’t have time for soulless campaigns. He breaks down why brand should be rooted in human connection, not product specs. (Preach!) It’s the kind of take that makes you want to rework your entire messaging doc.

Bottom line? This episode is a love letter to building real businesses—with people at the center.

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✨ The Real Power of Strategic Comms: Chris Willis on "Under Embargo"

The latest episode of Under Embargo was packed with gold. Chris Willis, CMO of Axios HQ, joined hosts Perry and Becca to talk about how strategic communications isn’t just a "nice-to-have"—it’s a business driver. Forget the corporate fluff. They dive into the real, actionable ways comms can push business objectives forward and make a measurable impact.

🎉 Busting Comms Myths

Chris didn’t hold back. He took on the outdated notion that corporate communications is just a support function—the team that pretties up messages and "chops off pinkies" (his words!) when execs get a little too rogue. Instead, he laid out why comms is a critical function for guiding corporate strategy and navigating complexity.

💬 Beyond Newsletters and Press Releases

Chris has a fascinating career trajectory—starting in marketing, then seeing firsthand how powerful strategic communications is for aligning business objectives. His take? Comms is way more than broadcasting messages. It’s about shaping internal alignment, driving productivity, and influencing external market perception. It’s not a background function—it’s a business engine.

🚨 Crisis Comms: A Make-or-Break Moment

The conversation also delves into the role of crisis comms. Axios HQ’s data shows that how a company handles a crisis doesn’t just affect that moment—it reshapes brand trust and long-term strategy. A strong comms team doesn’t just put out fires; they use crises as a catalyst for transformation.

🌟 Communicating Value: Internally and Externally

Chris breaks down how effective comms can move the needle on everything from employee retention to project execution. And yes, they even get into AI—Chris is a firm believer that AI should enhance human creativity, not replace it.

🔍 The Takeaway: Comms Is a Business Imperative

If this episode reinforces anything, it’s that communications isn’t "just" comms. It’s strategy. It’s influence. It’s business impact. Chris makes it clear—companies that treat comms as a business function (not a PR afterthought) will always have a competitive edge.

Don’t miss this episode of Under Embargo with Becca and Perry. And if your comms team isn’t in the boardroom yet, it’s time to fix that.

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### The Birth of "Under Embargo" Podcast: Cracking Through Industry Norms

In the inaugural episode of the "Under Embargo" podcast, hosts Becca and Parry explore their motives and expectations in launching a platform that promises to dissect, analyze, and potentially disrupt the communications industry. Their dialogue unfolds as a candid exploration of their personal and professional backgrounds, providing listeners with a rich context behind their viewpoints and visions for the podcast. 

### A Joint Venture Rooted in Authenticity

The podcast kicks off with Parry and Becca outlining the purpose behind their collaborative project. They aim to cut through pervasive industry jargon and superfluous tactics, focusing instead on elevating professionals to boardroom levels without resorting to deceit. Their banter quickly reveals a dynamic partnership where Parry’s experiences in tech PR complement Becca’s corporate communication insights, suggesting that listeners can expect a holistic take on industry issues.

### Reshaping Communication Narratives

Both hosts emphasize their desire to reshape how communication roles are perceived and carried out within the industry. Becca and Parry discuss their non-traditional paths into their careers, highlighting challenges like navigating educational disruptions and leveraging unconventional strengths. These personal anecdotes serve as a foreground to their broader ambition of fostering a communications landscape that values authenticity, strategic thinking, and substantive contributions over titular positions.

### The Power of Authentic Narratives

Central to the episode is a theme of leveraging one’s unique experiences and background to bring authenticity to the communication field. Parry shares his compelling journey from a challenging childhood to establishing his own PR agency, emphasizing the value of genuine narratives in business success. Similarly, Becca reflects on her experience of transforming perceived academic weaknesses into a distinctive career advantage, advocating for a recognition of diverse cognitive approaches within professional settings.

### Vision for Future Episodes

The dialogue ends with a forward-looking discussion on the evolution of the podcast. With plans to include diverse voices from the industry and explore varied facets of communication and PR, Becca and Parry invite listeners to contribute ideas and participate in upcoming discussions. Their vision for "Under Embargo" is clearly set on challenging norms and encouraging a more inclusive and empathetic approach to professional communication.

As the episode wraps up, listeners are left with a clear sense of the podcast’s direction – one that promises to interweave personal insights with professional foresight, potentially setting a new bar for industry discussions.