Deep Thoughts
I’m not always completely focused on dogs and coffee.
How to Say “No” (or “Not Yet”) Without Losing Your Seat at the Table
We have all been there. You are sitting in a high-stakes meeting, feeling the hum of executive energy, when a peer or a superior drops a "brilliant" new project on your plate. It sounds exciting. It sounds important. Most of all, it sounds like something a...
Beyond the Pretty Pictures: Turning Marketing Risk into Boardroom Power
Walking into a board meeting as a marketing leader can sometimes feel like you’re trying to explain the nuances of modern art to a group of people who only care about the price of the frame. You’re there to talk about brand equity, community sentiment, and the...
Spirit, Grounded
Spirit Airlines did not collapse because people suddenly discovered they dislike cheap flights. The brand built an entire business on execution that was brutally clear, operationally disciplined, and easy to understand. Get people from Point A to Point B for as little...
Dear Younger Meg: Everything I Wish I Knew 10 Years Ago
Dear Meg, I am writing this from a decade into your future. You are not in security yet. You are in middle management at a company with a glass ceiling reinforced with steel. You are trying to do excellent work in an office culture that keeps shifting under your feet,...
The Reputation Breach: Why Leaders Can’t Afford to Ignore Brand Security
Do you know what's worse than having your credit card stolen? Your face. Your photos. Your memories. Your work. Your following. There is a specific kind of power that comes with visibility. We see it in the crisp lines of a tailored blazer, the steady gaze of a CEO in...
“That’s All”: Why the Miranda Priestly Era of Leadership is Dead (And What’s Next)
Tonight is the big night. I am finally heading to the theater to see The Devil Wears Prada 2. Like many of you in marketing and leadership, the original 2006 film was more than just a movie; it was a cultural touchstone. It gave us the "cerulean" monologue,...
More Than Just Being Out Front: Reflections from the Crystal Owl Gala
We spend a lot of time rewarding visibility. We notice titles, big personalities, polished profiles, and the people at the front of the room. None of that automatically earns respect. None of that guarantees influence. Leadership does not come from being seen first....
The Myth of the Solo Marketer: Why high-growth B2B strategies require a village (and how to build one)
Modern marketing feels like a marathon where the finish line keeps moving. You likely feel the pressure to be a graphic designer, a data scientist, a social media maven, and a psychic who knows exactly what the board wants to hear. This weight often rests on the...
The Anatomy of Respect: What Makes a Leader Memorable?
Think back to the most impressive person for whom you have ever worked. Most people immediately recall a specific moment when they felt truly understood or challenged in the best possible way. This individual likely didn't rely on a title or a corner office to...
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