Off Mute a Tinuiti Podcast

In This Episode… Quyen Chang, Global Head of Revenue Enablement at Airbnb, joins Obele and Zach in a thoughtful conversation rooted in unique experiences about diversity, leading a balanced life, and her love for San Francisco. Quyen is all about people sharing their stories and experiences to inspire the next generation.


[03:20] The conversation gets serious fast. Skipping the small talk, Obele and Quyen dive right into the need for diversity on boards and how they feel about quotas.

[09:11] Teamwork makes the dream work. Quyen shares her journey at SalesForce and boldly predicts that sales intelligence will help sales teams build that trusted advisor status faster for more efficiency.

[16:40] Social media: good or evil? The group discusses how to tie in human aspects to build meaningful connections.

[24:11] Work will take up our lives for pretty much the rest of our lives. Quyen talks about how companies should create environments that help employees be whole people so they can be their best selves at work.

[32:44] Quyen offers marriage advice: sometimes your better half just needs to vent. When they are upset, try asking if they are looking for advice or just need to blow off steam.


Episode Length: 40:10

In This Episode…Obele and Zach have one of the most candid conversations to date with Watchen Nyanue, the SVP, Marketing Partnerships at Chicago Sky WNBA and the Founder and CEO of I Choose the Ladder. In a rare moment, Zach is left speechless by Watchen’s response to what she would need to start a new business. Learn more about supporting black women, the challenges of brand marketing, and the need for life balance.


[07:08] The episode kicks off with a candid conversation about the importance of diversity of thought, work-life balance, and how the hustle evolves over the different seasons of life.

[16:07] Watchen explains why she started I Choose the Ladder, an organization that aims to support ambitious black women as they climb the corporate ladder.

[19:37] What will 2023 hold for Watchen? She has a lot of plans coupled with the desire to balance the ambitions of her future family, building businesses, and lots of travel.

[23:16] Zach asks about Watchen’s best and worst marketing stories. Hear what she shares about working in brand marketing and which project makes the cut for best she ever worked on. Spoiler alert: it involves the Guinness Book of World Records.

[28:10] Finally, Watchen boldly predicts the WNBA will change its season timing to gain more viewers and engage basketball lovers.


People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show


Watchen Nyanue, SVP, Marketing Partnerships at Chicago Sky WNBA and the Founder and CEO of I Choose the Ladder


Episode Length: 38:11

In This Episode… Obele and Zach are breaking all of the rules with the new CMO of Sprinkles Cupcakes, Michelle Wong. Join us as they discuss everything from how the voice of advertising will continue to change to liver Pâté, Zach’s secrets to success and beyond.


[02:40] Right off the bat, Zach throws Michelle an “Off Mute” curveball and gets Michelle talking about her love of sweets, in particular the french pastry mille-feuille.

[09:51] During our word association game, Michelle explains that she’s “over the glass ceiling” and that while it’s something that still exists in the workplace, it’s essential to find your vision and keep pushing forward.

[12:04] Zach challenges Michelle to share her bold predictions on both the marketing ecosystem as well as the sweets and confections category.

[20:07] Michelle shares her personal career journey from going to pastry school, to working in advertising to now, tying both of those experiences together at Sprinkles and how she made the decision to pivot to brand-side marketing.

[35:55] Finally, Michelle goes Off Mute, stressing the importance of living in the now and shares the work Sprinkles has done highlighting Asian-owned bakeries and other initiatives that show the importance of brands stepping up for their communities.


People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show


Michelle Wong  was our guest today.

Have Michelle’s favorite Chocolate Marshmallow cupcake delivered to your door


Episode Length: 41:23

Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again in two weeks for another episode!

In This Episode Zach is joined by Tinuiti’s Marketing Technologist and Practice Lead for Privacy and Identity Nirish Parsad as well as Founder and CEO of privacy consulting firm Red Clover Advisors Jodi Daniels to talk all things data privacy and what these regulatory changes means for marketers and beyond.


[01:07] Zach warms up the group by quizzing Jodi on what the first thing that comes to mind when she hears the word “data” the words get increasingly tough from here including Zuckerberg in this Off Mute favorite game.

[11:41] Jodi shares her bold predictions for the future of the web - looking at the potential to expand an opt-in environment and how the culture of the United States is at odds with the goals of a global privacy-focused web.

[19:09] Zach asks Jodi to spill the tea on which brands and corporations are doing the best and which are struggling in regards to protecting the data of their customers.

[31:36] Finally, Jodi goes Off Mute, asking Zach and Nirish to consider the current digital transformation and how they see this move towards digital happening and what the impact will be.


People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show


Jodi Daniels was our guest today.

Learn more about data privacy consulting firm Red Clover Advisors.

Hear more from Jodi on her podcast She Said Privacy/ He Said Security, available everywhere podcasts are found.


Episode Length: 37:32

This week Obele and new guest co-host SVP of Addressable Media Kolin Kleveno sit down with media veteran and film producer Justin Begnaud to talk about everything entertainment from the future of the film industry with day and date releases to Hamilton and an Off Mute first look at Justin’s desert island TV show.


[02:01] Obele kicks things off by asking Justin what his first impression is when he hears the word “entertainment.” Justin digs into the excitement of live entertainment and how the industry has undergone a huge paradigm shift due to the pandemic.

[14:44] Justin shares his bold prediction for the future of streaming and the untapped potential of virtual and augmented reality.

[17:29] Obele gets tough, asking Justin about his best and worst professional experience, leading into a discussion about the transition away from the “old guard” of Hollywood and the ushering in of a new generation of content creators.

[23:20] Justin builds his ideal desert island TV show featuring John Stamos, sponsored by Pantene and streaming on AppleTV+

[27:27] Finally Justin goes Off Mute and shares his thoughts on the future of entertainment, specifically in how the changes that are unfolding are and will continue to affect his kids as they grow up.


Episode Length: 32:42

Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again every other Wednesday for more unfiltered insights! 

In This Episode Obele and Zach sit down with Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for Levi Strauss and Co. Elizabeth Morrison to discuss intersectionality, the future of workplace diversity and how brands can take meaningful and measurable actions to address social issues beyond the Instagram black square.


[02:55] Zach and Elizabeth bond over their common last nam, sharing stories of the legacy of family and building on that legacy either directly or indirectly.

[10:01] Elizabeth shares her predictions for the future of brands who are taking a stance on social issues, especially as our world becomes increasingly interconnected. She also gives her advice to leaders on how to be authentic when staking a stance.

[19:54] Obele challenges Elizabeth to describe the ideal inclusive organization - which, among others include humility, honesty, open mindedness and adaptability.

[29:20] Zach asks Elizabeth to share her top three pieces of advice for organizations looking to improve their DEI strategy.

[33:22] Finally, Elizabeth goes Off Mute and asks Obele and Zach what their observations have been seeing various brands and companies step up their commitments to DEI, and if things feel authentic or simply performative.



People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show


Elizabeth Morrison was our guest today.

Check out the latest from Levi Strauss and Co.

Hear more of Obele and Zach’s Off Mute musings on twitter @FreshyOB @zamorrison


Episode Length: 41:21

Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again in two weeks when we'll be chatting with independent film producer, Justin Begnaud!