Final Final: Brand Storytelling and Other Conundrums Heather McGinley

Today, Final Final is talking to Kara DeFrias, an expert in human-centered design, effective leadership, and former theatre kid extraordinaire. No matter where she goes, Kara gets it done, from the White House to the Oscars to pro sports, big tech and beyond. She's covering how to uncover the human at the heart of every brand story, the recipe for great leadership, and why we should replace the word "equal" with "equitable." As a former White House staffer, Kara is sharing how the State of the Union comes together and why audacious goals like Cancer Moonshot are a part of her DNA.

Kara's talking about the role failure can play in good work, the courage to say "yes", and how to get epic things done (while being kind). She also reveals how to provide helpful feedback, the role of reinvention, and how volunteering can open doors you may have never expected. If there's one thing she knows, human-centered design is the way to open doors, tell stories, and make the impact of a lifetime.

Learn more about Kara DeFrias at KaraDeFrias.com

Final Final is talking to creative operations pro Jill Lyons about the one question every creative leader should be asking themselves: "what's the next right move?" Today, Jill and host Heather McG are covering how to say the things that need to be said, feeling the fear (but acting with bravery), and why a good creative idea can take many different forms. They're also discussing why the best creative leaders strengthen and deepen creative work, the art of knowing when to quit, and why some of Jill's most powerful leadership lessons were learned at camp. Other topics include understanding gendered racism in the workplace, why every decision is an act of love and fear, and the one thing every ex-Oprah producer knows by heart.





MENTIONED IN THIS SHOW

The Artist's Way

Gavin DeBecker





GUEST BIO

Jill Lyons is a strategic creative operations leader and award-winning executive producer and writer. Jill currently leads creative operations at Maximum Effort, Ryan Reynolds’ creative engine. Prior, she was EVP of Delivery at Hawkeye Agency, a Publicis company, where she led project management, operations and the activation practices of media, integrated production, enterprise technology, change communications and experiential. Prior to joining Hawkeye, Jill was Head of Creative Agency Operations for Allstate, where she brought order, structure and strategy to the creative process across production, creative and UX teams. Before Allstate, Jill led as VP, Business Operations & Production at Epsilon Agency, where she merged data-driven insights with compelling creative for all clients across all mediums, managed a global team of producers, editors, animators and designers, and led new business operations. For a decade, Jill was part of the legendary team at Harpo Studios, where she wrote and produced dynamic on and off-air promos, integrated marketing and branded entertainment content for OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, The Dr. Oz Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Learn more at JillLyons.com





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Today, e-commerce wunderkind Sylvie Esmundo joins Final Final to share the biggest lesson from a twenty-year career: how to “own the day.” In praise of non-linear careers, she’s talking about how the road less traveled can lead to the most impactful results, why active listening is the most important tool in your toolbox, and how to lead teams with heart. Sylvie is also covering frameworks to support truly innovative work, how to uncover critical customer insights, high-impact hiring practices, and “the values factor.” This is a can’t-miss conversation packed with actionable insights you can start using to superpower your work right now. There’s no time like right now to own your day.

Sylvie is a product and content strategist, as well as a transformational leader with 20 years building, growing, and innovating for global brands. She specializes in e-commerce, merchandising, AI, machine learning, personalization, and new product experiences across technology, media, and commerce. Currently Global Commerce GTM Lead for TikTok. She’s ex-Meta, Williams Sonoma, POPSUGAR, Gap, Williams-Sonoma, amongst other global brands.

Show Notes:

SWIM with Nancy Vonk and Janet Kestin

Eckhart Tolle

SWIM with Nancy Vonk and Janet Kestin
Eckhart Tolle
The Values Factor

Eric Tao is an innovator with a career spanning film, advertising, big tech, and startups. If you used Google Cardboard, or saw Verizon’s “Can you hear me now?” spots, you’ve seen his work. Today, Eric is the co-founder and CEO of a new immersive educational platform called MegaMinds. He’s talking to us about the power of a mission, the conviction it takes to bring that mission to life, and why he left corporate life behind. Eric is also sharing his thoughts on finding your own North Star, and why our lives are held together by growth and change, in something he calls a series of mini lives.

Today, we’re joined by marketing powerhouse Robin Gruen, Vice President of Brand Marketing and Content Strategy at Lee Enterprises. Robin works with brands to help them achieve strategic success, and she’s here to share some of that knowledge with us. We’ll talk about truth in storytelling, how to embrace a strategy-first mindset, and how the most powerful teams start with “we.” On a personal note, we’ll discuss what a strong personal brand can look like, the power of slowing down and why you should never say “no” to yourself.

In today’s episode, we’re talking to Brooke Forry, co-founder of Curious and Co., a visual branding agency. She is also the creator of an original line of mission-based products called Balance Bound, which includes a signature planner and other associated paper products. Brooke believes that—at heart—design is about solving problems, and she is passionate about delivering results for her clients. Heather and Brooke are covering how to align values to brand, identifying your ideal audience, an innovative approach to concepting, and how she grew a planner product line in spite of a chaotic global pandemic.