Lisa Singer

What does it mean to be a "wild card"? For Jenny Huang, it's meant never following the obvious path-and thriving because of it. At just 16, she left a small town in China to move to the U.S. alone, chasing her dream of becoming a concert pianist. Years later, when the pandemic shut down the music world, she took another leap, pivoting into advertising where she quickly rose through the ranks, creating award-winning campaigns for Fortune 500 brands. Now, as the first Director of B2B Brand Marketing at Gannett | USA Today Network, Jenny brings that same resilience, curiosity, and boldness to corporate America. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, she shares with Lisa Singer how being underestimated taught her to craft her own path, why failure became one of her best teachers, and how she's continuing to redefine what it means to stand out.

What does it really mean to push boundaries- not just at work, but in life? For Nicole Schlegel, VP of Digital Marketing at Universal Pictures, it meant strapping on a snowboard in her 40s after saying no in her 20s...just to prove she could. That same curiosity and drive have fueled her 18-year career at Universal Pictures, where she pivoted from publicity to digital back when Facebook was still new and Instagram felt daunting. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Nicole talks with Lisa Singer about building a career defined not by job-hopping, but by asking questions, speaking up, and constantly learning. She also shares what it meant to receive a prestigious invite to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, her career highlight of working on the Academy Award-winning film Oppenheimer campaign, and her ultimate happy place- no surprise there, the movie theater!

What does it really mean to push boundaries- not just at work, but in life? For Nicole Schlegel, VP of Digital Marketing at Universal Pictures, it meant strapping on a snowboard in her 40s after saying no in her 20s...just to prove she could. That same curiosity and drive have fueled her 18-year career at Universal Pictures, where she pivoted from publicity to digital back when Facebook was still new and Instagram felt daunting. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Nicole talks with Lisa Singer about building a career defined not by job-hopping, but by asking questions, speaking up, and constantly learning. She also shares what it meant to receive a prestigious invite to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, her career highlight of working on the Academy Award-winning film Oppenheimer campaign, and her ultimate happy place- no surprise there, the movie theater!

How do you go from lugging around a giant camcorder as a kid-- pretending to host your own TV show-- to leading marketing for a national brand? For Sarah Leinberger, VP, Head of Marketing at Yoobi, it's been anything but a straight path. She's done it all--marketing, branding, merchandising, HR--and learned the best roles often don't exist until you create them. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Sarah opens up to Lisa Singer about the teacher who first believed in her, how creating psychological safety is at the heart of building strong teams, and why she's a sucker for unforgettable brand experiences-- like Barbie's Dream House colab with Airbnb. She also talks about her plunge into a frozen Minnesota lake, and how she unapologetically hoards Trader Joe's dill pickle seasoning.

What happens when someone sees potential in you before you see it yourself? For Brooke Perry, that moment changed everything. Velvet Taco's VP of Marketing shares how a pivotal mentor shaped her journey, and the bold advice that fueled her career: "If you're 80% sure, just do it." In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Brooke talks to Lisa Singer about embracing failure, speaking up-- even when it's uncomfortable-- and creating a culture where being rebellious is all in a day's work. She also shares her personal take on balancing big career goals with even bigger life changes-- like becoming a first-time Mom!

What does great leadership really look like? For Jessica Serrano, CMO of Dig Inn, it's not about hierarchy- it's about leading "hip to hip," staying curious, and helping her team do work that truly energizes them. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jessica shares with Lisa Singer the career lessons that shaped her leadership style- from taking the job no one wants to rejecting advice that prioritizes likability over effectiveness. She opens up about leading with intention, showing the "quiet parts" of herself, and why, at the end of the day, her greatest motivation comes from the life she and her husband are creating for their twins.

What happens when you stop waiting for permission to lead? Ana Malmqvist learned early on that when you see a gap, fill it- what's the worst thing that can happen? For Melting Pot's Chief Brand Officer, it's not just about stepping up, it's about owning your voice, your value, and your impact. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Ana opens up with MediaPost's Lisa Singer about what it really means to raise your hand, and why leadership is an essential skill, something you shouldn't, especially as a woman, be hesitant about. From her mother's trailblazing journey as a Cuban immigrant and one of the only women in her med school class, to Ana's own rise through corporate leadership, she shares how perseverance, presence, and a deep belief in possibility shaped her path. Ana also talks about owning your seat at the table, the responsibility she feels to carry her mother's legacy forward, and why she's doing what she's doing in the hope the future holds more minority women in leadership, a torch she wants her da

What do attending nine schools in twelve years, glow-in-the-dark basketballs, and raising your hand have in common? For Leigh Anna Trelenberg, they all speak to perseverance and adaptability- the common threads that run through her life and career. As Mattel's Director of U.S. Media, Leigh Anna shares how growing up all over the country and overseas has helped her develop the flexibility and intuition she now brings to the ever-changing world of media. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, she joins Lisa Singer to talk about the power of listening before reacting, why some of her biggest career wins came from simply raising her hand, and how sometimes the best path forward is to "just keep swimming." She also opens up about the unexpected ways motherhood has shaped her media instincts, why her daughter Cameron is her greatest inspiration, and how her best day of the year is when they visit "mommy's toy company"- at least according to Cameron!

What do attending nine schools in twelve years, glow-in-the-dark basketballs, and raising your hand have in common? For Leigh Anna Trelenberg, they all speak to perseverance and adaptability- the common threads that run through her life and career. As Mattel's Director of U.S. Media, Leigh Anna shares how growing up all over the country and overseas has helped her develop the flexibility and intuition she now brings to the ever-changing world of media. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, she joins Lisa Singer to talk about the power of listening before reacting, why some of her biggest career wins came from simply raising her hand, and how sometimes the best path forward is to "just keep swimming." She also opens up about the unexpected ways motherhood has shaped her media instincts, why her daughter Cameron is her greatest inspiration, and how her best day of the year is when they visit "mommy's toy company"- at least according to Cameron!

Ever feel like your career is heading into apocalyptic mode-even when things aren't actually that bad? Jessica McCarthy, CEO & Founder of Brand Energy, gets it. She believes there's often a gap between what we feel and what's really happening, especially in today's hyper-connected, always-on world. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jessica opens up to Lisa Singer about navigating the unknown. From nearly becoming a brain surgeon to leading bold marketing campaigns for major brands, her path has been anything but conventional-and she credits that unexpected journey for teaching her the value of perspective, grit, and showing up even when it's hard. Jessica also shares some no-nonsense advice on why doing the hard stuff early matters-explaining how it lays the groundwork for getting to where you want to go.