This week on After Hours x Above the Fold, I sat down with my girl Dillon Duchesne, senior partnerships lead at Yotpo and co-founder of Midcoast, to talk about what actually makes a partnership work (hint: it’s not just a logo swap and a handshake).

We get into Dillon’s wild career path—from 11 years as a runway model to crushing tech sales—and how that experience taught her the kind of relationship-building that most people skip over. We also talk about the power of being underestimated, why referrals can change everything, and how partnerships can either be a flywheel or a full-blown mess.

Plus, we dig into why “better together” isn’t just a tagline, what makes a brand collab flop, and how being top-of-mind is actually a retention strategy. We also spill a little Midcoast tea, share what we don’t want to see at events anymore, and talk about building the kind of community we always wished existed.

If you're in tech, sales, partnerships, or just trying to work with people who don’t make you cringe—this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen now for gems on partnerships, career pivots, community building, and why relationship-first is the real growth strategy.

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Instagram: @dilllpicklesss

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dillon-duchesne-215544206/

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Instagram: @yotpo

Website: https://www.yotpo.com/

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Instagram: @midcoastcommunity

Website: https://midcoast.community/

👋 Enjoying Above the Fold?

Keep the insights coming by subscribing to my newsletter, Sunday Postcards. Each week, I share tips, stories, and strategies that help you unlock the secrets to brand success. Written from my experience in the marketing world, it’s your go-to source for staying ahead of the curve. Subscribe at www.sundaypostcards.co and join the community!

Connect with Jess on:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-cervellon

Twitter: x.com/jesscervellon

Instagram: instagram.com/jess.cervellon

This week on Above The Fold, I sat down with my girl Lindsay Kolinsky, Director of Marketing at Okendo, to talk about what most brands are doing wrong when it comes to understanding their customers.

We get into why reviews are just the beginning, how to use micro-surveys the right way, and why personalization should feel like a vibe—not a tactic. Plus, we dig into why NPS is wildly underused in e-commerce, how to actually make your community work for you, and the biggest CX red flags most marketers miss.

Lindsay also shares her POV on moderation, 1-star reviews (keep 'em!), and why every post-checkout survey needs a glow-up. If you're building a brand and want your customer insights to do more than collect dust in a dashboard, this one's for you.

Listen now for practical tips on surveys, personalization, loyalty, and what it really takes to turn your customers into super fans.

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Instagram: @lindsaykolinsta

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindsay-kolinsky/

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Instagram: @getokendo

Website: https://okendo.io/

👋 Enjoying Above the Fold?

Keep the insights coming by subscribing to my newsletter, Sunday Postcards. Each week, I share tips, stories, and strategies that help you unlock the secrets to brand success. Written from my experience in the marketing world, it’s your go-to source for staying ahead of the curve. Subscribe at www.sundaypostcards.co and join the community!

Connect with Jess on:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-cervellon

Twitter: x.com/jesscervellon

Instagram: instagram.com/jess.cervellon

This week on Above The Fold, I’m in NYC catching up with my new friend and fellow startup nerd, Adam Simone—co-founder of Leaf Shave and Smoosh. We get into what it really means to build product-first brands and why having strong opinions might actually be a founder’s best tool.

We talk about his mechanical engineering background and how it led to building a shaving brand that doesn’t suck, and why their second brand, Smoosh, turned into a surprise hit with a totally different audience.

Adam breaks down the chaos and clarity of launching two brands with one small team, why TikTok turned on them (lol, truly), and how staying product-led keeps the vision clear—even when the market throws curveballs.

If you’re trying to scale something meaningful, juggle two brands, or just need a reminder that not every decision needs a focus group, this one’s for you.

Listen now for insights on product development, startup reality checks, and the joy of building weird stuff that works.

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Instagram: @adam_simone

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adamsimone/

📲 Follow

Instagram: @leafshave & @getsmoosh

Website: https://leafshave.com/ & https://getsmoosh.com/

👋 Enjoying Above the Fold?

Keep the insights coming by subscribing to my newsletter, Sunday Postcards. Each week, I share tips, stories, and strategies that help you unlock the secrets to brand success. Written from my experience in the marketing world, it’s your go-to source for staying ahead of the curve. Subscribe at www.sundaypostcards.co and join the community!

Connect with Jess on:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-cervellon

Twitter: x.com/jesscervellon

Instagram: instagram.com/jess.cervellon