Brand Lessons from Taylor Swift with Kevin Evers

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.    This week I welcomed Bob Goodson to the show. Bob is President and Founder of Quid, a Silicon Valley–based company whose AI models are used by a third of the Fortune 50. Before starting Quid, he was the first employee at Yelp, where he played a role in the genesis of the like button and observed firsthand the rise of the social media industry. He also served a two-year term on WEF’s Global Future Council for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics.   THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…business leaders, product designers, and marketers curious about how digital behaviors shape innovation and strategy.   TODAY’S MAIN MESSAGE…have you ever thought about how the like button was created and how it ended up shaping the internet? Bob takes us behind the scenes of that pivotal innovation and reflects on what it means for how we build products, connect with customers, and navigate a world being reshaped by AI. This conversation is part tech history, part strategic lens into where we’re headed next.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Innovation often starts with messy, unpredictable experimentation AI is already influencing strategy if you let it be your thought partner Agency is a crucial component to consider in the age of AI   WHAT I LOVE MOST… Bob’s insight that true agency, the human ability to take initiative and shape change, is something AI can’t replicate. It’s a powerful reminder of our value in an increasingly automated world.   Running Time: 30:08    Subscribe on iTunes     Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X    Find Bob Online: LinkedIn Website   Bob’s Book:  Like: The Button That Changed the World          

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.    I’m excited to welcome Kevin Evers to the show. He is a Senior Editor at Harvard Business Review. He's written popular articles on brain science, Hollywood blockbusters, the art of persuasion, and the unpredictability of success. But what he is here to talk about today is his new book called There's Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift.    THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…anyone (fan or not) who is curious about how bold creative decisions can shape brand success.    TODAY’S MAIN MESSAGE…Taylor Swift has undeniably built one of the most successful music careers of all time. But beyond the musical talent, she’s also a business mastermind. In this episode, Kevin unpacks how she’s built a brand so distinctive that it operates in a category of one. From rethinking product launches to redefining customer loyalty, her approach is a case study in aligning brand, audience, and experience.    KEY TAKEAWAYS: Longevity comes from bold, well-timed reinvention. Fan obsession is a growth strategy, not just a marketing strategy. You can’t fake authenticity; your audience will notice. Strategic shifts should follow your creative instincts, not the market’s expectations. Treat every product launch like an unforgettable experience.   WHAT I LOVE MOST…Kevin’s insight that Taylor Swift’s best strategies are rooted in her art, not the boardroom. Staying creatively true has become her business advantage.   Running Time: 28:46    Subscribe on iTunes     Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X    Find Kevin Online: LinkedIn Instagram   Kevin’s Book: There's Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova.     This week, I’m looking back on a conversation I had with Emily Chang. Emily is a San Francisco-based anchor and an executive producer of “Bloomberg Technology.” Before joining Bloomberg in 2010, Chang served as an international correspondent for CNN in Beijing and London, as well as a reporter at KNSD, NBC’s affiliate in San Diego. While at KNSD, she won five regional Emmy Awards. She is also the author of Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys' Club of Silicon Valley, which investigates and examines sexism and gender inequality in the tech industry.      THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders, peers, and business owners who create professional environments and who want to foster more diverse and inclusive environments that thrive.   TODAY’S MAIN MESSAGE…Emily talks about her book Brotopia and shares small but brilliant ways to make sure you’re actively creating a diverse working environment that is inclusive and diverse in thought. It’s our responsibility as leaders, peers, and business owners to make sure that those around us feel that they are listened to, they are heard, and that they have the opportunity to share their stories.   WHAT I LOVE  MOST…it doesn’t take a lot to create a more diverse and inclusive environment, and Emily teaches us how small things can make a massive impact.   Running time: 33:39   Subscribe on iTunes   Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X   Find Emily Online: LinkedIn Instagram X   Emily on Bloomberg:  www.bloombergmedia.com   Emily’s Book:  Brotopia

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.    I have the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Eric Cole to the show today. He has a really unique perspective, helping people understand how the principles of cybersecurity and problem-solving can be applied to personal and professional growth. His career has advanced him from a professional hacker for the CIA to commissioner on cybersecurity for the 44th president of the United States to currently advising companies and teaching professionals on how to implement security measures that serve as a business enabler. His eighth book, Cyber Crisis, debuted as number one on the Wall Street Journal's bestseller list.   THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…anyone looking to strengthen their digital security measures.   TODAY’S MAIN MESSAGE…we all know cybersecurity is important, but we often underestimate how these principles can enhance our decision-making, relationships, and leadership. Dr. Eric Cole shows us how adopting a hacker’s mindset can help us spot blind spots before they become problems.    KEY TAKEAWAYS: Friendly hackers can expose your weaknesses before adversaries do. Good user hygiene is more effective than relying only on technology. Pausing before reacting can prevent regret.  Privacy will be the biggest concern (and opportunity) in the AI era.    WHAT I LOVE MOST…Dr. Cole’s reminder that slowing down, asking questions, and being intentional can protect not just your data, but your relationships and reputation too.   Running Time: 25:30    Subscribe on iTunes     Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X    Find Eric Online: LinkedIn   Eric’s Book: Cyber Crisis: Protecting Your Business from Real Threats in the Virtual World

Navigating the Growth Dilemma with Ryan Hamilton   Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.    I’m thrilled to welcome Ryan Hamilton to the show this week. Ryan is an associate professor of marketing at Emory University's Goizueta Business School. He has consulted on branding with Walmart, FedEx, Home Depot, Caterpillar, ConAgra, Cigna, Visa, and Ipsos, among others, and has been a keynote speaker. He cohosts a podcast, called The Intuitive Customer, which applies the insights of behavioral science to customer experience. He has produced lecture series on both marketing and human decision making for The Great Courses. He is the co-author of a new book, The Growth Dilemma.    THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…anyone navigating brand growth and customer strategy decisions across evolving markets and customer segments.   TODAY’S MAIN MESSAGE…growth is a natural goal for businesses, but attracting new customers can unintentionally alienate the ones you already have. Ryan calls this the growth dilemma. As you expand your customer base, you risk creating conflicts between different groups of customers, conflicts that can undermine your success. Ryan outlines four kinds of customer conflict and how businesses can better anticipate and manage them before making big moves.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Growth can backfire if you don’t manage customer conflicts Start by maximizing value from existing customers before chasing new ones The four common conflict types are functional, brand image, user identity, and ideological   WHAT I LOVE MOST…Ryan’s insight that brands often chase new customers without realizing the conflicts it creates, when the gold might already be in their existing customer base.   Running Time: 27:02    Subscribe on iTunes     Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X    Find Ryan Online: LinkedIn   Ryan & Annie’s Book: The Growth Dilemma: Managing Your Brand When Different Customers Want Different Things

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.    This week, I’m eager to replay a conversation with Hal Gregersen. Hal is Executive Director of the MIT Leadership Center and Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management. His book, Questions Are the Answer, builds on 200+ interviews with renowned business, technology, education, government, social enterprise, and artistic leaders. Ranked one of the world’s 25 most influential management thinkers by Thinkers50, and winner of the 2017 Distinguished Achievement Award for leadership, Hal regularly delivers inspirational keynote speeches, motivational executive seminars and transformational coaching experiences. He has co-authored ten books and is the author of more than 50 articles, book chapters, and cases on leading innovation and change (with more than 10,000 citations by other scholars). His research has been highlighted in global media such as BBC, CNN, The Economist, Fast Company, Financial Times, Forbes, Fortune, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. He is also the founder of  The 4-24 Project, an initiative dedicated to rekindling the provocative power of asking the right questions in adults so they can pass this crucial creativity skill onto the next generation.     THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone who wants to get better and rekindle his or her curiosity!   TODAY’S MAIN MESSAGE… Hal teaches us all about asking questions and really listening to the answers. Are you stopping and reflecting on how many and what kinds of questions you ask? Are you getting and acting on good feedback? Hal helps us pause and take a moment to rediscover our child-like curiosity and move forward as better leaders, better employees, and better humans!   WHAT I LOVE MOST… Hal’s 24-hour question audit. We all should be doing this!   Running time: 36:02   Subscribe on iTunes   Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X   Find Hal Online: LinkedIn X    Hal’s Website:  halgregersen.com   Hal’s Book:  Questions Are the Answer

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.    This week I’d like to share a conversation I had a while back with Liz Fosslien. Liz is the co-author and illustrator of the Wall Street Journal best-seller No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work. She’s also the Head of Content at Humu. Humu is a company that makes work better by using behavioral science and machine learning to make change easier. Liz's writing and illustrations have been featured on or by The New York Times, the Harvard Business Review, The Economist, WNYC, and NPR’s Marketplace. I am absolutely thrilled to have her as a guest!    THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…anyone experiencing burnout, remote workers, and those who have experienced a lack of belonging at work.   TODAY’S MAIN MESSAGE…Liz teaches us about the secret power of embracing your emotions in the workplace in an appropriate and productive way. She talks about creating an environment of belonging and preventing the infamous office blow-up. She breaks down emotion, expression, and burnout, and talks about how we can be more productive leaders when we are reflective by employing EQ to create a healthy and productive work environment. Becoming a more present leader can help keep you and your team from experiencing productivity-killing burnout! Liz also discusses practical strategies for efficiency and efficacy in the workplace.   WHAT I LOVE MOST…“You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Liz flags this analogy and its importance in the workplace, especially for leaders.   Running time: 37:26   Subscribe on iTunes   Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X   Find Liz Online: LinkedIn Instagram  X    Liz’s Website:  www.fosslien.com   Liz and Mollie’s Book:  No Hard Feelings    Liz and Mollie’s Website: www.lizandmollie.com

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.  I’m thrilled to welcome Jenny Wood to the show this week. She had an 18-year career at Google, where she grew from entry-level to executive, and she most recently led a large operations team that helped drive tens of billions of dollars in revenue per year. In 2021, she started a passion project within Google called Own Your Career, which grew to one of the largest career development programs in Google’s history. Through the programs she founded, she has trained tens of thousands of people on acing a job search, building relationships, personal branding, effective email writing, increasing confidence, and so much more. She also has a new book out called Wild Courage, which has just hit the New York Times list.    THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…anyone looking to grow their personal brand, boost confidence, and take bold steps in their career.   TODAY’S MAIN MESSAGE…many people feel stuck in their careers not because they lack talent, but because they hesitate to speak up, stand out, or take action. Jenny shares a roadmap for building confidence and personal brand by overcoming fear and embracing thoughtful risk.    KEY TAKEAWAYS Personal branding starts with solving a real problem and thinking out loud. “Playground time” helps you explore new skills without pressure. Confidence is built through action, not perfection. Sharing your ideas can boost both your career and your company. Rewrite limiting beliefs by separating truths from tales.   WHAT I LOVE MOST…Jenny’s reminder that the courage to try, even when you’re not ready, is what separates dreamers from doers.   Running Time: 25:00    Subscribe on iTunes     Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X    Find Jenny Online: LinkedIn   Jenny’s Book: Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.    I have the pleasure of welcoming Kristi Herold to the show today. Kristi is the founder and CEO of JAM, a multi-million-dollar global business that has connected millions of people through play since its inception in 1996 and has grown to be one of the world’s largest adult recreational sports leagues. JAM has also produced and delivered over 4,000 playful corporate team-building events in over 30 countries since the summer of 2020, and the JAM team consults organizations, helping them integrate fun and play into their “workPLAYce culture.” She’s also the best-selling author of It Pays to PLAY – How Play Improves Business Culture. She has been named to Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, was a top 3 finalist in the Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, and was awarded the Governor General’s Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in recognition of her contribution and giving back to the community. Her vision is to get 1 million people playing annually.   THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders, people managers, and culture-builders who want to strengthen remote and hybrid teams without forcing another Zoom brainstorm or awkward icebreaker.   TODAY’S MAIN MESSAGE…you don’t have to choose between productivity and fun at work. Kristi Herold is on a mission to prove you can (and should) have both. In this episode, we discuss how Kristi helps companies around the world integrate play into their culture, virtually and in-person, to boost engagement, build stronger relationships, and drive real business results. From playful daily huddles to rethinking your team-building events, she shares tangible ways to make fun a part of your workplace DNA.   Key Takeaways: How virtual play can build culture even across time zones Why “laughter guarantees” work better than mandatory fun How to structure quick, daily team check-ins that actually feel good Ideas to bring play into remote meetings without making it weird   WHAT I LOVE MOST…Kristi’s approach is practical, energizing, and incredibly human. Her belief that “you don’t have to stop working to play” is a game-changer for leaders trying to build stronger cultures remotely.   Running Time: 25:35   Subscribe on iTunes     Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X    Find Kristi Online: LinkedIn   Kristi’s Offer for What’s Next! Listeners: https://www.kristiherold.com/whatsnext25/   Kristi’s Book: It Pays to PLAY: How Play Improves Business Culture

RELOAD: Unearth Your Own Potential by Being More Self-Aware with Tasha Eurich   Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.    This week I’m looking back to an inspiring conversation with Tasha Eurich I reflect on often. Tasha is an organizational psychologist, researcher, and New York Times best-selling author. Over her 15+ year career, Tasha has built a reputation as a fresh, modern voice in the business world by pairing her scientific grounding in human behavior with a pragmatic approach to professional development. She’s helped thousands of leaders—from public company CEOs to early-stage entrepreneurs—improve their self-awareness and success. Her TEDxMileHigh talks have been viewed more than three million times and in 2019, Thinkers50 named her one of the top 30 emerging management thinkers in the world. She was also chosen from more than 16,000 candidates as one of Marshall Goldsmith’s “100 Coaches” to advance the practice of leadership.    THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… aspiring and current leaders, as well as anyone interacting with other humans in the 21st century who want to become more self-aware.   TODAY’S MAIN MESSAGE… as the foundational skill for our success and happiness in both our professional and personal lives, it behooves us to become self-aware both internally and externally, and Tasha breaks it down.   WHAT I LOVE MOST… I have always thought that the conversation around self-awareness, how we lead and how we think we lead, and how we communicate and think we communicate is fascinating and so beneficial. This podcast will open your eyes to the reality of your own self-awareness and how others might perceive you.    Running time: 34:27   Subscribe on iTunes   Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X   Find Tasha Online: LinkedIn Instagram YouTube   Tasha’s Website: tashaeurich.com   Tasha’s Books: Insight Bankable Leadership: Happy People, Bottom-Line Results, and the Power to Deliver Both   The Insight Quiz: The Insight Quiz