Building A Better Brand®

In this episode of Building a Better Brand, host Tony Triumph sits down with vision-driven entrepreneur and sustainability pioneer Seth Goldman. Recorded live in front of a live, intimate audience at WeWork in Washington, D.C., this conversation dives deep into the trenches of scaling iconic mission-driven enterprises like Honest Tea, Plant Burger, Beyond Meat, and Just Ice Tea. Seth shares how he transitioned from working on Capitol Hill and running youth programs to discovering a massive whitespace in the beverage industry, proving that prioritizing organic ingredients, fair trade, and environmental stewardship can build lasting global brand equity. Whether you are an emerging founder looking for a proof of concept or an established brand builder navigating complex scaling decisions, this episode delivers an inspiring blueprint for turning purpose into a global movement.What You'll Learn in This Episode(3:45) From Activist to Entrepreneur: Seth’s origin story—shifting from working in the U.S. Senate and running community programs to realizing that business and consumer activism can scale societal impact globally.(7:00) How Seth Got Whole Foods to Bet on Honest Tea: How Honest Tea started with a simple observation about overly sweet beverages, a class project at Yale School of Management, and landing an initial order of 15,000 bottles using thermoses in a Whole Foods buying office. (9:30) Creating a Category Out of Too Much Sugar: Navigating the hurdles of introducing a "less sweet" organic and fair trade tea into a market dominated by high-fructose corn syrup, and why spending a year giving out physical samples is essential for category breakers.(14:40) The Coca-Cola Acquisition: Lessons From Inside the Beverage Giant: The emotional reality of Coca-Cola acquiring Honest Tea in 2011, its abrupt discontinuation in 2022, and how stakeholder outcry fueled the rapid 90-day launch of Just Ice Tea alongside chef Spike Mendelsohn.(21:00) Building a Global Supply Chain on Trust: Why treating supply chain partners, tea growers in places like Mozambique and China, and local communities with genuine respect creates long-term resilience and unexpected "second lives" for brands.(28:10) How a Cold Email Got Seth on the Beyond Meat Board: How a simple family choice to adopt a plant-based lifestyle led to a cold email that landed Seth an advisory role—and eventually executive chair duties—scaling Beyond Meat through highs and lows.(31:00) How to Juggle Multiple Ventures and Maintain Presence: Advice for multi-faceted entrepreneurs on how to manage high-growth responsibilities, maintain strict focus, and protect foundational family relationships.(38:40) Seth’s Top Three Rules for Emerging Founders: Seth’s definitive framework for building a better brand: establishing a tight proof of concept, mastering communication to share your vision, and anchoring your business on a meaningful point of difference. (41:00) Audience Q&A: Seth answers questions and shares additional insights from his entrepreneurial journey.Follow Seth Goldman on LinkedIn here. Find Just Ice Tea near you: https://justicetea.com/pages/store-locator-1Check out our live event recap here. Connect with Tony Triumph: @tonytriumphofficial (IG), LinkedInFollow and connect with Building A Better Brand® on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

In this episode, we sit down with Vernā Myers, world-renowned DEI strategist and Netflix's first VP of Inclusion Strategy. From breaking color lines as the first Black lawyer at her firm to leading a global team at one of the world's most excellence-obsessed companies, Vernā shares her extraordinary journey from trailblazing attorney to pioneering global executive. We delve into her transition from running a successful 25-year consulting practice to going in-house at Netflix, where she produced the company's first-ever inclusion report and fundamentally shifted how the world's most-watched content is created. Whether you're navigating "prestige hopping" or building a purpose-driven brand, this conversation offers invaluable lessons on luminous leadership, composing a life on your own terms, and how authentic service can transform culture at scale.What You'll Learn in This Episode(3:45) From Corporate Law to DEI Pioneer: Vernā's origin story—starting as the first Black lawyer at her firm, realizing the legal profession wasn't aligned with her purpose, and the permission that came from reading Composing a Life.(7:30) Building & Leaving a 25-Year Company: The journey from launching the Vernā Myers Company to Netflix asking her to come in-house—and why she initially said "no."(10:50) What DEI Actually Is: A masterclass breakdown of diversity, equity, and inclusion—the history of legally sanctioned exclusion, bathrooms at Harvard Law School, and why "inviting people in" to an organization isn't enough.(17:40) "Diversity is Being Invited to the Party, Inclusion is Being Asked to Dance": The origin story behind Vernā's trademarked metaphor and why retention strategy became the real work.(24:00) Making the Business Case for Inclusion: Why team effectiveness, innovation, and customer satisfaction depend on diverse voices—and the leadership blind spots that prevent companies from future-proofing.(30:35) Inside Netflix's Culture of Excellence: What it took to shift an entire company's culture, build global teams, and learn the difference between advising from the outside and leading from the inside.(41:30) How Vernā's Work Changed What You Watch on Netflix: Creating Netflix's first inclusion report, teaching creatives to use an "inclusion lens," and influencing the content seen by millions worldwide.(56:40) The Spiritual Turn & Luminous Leadership: Why Vernā left Netflix to address polarization with a spiritual lens rooted in compassion, abundance, and love—and what companies get wrong when they roll back DEI commitments. Connect with Verna Myers on Instagram and LinkedIn here. Vernā's firm, The Vernā Myer's Company: https://vernamyers.com/ Connect with Tony Triumph: @tonytriumphofficial (IG), LinkedIn

In this episode of Building A Better Brand®, host Tony Triumph sits down with Angel Gregorio, the visionary entrepreneur and community builder behind The Spice Suite and Black and Forth—DC’s first Black-owned strip mall. Recorded live during Congressional Black Caucus Week, this conversation traces Angel’s intentional journey from the classroom to multimillion-dollar real estate development. Angel pulls back the curtain on her "rule-breaking" philosophy, sharing how she transformed a single vacant storefront into a national movement for collective ownership and economic empowerment.The conversation reveals Angel’s unfiltered approach to scaling, from using a 9-to-5 as a "dream investor" to navigating a $2.3M renovation and securing emergency city legislation to complete her mission. Together, they explore the importance of discernment, the power of peer-led mentorship, and why moving beyond the "struggle narrative" is essential for building sustainable community systems. Whether you are a brick-and-mortar founder or a digital operator, this episode offers a masterclass in purpose-driven entrepreneurship and what it truly looks like to build a better brand through service, distinction, and disruption.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Momentum for the "Big Leap": The real story behind leaving a career in education to bet fully on a single storefront and the mindset required to scale.Building Big in DC: How The Spice Suite evolved into Black and Forth—DC’s first Black-owned strip mall—and the shift from shop owner to real estate developer.The Math of Scaling: A transparent breakdown of a $2.3M renovation, including city infrastructure requirements and the hidden costs of scaling brick-and-mortar.Partnership Over Hustle: How to leverage civic engagement and emergency legislation to secure high-level funding, including a $1M grant.The Hybrid Model: Why every for-profit needs a nonprofit arm and how Dream Incubator was built on service before structure.Systems Over Struggle: A vital conversation on moving beyond the “struggle narrative” to focus on operational outcomes and sustainable business solutions.Brand Authority & Data: How to use relevant insights and performance data to communicate brand value to funders, government entities, and customers.

In this episode of Building A Better Brand®, host Tony Triumph sits down with Mariam Asmar, a global brand and marketing leader whose career spans advertising, tech, and creative innovation. From her early PR days at Time Warner to shaping campaigns for legacy giants like Coca-Cola and L'Oréal, to now driving creative strategy at Braze, Mariam brings a rare vantage point on the intersection of creativity, community, and technology. Together, they unpack the excitement and reality of Cannes Lions, which they call “the Oscars of advertising,” and explore how tech has redefined brand building, customer engagement, and creative accountability. The conversation reveals how Mariam is bridging the gap between traditional brand playbooks and performance-driven tech, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and storytelling. You'll get an inside look at Braze's Creative Innovation Lab and its role in helping brands merge creative strategy with data to build genuine, lasting relationships with their customers. Whether you’re a founder, operator, or modern marketer, this is a must-listen for anyone curious about the future of brand building and the evolving role of brand marketing in 2025. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Cannes Lions: An Insider's Look: A deep dive into the "Oscars of advertising" and a juror's unique perspective on judging the world's most innovative brand campaigns. Bridging the Brand-Tech Gap: Insights on how to connect traditional brand playbooks with data-driven tech strategies to drive real growth and creative effectiveness. Braze's Creative Innovation Lab: A look inside the team's mission to help Fortune 500 brands and startups alike stay ahead of the curve by pushing the boundaries of creativity. Timeless Principles for Early-Stage Brands: Mariam’s actionable advice for founders building from scratch and why brand differentiation is your biggest advantage when budgets are small. Brand in the Age of AI: Mariam’s take on how new technology and shifting consumer expectations are forcing brand marketing to evolve from a separate department to a core, integrated strategic function. A Colorful Career: From McCann to Braze: A look at Mariam's diverse and storied career path and how she connected her past experiences to her current role in tech. Top 3-5 tips to build a better brand?: Mariam's actionable insights on what it takes to create a successful, enduring brand. Connect with Braze on their Instagram, LinkedIn, and website here.  Connect with Tony Triumph: @tonytriumphofficial (IG), LinkedIn

In this episode, we dive into the remarkable journey of Samyr Laine, an investor, Olympian, and brand-builder who’s mastered the art of navigating both the sports and entertainment industries. Currently the Managing Partner and GP of Freedom Trail Capital, Samyr has held key leadership roles such as the SVP of Operations & Strategy at Westbrook Entertainment and Senior Director of Operations at Roc Nation. He’s worked on major celebrity-backed ventures, collaborating with industry giants like Will & Jada Pinkett Smith and Jay-Z, shaping the future of iconic brands while overseeing deal flow and driving portfolio growth. Prior to his entertainment career, Samyr gained invaluable experience in sports with Major League Soccer and Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and even represented Haiti in the 2012 London Olympics, finishing 10th in the triple jump. With degrees from Georgetown Law, The University of Texas, and Harvard University (where he was roommates with Mark Zuckerberg), Samyr’s brand-building journey stands as a powerful testament to passion, perseverance, and seizing the opportunities that come your way.What You’ll Learn in This Episode(2:55) Lawyer Turned Operator Turned Investor: Samyr shares his unique career evolution, starting from law school and transitioning into operations and venture capital.(8:45) Bold Moves: From Law to Leadership: Reflections on how his legal background at Georgetown Law equipped him with the skills to navigate the worlds of entertainment and venture capital.(11:15) Olympic Athlete: Insights into his journey representing Haiti in the 2012 London Olympics and how sports taught him resilience and discipline.(15:00) Early Days at Harvard University w/ Zuck: A look at his time at Harvard, including his experience rooming with Mark Zuckerberg and how it shaped his entrepreneurial mindset.(17:52) Elevating Entertainment Brands at Roc Nation: Behind the scenes of leading operations for JAY-Z’s entertainment empire and the impact of his work on their publishing blueprint.(25:47) Collaborating with Will & Jada Pinkett Smith at Westbrook Entertainment: How Samyr’s role in celebrity ventures expanded his expertise in entertainment branding, including managing the entire consumer goods IP of Westbrook.(28:24) Building Celebrity-Backed Brands: Using the power of celebrity influence to propel brands to new heights and what it’s like to manage celebrity relationships.(39:00) What Inspires His Investment Choices: Learn how Samyr invests in and advises ventures like Issa Rae’s Sienna Naturals and Ciara’s Ten to One Rum.(52:07) What It Means to be a Brand Builder: A look at his core philosophy behind building and scaling impactful brands.(56:57) Top 3-5 tips to build a better brand?: Samyr’s actionable insights on what it takes to create a successful, enduring brand.Connect with Samyr Laine on Instagram and LinkedIn here. Samyr's investment firm, Freedom Trail Capital: https://www.freedomtrail.capital/Connect with Tony Triumph: @tonytriumphofficial (IG), Tonytriumph10 (Twitter), LinkedIn

Dr. Catrise Austin, better known as The Queen of Smiles™️, has been in the business of transforming smiles for singles looking for love, brides and grooms, business people, celebrities, and simply anyone looking to simply enjoy life with a beautiful and more confident smile Since 1998. Having built her BRAND as one of dentistry’s most influential dentists in America, Dr. Catrise has been regularly featured on local and national television network shows including NBC’s Today Show, ABC, and even TMZ sharing cosmetic dentistry tips from both of her #1 international bestseller books, “GetSmiled” and “The Ultimate Guide To Charcoal Teeth Whitening”.In this episode of Building A Better Brand we’ll chat with Dr. Catrise Austin on how she’s built her BRAND, leveraged her renowned personality  to bootstrap a successful dental business from the ground up, which she eventually sold in 2018, and what it’s like to be ingrained in Hip-hop history after landing a shoutout from rapper Cardi B in the hit song “Bodak Yellow”, causing her business sales to more than triple.  Connect with Dr.Catrise Austin on Instagram and LinkedIn here. Order your copy of “GetSmiled” and “The Ultimate Guide To Charcoal Teeth Whitening”.Connect with Tony Triumph: @tonytriumphofficial (IG), Tonytriumph10 (Twitter), LinkedInMusic by: Yugy

As the branded content market has surpassed 20 Billion USD, and Art Basel attendees peaked at 80,000 visitors last year, more and more activations are taking over Art Basel Miami every season. For this episode, we’re joined live by New York City based visual artist and creative director Alex Alpert to share how this international art week has helped shape his career, why he prefers creating with brands, and his unique journey to becoming an artist.Working as a street artist while studying music in school - Alex went on to build a career at Universal Music Group (UMG). Here, he excelled in brand partnerships, marketing and artist relations.While at UMG, he expanded his practice as a visual artist. He began by making pieces for the musicians he worked with, and created live art during concerts and events. After a few years, he was painting murals around the country, drawing live at huge events, and collaborating with major brands, like Nike, American Express, and Formula 1, and celebrities like Doja Cat and The Weeknd. In partnership with Baileys Irish Cream and recorded live and produced during NRVLD’s Art of Wellness events during Art Basel Miami, this episode explores an important conversation on collaborations between the art world, commerce and brands, and best ways to blend with authenticity to keep powering society and the world.  Connect with Alex Alpert on Instagram and online here. Connect with Tony Triumph: @tonytriumphofficial (IG), Tonytriumph10 (Twitter), LinkedInMusic by: Yugy

Dr. Marcus Collins is an award-winning marketer and cultural translator. He is the former chief strategy officer at Wieden+Kennedy, New York, a marketing professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and the author of the best-selling book, For The Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want To Be. His deep understanding of brand strategy and consumer behavior has helped him bridge the academic-practitioner gap for blue-chip brands and startups alike. He is a recipient of Advertising Age's 40 Under 40 award and Crain's Business' 40 Under 40 award, and a recent inductee into the American Advertising Federation’s Advertising Hall of Achievement. Most recently, he was recognized by Thinkers50 and Deloitte among their class of 2023 Radar List of 30 thinkers with the ideas most likely to shape the future. Marcus’ strategies and creative contributions have led to the launch and success of Google’s “Real Tone” technology, the “Made In America” music festival, and the Brooklyn Nets, among others. Before his advertising tenure, Marcus worked on iTunes + Nike sport music initiatives at Apple and ran digital strategy for Beyoncé.In this episode of Building A Better Brand we’ll chat with Dr. Marcus Collins on what it was like to run digital strategy for Beyoncé, as well as build strategies and creatively contribute to the launch and success of brands like Google’s “Real Tone” technology, the “Made In America” music festival, and the Brooklyn Nets. We’ll also discuss his new bestselling book, For The Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want To Be, where he examines the influence of culture on consumption and unpacks how everyone from marketers to activists can leverage culture to get people to take action.Connect with Dr. Marcus Collins on Instagram and LinkedIn here. Order your copy of For The Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want To Be. Connect with Tony Triumph: @tonytriumphofficial (IG), Tonytriumph10 (Twitter), LinkedInMusic by: Yugy

An illustrious community of thriving citizens, Serenbe serves as a haven for those seeking sanctuaries away from the bustling city life, yet lust for the bountifulness of a clean, yet urban zen within nature. Serenbe founders Steve Nygren and Marie Lupo Nygren believe that if you want to change the world, start in your own backyard. The couple discovered the property now known as Serenbe on a weekend outing to introduce their three girls to the Georgia countryside in 1991. Weekend visits for the family transformed their lives, and three years later they sold their Atlanta home and relocated full-time to Serenbe.The vision for the community of Serenbe was born in an effort to protect the beautiful rural land just outside of Atlanta known as Chattahoochee Hill Country. The first house at Serenbe was built in 2004 and today the community is home to over 650 residents. Serenbe has won numerous awards including the Urban Land Institute Inaugural Sustainability Award, the Atlanta Regional Commission “Development of Excellence“ and EarthCraft named Serenbe the “Development of the Year.” They say that if you want to change the world, you should start in your own backyard. If that’s so, then Serenbe is quite a beginning. In this episode of Building A Better Brand we’ll chat with Serenbe's COO, Garnie Nygren, and CMO, Monica Olsen on how Serenbe builds sustainable brands, uses wellness initiatives to power their success and why they've  attracted people from all over the world to join their community and commit to biophilic living. Connect with Serenbe on Instagram and online here. Links to connect with Monica Olsen and Garnie Nygren. To plan your visit to Serenbe, click here. Connect with Tony Triumph: @tonytriumphofficial (IG), Tonytriumph10 (Twitter), LinkedInAudio Production: Jamal Bethea Music by: Yugy

As the Global Co-Lead for Accenture's Black Founder's Development Program, Dujon’s work with Accenture helps to level the playing field for Black technology startup founders and entrepreneurs through investment, mentorship, community, and support. Helping black-owned enterprise tech companies gain access to wealth creation, especially those who previously did not have a seat at the table.Formerly, Dujon acted as the Midwest Lead for Accenture Open Innovation, forming bridges between Global 2000 companies and the startup ecosystem. Dujon has traveled, worked, and studied in 55 countries and is passionate about connecting technology, culture, and education within communities. He operates professionally and personally at the intersection of his passion and purpose to create space for BIPOC entrepreneurs, creatives, and academics to thrive and grow. Dujon currently serves on the Global Inclusivity Board for Soho House (NYSE: MCG) and the University of Birmingham's Business School Advisory Board in the United Kingdom. He is a member of the Scenemaker's Board of the Goodman Theater and the YPC Board of Camp One Step and an active mentor in Chicago's startup community. Additionally, he is the Director of Development for Definition Theatre.Connect with Dujon C. Smith on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. For more info on Accenture’s Black Founder’s Development Program, click here. Connect with Tony Triumph: @tonytriumphofficial (IG), Tonytriumph10 (Twitter), LinkedInAudio Production: Jamal Bethea Music by: Yugy