What if social media wasn’t really social—but instead, a space for self-discovery?

This week, Xanthe Wells, VP of Global Creative at Pinterest, joins me to unpack how Pinterest is redefining the way people interact with content, brands, and their own identities. Unlike other platforms, Pinterest isn’t about followers or fleeting trends—it’s about inspiration, aspiration, and personal growth.

Xanthe shares how Gen Z is using Pinterest differently, why identity-based marketing is the future, and how brands can tap into this shift to create more meaningful connections. We also discuss the evolution of social media, the changing landscape of digital marketing, and what brands need to do to stay relevant in 2025 and beyond.

If you’re looking to understand where digital marketing is headed and how to align your strategy with the changing behaviors of today’s consumers, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

About Xanthe:

Xanthe is currently VP of Global Creative for Pinterest and runs the House of Creative under CMO Andréa Mallard.

Since arriving at Pinterest in November of 2022, Xanthe has been driving the brand's creative transformation and has been responsible for a major step change in creative output. Her team’s work has resulted in unprecedented ROI for each of the major initiatives she has led, most notably the launch of the global creative platform “It’s Possible,” the 2024 Pinterest Predicts campaign and report, the record-breaking Cannes Manifestival, Pinterest Presents and the best performing brand campaign in the company's history.

Her team’s creative output has beat all previous benchmarks and driven increased monthly active users on the platform, surpassing over half a billion MAU in 2024.

Connect with Xanthe:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/xanthewells/

Connect with Veronica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

How does a 175-year-old brand stay relevant in a constantly evolving market?

Tracey Panek, Levi’s brand historian, joins me to share how Levi’s balances heritage with innovation to remain a cultural icon. From historical accuracy in marketing to the brand’s deep connection with customers, Tracey offers a fascinating look into how storytelling shapes Levi’s identity.

We dive into what exactly the role of a brand historian plays in modern marketing, how Levi’s taps into its rich archives to inspire future campaigns, and why authenticity is the key to long-term brand success. Tracey also shares incredible stories from Levi’s history—including how a pair of jeans helped tow a broken-down car and why some fans insist on being buried in their Levi’s.

If you’re passionate about branding, storytelling, and marketing that stands the test of time, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

About Tracey

Tracey Panek is the Historian for Levi Strauss & Co. and Director of Archives at the company’s world headquarters in San Francisco. She manages the day-to-day workings of the Levi Strauss & Co. Archives as a key corporate asset, answering historical questions, assisting designers, brand managers, executives and other employees whose work requires historical materials in the Archives. She regularly hunts for unique vintage Levi’s® garments and unusual Levi’s® items to add to the Archives.

Tracey is a contributor to Unzipped, the company’s blog, writing about company history, vintage Levi’s® garments, and behind-the-scenes work in the Archives. She narrates the video series From the Levi’s® Archives on YouTube and From the Levi’s® Archives on TikTok. Tracey is the media spokesperson for Levi Strauss & Co. heritage.

Connect with Tracey:

https://x.com/TraceyPanek

Connect with Veronica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

How do you market a brand when the product itself is completely out of your control?

This week, Kathryn Dobbs, Chief Marketing Officer of the Columbus Blue Jackets, joins me to share her unique perspective on sports marketing, fan loyalty, and how to create an unforgettable game-day experience—regardless of what’s happening on the ice.

We dive into the challenges of keeping fans engaged during tough seasons, the role of storytelling in sports, and why optimism is the most important trait a sports marketer can have. We also explore how she transitioned from nonprofit leadership into the world of professional sports and what it takes to lead marketing for a major league team.

If you’ve ever wondered what goes into building fan loyalty or how to market something you don’t have full control over, this episode is packed with real-world insights, leadership lessons, and fresh perspectives from one of the best in the business.

About Kathryn

Kathryn Dobbs is the senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Dobbs leads the club's efforts to grow the Blue Jackets brand, broaden the fan base, and integrate the club's collective marketing initiatives, including branding, promotions, event presentation, broadcasting, communications, community and fan development.

Dobbs was promoted to the position in December 2018 after serving as the club's vice president of community development and executive director of the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation for three years.

In 2017, Dobbs was named to the 40 Under 40 list by Columbus Business First and was recognized again in 2020 as a most admired executive. Prior to joining the Blue Jackets, Dobbs spent more than a dozen years as a senior-level executive with the YMCA organization in multiple locations around the United States. The Northern Ontario native is a graduate of the University of North Georgia and currently lives in suburban Columbus with her daughter, Myah.

Connect with Kathryn

https://x.com/KateDobbs99

https://www.instagram.com/katedobbs99/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-dobbs-45179710/

Connect with Veronica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.