Off Mute

In This Episode… Quyen Chang, Global Head of Revenue Enablement at Airbnb, joins Obele and Zach in a thoughtful conversation rooted in unique experiences about diversity, leading a balanced life, and her love for San Francisco. Quyen is all about people sharing their stories and experiences to inspire the next generation. [03:20] The conversation gets serious fast. Skipping the small talk, Obele and Quyen dive right into the need for diversity on boards and how they feel about quotas. [09:11] Teamwork makes the dream work. Quyen shares her journey at SalesForce and boldly predicts that sales intelligence will help sales teams build that trusted advisor status faster for more efficiency. [16:40] Social media: good or evil? The group discusses how to tie in human aspects to build meaningful connections. [24:11] Work will take up our lives for pretty much the rest of our lives. Quyen talks about how companies should create environments that help employees be whole people so they can be their best selves at work. [32:44] Quyen offers marriage advice: sometimes your better half just needs to vent. When they are upset, try asking if they are looking for advice or just need to blow off steam. Episode Length: 40:10

In This Episode…Obele and Zach have one of the most candid conversations to date with Watchen Nyanue, the SVP, Marketing Partnerships at Chicago Sky WNBA and the Founder and CEO of I Choose the Ladder. In a rare moment, Zach is left speechless by Watchen’s response to what she would need to start a new business. Learn more about supporting black women, the challenges of brand marketing, and the need for life balance. [07:08] The episode kicks off with a candid conversation about the importance of diversity of thought, work-life balance, and how the hustle evolves over the different seasons of life. [16:07] Watchen explains why she started I Choose the Ladder, an organization that aims to support ambitious black women as they climb the corporate ladder. [19:37] What will 2023 hold for Watchen? She has a lot of plans coupled with the desire to balance the ambitions of her future family, building businesses, and lots of travel. [23:16] Zach asks about Watchen’s best and worst marketing stories. Hear what she shares about working in brand marketing and which project makes the cut for best she ever worked on. Spoiler alert: it involves the Guinness Book of World Records. [28:10] Finally, Watchen boldly predicts the WNBA will change its season timing to gain more viewers and engage basketball lovers. People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show Watchen Nyanue, SVP, Marketing Partnerships at Chicago Sky WNBA and the Founder and CEO of I Choose the Ladder Episode Length: 38:11

In This Episode… Obele and Zach are breaking all of the rules with the new CMO of Sprinkles Cupcakes, Michelle Wong. Join us as they discuss everything from how the voice of advertising will continue to change to liver Pâté, Zach’s secrets to success and beyond. [02:40] Right off the bat, Zach throws Michelle an “Off Mute” curveball and gets Michelle talking about her love of sweets, in particular the french pastry mille-feuille. [09:51] During our word association game, Michelle explains that she’s “over the glass ceiling” and that while it’s something that still exists in the workplace, it’s essential to find your vision and keep pushing forward. [12:04] Zach challenges Michelle to share her bold predictions on both the marketing ecosystem as well as the sweets and confections category. [20:07] Michelle shares her personal career journey from going to pastry school, to working in advertising to now, tying both of those experiences together at Sprinkles and how she made the decision to pivot to brand-side marketing. [35:55] Finally, Michelle goes Off Mute, stressing the importance of living in the now and shares the work Sprinkles has done highlighting Asian-owned bakeries and other initiatives that show the importance of brands stepping up for their communities. People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show Michelle Wong  was our guest today. Have Michelle’s favorite Chocolate Marshmallow cupcake delivered to your door Episode Length: 41:23 Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again in two weeks for another episode!

In This Episode Zach is joined by Tinuiti’s Marketing Technologist and Practice Lead for Privacy and Identity Nirish Parsad as well as Founder and CEO of privacy consulting firm Red Clover Advisors Jodi Daniels to talk all things data privacy and what these regulatory changes means for marketers and beyond. [01:07] Zach warms up the group by quizzing Jodi on what the first thing that comes to mind when she hears the word “data” the words get increasingly tough from here including Zuckerberg in this Off Mute favorite game. [11:41] Jodi shares her bold predictions for the future of the web - looking at the potential to expand an opt-in environment and how the culture of the United States is at odds with the goals of a global privacy-focused web. [19:09] Zach asks Jodi to spill the tea on which brands and corporations are doing the best and which are struggling in regards to protecting the data of their customers. [31:36] Finally, Jodi goes Off Mute, asking Zach and Nirish to consider the current digital transformation and how they see this move towards digital happening and what the impact will be. People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show Jodi Daniels was our guest today. Learn more about data privacy consulting firm Red Clover Advisors. Hear more from Jodi on her podcast She Said Privacy/ He Said Security, available everywhere podcasts are found. Episode Length: 37:32

This week Obele and new guest co-host SVP of Addressable Media Kolin Kleveno sit down with media veteran and film producer Justin Begnaud to talk about everything entertainment from the future of the film industry with day and date releases to Hamilton and an Off Mute first look at Justin’s desert island TV show. [02:01] Obele kicks things off by asking Justin what his first impression is when he hears the word “entertainment.” Justin digs into the excitement of live entertainment and how the industry has undergone a huge paradigm shift due to the pandemic. [14:44] Justin shares his bold prediction for the future of streaming and the untapped potential of virtual and augmented reality. [17:29] Obele gets tough, asking Justin about his best and worst professional experience, leading into a discussion about the transition away from the “old guard” of Hollywood and the ushering in of a new generation of content creators. [23:20] Justin builds his ideal desert island TV show featuring John Stamos, sponsored by Pantene and streaming on AppleTV+ [27:27] Finally Justin goes Off Mute and shares his thoughts on the future of entertainment, specifically in how the changes that are unfolding are and will continue to affect his kids as they grow up. Episode Length: 32:42 Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again every other Wednesday for more unfiltered insights! 

In This Episode Obele and Zach sit down with Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for Levi Strauss and Co. Elizabeth Morrison to discuss intersectionality, the future of workplace diversity and how brands can take meaningful and measurable actions to address social issues beyond the Instagram black square. [02:55] Zach and Elizabeth bond over their common last nam, sharing stories of the legacy of family and building on that legacy either directly or indirectly. [10:01] Elizabeth shares her predictions for the future of brands who are taking a stance on social issues, especially as our world becomes increasingly interconnected. She also gives her advice to leaders on how to be authentic when staking a stance. [19:54] Obele challenges Elizabeth to describe the ideal inclusive organization - which, among others include humility, honesty, open mindedness and adaptability. [29:20] Zach asks Elizabeth to share her top three pieces of advice for organizations looking to improve their DEI strategy. [33:22] Finally, Elizabeth goes Off Mute and asks Obele and Zach what their observations have been seeing various brands and companies step up their commitments to DEI, and if things feel authentic or simply performative. People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show Elizabeth Morrison was our guest today. Check out the latest from Levi Strauss and Co. Hear more of Obele and Zach’s Off Mute musings on twitter @FreshyOB @zamorrison Episode Length: 41:21 Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again in two weeks when we'll be chatting with independent film producer, Justin Begnaud!

We’re Back for Off Mute Season 2! This week, Zach and Obele are joined by founder and CEO of vegan CPG brand Strong Roots, Sam Dennigan. Sam keeps Obele and Zach on their toes, talking satirical marketing, the importance of agriculture and sharing bold predictions including a future with no stores, and the wild card prediction of food evolving to be entirely in pill form. [02:18] Obele kicks things off with our word association game, asking Sam his thoughts on diet culture, which reminds Sam of the Cauliflower Hashbrown Diet, a campaign Strong Roots launched at the beginning of the year as a satirical look into the annual influx of resolution based healthy eating. [09:13] Zach and Sam dive into what it means to be CEO and the differences in corporate hierarchy dynamics between Europe and North America. [14:05] Sam emphasizes the importance of food as function as our relationships with mealtimes and food as a group activity decreases as our world gets busier [22:03] Sam discusses Strong Roots’ plans for expansion and the journey they took to innovate and expand transatlantically. [36:51] Finally Sam goes Off Mute and challenges Zach and Obele to explain how Tinuiti as an organization sees themselves as responsible for the future of media. People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show Sam Dennigan was our guest today. Learn more about vegan food start-up Strong Roots. Check out the Cauliflower Hash Brown Diet Hear more of Obele and Zach’s Off Mute musings on twitter @FreshyOB @zamorrison Episode Length: 44:35

In This Episode… Obele is joined by guest co-host Craig Atkinson, Tinuiti’s Chief Client Officer and Seth Dallaire, CRO for Instacart for a discussion on the opportunities within the gig economy, the future of online grocery adoption, work-from-home snacking and more. [01:26] Seth unpacks the opportunities surrounding the gig economy on the heels of a pivotal election debate in California; both for the workers and Instacart’s partner companies. [09:22] During our word association game, Seth shares his love for the innovation, disruption and tech-focus of the advertising industry. [14:20] Seth goes all in, predicting a major increase in the consumer adoption of online grocery shopping over the next 5 years. [28:37] As his best professional experience, Seth explains the rewarding nature of building his team at Instacart over the past year. [39:30] Finally, Seth turns the tables, going off mute sharing that what he’s seeing in regards to online grocery is very similar to what he experienced working at Amazon almost a decade ago, and that skeptics should be confident that this grocery disruption will happen, whether you’re ready or not. People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show Seth Dallaire was our guest today. Read the latest from Instacart Meet Craig Atkinson, today’s guest co-host. Episode Length: 43:49 Thanks for tuning in for this season of Off Mute, we’ll be back with all new guests and more unfiltered insights in 2021.

In This Episode… Obele and Guest Co-Host Dalton Dorné sit down with Global head of Media for Uber, Travis Freeman for a discussion surrounding purpose driven marketing, pushing the envelope and the importance of not sacrificing personal values for a paycheck. [05:05] During our word association game Travis touches on the idea that innovation is overplayed and that marketers should look to simplify and identify what really want people want rather than to constantly seek innovation for the sake of innovation. [08:16] Next, Travis shares his bold prediction that the future of brands is through purpose driven marketing and that it's essential that brands be unapologetic and take a stand for what’s right. [13:41] Travis continues looking forward, anticipating that in 2024 he’ll be working closer towards his passion for animal rights. [17:22] Travis tells the story of a bad experience that became a good learning experience on the importance of  working for a company that aligns with your personal values. [23:43] In an Off Mute first, Travis forgoes the traditional tech choices and builds his dream company with paper, Dolly Parton and a podcast partner. People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show Travis Freeman was our guest today. Explore the Uber platform Hear more of Obele and Dalton’s Off Mute musings on twitter at @FreshyOB and @daltondorne

In This Episode… Obele and Zach sit down with Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Thras.io to discuss worldwide differences in eCommerce habits and what that means for the future of commerce in the US, entrepreneurship and more .   [04:17] Carlos shares his thoughts on the duality of the public opinion of entrepreneurs and leaders, particularly in regards to Jeff Bezos. [12:14]  We're given multiple bold predictions from Carlos, spanning the development of discovery based eCommerce in South America to TikTok creating the next major eCommerce platform. [20:53] Carlos tells us about the best and worst entrepreneurial pursuits, the best being Course Advisor and the worst being CueNotes for due to a lack of financial success. [27:07] Zach challenges Carlos to start a new company using his choice of person, tool, partner. Carlos chooses a “killer” engineer, AI and chooses a wildcard of a partner company by going with ByteDance for their fast adoption and mastery of their algorithm. [30:55] Finally Carlos comes off mute, bringing up the fascinating changes in the world of higher education. People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show Carlos Cashman was our guest today. Learn more about Amazon 3rd party acquisition firm Thras.io Find Obele and Zach’s on twitter @FreshyOB and Linkedin