Check it out
Did you miss our March episode?!
On March 18, 12 expert speakers joined Gary Vaynerchuk to answer the question, “How are you growing customers into fans in 2021?” There was SO MUCH VALUE in this episode, make sure to watch it below to learn more!
featuring an impressive lineup of speakers
Neda recently joined Christie’s where she develops marketing strategy for the Americas, while leading Creative, Content, Strategy and Communications teams. She oversees the marketing campaigns for the Specialist Art Portfolios in the Americas, with a focus on innovation, data and best in class creative execution. Prior to Christie’s, Neda spent 2 decades working agency side in NY, SF, London and Paris. Most recently she was SVP, Managing Director of Client Services at R/GA where her client portfolio included Verizon, L’Oreal, Tiffany & Co, Unilever, Uber, Planned Parenthood, Amazon and ESPN.
Michael Lastoria is an American serial entrepreneur and co-founder of &pizza, a creatively led, mission-driven, culture carrying, pizza chain voted one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative companies in 2018 and 2019 for Social Good. Referred to by Bloomberg as “what Jesus might look like if he walked in a Yohji Yamamoto show,” Lastoria grounds &pizza in a commitment to better flavor, quality ingredients, livable wages, and real actions.
Lastoria has appeared on Fox Business, CNBC, MSNBC, and Yahoo, and has been featured in Forbes, AdWeek, the New York Times, and Washington Post as a distinguished entrepreneur and thought leader in the industry. Speaking on topics including the value of design-based thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship, Lastoria has talked at Harvard Business School, George Washington University, and Georgetown to inspire the next generation of business leaders. Lastoria co-founded Innovation Ads which sold to a private equity firm in 2006, and JWALK which sold to beauty powerhouse Sheiseido in 2017 before starting &pizza.
"John Henry is a Dominican-American entrepreneur and investor. Henry has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30, Inc 30 Under 30, Adweek Creative 100, The Root 100, and Ebony Power 100 lists. Born and raised in New York City, John’s path was a little different. He dropped out at of college at 18, where he picked up a job as a doorman. He went on to start and sell his first business by 21. Henry later cofounded the Venture Capital firm Harlem Capital, raising $40M and making 20 investments in Women and Minority entrepreneurs before stepping down in 2020.
Henry is also passionate about Media. Henry hosted the TV show ‘Hustle’ on VICELAND, Executive Produced by Alicia Keys and Marcus Samuelsson; and produced and hosted branded podcasts for brands like The Washington Post, Gimlet Media, WeWork, eBay, and Samsung. Today Henry is the Cofounder and Co-CEO of Loop, an insurance technology company that leverages AI and data to create more fairly priced auto insurance products for all."
Henry is also passionate about Media. Henry hosted the TV show ‘Hustle’ on VICELAND, Executive Produced by Alicia Keys and Marcus Samuelsson; and produced and hosted branded podcasts for brands like The Washington Post, Gimlet Media, WeWork, eBay, and Samsung. Today Henry is the Cofounder and Co-CEO of Loop, an insurance technology company that leverages AI and data to create more fairly priced auto insurance products for all."
As Chief Marketing & People Experience Officer, Barbara Messing leads all aspects of marketing, communications, and employee experience operations at Roblox. She is responsible for overseeing the development of the company’s global brand strategy to drive innovation and continued growth and establish Roblox as one of the most beloved brands in the world among kids and teens. Prior to Roblox, Barbara spent the last two decades serving in a number of leadership roles, including Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Walmart U.S. and TripAdvisor. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Overstock.com and Diamond Resorts, Inc. Barbara holds a JD from Stanford Law School and a BA from Northwestern University.
Creatively-inspired, Story-Telling-minded, Fan-Focused, Leadership-Driven, Results-oriented Executive. I engage with Brands that I believe in and that inspire me. What I do, is more than work, it becomes a part of my life. My goal is to create fans of a brand, drive them from passive to active engagement and from active to evangelists. Moving them from customers to fans by getting them closer to a brand ultimately identified as their brand is at the heart of what defines success for me. I’ve been blessed to work from some of the most respected and loved brands in the world but have landed in a dream job since being a kid — to be in the NFL! Who thought at my age, I’d be drafted in the NFL as such a storied franchise?
Joey Gonzalez is the global CEO of Barry’s, the original cardio and strength interval workout that started a global boutique movement. Initially a fan of the brand, Gonzalez first began his tenure at Barry’s as a customer in 1997. He became an instructor soon after, and worked his way up the ranks, eventually becoming CEO in 2015. While continuing to teach class, Gonzalez has dedicated his life to expanding the brand across the country and overseas, fostering communities throughout the US, UK, Italy, Australia, Asia and Scandinavia. Gonzalez continues to grow the brand’s footprint domestically and internationally, with locations coming soon in Germany and Copenhagen. Today, Barry’s boasts over 74 studios more than 150,000 engaged consumers a week. Gonzalez was named to Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business 2018 and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2020. He also sits on the board of the Family Equality Council and Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. He currently resides in Miami with his husband, daughter and son.
"As Chief Marketing Officer at AccuWeather, Michelle Harmon-Madsen drives the implementation of a cohesive strategic marketing vision and execution plan, strengthening brand awareness, relevance, impact and analytics. She oversees all functions related to advertising, marketing of new products and services, public relations, websites, social media, and CRM. Prior to joining AccuWeather, Harmon-Madsen was President for ShopperX Lab, an innovative retail transformation consultancy partnering with executives to unlock opportunities in the consumer journey. Other previous roles include Senior Vice President, Brand Partnerships for FreshDirect, Vice President, Director of Global Strategy and Partnerships for MediaVest, and Vice President of Branded Entertainment for 19 Entertainment where she led sponsorship for “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” She also served on the Board of She Runs It, an organization dedicated to paving the way for more women to lead in marketing, media, and tech. A proud alum of The Pennsylvania State University, Michelle has served on the Board of The Alumni Council and Smeal College of Business."
Heidi Zak is the Co-Founder and CEO of ThirdLove, the third largest online bra and underwear company in America. Zak left her job at Google with the dream of offering a better option, a “ThirdLove” where women don’t have to choose between comfort and beauty. ThirdLove is the only brand to offer half-cup bras and more than 80 bra sizes, and the Company is proud to have donated over $40 million worth of products to women in need.
Zak has been recognized as Fortune's 40 Under 40, EY Entrepreneur of the Year, National Retail Federation's Disruptors, Fast Company’s Most Creative People and Goldman Sachs' 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs. In addition to contributing a weekly column to Inc.com, Zak is committed to advancing more women in tech and is an active angel investor in female-founded companies. She graduated from Duke University and holds an MBA from MIT Sloan. Prior to launching ThirdLove, Zak held a variety of roles at Google, Aeropostale, McKinsey and Bank of America. In her spare time you can find her working out, or chasing after her two kids.
Alli Webb is an N.Y. Times Bestselling Author, Co-Founder of Drybar, Squeeze and most recently Becket + Quill. In 2010, Webb opened the first Drybar in Brentwood, CA. 11 years later and over 150+ locations across the U.S., Webb’s Drybar has exploded into a nationally recognized and highly sought-after brand. Webb has been on the cover of Inc Magazine’s “How I Did This” issue, named the “100 Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company, featured on Fortune magazine’s “40 Under 40” list, Marie Claire’s “Most Fascinating Women” and recently Inc. magazine recognized her as one of “The 100 Women Building America’s Most Innovative and Ambitious Businesses.” Webb also appeared on season 10 of ABC’s Emmy-nominated hit show “Shark Tank” as a guest shark in 2019.
Webb also co-hosts a popular podcast “Raising the Bar” with her partner and executive coach Adrian Koehler. The weekly show provides a glimpse into the inner worlds of entrepreneurs.
Jamie Gutfreund is the Global CMO of MGA Entertainment, a high growth, global children's entertainment and play company that positively impacts families worldwide through an innovative portfolio of toys and entertainment franchises including Little Tikes, Rainbow High, and the #1 toy in the world, L.O.L. Surprise!. Jamie is responsible for marketing, communications, consumer insights and the development of privacy compliant experiences for children and families including the recent launch of “LOL Surprise Official Party” on Roblox. Prior to MGA, she previously held positions at Expedia, Microsoft, Creative Artists Agency, WPP and Hasbro. A board member of Tubular Labs, she is also a strategic advisor for Anzu.io, a featured speaker at events including the Milken Conference, Google Think Retail, CES, the Future of Storytelling. She is a passionate fan of the New York Giants.
Samantha Maltin is the Chief Marketing Officer at Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street. She is responsible for elevating Sesame Workshop’s content and deepening brand engagement with consumers, partners, donors, and fans. Samantha brings 20 years of domestic and international experience in media and entertainment, with major brands including History and Nickelodeon. She and her husband have two young children who think Cookie Monster works in the office upstairs.
As VP of Growth Marketing, Jill Cress leads the marketing teams for PayPal and Venmo aimed
at driving growth by increasing consumer acquisition and engagement. She oversees targeted
lifecycle, innovative partnership, and brand marketing strategies. Jill has thrived throughout her career as a versatile team player, building and leading diverse teams in positions around the world. She brings a unique set of experiences, having held a number of roles at top companies. Prior to joining PayPal, she was a leader at National Geographic and Mastercard. Her most rewarding role is raising her daughter. Jill received a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University.
at driving growth by increasing consumer acquisition and engagement. She oversees targeted
lifecycle, innovative partnership, and brand marketing strategies. Jill has thrived throughout her career as a versatile team player, building and leading diverse teams in positions around the world. She brings a unique set of experiences, having held a number of roles at top companies. Prior to joining PayPal, she was a leader at National Geographic and Mastercard. Her most rewarding role is raising her daughter. Jill received a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University.
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