Uncooked Jacqueline Lieberman

This week we explore the intricacies of launching a small business, the power of quality ingredients, and the importance of having a clear purpose with Vikki Krinsky, Chef and Founder of VK Energy Bar. A young actress turned private chef for Hollywood celebrities, Vikki was driven by keeping her client’s energy high and nutrition balanced on grueling days on set. The idea for VK Energy Bars was born when Vikki was tasked to rescue Seth MacFarlane from his caffeine obsession during the filming of his TV show.

 

Today as a chef and entrepreneur, Vikki is focused on changing the way we think about energy and nutrition. Harnessing the power of energy dynamo Vitamin B12, VK Energy Bars are delicious and thoughtfully made for busy people and long days. Vikki shares invaluable insights from her entrepreneurial journey, from overcoming manufacturing hurdles to staying focused on her mission to elevate everyone’s day with good energy. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and intention.

 

Key highlights of what we cover:


How bootstrapping, passion and self-discovery shaped Vikki's business journey
How taking bets on yourself is the best gamble of all
Why focus + perseverance is the secret formula every business owner needs

 

About our Guest:

Vikki Krinsky's journey from the competitive soccer fields to the vibrant world of Hollywood reflects a story of resilience and determination. Originating from South Africa and later settling in Canada, she transitioned from the unpredictability of acting to mastering the culinary arts, earning respect among Hollywood's elite. Throughout her career, she has served renowned celebrities, athletes, and executives, accumulating a wealth of experience and expertise. Motivated by a desire to extend her impact beyond Hollywood, Vikki ventured into entrepreneurship, founding a pioneering Vitamin B12 energy bar company. As a determined solo female founder, she is dedicated to promoting wellness, body positivity, and nutritional balance, sparking conversations that inspire positive change.

 

You can connect with Vikki on your favorite social platforms @ChefVikkiK or @VKenergybar 

 

Try out VK Energy Bar at www.vkenergybar.com

 

If you’re a brand looking for market differentiation but don’t know where to begin, this is what the host specializes in. Contact Jacqueline Lieberman at her marketing consultancy www.brandcrudo.com or jacqueline@brandcrudo.com.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we’re introduced to the next generation of virtual shopping with Samantha Lerner, the VP of Marketing at Obsess. Obsess builds stunning virtual storefronts that are revolutionizing online shopping experiences for brands such as Coach, Ferragamo, Dyson and Ralph Lauren for example. Samantha shares a mini masterclass on how audience shopping behavior differs in virtual reality and how brands are using Obsess to create deeper relationships with customers.

 

Key highlights of what we cover:


The Power of Creating Emotion with Virtual Reality
How to Compete in the Landscape of Virtual Storefronts
What the Future of Retail Looks Like with Obsess

 

About our Guest:

Samantha Lerner Kobrin is an audience-obsessed brand storyteller, with a passion for innovation in content and commerce. She has worked across brand, digital and product teams as a marketing leader at celebrated fashion, food and travel brands of varying sizes—from Barneys New York and Elite World Group, to Baked by Melissa and Skyscanner. Samantha is currently the VP of Marketing at Obsess, an experiential e-commerce platform that enables brands and retailers to create immersive, branded, discovery-driven 3D virtual stores on their websites. Obsess has launched over 300 virtual experiences for brands such as Ralph Lauren, Charlotte Tilbury, J.Crew, Corona and more—driving consumer engagement, brand loyalty and conversion.

 

Connect with Samantha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-lerner-kobrin-50866164/

 

Connect with Obsess on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10689169/

 

Visit the Obsess Website: https://obsessar.com/

 

If you’re a brand looking for market differentiation but don’t know where to begin, this is what the host specializes in. Contact Jacqueline Lieberman at her marketing consultancy www.brandcrudo.com or jacqueline@brandcrudo.com.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week I’m discussing the power of community with the CMO of Podium Nutrition, Dylan Jones. Podium began by formulating pre and post workout powders born within the CrossFit community. My conversation with Dylan is mini masterclass for how to use audience understanding to make product decisions, develop a marketing strategy and forge like-minded partnerships. Dylan shares insights into how Podium measures customer retention, leveraging the all-important email subscriber list, and how his entrepreneurial ventures fit into his professional purpose.

Some highlights of what we cover:


How Podium was built from within the CrossFit community
Why supplement brands are so hard to trust
How Podium places lots of bets and feeds the marketing winner
The importance of treating consumers like VIPs when launching a new brand
How having a long-term vision relies in being hyper-intentional in business

 

About Dylan Jones: Dylan Jones is the CMO of PODIUM Nutrition, an omni-channel modern sports nutrition brand, as well as the Founder of Buddies Snacks Company, set to launch very soon with Buddies Gum.

 

Connect with Dylan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jylandones/

Find out more about Podium: https://www.321podium.com/

 

If you’re a brand looking for market differentiation but don’t know where to begin, this is what the host specializes in. Contact Jacqueline Lieberman at her marketing consultancy www.brandcrudo.com or jacqueline@brandcrudo.com.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s unfiltered truth comes from my guest, Ian Stewart, the CMO of Wedge Brands. Wedge Brands is a Private Equity firm run by surfers, who manages a portfolio of outdoor brands that includes Xcel Wetsuits. Wedge Brands has a unique model, focusing on providing back-office support to share across the brand portfolio, so owners can focus on growth, not logistics.

This episode is a masterclass in brand building through e-commerce, from Ian who has done it his entire career. He’s stood behind the most iconic brands of our culture such as Nike, Coca-Cola, Converse, TOMS Shoes and MTV.

Don’t miss this conversation where we discuss how to fix your abandon cart rates and convert more customers in the sales funnel. We also digress and touch upon what makes surfing a “Zen” activity.

Some highlights of what we cover:


How Wedge Brands helps build businesses for the long-term
How Ian applies his iconic expertise to the brand portfolio
The importance of being a patient and consistent marketer
Successful blocking and tackling tactics of an e-commerce business

 

About Ian Stewart: Ian Stewart is the CMO of Wedge Brands, a private equity firm managing a portfolio of surf and snow brands that includes Xcel Wetsuits. Prior to Wedge, Ian was the CMO of TOMS Shoes, VP Marketing UGG, and VP Marketing Converse. Ian has also worked in marketing roles at MTV and Coca-Cola.

 

Connect with Ian on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iansb77/

Check out Xcel Wetsuits here: https://xcelwetsuits.com/ 

Check out here: https://wedgebrands.com/

 

If you’re a brand looking for market differentiation but don’t know where to begin, this is what the host specializes in. Contact Jacqueline Lieberman at her marketing consultancy www.brandcrudo.com or jacqueline@brandcrudo.com.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re ringing in episode 50 with leadership and marketing insights from Global President of Kenneth Cole, Jed Berger. Listen in as Jed breaks down the multi-decade evolution of Kenneth Cole and how he’s using his entrepreneurial mindset to help the legacy brand continue to evolve with the changing demands of the young professional. Jed also shares how he’s focused on supporting the culture of Kenneth Cole by leading in alignment with brand purpose. 

Some highlights of what we cover:


How Jed is laying the groundwork as a new leader by focusing on purpose first
Why Kenneth Cole is focused on social advocacy as part of his brand mission
How Kenneth Cole’s bootstrapping beginnings impact the brand purpose today
The importance of incorporating brand values into the product details

 

About Jed Berger: Jed currently serves as the Global President of Kenneth Cole. Formerly, he was the Global Chief Marketing Officer for the Foot Locker family of brands, where he also led business areas such as licensing, digital and product development. Career highlights include creating Foot Locker’s award-winning “Approved” campaign and the “Week of Greatness,” launching their loyalty program and their incubator Greenhouse, and many of the company’s investments.

 

Learn more about Kenneth Cole and Jed here:

 

Kenneth Cole:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kennethcole

IG: https://www.instagram.com/kennethcole/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kenneth-cole-productions/

 

Jed Berger:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jedberger?lang=en

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jed.berger/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jed-berger-273b734/

 

If you’re a brand looking for market differentiation but don’t know where to begin, this is what the host specializes in. Contact Jacqueline Lieberman at her marketing consultancy www.brandcrudo.com or jacqueline@brandcrudo.com.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High quality products demand a perfect environment to thrive. Chief Marketing Officer of Grove Bags, Lance Lambert says that perfection can be obtained with a little bit of science, a keen eye for details, and a lot of handshakes. This week Lance and I are discussing how Grove Bags is showcasing the passion of the cannabis community with the perfect storage system that outperforms stereotypical jars and baggies on every level. Lance shares how his grassroots marketing efforts are focused on navigating the Wild West of the booming cannabis industry through education, establishing trust with growers, and breaking stereotypes along the way.

Some highlights of what we cover:


How stereotypical sandwich bags impact the highest quality cannabis
Why you’ll never see a Grove Bags ad on Facebook
The details of Lance’s bottom-up and top-down marketing strategy
How Grove Bags is disrupting the perception of cannabis users and demanding industry innovation

 

Lance C. Lambert spent years cultivating brands and telling stories in the digital media and marketing space prior to shifting his expertise to the legal cannabis industry in 2013. He has had a strong focus on marketing and business development ever since, taking several brands global. In 2022, he was named Chief Marketing Officer at Grove Bags, where he was tasked with growing the company’s footprint at home and abroad. As a cancer survivor having grown up in Northern California, he embraces and actively advocates the benefits of cannabis.

 

Connect with Lance:

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

Grove Bags LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grove-bags/

Grove Bags IG page: https://www.instagram.com/grovebag

Grove Bags YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA6-oCo8HcL_0xQqver4-FA

 

If you’re a brand who needs tangible ways to put purpose into practice throughout your marketing, this is what the host specializes in. Contact Jacqueline Lieberman at her marketing consultancy www.brandcrudo.com or jacqueline@brandcrudo.com.

 
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.