Monday, March 25, 2024

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Joseph Lalonde


Last fall, I featured an inspiring series here on my blog called, "Fall Back to Reading Series." Nearly 30 leadership, marketing, and customer experience experts participated and shared their favorite books and their thoughts about the importance of reading.

Joseph Lalonde, one participant and leadership expert, wrote a book entitled, REEL LEADERSHIP, which focuses on nontraditional ways to think about leadership. After I read the book, the seeds for this "Spring Leadership Series" were planted. Today, Joseph kicks off the series, following a brief introduction, and I hope you enjoy thinking about leadership in nontraditional ways!

Joseph Lalonde is experienced in all aspects of IT, leadership, project/sales, and design with a history of working with small businesses and individuals. He is also an award-winning leadership blogger ranked in the top 40 leadership blogs in the world. His book Reel Leadership showcases the intersection of leadership and entertainment.

QUESTION: Which TV show or TV series showcases leadership in a memorable way? This could be due to a specific character and their actions, a series of events, the plot of one or several episodes, or a specific time reflected in history.
JOSEPH LALONDE: The first TV show/series that came to mind is THE SHIELD. It stars Michael Chiklis as Detective Vic Mackey. He leads an anti-gang task force for the fictional Farmington police department in California. Mackey starts off as someone who wants to do good, be a family man, and more. However, he takes small and big actions that detour him from the man he wants to be into a ruthless and brutal detective. The Shield shows us how someone who wants to be a great leader can slowly move themselves over the edge into corruption.

QUESTION: Which film showcases leadership in a memorable way?
JOSEPH LALONDE: I believe almost any movie can showcase leadership. Movies are stories, and stories are memorable. Let me share one example from the recent film WONKA, the prequel to Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. It tells the story of Willy Wonka before we meet him in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. In one scene, Wonka had promised to give Noodle, an indentured servant much like him, a lifetime supply of chocolate for her help. Noodle helped him, and he passed her a basket full of his delectable chocolates. When she asked him what he was doing, he said that he made a promise and meant to keep his promise. This exemplifies the fact that leaders have to be people who keep their word, despite the cost.

SHARE THIS: Leaders have to be people who keep their word, despite the cost. ~@JosephLalonde #SpringLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog


QUESTION: Which work of fiction showcases leadership in a memorable way?
JOSEPH LALONDE: When I think of a great piece of fiction with leadership lessons strewn throughout it, I have to go to LORD OF THE RINGS by JRR Tolkien. I think of the character Gandalf. He's a wise wizard who starts Frodo on his adventure. Throughout the book series, Gandalf weaves his story in and through Frodo's. He doesn't stay for long, but he leaves a lasting impact. What does this mean for leaders? We don't have to be a constant, overbearing presence on the people we lead. We can touch base, share our wisdom, and encourage our people. Be that kind of leader.

QUESTION: Which product, or product line, stands out as a symbol of leadership?
JOSEPH LALONDE: Here are two: BARBIE really redefined what a woman was capable of and gave girls of all ages something to aspire to, and GI JOE did something similar for boys and inspired them through the leadership of the characters and taught about career paths in the military and beyond.

QUESTION: Lastly, which brand is the best embodiment of an industry leader, and why?
JOSEPH LALONDE: To be frank, I'm hesitant to answer this question. Not because there aren't industry leaders out there, but because industry leaders change so rapidly that the brand I see as an industry leader today may not be around tomorrow. One brand that comes to mind though is Weaving Influence. They're an industry leader in the book promotion world. Becky Robinson and her team have carved out a corner in this niche industry, and they're the first organization that I think of when I think of promoting a book or idea. Their integrity is beyond reproach, they deal with amazing authors, and they give people a voice.

Did these questions open your eyes to thinking about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope. My gratitude to Joseph for planting the seed for this leadership series, for appearing on my blog, and for sharing his leadership insights.


Image Credits: Debbie Laskey, iStockphoto, Amazon, and Classroom Clipart.

Here's a post on Joseph's blog about WONKA:
https://www.jmlalonde.com/quotes-and-leadership-lessons-from-wonka/

Here's a post on Joseph's blog about BARBENHEIMER:
https://www.jmlalonde.com/quotes-and-leadership-lessons-from-barbie-barbenheimer-1/

Connect with Joseph at these links:
Website: www.jmlalonde.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephlalonde
Twitter/X: @josephlalonde
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmlalonde

Check out Joseph’s previous appearances here on my blog:

8 Business Books for Your Winter and Early 2024 Reading List
Featuring REEL LEADERSHIP (12/2023)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/12/8-business-books-for-your-winter-and.html

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES – Featuring Joseph Lalonde (12/2023)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/12/fall-back-to-reading-series-featuring_01893009969.html

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Introducing the #SpringLeadershipSeries on #DebbieLaskeysBlog


Last fall, I featured an inspiring series here on my blog called, "Fall Back to Reading Series." Nearly 30 leadership, marketing, and customer experience experts participated and shared their favorite books and their thoughts about the importance of reading.

Joseph Lalonde, one participant and leadership expert, wrote a book entitled, REEL LEADERSHIP, which focuses on nontraditional ways to think about leadership. After I read the book, the seeds for this "Spring Leadership Series" were planted. During the next three months, 15 marketing and leadership experts will answer the following five questions here on my blog.

This exciting #SpringLeadershipSeries begins next Monday, March 25, and continues every Monday during April and May - and then every Monday and Friday during June - ending with my highlights post on June 20.

So, to introduce the series and with much gratitude to Joseph, my answers follow below. I hope you enjoy thinking about leadership in nontraditional ways!

QUESTION: Which TV show or TV series showcases leadership in a memorable way? This could be due to a specific character and their actions, a series of events, the plot of one or several episodes, or a specific time reflected in history.
DEBBIE LASKEY: My choice is Law & Order: SVU because Mariska Hargitay's lead character Olivia Benson has been part of my TV-viewing life for the past 24 years. She has been a police officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain through her many years with the NYPD. She has climbed the corporate ladder and has broken some shards of the glass ceiling in a male-dominated industry (law enforcement) in the largest city in the country - and not only survived but became a captain of a challenging department (sex crimes). She has been kidnapped and gone undercover in prison. Bottom line: she is an inspiration.

In episode six during the first season, Benson corrected a lawyer when she said, "It's Detective, Not Miss." According to CBR, "Benson is right to call out the gender-discriminatory wording that the lawyer uses since male detectives aren't referred to as mister. Plus, becoming a detective is quite an accomplishment for any officer; hence, they always prefer to be addressed by their correct titles."

From a leadership perspective, Benson leads by capitalizing on the strengths of her team. She always asks for feedback, and she always reminds her team to think about their stakeholders, the victims. There is no doubt that she is a leader to admire, so who wouldn't want her as their boss?

However, I must also mention another wonderful TV show that elevated a talented female protagonist while simultaneously showcasing superlative writing and acting. The show was THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, which ran from 2017 to 2023 on Amazon Prime Video. The timeframe for the show was the 1950's and 1960's, and as a result, viewers saw how a New York housewife made the jump into stand-up comedy - despite all the gender bias and other challenges she encountered. Actress Rachel Brosnahan was excellent in her portrayl of Midge Maisel, and actor Tony Shalhoub convinced viewers that he left MONK when he became Midge Maisel's father in the show.

According to Collider.com, "In an exciting turn of events for the final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, declared that April 14, 2023, would mark The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Day due to the show's success story and its positive portrayal of the Big Apple. Throughout its run, the series employed over 37,000 actors and craftspeople including: 344 dancers, 580 musicians, 981 dayplayers, and 35,619 background actors. Mrs. Maisel has also used the city as its set, filming in over 366 locations throughout the five boroughs, primarily in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Over its seven-year run, it played a role in boosting the economy, supporting local businesses and showcasing how beautiful and cinematic the city truly is."

Mayor Adams explained, "I love The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel because it showcases the beautiful streets of New York City, features a strong female lead character, and is the perfect example of how our city’s film and TV industry creates jobs, and generates economic activity for local businesses."

QUESTION: Which film showcases leadership in a memorable way?

DEBBIE LASKEY: My choice is "12 Angry Men," a film from 1957 that I first saw during a film appreciation class in high school. Years later, I saw a play in Los Angeles starring Richard Thomas (of The Walton's fame) in the title role.

The film showcases how one voice can change an entire room of other voices and opinions, in this case, a room of 11 jurors versus one juror. Henry Fonda was the sole juror who wanted to consider all evidence before finding an 18-year-old guilty. In the jury room, the jurors voted again and again, as Fonda's character convinced the jurors one by one to consider more and more evidence.

This film was an excellent example of how leadership can be quiet, unassuming, and effective. Fonda's character was a leader even though he was not the jury foreman. But he definitely made a difference in the life of the 18-year-old on trial.

An interesting side note from Wikipedia: "Speaking at a screening of the film during the 2010 Fordham University Law School Film Festival, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor stated that seeing "12 Angry Men" while she was in college influenced her decision to pursue a career in law."

However, when I think of movies and leadership, I have to include 9 to 5, starring three superstars, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton. The film's theme song has become immediately recognizable, thanks to Parton's long nails. But the sad part is that most women have encountered a boss like Mr. Hart in the movie, a male chauvinist pig who thinks all women employees - no matter their education or role - should simply make coffee and wear short skirts. Despite the film's shenanigans, women got the last laugh at the end.

QUESTION: Which work of fiction showcases leadership in a memorable way?
DEBBIE LASKEY: My choice is John Grisham's 2023 novel, "The Exchange, After The Firm." The creator of his own genre of legal thrillers has returned to the novel that made his name famous (not withstanding the feature film starring Tom Cruise back in 1993) with a story set 15 years after "The Firm" ended. Members of the legal profession, watchers of legal dramas on television, and readers of Grisham's novels all understand (too well) the caste system that exists in the legal profession,  or as Grisham calls  it "Big Law." Power trickles down, so named partners in law firms are the top dogs with decision-making power. In large law firms, executive committees or management committees often have the final say on major decisions affecting their firms.

Without giving away all the twists and turns in this particular story, Mitch McDeere's firm's management committee has a life-altering decision to make. But spoiler alert, the desired decision is not made. Both Mitch and the senior partner presented all the reasons why the desired decision should be made, but some people stayed away from the office so that they would not be forced to vote. (Sound like a stalement in the U.S. Congress?) This type of stalemate was bad. Even worse, a lawyer's life was on the line.

While most leaders would never encounter this type of scenario, they do find themselves making hard decisions on a daily basis. I would hope that they realize that their decisions make an impact on their employees, who are real people, rather than just a number on paper.

QUESTION: Which product, or product line, stands out as a symbol of leadership?
DEBBIE LASKEY: Without a doubt, my choice is Mattel's iconic Barbie doll, introduced in 1959. According to Mattel, "Barbie recognizes all female role models. The 'Barbie Inspiring Women Series' pays tribute to the incredible heroines of their time; courageous women who took risks, changed rules, and paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before."

While some may think Barbie is just a doll, I beg to differ. She has evolved both in style and shape over the years, so much so that people don't notice or talk about her hourglass figure anymore. Instead, there are Barbie dolls who represent a myriad of professions and situations. In fact, since 2019, the Barbie line has expanded to include Barbie dolls with a wheelchair, prosthetic limbs, hearing aids, vitiligo, and more. In 2023, Mattel launched a Barbie with Down syndrome and worked closely with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to ensure that the doll's aesthetics, clothing, accessories, and packaging were accurate.

Also, she was the star of last year's blockbuster film, and people flocked to movie theaters, many people more than once, all wearing the color pink.

There is a reason that the Barbie doll tagline is "A doll can help change the world. You can be anything."

QUESTION: Lastly, which brand is the best embodiment of an industry leader, and why?

DEBBIE LASKEY: My choice is Starbucks, because Howard Schultz saw a popular coffee drinking industry in Europe and brought it to America. The coffee cafe industry re-energized the coffee industry, new products were introduced (for example, Pumpkin Spice Latte celebrated its 20th birthday in 2023), and other coffee cafes sprung up to offer competition for Starbucks.

According to MBAKNOL.com, "Is it possible to convince ordinary Americans who routinely open 3-pound value cans of coffee, shovel the grounds into a paper filter, push a button, and go about their business to suddenly change their ways? Will this eventually evolve into a $1400 per year habit of a latte each day? The answer to these questions, according to Starbucks, is 'absolutely!'"

Did these questions open your eyes to think about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope.
 

Image Credits: Debbie Laskey, iStockphoto, Amazon, and Classroom Clipart.

Monday, March 11, 2024

Marketing News of the Week: Oscars and More


Oscars, Oscars, and more Oscars. Sure, the little gold statue made news this week, but there was some other marketing news too.

OSCAR CEREMONIES

According to MarketingDive, "Disney Advertising sold out of advertising inventory for ABC’s Oscars telecast Sunday. The film awards show’s 96th ceremony attracted brands representing 17 categories, including apparel, automotive, consumer packaged goods, entertainment and healthcare. Airbnb, Dunkin’, Procter & Gamble, Pfizer, Southwest Airlines and Walmart were among some of the brands who advertised. Healthy demand is a sign that advertisers continue to value live programming, and the Oscars, specifically, for the event’s ability to reach young, affluent, and multicultural consumers, according to Disney."

The "Barbenheimer" cultural phenomenon, the term created for both "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" that were released last summer was a boon to studios and theaters that are still trying to recover from the post-pandemic slump and convince consumers that making the trip to multiplexes is worth the extra costs over streaming at home.

And yet, back to the term BARBENHEIMER...when was the last time that a movie got a different name by competing against other movies? Not in recent memory. Score one for brand marketing. According to Reid Goldberg at Collider, "The Barbenheimer phenomenon has become a global sensation and proven that cross-promotion can benefit competing blockbusters." And also stimulate the economy.

Lastly, what do you think of the winners? Did you see all the films nomimated for best picture? Although I saw BARBIE, OPPENHEIMER, and WONKA, I have to admit that the films did not live up to all the hype.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
March 8th was an important day on the equality calendar: International Women's Day, a global holiday celebrated annually to commemorate the cultural, political, and socio-economic achievements of women. It also brings attention to the women’s rights movement, focusing attention on gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

First celebrated in 1909 in New York City as "Women’s Day," the holiday was celebrated in 1911 by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. International Women’s Day was adopted as a global holiday by the United Nations in 1977.

Some brands stood out by their celebrations. Here are a couple:

(1) One example was Vermont Teddy Bear, who wrote in an email, "Today, and everyday, we celebrate all women including the hardworking team of fierce females behind our Teddy Bears and Stuffed Animals."

(2) Another example was the Los Angeles Dodgers, who shared on Twitter/X a quote from a co-owner and former tennis star Billie Jean King, "International Women's Day puts focus on women and the importance of women in all our lives. Let's focus on our contributions to society and do positive things for all women."

WOLVERINE and #WOMANMADE
Accoring to MarketingDive, "Boot maker Wolverine is kicking off Women's History Month with a purpose-driven campaign centered around gendered language that undermines inclusivity in the skilled trades, namely the absence of 'woman-made' in the dictionary alongside 'man-made.' The effort includes a Change.org petition that seeks to add 'women-made' to the Oxford English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, and Dictionary.com. Change.org petitions have remained a playful way for brands to draw attention to purpose-driven campaigns."

Lauren King, Director of Branding at Wolverine explained, "In addition to our goal of getting 'woman-made' added to the dictionary, we hope to inspire girls and women around the world to have the confidence to pursue any passion, especially within the skilled trades where women are drastically underrepresented."

Also, since statistics show that over half of American homes are sustained by women, yet they remain underrepresented in the skilled trades, Wolverine is partnering with Girls Garage, a design and construction school for girls and gender-expansive youths ages 9-18, and donating $25,000 to the organization. Founded in 2013, Girls Garage is the first-ever design and building workshop for female-identifying youth in the United States.

What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? There's always something happening that impacts marketing, so tune in to #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!

Image Credit: Pantone.

Change.org Petition by Wolverine:
https://www.change.org/p/add-woman-made-to-the-dictionary

Wolverine's Woman Made page:
https://www.wolverine.com/US/en/woman-made/

Friday, March 8, 2024

Celebrate International Women’s Day with Susan Colantuono


Over the last 15 years, thanks to social media, I have had the privilege of meeting inspiring marketing, branding, customer experience, leadership, and social media experts. One of these experts is Susan Colantuono, a leadership expert based in Rhode Island, who has graciously appeared on my blog several times and shared inspiring commentary about leadership and gender equality. Due to Susan's areas of expertise, she is an excellent choice to appear on my blog today.

Today, March 8th, is an important day on the equality calendar: it is International Women’s Day, a global holiday celebrated annually to commemorate the cultural, political, and socio-economic achievements of women. It also brings attention to the women’s rights movement, focusing attention on gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

First celebrated in 1909 in New York City as "Women’s Day," the holiday was celebrated in 1911 by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. International Women’s Day was adopted as a global holiday by the United Nations in 1977.

To recognize and celebrate today’s significance, I welcome Susan Colantuono back to my Blog. Highlights of our conversation about leadership and gender equality follow a brief introduction.

Susan Colantuono is the founder of Be Business Savvy. She is an internationally renowned author, speaker, and mentor/coach. She discovered, developed, and introduced to the world a definition of leadership and four keys that have transformed women’s leadership development and initiatives to close the leadership gender gap - including The Missing 33 percent of the career success equation for women. Her TED Talk entitled, "The Career Advice You Probably Didn't Get" has nearly 4.5 million views.

QUESTION: Dictionary.com selected "woman" as its word of the year for 2022, because searches for the word doubled during 2022 when compared to previous years. During the Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, she was asked, "Can you provide a definition for the word 'woman'?" She responded that she could not. During 2022, Roe vs. Wade was overturned and women began mass protests in Iran. As this marketing news showed, words matter. What are your thoughts about this word selection, especially today on International Women's Day?

SUSAN COLANTUONO: First of all, celebrating International Women’s Day is exponentially harder for us in the U.S. than it was two years ago. Like everyone else, I see through my worldview, and right now, my particular worldview has me furious at the Republican war on women in the U.S. As far as the definition of the word "woman," the politicization of it infuriates me.

That's why, if pushed, I would say that a woman is anyone for whom giving birth is a possibility and the decision to give birth or not should be a private decision between her and her doctor. I realize that I’m leaving out those who identify and experience the world as women, but do not have a womb. And leaving out women who are infertile. This illustrates the difficulty of attempting to define the word.

QUESTION: What do you think Susan B. Anthony would think about the current state of American politics, especially since the The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear former President Trump's appeal of a judicial decision barring him from Colorado's Republican primary ballot in advance of the 2024 presidential election?

SUSAN COLANTUONO: As you would guess from above, I'd say she’d be appalled. Misogyny (including disastrous media coverage) and Russian interference lost the election for Hillary Clinton in 2016. As a result, women's rights, voting rights, and democracy are all under siege.

I follow the legal proceedings closely. It's not lost on me that the twice impeached, 91 times indicted former president is not arguing his innocence on the D.C. charges. His legal maneuvering is all about delaying the trial. The insurrectionist has no business being on the ballot in any state. Don't get me started on the ethics issues with SCOTUS.

QUESTION: I wrote a blog post introducing 15 people from history and the modern era who would be MY guests at an amazing dinner party. Who would you invite to YOUR dinner party? No limit to the number of seats at your table!

(Read the full post at this link: https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/06/my-amazing-dinner-party-of-15.html)

SUSAN COLANTUONO: I'm chuckling because my preference for introversion means I would never set a dinner table for 15 guests! So, for my more intimate dinners I would invite:

Dinner 1 = 5 former F500 women CEOs including: Anne Mulcahy (Xerox), Indra Nooyi (PepsiCo), Ursula Burns (Xerox), Andrea Jung (Avon), and Denise Morrison (Campbell Soup).

Dinner 2 = 5 global business thought leaders: Ram Charan, Renee Mauborgne, Henry Mintzberg, Rita McGrath, and Daniela Amodei.

Dinner 3 = 5 historical women: Boudicca, Joan of Arc, Barbara Jordan, Sojourner Truth, and Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

I get chills just thinking about sharing a table with these 15 amazing people.

QUESTION: When I was in graduate school in the mid-1990’s, one of my tenured professors said to the class, "Women don’t belong in grad school. They belong at home in the kitchen." How would you have responded?

SUSAN COLANTUONO: If I were as quick on my feet as U.S. Congresswoman Bella Abzug, I'd have replied, "Yes, women do belong in the House...and also in the Senate" - not to mention in grad school as faculty and heading up graduate programs.

But, alas, I'm not, so I probably would have just stammered something like, "That’s your biased and unfounded opinion, and I'm not the first to prove you wrong."

QUESTION: Marilyn Loden coined the term "glass ceiling" when speaking on a panel at the 1978 Women’s Exposition in New York City. According to the Washington Post, “When her turn came to speak, she thought about how she had been tasked at her company to explore why more women weren’t entering management positions. She had gathered enough data that she felt confident that the problem extended beyond what her colleagues were wearing or saying. Loden explained, ‘It seemed to me there was an invisible barrier to advancement that people didn’t recognize, a glass ceiling.’” While it’s been more than 40 years, the problem persists. Many well-known women have used the term including Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Aretha Franklin, and Oprah Winfrey. How do you think women can shatter the "glass ceiling?"

SUSAN COLANTUONO: Let me be provocative here. Women can't shatter the "glass ceiling." But we CAN be prepared to capitalize on opportunities to rise above it and then change the dynamics that create it. But until we're above it, we can't shatter it. Managers (mostly men) create the glass ceiling, and we do women a disservice by calling on us to shatter it.

The conversation on women's advancement needs to put greater pressure on managers to end the formal and informal policies, practices and procedures that create barriers to women's advancement. It needs to shift to put pressure on managers to change their mindsets about women and men, leadership, and careers that disadvantage women and advantage men.

We need to continue to prepare women to prepare for, ask for, and accept opportunities. We especially need to foster the acquisition of business, financial, and strategic acumen so more women are seen as "partners in the business" and viable candidates for advancement.

SHARE THIS: Managers (mostly men) create the glass ceiling, and we do women a disservice by calling on us to shatter it. ~Susan Colantuono #DebbieLaskeysBlog


SHARE THIS: We need to continue to prepare women to prepare for, ask for, and accept opportunities. ~Susan Colantuono #DebbieLaskeysBlog


QUESTION: Erika Andersen, a leadership expert and author, wrote, "Great leaders don't do it alone...they get help." What does this quote mean to you?

SUSAN COLANTUONO: For women, asking for help is a double-edged sword. Some managers will see it as an indication of ineptitude (see mindsets above). So we often have to be careful how we ask. I advise women to make Courageous ASKs - requests that are straightforward and made from a position of strength.

That said, every successful man or woman has gotten where they are because other people helped them. The former CEO of Coke, Muhtar Kent, once said at a conference that "asking for help" was a success factor in his career. Anne Mulcahy as CEO of Xerox asked for help with financial acumen from someone in her Finance department.

Whether we lead as individual contributors, first line supervisors/team leads, managers at whatever level, or executives - none of us can do it alone and be successful!

My profound thanks to Susan for returning to my blog and sharing her inspiring thoughts!


Image Credit: Hudson Hintze via Unsplash.


Check out previous appearances by Susan here on my blog:

Why Mentorship Is Important (July 2023)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/07/why-mentorship-is-important.html

Do You Use Your Voice to Lift Up Women Leaders? (December 2022)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/12/do-you-use-your-voice-to-lift-up-women.html

As We Celebrate 1920, Work Remains to See More Women in Top Leadership Roles (August 2021)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2021/08/as-we-celebrate-1920-work-remains-to.html

Connect with Susan at these links:
Website: https://bebusinesssavvy.com
Website: https://leadtosoar.network/landing
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancolantuono/

Here's the link to Susan's TED talk:
"The Career Advice You Probably Didn't Get"
https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_colantuono_the_career_advice_you_probably_didn_t_get

And the Transcript:
https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_colantuono_the_career_advice_you_probably_didn_t_get/transcript


Friday, March 1, 2024

Are You the Type of Leader Who Speaks Last?


If you’re not familiar with the name Hortense le Gentil, get ready to be inspired by some valuable leadership take-aways. She stands out wherever she appears in the digital landscape, whether as a guest writer, her own website, or on Twitter/X (where we met) - and now, here on my blog. Recently, Hortense and I had a discussion about leadership, and highlights follow a brief introduction.

Hortense le Gentil is a world-renowned executive leadership coach, speaker, and author. Her coaching work focuses on CEOs and senior executives on their journey from hero leaders to human leaders. She is the author of the widely acclaimed book Aligned, and recently released her latest book entitled, The Unlocked Leader: Dare to Free Your Own Voice, Lead With Empathy, and Shine Your Light in the World. Le Gentil’s thought leadership is informed by 30 years in business, working across industries including media consulting and advertising, and as an entrepreneur. Her thought-leadership has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., Business Insider, and ThriveGlobal.com. Le Gentil grew up in France, where she was a competitive show jumper during her youth.

QUESTION: You included an inspirational quote in an article for Fast Company: "The most effective human leaders are those who have successfully re-positioned their role from quarterback to coach. Their job is no longer to handle the ball and score points; it is to inspire and support the players to give the best of themselves and make sure they play as a team so together they can score points. In other words, leading requires different attributes and behaviors than managing." Can you please elaborate as to how this plays out in office scenarios where office politics, silos, and big egos exist.

(Read full article here: “Why leaders should always speak last” at https://www.fastcompany.com/90965196/why-leaders-should-always-listen-first-and-speak-last)

HORTENSE LE GENTIL: It's a profound shift from being a "doer" to a "facilitator." In the throes of office politics and strong egos, it's the leader's duty to create an empowering atmosphere where each person feels safe to express themselves and knows that their contributions are valued and heard. This requires a leader to adopt new tools and skills. A clear vision is paramount — as the captain of the ship, you must communicate this vision to your team. You must become adept at listening and understanding – speak less, and when you do, speak last to ensure everyone's voice is heard. Leadership is about understanding what drives you and your team. Be like a real-life Ted Lasso! This is not just a change of actions but a transformation of mindset.

SHARE THIS: As a leader, speak last to ensure everyone's voice is heard. ~@hortenseleg #LeadershipTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog


QUESTION: Your book is entitled, THE UNLOCKED LEADER. What are three take-aways you hope every reader has?
HORTENSE LE GENTIL: I hope readers will embrace three key takeaways: first, that being a human leader requires immense courage — it's not a sign of weakness but of strength. Second, I want readers to be able to identify the mindtraps that are holding them back, the places where they're stuck. And finally, the goal is to initiate a mindshift, a change in mindset that opens the door to self-discovery and allows people to begin writing their own story in their own authentic voice.

QUESTION: You describe your mission as "helping executives on their journeys from hero leaders to human leaders." Those can be very different types of individuals. What are some of your secrets?
HORTENSE LE GENTIL: My work guiding executives from hero leaders to human leaders is rooted in empathy. I listen intently, strive to understand their challenges, and help them confront their fears without any judgment. My role is to accompany them on their journey, providing a space where they can be vulnerable, and discover their own authentic leadership style.

QUESTION: You are originally from France, and my summer internship during graduate school was in the Consumer Marketing Department at Disneyland Paris. How are corporate cultures different in France (from the United States); and how are leaders different in the two countries?
HORTENSE LE GENTIL: I hesitate to generalize, however, I've observed that France, with its rich history, tends to be more anchored in the past than corporate culture in the United States. The U.S., with its diverse immigrant heritage, generally exhibits more openness to reinvention. While it's an oversimplification, French leaders tend to lean toward a more traditional "hero" leadership style, whereas. in the United States, there's a greater embrace of "human" leadership approaches. Of course, both countries have a mix of both styles!

QUESTION: Which three leaders from business or history inspire you, and why?
HORTENSE LE GENTIL: The leaders who inspire me include Gandhi, for his inspiring story of abandoning a life of comfort and embarking on a journey to deeply understanding the heart of his country before leading it to change. In terms of business leaders, I find two particularly inspiring: Satya Nadella, for his humility and ability to transform the culture of Microsoft informed by personal experiences; and John Donohoe, who exemplifies resilience and empathy, creating a narrative of success through collaboration. Each of these leaders showcases the power of human leadership to inspire and enact meaningful change.

My gratitude and appreciation to Hortense for appearing on my Blog and for sharing her inspiring leadership insights.

Image Credit: WordSwag and Hortense le Gentil.


Connect with Hortense at these links:
Website: https://www.hortenselegentil.com
The Unlocked Leader Book: https://www.hortenselegentil.com/theunlockedleader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hortenselegentil
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/hortenseleg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hortenselegentil/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hortenselg/

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Does Your Brand Celebrate Leap Year?

The rarity of February 29, also known as Leap Day causing the year to be referred to as a Leap Year, appears on the calendar every four years and has long inspired marketers to get creative.

But first, a little history about the day. According to PieceofCakeMarketing, "The tradition of adding an extra day to the calendar during leap years, specifically on February 29th, has its origins in Roman superstitions. It was considered an inauspicious day for many activities. Some Romans believed that it was a day of bad luck, which led to the tradition of avoiding major events, such as, marriages and business transactions on that day. Today, Leap Day serves the practical purpose of keeping our calendar in sync with the Earth’s orbit."

Here are some promotional themes for your brand to use on Leap Day:

(1) Leap Day happens once every four years, so use "once every four years" messaging

(2) February 29 is an "extra day" in the month, so customers can take advantage of "extra" savings

(3) Since Leap Day is the 29th day of February, promote a product or service at the $29 price point or offer $29 off a regular price; offer free shipping with a minimum of $29 spent; highlight products or services with "29" in their prices (e.g., $299, $2,900, etc.), or if appropriate, promote a "buy one and get two for $29"

(4) Add the concept of "leaping" into your brand messaging, e.g., "leap into" the spring fashion collection, garden accessories, etc.

(5) Because of the association between Leap Day and frogs (hence the term "leap"), incorporate a leaping frog into your marketing promotions

(6) Add a new hashtag to your marketing, e.g., #LeapDay2024

(7) Offer ridiculous promotions for your lucky customers with birthdays on February 29th - the chance of someone having this rare, once-every-four-years birthday is only 1 in 1,461

(8) Make a difference/Pay it forward: In some cultures, it is considered a tradition to perform acts of charity or kindness on Leap Day. People might make an extra effort to help those in need, donate to charity, or engage in random acts of kindness. Perhaps, your leadership team might close the office early ‌in order to do volunteer work.

Who are some brands with Leap Day promotions this year?

The Seattle Kraken hockey team will play the Pittsburgh Penguins in a special "Leap Year Night" presented by Pitchbook on February 29.

Jeremiah's Italian Ice, the premiere frozen dessert brand based in Orlando, Florida, is "hopping" back through time during February with its new Leap Back campaign, designed to celebrate the brand's journey over the past three decades by giving back to its guests. The brand's first-ever Leap Back campaign includes a full month of promotions for J-List loyalty members, culminating in a Leap Day celebration at all locations, with throwback pricing of $0.96 treats all day long for J-List members to honor the year it all began: 1996 (another Leap Year).

Home Run Inn, Chicago's very own thin crust pizza, announced a National Pizza Day offer for those with a Leap Year Birthday of February 29th. To mark the holiday, Home Run Inn will give away FREE pizza for a year, to the first 29 leap year babies whose birthday is on February 29. To redeem the offer, the first 29 customers must present a valid ID showing their birthdate as February 29 to Home Run Inn's Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/homeruninn/) by 11:59PM CST on February 29th to receive 12 frozen classic crust pizzas on the house. This offer is valid from February 9 through February 29, 2024.

Who could forget what Zappos did to celebrate Leap Day in 2016?

Zappos asked fans and customers to sign the petition to make Leap Day a national holiday. According to Digiday, Zappos gave "all of its employees a paid day off in hopes of inspiring employees and consumers to #TakeTheLeap and use it to do something they’ve always wanted to do."

And who could forget what Krispy Kreme did to celebrate Leap Day in 2020?

According to FoxNews, "Krispy Kreme announced its new nationwide delivery program to launch on February 29 with partner DoorDash to facilitate delivery from nearly all of its 350-plus U.S. locations, to folks within 10 miles of a doughnut shop. And because this promotion launches on Leap Day, Krispy Kreme is planning to send special deliveries to hospitals' maternity wards within the delivery range. To receive the doughnuts, families or staffers at those hospitals are required to share news of their Leap-Day deliveries, using hashtag #KrispyKremeSpecialDelivery and tagging @KrispyKreme on Twitter and Instagram."

Dave Skena, Chief Marketing Officer of Krispy Kreme, explained, "Krispy Kreme doughnut delivery is pretty sweet, and so are Leap Day babies. Using 2020’s extra day to make the leap to national delivery, while celebrating Leap Day babies, will be a fun moment for our brand and fans."

Some final words from PieceofCakeMarketing, "February 29th provides a golden opportunity to think creatively and connect your product or service with the spirit of leap day. With thoughtful planning and execution, your campaigns can earn valuable media coverage, drive user engagement, and foster brand loyalty."

So what will your brand do to leap apart from the competition on Leap Day?

SHARE THIS: February 29 provides a golden opportunity to think creatively and connect your product or service with the spirit of #LeapDay. ~@POCakeMarketing #DebbieLaskeysBlog


Image Credit: Home Run Inn and Jeremiah's Italian Ice.

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Recent Marketing News: Product Launches, Banking, Social Media and More


During the past few weeks, there were news stories that reflected new product launches, personal branding, corporate sponsorship, and more.

TIGER WOODS NEW BRAND ANNOUNCEMENT
Remember the marketing news discussed here on this blog back on January 22nd? I wrote, "Golf legend Tiger Woods and Nike ended their advertising partnership that began in 1996. According to Tiger, "Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world. The days since have been filled with so many amazing moments and memories...Phil Knight's passion and vision brought this Nike and Nike Golf partnership together, and I wanted to personally thank him." I asked, "Does this mean that another co-branding and advertising partnership is on the horizon?"

Well, less than two months later, here's the announcement according to GolfWeek: "The worst-kept secret in golf was officially unveiled: Tiger Woods and TaylorMade have partnered to launch a new premium active-lifestyle apparel and footwear brand. According to TaylorMade CEO David Abeles, "This was not an endorsement, but instead, a full-blown, unequivocal partnership with Tiger...We're going to sunrise a brand, Sun Day Red, as a standalone business."

COCA-COLA'S NEW FLAVOR
Coca-Cola has launched its newest flavor, Coca-Cola Spiced, to cater to tastes changing along with America's demographics. The company explained that the new Spiced flavor blends the traditional Coke flavor with raspberry and spiced flavors. It will be available both in full sugar and zero-sugar varieties as well as in both cans and bottles. According to Coke's VP of Marketing for North America, Sue Lynne Cha, "Spiced was selected because it's all about being responsive to our consumer preferences. Consumers are looking for more bold flavors and more complex flavor profiles. That's a trend we started to see in food, but also in beverage, and we thought that was a unique space for us to play in."

POP TARTS
William "Bill" Post recently passed away, and while you may not recognize his name, you will definitely recognize his claim to fame: He was credited with inventing the beloved Pop Tart breakfast treat. He was one of seven children born to Dutch immigrants in Michigan, and at the age of 16, he went to work at the Hekman Biscuit Company. After serving in the military during World War II, he returned to Hekman and worked in various divisions of the business. After 20 years, he was plant manager of Hekman, later known as the Keebler Company, and he invented the concept of "a shelf-stable toaster pastry" that was brought to market in the span of four short months. Pop Tarts made their debut in 1964 with four original flavors: strawberry, blueberry, brown sugar cinnamon, and apple-currant; and today, 60 years later, there are between 20-30 flavors at any time with new flavors constantly in development.

STARBUCKS PARTNERS WITH BANK OF AMERICA

Starbucks customers who use a Bank of America card will now get additional cash back for their purchases as part of a new partnership between the two companies. However, in order to be eligible for rewards and cash back, a customer must be a member of the Starbucks Rewards program and either use Bank of America online banking or Bank of America Mobile Banking.

CAPITAL ONE'S PURCHASE OF DISCOVER
Capital One announced that it will acquire Discover Financial Services for $35.5 billion in an all-stock deal; and the deal will close in late 2024 or early 2025. Discover is considerably smaller than the other three major credit card networks in the United States: Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. But with the acquisition of Discover, Capital One will have a major leg up against competing credit card-issuing banks, such as, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup.

CHICAGO CUBS' SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
According to the Daily Mail, "The Chicago Cubs were forced to rapidly change their marketing campaign ahead of the new MLB season after fans claimed its slogan resembled an X-rated term. Four days before their spring-training schedule begins, the Cubs released a promo video on their social-media pages to build anticipation for the 2024 season. However, fans were quick to poke fun at the team for using the hashtag: 'YouHaveToCIt'. What seemed a clever marketing tweak to the phrase 'you have to see it' quickly backfired as several users on X (formerly Twitter) pointed out the rude meaning it could have if read as an unfortunate typo. And after realizing their error, the Cubs later edited their post to include a new hashtag of 'YouHaveToSeeIt'."

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL UNIFORMS
When you watch a professional baseball game, do you pay attention to the uniforms? Most of the time, the home team wears white. Other teams, such as the Colorado Rockies, have four different uniform color choices. For the 2024 season, Major League Baseball hired Nike to design new uniforms, and they are being manufactured by Fanatics. However, many players are complaining about the poor quality, the smaller letters and numbers on the jerseys, and the fact that the pants are see-through!

According to MLB officials, “The new uniforms improve mobility by providing 25 percent more stretch and will also dry 28 percent faster. The lettering, sleeve emblems, and numbering are less bulky in an attempt to make uniforms more breathable and comfortable.” Players and fans hope improvements are made before Opening Day so that the everyone can focus on the brand (baseball games) versus product packaging (the uniforms).

EIFFEL TOWER STRIKE
Strikes can impact local economies, and more so, if the people who go on strike work at a tourist attraction. The Eiffel Tower in Paris welcomes nearly 7 million visitors each year and is the defining image of the French capital and the “city of lights” brand. So how can workers who maintain the Eiffel Tower go on strike? Eiffel Tower employees went on strike for six days and demanded changes to the landmark’s business model and better maintenance of the structure, which is showing widespread traces of rust. Since the Paris Olympics are set to begin in July, the 135-year-old attraction will feature prominently (in tourist visits as well as in all forms of media coverage).

TWITTER REBRANDED – OR DID IT?
How valuable is a name? If you’re a well-known international brand, there is incredible equity, association, and positioning resulting from a brand’s name – think of Disney, Nike, Coca-Cola, to name a few. But in the case of X, other than Elon Musk, who will admit to calling the social platform X? The reality is that most of us refer to the social platform as “X, formerly known as Twitter.” This is certainly not what Musk envisioned when he changed the name in July 2023 and rebranded the platform – especially since the URL continues to be twitter.com and even x.com redirects to the original link. According to Wikipedia, “A few days after the rebrand took effect, an AP Stylebook update recommended that journalists refer to the platform as “X, formerly known as Twitter;” and in September 2023, The Harris Poll noted that the rebranding had not publicly caught on, with the majority of users as well as notable brands still referring to X as Twitter.”

According to CNN Business, “Twitter pervaded every part of online life and popular culture. In 2011, the phrase “tweet” was added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, and “retweet” was added to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary in the same year.” According to Ramon Jimenez, Global Principal at brand consultancy Wolff Olins, “Twitter became one of the few companies with a product experience so unique that its brand name has become synonymous with a behavior. We tweet, we Google, and so on.”

SUPER BOWL VIEWERSHIP
And, did you hear that an estimated 123.4 million people watched Super Bowl 58 on February 11, 2024, across all platforms? That number was the most-watched American television broadcast in a generation, so large, in fact, that it approached the all-time most-watched television broadcast in the United States set in 1969, when an estimated 125 to 150 million viewers watched the Apollo 11 moon landing, according to ABC News.

Of course, we could chalk up the reason for the high viewership to the ads - even though the football game was probably the most exciting of all Super Bowls, since the winner was decided in the final seconds of OVERTIME. But again, there were those $7 million ads!

What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? There's always something happening that impacts marketing, so tune in to #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!


Image Credits: Tiger Woods/TaylorMade, Coca-Cola, and Pop Tarts.