Marketing Happy Hour
Marketing Happy Hour
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Marketing Happy Hour helps corporate marketers and entrepreneurs navigate the marketing world, launch businesses, and advance their careers. Hosts Cassie Tucker and Ally Golden discuss marketing strategies, career growth, and leadership insights with industry guests. The podcast aims to provide inspiration and support for thriving in the marketing field.
Episoade
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How Rare Beauty Built Real Community Loyalty | Elle Rudnick, Manager of Consumer Marketing 18.06.2026 28minCassie sits down with Elle Rudnick, Manager of Integrated Marketing at Rare Beauty, to talk about what it really takes to build a community-first brand in a category that's saturated with brands claiming to be exactly that. Elle brings a unique lens shaped by nearly a decade across fashion and beauty — from merchandising to brand marketing — and walks us through how she's translating that experience into Rare Beauty's integrated strategy across social, influencer, PR, and partnerships. She breaks down the no-phone, no-photos community dinner series she launched within months of joining the brand, why she's had to redefine what "perfect" means in a fast-moving industry, and the communication and collaboration skills she considers the highest-leverage investment of her career. If you're trying to build a brand people feel something for — not just buy from — this conversation is full of specific, actionable takeaways.Key Takeaways:// Consumer behavior doesn't change just because the product does. Elle's transition from apparel to beauty taught her that both categories are ultimately about identity — apparel is how people express themselves outwardly, beauty is more intimate, about how people see themselves and want to be seen. That insight sharpened her approach to emotional marketing across the board.// Consumers can tell when you're "just posting to post." The biggest trend Elle is seeing: people want real connection, not surface-level content. Brands that treat community as a checkbox get called out fast — the ones that actually build with their audience earn deeper loyalty.// Redefine what "perfect" means in a fast-moving industry. Early in her career, Elle equated perfect with flawless. Now, she defines it as clear, intentional, and aligned — because waiting for 100% polish means missing the moment entirely. Her approach: get to a strategically sound place, then execute and iterate based on real-time consumer feedback.// The best campaigns make people think "wait, that's literally me." Elle's taste as a marketer is rooted in emotional relatability — honesty, nostalgia, humor, and small human details. Aspiration still matters, but she's far more drawn to aspiration that feels attainable and emotionally grounded than to anything overly polished or manufactured.// "Community first" is becoming a buzzword — and consumers are starting to expect proof, not just claims. Elle is watching closely to see which brands actually back up the label with real action, and is intentional about making sure Rare Beauty's community initiatives are recognizable as distinctly theirs, not just another version of what everyone else is doing.Connect with Elle: LinkedIn____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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The Brand Strategy Behind PacSun's Comeback | Brie Olson, CEO of PacSun 21.05.2026 23minIn this episode, we sit down with Brieane (Brie) Olson, CEO of PacSun, for a conversation that is equal parts brand strategy masterclass and career inspiration. Brie has spent nearly two decades at PacSun — moving from design and product to marketing and digital before stepping into the CEO role three years ago — and has led one of retail's most remarkable transformation stories, taking the brand from bankruptcy to a Harvard Business School case study and a cult following with Gen Z. She opens up about the viral TikTok moment that shaped PacSun's entire philosophy around co-creation, why most brands are fundamentally misunderstanding Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and what it actually looks like to give your customers a real seat at the table — not just a focus group. She also digs into her own leadership journey, why she went back to school at 40, and what she'd tell anyone trying to build something meaningful from wherever they're starting. Her new book, Co-Created, is out now.Key Takeaways:// Treat your customers as co-creators, not an audience. The turning point in PacSun's story came when an everyday consumer — not a contracted influencer — filmed a TikTok in her bedroom that sold 11,000 pairs of jeans in under 48 hours. The lesson Brie took from it: when you truly empower customers to love and represent your brand, the results can far outpace anything a paid campaign produces.// Give Gen Z an actual seat at the table — not just a survey. PacSun's Youth Advisory Council brings together 14 young people aged 12 to 26 who function like a board of directors — weighing in on tech initiatives, marketing campaigns, and strategy. Social listening is a starting point, but the brands that win are the ones creating formal structures to involve their community in real decisions.// Experiential retail isn't complicated: the mall is back, and unexpected pop-ups are winning. Gen Z and Gen Alpha want to touch product, hang out with friends, and be surprised. PacSun has seen major success showing up trackside at Formula One in Austin, at Goofball, and in other culturally-relevant spaces. Meeting the customer in moments that matter to them — not just in places convenient to the brand — is the new retail playbook.// You don't need a title to start leading. Brie's advice for early-career listeners: stay deeply curious, build relationships relentlessly, never stay too rigidly in your lane, and do more than what's expected of you. She also makes the point that identifying what's blocking your growth — and taking action on it — matters more than waiting for the right opportunity. She went back to school at 40. It's never too late to fill the gap.Connect with Brie: LinkedInGet a Copy of the Book: Amazon____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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The Press Release Is Dead — Here's What's Actually Working in PR Right Now | Mady Lanni of Manychat 14.05.2026 27minIn this episode, we sit down with Mady Lanni, Senior PR Strategist at Manychat — the social media automation platform powering those viral "comment to get the link" moments you see across Instagram and TikTok every day. Mady's path to PR wasn't linear (criminal justice degree, anyone?), and that outside perspective has shaped a refreshingly sharp, social-first approach to a field that's rapidly changing. She gets real about the slow death of traditional newsrooms and what it means for brands still relying on press releases, why journalists are migrating from X to LinkedIn and how to meet them there, how to move fast on reactive PR without sacrificing brand integrity, and why your most powerful spokespeople might not be your executives — they might be your creators. If you work in PR, marketing, or communications and want to understand where the industry is actually headed, this episode is your roadmap.Key Takeaways:// Social is where the news breaks first — follow it accordingly. Mady starts every morning in her social feed, not her inbox. Trending conversations happen on social before they hit anywhere else, and the PR pros who catch them earliest are the ones who get the reactive coverage. // Newsrooms are shrinking, and modern PR has to evolve with them. Traditional media outlets are downsizing. Journalists are building their own Substacks and newsletters. What "media" means is fundamentally shifting.// LinkedIn is the new Twitter for journalists. Mady sees a clear migration happening: journalists who used to live on X are moving to LinkedIn for connections, relationship-building, and DMs. // Always be able to answer "okay, and so what?" Before pitching any story, Mady asks herself whether the news genuinely matters to anyone outside the marketing team. If the only people excited about it are internal, it's a brand moment, not a PR moment. // Creators are replacing executives as the most credible spokespeople. Journalists and readers are craving authenticity, and polished executive quotes often fall flat. // Press releases are a tool, not a strategy. The future of PR is more creative, more relatable, and more human. Connect with Mady: LinkedIn____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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Cassie’s Unfiltered Career Story (Pivots, Big Risks, and Pitching Yourself) 07.05.2026 28minFive years ago, Marketing Happy Hour was launched from scratch — Canva logo, Google searches, and zero podcasting experience. In this milestone episode, Cassie walks through the full arc of her career: from a self-pitched internship at a Florida restaurant group to a pivotal move to New York City, from leaving a stable agency job to start her own business in 2019, to building MHH into the community it is today. Cassie gets refreshingly honest about the comparison trap of entrepreneurship, why she stopped chasing the "big brand on the resume" and started following what she actually loves, and the one piece of advice she'd give her younger self. Key Takeaways:// Cold pitching with concrete ideas beats cold pitching with just your resume. When Cassie landed her first internship — at a restaurant group with no open listing — she didn't just ask "can I help?" She came with specific ideas and made it easy for the hiring manager to say yes. The lesson: don't make the person on the other end do the work of figuring out how you fit.// The biggest career accelerator is often the move you're scared to make. For Cassie, that was packing up and moving from Tampa to New York City. It pulled her out of a hospitality bubble and into big brand, agency-level experience that changed everything. You don't have to move across the country — but being open to expanding the type of roles and environments you're in is what unlocks the next level.// Build a career on what you keep saying yes to. Cassie still doesn't have a singular "dream job" figured out — and she's at peace with that. What she does know is the types of projects that light her up: podcasting, production, storytelling, events. Following that thread, rather than a fixed five-year plan, has shaped her career more than any roadmap would have.// The comparison trap is real — but it can be reframed. Everyone's timing is different. Everyone's journey has challenges you can't see from the outside. Instead of comparing, Cassie recommends using other people's careers as a research tool: study how they got there, reach out, ask questions, and let it inform your own path rather than measure against it.// Give yourself grace. The advice Cassie would give younger Cassie — and the one she still needs to hear. You won't be perfect every day. Not everything has to make sense right now. Be patient with the journey, surround yourself with the right people, and trust that the pieces are connecting — even when you can't see how yet.Connect with Cassie: LinkedIn____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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Stop Designing for Yourself: DIBS Beauty Co-Founder on Customer Clarity and Retail Marketing | Jeff Lee 30.04.2026 32minIn this episode, we sit down with Jeff Lee, CEO and co-founder of DIBS Beauty, one of the fastest-growing color cosmetics brands in the country, now carried in over 1,300 Ulta Beauty doors with a product waitlist culture that generated 17K+ sign-ups before their mascara even launched. Jeff's path to beauty CEO is anything but conventional: Yale Law, Wall Street, Stanford MBA, Alex Rodriguez, and a co-founding partnership built entirely over Zoom. He breaks down what DIBS got right in the first six to twelve months, why your product doesn't have to be the most innovative — just the most useful, and how being the "first beauty founder to visit an Ulta in all 50 states" taught him more about selling than anything else. He also gets real about career pivots, the myth of the founder story, burnout as a natural cycle, and why the in-store conversation still produces 10x the order value of anything you can do online.Key Takeaways:// Don't design for yourself. One of the most common founder mistakes is assuming you are the customer. Jeff isn't the end user of most of DIBS's products — and leaning into his co-founder Courtney's existing audience was the honest advantage they doubled down on from day one.// Your advantage tells you your customer, not the other way around. Start with where you have a real edge, then build toward it. Sublimate the ego. The brand that's built for a broader audience will always outperform the brand built for the founder's taste.// In-store still wins at 10x. For all the magic of influencers, social commerce, and a full digital stack — DIBS's highest order values come the moment a real conversation happens in-store. The customer arrives pre-sold from online; the store is where she converts at scale.// Your brand needs to be in the conversation before she walks in. A beautiful end cap alone won't do it. Customers now come in with a predisposition — either for or against you. Your digital presence, influencer strategy, and brand awareness work determines what happens before the store visit even begins.// Burnout is a cycle, not a finish line. Jeff reframes the burnout conversation entirely — it's not something to avoid, it's something to move through. The question isn't how to never burn out; it's whether you reignite on the other side.// Going backwards to go forwards is a real strategy. Jeff took a 90% pay cut to pivot into beauty. But he's equally clear-eyed: that choice was made possible by financial stability built first. Solve for what actually matters in your life before romanticizing the leap.Learn More About DIBS: Instagram____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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Building Marketing Strategies Grounded in Tangible Results (+ Modernizing Legacy) | Blair Lancer of Lancer Skincare 23.04.2026 28minHow do you breathe new life into a legacy brand without losing the clinical authority that made it famous? In this episode, Blair Lancer, CMO of Lancer Skincare, pulls back the curtain on her journey from a fashion-focused career at Saks Fifth Avenue to leading the strategic evolution of her family’s dermatology-backed empire. Blair discusses the nuances of the "multigenerational" approach—balancing her father’s scientific expertise with her own relatable, digitally native voice to reach a younger luxury consumer. We explore the "Practice to Product" philosophy, why she chooses to ignore fleeting industry trends in favor of long-term efficacy, and how the brand is preparing for the future of skincare through AI-driven personalization. Whether you are building a brand from scratch or managing a heritage business, this conversation offers a masterclass in staying authentic while evolving for the modern market.Key Takeaways:// The "Practice to Product" Standard: True clinical credibility comes from products that mimic real in-office dermatological procedures, such as "The Polish" mimicking professional microdermabrasion.// Evolving the Visual Language: To avoid being viewed as "your mother's brand," a legacy business must revamp its digital presence and packaging to feel approachable and lighter while maintaining its core DNA.// Mindset Over Trends: Chasing buzzwords and "white-labeling" products leads to diluted brand authority; instead, wait for ingredient technology to improve so that products drive repeat purchases through results, not hype.// The Power of Two Voices: Modernizing a founder-led brand doesn't mean replacing the founder; it means pairing their technical expertise with a relatable, younger voice to broaden the brand's appeal.// The Career "Dot" Theory: Success often comes from saying "yes" to adjacent roles—like Blair moving from PR to Product Development—which allows you to understand the brand from inception to consumer feedback.// Hiring for "Zest": In an automated world, hiring should prioritize a candidate’s passion, ambition, and life experiences over a perfect resume alone.Connect with Blair: LinkedInLearn More About Lancer Skincare: Instagram____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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The 2026 Creator Playbook: UGC Strategy, Relationships & What's Actually Working Right Now | Elijah Khasabo of Vidovo 16.04.2026 29minIn this episode, we sit down with Elijah Khasabo, co-founder of Vidovo — a UGC and influencer platform connecting brands with creators — who started his entrepreneurial journey at 17, built a Discord community of 30,000 organically, and is now weeks away from graduating college while running a bootstrapped platform with 300+ brand clients and 25,000+ creators. Elijah breaks down why the creator economy has become a volume game, why creative briefs make or break campaign performance, and what brands consistently get wrong when managing creator relationships. He also shares his honest take on AI-generated content (spoiler: consumers are already calling it out), what inspires his strategy approach, and the two pieces of advice he'd give any entrepreneur just getting started.Key Takeaways:// The creator economy is now a volume game. Consumer touchpoints have grown from 8–12 to an estimated 21–24+. Brands that are winning understand that performance marketing requires testing multiple hooks, angles, and creators across platforms — not just finding one or two winning ads.// The brief is the most important variable. A strong brief with creative freedom will outperform a rigid script every time. Give creators guidelines (do's and don'ts), not a teleprompter — and let them deliver in their own voice.// Creators are businesses now. The best creators understand performance, rate cards, and why ads work. Elijah hired his top-performing creator as his head of strategy — proof that lived creator experience translates directly into better briefs.// Don't make it transactional. Brands that lead with communication — getting to know creators before the collab happens — consistently build longer-term partnerships and better-performing content. Pay fairly (Elijah recommends $200–$500 for quality UGC), and don't skip the relationship-building step.// AI content gets views, but real creators convert. Brands that tested AI content are coming back to real creators because consumers notice and call it out. Use AI for strategy and briefing — not for the content itself.Connect with Elijah: LinkedIn____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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Using Claude + AI Tools for Content Creation and Organization | Kahlea Wade, April 2026 09.04.2026 35minWhat happens when a non-tech founder decides to stop "pushing" prompts and starts "pulling" solutions from AI? Kahlea Wade, founder of Alora Society, returns for her record-breaking third appearance to share how she is reinventing her luxury talent agency through the power of Claude and AI agents. Kahlea walks us through her "aha moment"—building a fully functional internal onboarding app from 500 pages of documentation in just a weekend—and explains why she now treats Claude as a strategic teammate. From streamlining soul-crushing admin tasks to navigating the ethical boundaries of generative AI in the creator economy, this episode is an essential guide for any professional ready to move from AI curiosity to AI proficiency.Key Takeaways:// The "Teammate" Mindset: Stop treating AI as a search engine or a tool; treat it as a brainstorming partner, market researcher, and strategist to unlock its true potential.// Pull vs. Push Prompting: Instead of telling AI what to do (push), describe your frustrations and goals and ask the AI to design the solution (pull).// The Claude Ecosystem Explained: Understand the difference between Claude Chat (ideation), Claude Co-work (agent building and connectors), and Claude Code (efficient, terminal-based execution).// "Life-Quake" Automation: Use AI to handle the "mental load" of tasks like email categorization, task prioritization in ClickUp, and daily industry news briefings.// Human Agency & Taste: While AI can take over "workflows," it cannot replace "roles." Humans remain the only ones capable of establishing "taste," sharing lived experiences, and navigating complex emotions.// The Experimentation Mandate: The only way to overcome AI fear is through "summer shred" style consistency—spending time tinkering with platforms like Lovable and Poppy AI to see what is actually possible.// Claude (Chat, Co-work, Code): Her primary "teammate" for writing and agency operations.// Lovable: The "no-code" savior used to build her internal team app.// Poppy AI: A visual "vision board" interface that houses multiple LLMs (Grok, Gemini, Claude) for content analysis.// ClickUp & Make: The connective tissue used to turn AI outputs into automated business tasks.Connect with Kahlea: Instagram____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Kahlea’s Tech Stack Mentioned:Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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The Disney Blueprint: How a 100-Year-Old Brand Stays Relevant 02.04.2026 29minIn this episode, Cassie and Ally dive into the high-level strategies shared by Disney’s top creative and marketing leaders during a standout session at SXSW. They break down the "Disney Blueprint for Brand Relevance," exploring how a century-old icon manages to capture the hearts of Gen Z and Gen Alpha without losing its core "Purist" fans. From the "Disney Flywheel" and the hierarchy of Story > Product > Experience to the concept of leading with an "Emotional Destination," this conversation uncovers the tactical shift from transactional sales to 24/7 fan conversations. Whether you're a brand builder or a marketer, you'll learn why legacy is not a strategy and how authentic, nuanced collaborations—like Disney’s partnership with F1 Academy™—can drive record-breaking engagement.Key Takeaways:// Legacy is Not a Strategy: While heritage is powerful, brands cannot rely on it alone; relevance must be earned by focusing on the generations currently shaping culture, like Gen Z and Gen Alpha.// The Hierarchy of Connection: Engagement is driven through a specific sequence: Story (remixing IP to drive emotion), Product (high-heat drops that express story beats), and Experience (journeys that meet consumers where they are).// Mindsets of the Fandom Ecosystem: Brands should categorize consumers into three tiers—The Purist (Sub-Culture), The Explorer (Pop Culture), and The Casual (Mass Culture)—with the goal of embracing trend-shaping purists without alienating explorers.// Leading with "Emotional Destination": Creativity should prioritize how a consumer feels over how a product looks; once the emotional goal is defined, design choices become simple and moments turn into lasting memories.// Collaborations as a Cultural Mirror: Partnerships are most effective when they reflect the nuances of your own brand; authenticity is key to success, as seen in the F1 x Disney collaboration which achieved the highest engagement in F1 history.// Sensory and Interactive Resilience: Utilizing senses like scent, which has a direct link to memory, and allowing consumers to be part of the story through collectibility are critical for driving long-term engagement.Learn more: Article____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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How to Build a Culture-Driven Brand (Rewind) | Katelynn Ludwig of DUDE Wipes 26.03.2026 35minREWIND EPISODE: What happens when you stop treating marketing as a transaction and start treating it as a 24/7 conversation? Katelynn Ludwig, Director of Brand Strategy at DUDE Wipes, joins the show to break down the "Life Quakes" framework—a strategy for showing up exactly when a consumer needs you most (from potty training to the college dorms). Katelynn shares the raw details of their TikTok Shop success, where top creators are driving six-figure monthly revenues, and explains why they don't look for ROI in the traditional sense when it comes to influencers. Whether you’re curious about social listening, building an irreverent brand voice, or how a "Mini Pooper" stunt landed on TMZ, this episode is a masterclass in staying bold, scrappy, and unapologetically authentic.Key Takeaways:// The "Life Quakes" Framework: Identify the 3–4 pivotal transition moments in your consumer's life where your product becomes a necessity, not just a choice.// Community is a One-Man Show: You don't need a massive team to be "always on." DUDE Wipes’ community engagement is driven by a single person who treats every mention as an opportunity for connection.// TikTok Shop is a "Test and Learn" Game: Scaling on TikTok Shop requires constant experimentation with affiliate commissions, live shopping agencies, and creator-led content flywheels.// The "Culture Fit" Influencer Filter: Stop looking at engagement rates. Ask: "Would I hire this person to be my right-hand woman or man?" If they don't fit the brand's soul, they won't drive long-term value.// Social Listening as Product R&D: Your next big product innovation or PR win is likely sitting in your DMs or a random mention on a show like Hard Knocks. Move fast, trust your gut, and don't wait for "perfect" data.Connect with Katelynn: LinkedIn____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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How to Scale a Brand Organically (Scrappy Marketing, Email, and Gifting) | Max of Untouched Blooms 19.03.2026 40minWhat happens when you combine a $59 Amazon printer, a vintage 2005 Toyota, and a deep desire to spend more time with your family? You get Untouched Blooms, a handmade flower and pet accessory brand that has found its way into the hands of the Kardashians, Simone Biles, and Alex Earl—all without a single dollar spent on ads or PR agencies. In this episode, founder Max Gayle Summersett breaks down the "scrappy" blueprint that allowed her to retire her father and scale a viral business from a 400-square-foot apartment. We dive into her "Triangle Method" for influencer outreach, the power of TikTok Live shopping, and why "Consumer Fixation" led her to the product ideas that changed her life. If you’ve ever felt like you didn't have enough capital to start, this conversation will prove that creativity is the ultimate currency.Key Takeaways:// Max proves that high-end equipment is a distraction. Starting with a $59 printer and a tricycle wasn't a hindrance; it forced the brand to be creative, resourceful, and deeply connected to the community.// Don’t go for the celebrity; go for their inner circle. Max explains how gifting to a target’s friends, managers, or even their dog trainer creates a "FOMO" effect that eventually leads to organic celebrity orders.// You don't need a complex content calendar to stay relevant. Max shares how she "rinses and repeats" organic B-roll of her and her 78-year-old father working together, simply by shifting the camera an inch or changing the story angle.// TikTok Live isn't just for selling; it's for real-time R&D. By showing up every other day, Max gets instant feedback on new designs and builds a "stickiness" that a static post can't replicate.// Excellence is the best marketing. By bedazzling packages and doing deep-dive research into a customer’s life (like finding a celebrity's husband's team colors), you turn a simple purchase into a "memento" that people are proud to share.Learn More About Untouched Blooms: Website | Instagram____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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Your Guide to Freelancing in Marketing (Career Pivots + Building a Portfolio) | Emma Sheehy 12.03.2026 27minWhat happens when you trade the traditional 9-to-5 ladder for a "choose your own adventure" career in the New York City media scene? In this episode, we sit down with Emma Sheehy, owner of Emma Sheehy Photography and a powerhouse freelance creator. Emma takes us through her journey from being an executive assistant in TV news to finding her creative voice through layoffs, side hustles, and a "yes first, figure it out later" mentality. We dive deep into why your Instagram is the new GPA, how to stay ahead of TikTok trends without losing your mind, and the importance of "Consumer Fixation" when drawing inspiration. Key Takeaways:// Your Social Media is Your Resume: In the creative and digital marketing world, proof of work beats a GPA every time. Emma shares how she’s navigated high-level interviews where her Instagram feed was the portfolio.// Listen to the "Nudge": If you keep getting pulled toward a specific creative outlet or side project, it’s there for a reason. Emma discusses how lean times and career pivots are often the best opportunities to chase those instincts wholeheartedly.// The 50% Freelance Shift: We discuss the rising trend of the freelance workforce and why specializing in a niche now—whether it’s day-of wedding content or boutique hotel photography—is a hedge against future career instability.// Speed Over Perfection on TikTok: Emma breaks down why "making it pretty later" is the key to trend fluency. She shares a humbling lesson on why posting a raw clip today is often more impactful than a highly edited masterpiece two days late.Connect with Emma: Instagram____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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Why Partner Marketing is Taking Over in 2026 (+ How to Build Powerful Relationships) | Molly Shunney of CNN 05.03.2026 37minIs partner marketing the missing link in your growth strategy? This week, we sit down with Molly Shunney, Director of Partner Marketing & Operations at CNN, to explore how she navigated a career path from scrappy tech startups to some of the world’s most iconic media brands. Molly breaks down the "startup instinct"—the ability to solve problems without a playbook—and how she uses that agility to drive digital subscriptions in a legacy corporate environment. We dive deep into the "Nucleus Effect" of partner marketing, the enduring power of owned media, and why your ability to build authentic internal relationships is a high-performance superpower. If you’ve ever felt "job-hop shame" or wondered how to pivot your skill set into a new niche, Molly’s perspective on "collecting the dots before you connect them" is exactly what you need to hear.Key Takeaways:// How to maintain a "bias for action" and creative problem-solving skills when moving into a large-scale, structured organization.// Understanding the role of a partner marketer as the bridge between brands and internal cross-functional teams (Creative, CRM, Legal).// Why email and lifecycle marketing remain the "luxurious" testing grounds for revenue and retention compared to the surgical constraints of paid media.// The tactical value of becoming a "subject matter expert" on your partners to build deeper trust and more aligned co-marketing strategies.// Re-framing a non-linear career path not as "job hopping," but as an essential period of gathering diverse skills that make you a more versatile leader.// Why authenticity and genuine rapport are the only ways to get complex deals done and maintain internal support for new initiatives.Connect with Molly: Instagram____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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How to Create a Bold, Distinct Brand Identity and Social Media Presence | Alice Carroll of Foxes Bow Whiskey 26.02.2026 33minWhat happens when you take a centuries-old, traditional industry and inject it with vibrant color? This week, Cassie sits down with Alice Carroll, Co-Founder of Foxes Bow Irish Whiskey, to discuss the art of strategic disruption. Alice breaks down her journey from "stealthily stealing secrets" at major whiskey multinationals to launching an independent brand that refuses to play by the rules. We explore how being the "only woman at the table" became her greatest creative advantage, the tactical data she used to get retailers to say "yes" to a non-traditional design, and why she believes distinctiveness is more valuable than differentiation in 2026. Whether you're an entrepreneur in a "stiff" industry or a marketer struggling to find your authentic voice on camera, Alice’s "warts-and-all" approach to brand building is the shot of inspiration you need.Key Takeaways:// Why looking at adjacent industries (and what your target audience follows on Instagram) is more effective than looking at your direct competitors when designing a brand.// How Alice leveraged her perspective as an "outsider" in a male-dominated category to spot the massive white space that legacy brands were too risk-averse to touch.// How to use consumer research and "hard facts" about audience pain points to convince conservative stakeholders to approve bold, eclectic designs.// The secret to building a brand that is instantly recognizable on any shelf or social feed, regardless of the context.// Why Alice is betting on a 2026 trend toward vibrancy, color, and "social middle-ground" wellness over the beige, minimalist extremes of recent years.// Why "boring" behind-the-scenes failures (like 20 misprinted billboards) often drive more engagement and trust than polished, high-production brand content.// Advice for the "camera-shy" on how to park your ego and let your audience’s engagement dictate your content strategy.Connect with Alice: InstagramLearn More About Foxes Bow: Website____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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How Raisin Bran Owned the Super Bowl After a 15-Year Hiatus | JP Severin of WK Kellogg Co 19.02.2026 21minAfter more than a decade away from the Big Game, WK Kellogg Co’s Raisin Bran made a historic—and hilarious—return for Super Bowl LX. Cassie is joined by JP Severin, Brand Manager at WK Kellogg Co, to pull back the curtain on the "Will Shat" campaign. Starring the legendary William Shatner, the campaign tackled America’s "fiber gap" by blending sci-fi nostalgia with irreverent bathroom humor. JP breaks down the decision to forgo a traditional national linear buy in favor of a tactical, streaming-first approach on Peacock and NFL+, and explains how the brand used "staged" paparazzi stunts to build organic hype weeks before kickoff. Key Takeaways:// Why Raisin Bran chose the Super Bowl's massive scale to address the fact that 95% of Americans are fiber-deficient—turning a "boring" health stat into a high-stakes marketing mission.// How humor, wordplay, and a 94-year-old icon were used to destigmatize gut health and make fiber an accessible, talkable topic for a broad audience.// The data-driven "why" behind prioritizing Peacock, NBC Sports, and NFL+ over a traditional national TV spot to reach a younger, digitally-native demographic.// A look at the VaynerMedia-led "pap walks" that put William Shatner in the news cycle weeks before the ad aired, proving that the Super Bowl is now an "ecosystem of screens."// How a massive company like WK Kellogg Co remains agile enough to execute social-first stunts that feel authentic and timely.// JP’s advice for Millennial and Gen Z marketers on the one "non-textbook" skill required to manage iconic household names in 2026.Connect with JP: LinkedInWatch the Campaign: YouTube____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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Building a Social Media Presence That Actually Sticks | Eric Stark of Slate 12.02.2026 26minIs social media a distribution channel or the heartbeat of your brand? This week, we’re joined by Eric Stark, co-founder of Slate and former NFL social leader, to unpack why most brands are fundamentally looking at social the wrong way. Eric dives into the transition from "posting for performance" to "creating for brand longevity," offering a masterclass in building creative workflows that empower teams rather than draining them. We explore how to maintain high-quality storytelling in an era of 3-second attention spans and why the "move fast and break things" mentality might actually be breaking your brand's reputation. Whether you’re a solo creator or leading a massive department, Eric’s "hill to die on" for 2026 will change how you view every piece of content in your library.Key Takeaways:// Social as Brand Identity: Why treating your social channels as a distribution arm for other departments is a mistake—and how to pivot back to brand-first marketing.// The "Stickiness" Factor: What separates the brands that own the cultural conversation from those that are just adding to the noise of the scroll.// Workflow = Quality: How optimizing your internal creative process actually yields better creative results, not just faster ones.// Short-Form Storytelling: Strategies for balancing the need for speed with the rising consumer expectation for high-production value and authentic narrative.Connect with Eric: LinkedInDiscover Slate: Website____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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The "Appeal to Everyone" Trap: Why Segmented Ads Win the Super Bowl | Nataly Kelly of Zappi 06.02.2026 19minIn this bonus episode, we’re joined by Nataly Kelly, CMO of Zappi, to dissect the data behind the biggest advertising night of the year: Super Bowl LX. While the rest of the world is talking about celebrity cameos and "Free Bird" soundtracks, Zappi is looking at the numbers that actually move the needle. Nataly shares exclusive insights from their testing of Budweiser’s "American Icons" ad, revealing a fascinating disconnect between Gen Z’s emotional response and their brand recall. We also tackle a glaring missed opportunity in the industry: why women influence 85% of household spending but are still underrepresented in Big Game creative. If you’ve ever wondered why trying to appeal to "everyone" is a recipe for a marketing flop, this data-heavy deep dive is for you.Key Takeaways:// Entertainment vs. Sales Impact: Why an ad that "wins" the social media conversation often fails to drive short-term purchase behavior—and how to measure the difference.// The Gen Z Brand Recall Gap: An analysis of why younger audiences (under 36) loved Budweiser’s 2026 ad but struggled to remember the brand, and what that means for your creative strategy.// The Power of Icons: Why the Clydesdales and the American Bald Eagle drove Budweiser into the 88th percentile for sales impact among older demographics.// The "Female Influence" Arbitrage: Women make up nearly half the NFL audience and control $31 trillion in spending; Nataly explains why giving them only 1/3 of the "speaking time" in ads is a massive strategic error.// The Failure of "Universal" Appeal: Why the most successful ads are those that speak clearly to a defined segment rather than diluting the message to please everyone.// Emotional Peaks and Troughs: How using recognizable music and "timeless" storytelling creates the engagement necessary to keep viewers from tuning out.Connect with Nataly: LinkedInZappi Super Bowl Study, Live Beginning 02/09: The Study____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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A Masterclass in Brand Longevity, Global Growth and Becoming a Category Leader | Jackie Widmann of BERO Brewing 05.02.2026 32minIn this episode of Marketing Happy Hour, we’re sitting down with Jackie Widmann, the SVP of Marketing and Commercial at BERO Brewing, to go behind the scenes of one of the buzziest names in the non-alcoholic space. Recorded fresh off the heels of Dry January 2026, Jackie breaks down the intensive, months-long planning required to own the "Super Bowl" of the non-alc industry. We dive deep into the transition from a high-energy brand launch to the sustainable "brand-building" phase, exploring how BERO stays agile while scaling globally. From the strategic selection of experiential activations to the power of community panels in a crowded market, Jackie shares her 11+ years of expertise on how to turn a culturally relevant trend into a lasting premium brand.Key Takeaways:// The Dry January Timeline: Why planning for the non-alc industry’s biggest month starts months in advance and how to execute a campaign-level strategy that cuts through the noise.// Post-Launch Evolution: How to pivot your marketing strategy once the initial "newness" wears off and focus on long-term optimization.// Agility in Leadership: Jackie’s secrets to keeping a marketing team motivated and nimble during the shift from "launch mode" to "growth mode."// The Experiential Filter: A look at BERO’s 2025 strategy and the specific criteria used to decide which events are worth the investment.// Credibility via Community: How to use panels and community-building to establish trust and authority as a newcomer in a highly competitive CPG category.// Translating Trends: How to identify cultural shifts and turn them into compelling brand expressions that drive actual conversion.Connect with Jackie: LinkedInLearn more about BERO: Website____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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Why Video Builds Trust Faster Than Any Other Marketing Channel | Kendall Breitman of Riverside 29.01.2026 27minIn this episode, we’re joined by Kendall Breitman, Community Lead at Riverside.fm, to unpack what it really takes to build meaningful community in a noisy, content-saturated world. A former reporter turned community builder, Kendall shares why trust has to come before tactics, why video is one of the most powerful tools for connection when used with intention, and how brands and creators can stop chasing reach and start building relationships that actually last. Whether you’re creating content, leading a brand, or thinking about community in 2026 and beyond, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth, visibility, and showing up online.Key Takeaways:// Community starts with trust, not platforms or tactics — strategy comes before tools.// Video works when it’s human, not overproduced or performance-driven.// Connection requires intention — reach alone doesn’t build loyalty.// Brands earn trust by showing up consistently, transparently, and with real value.Connect with Kendall: LinkedInLearn more about Riverside: Website____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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4 Marketing Lessons from Disney (and the Power of Storytelling — from “Disneyland Handcrafted”) 22.01.2026 33minIn this episode, Ally and I break down the marketing and brand lessons hidden inside Disneyland Handcrafted, the new documentary directed by Leslie Iwerks that captures the extraordinary effort, craftsmanship, and storytelling behind the creation of Disneyland. Using never-before-seen footage and audio, the film elevates the often unnamed people who brought Walt Disney’s impossible idea to life — and offers a masterclass in legacy brand storytelling. Whether you’re a Disney fan or not, this conversation explores why the best brands are built on emotional resonance, attention to detail, and stories that actually need to be told — and how marketers today can apply those lessons to content, customer experience, and the products they’re building.Key Takeaways:// Every brand is built on story — but not every story has been told yet: The most compelling marketing often comes from uncovering overlooked perspectives: your team, your customers, or the behind-the-scenes work that rarely gets credit.// Behind-the-scenes content builds trust, not just engagement: Showing the process — the challenges, pivots, and craftsmanship — creates authenticity and emotional connection far more than polished outputs alone.// Attention to detail isn’t optional — it is the brand: From product design to social media responses, every interaction teaches your audience what to expect from you.// Happiness is future-proof: Brands that create moments of joy, escape, or ease — even through content — build lasting relevance in uncertain times.// Great marketing is hospitality: How you treat your audience, respond to feedback, and show up consistently matters just as much as the message itself.// Legacy brands last because they invest in craft, not shortcuts: Long-term trust is built through care, patience, and respect for the people behind the work — not trend-chasing.Connect with Cassie: LinkedInConnect with Ally: LinkedIn____Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collectiveSay hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join the MHH Collective: Join nowGet the latest marketing trends, open jobs and MHH updates, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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