Wisdom.MBA

Stix Nilsen has built an incredible career in lifestyle brand marketing. Starting in 2004, Stix was the Sport Marketing Manager for Red Bull North America, working with the biggest names in action sports. He then went on to work as the Lifestyle Marketing Manager for Pabst Blue Ribbon. The marketing campaigns done during that time helped revitalize the brand which has been around since the mid-1800s. During his tenure, the Pabst Brewing Company portfolio grew to almost $1 Billion in revenue. Stix has worked as a consultant for White Claw and is now the Vice President of Lifestyle Marketing for Liquid Death Mountain Water, a company that recently secured a Series C round of funding putting its total backing to date at $50 million. Liquid Death’s cap table has names on it like Tony Hawk, Wiz Khalifa, Steve Aoki and more. Stix and the team at Liquid Death continue to do extremely creative marketing and the company is quickly changing how water is marketed, sold and consumed.

Stix has a unique perspective on team building, grassroots marketing, branding and authenticity. He is a high energy and fast-moving marketing guru who cares about giving back to others. Stix has a BA in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Hamline University and is a mentor at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado.

This is a fun episode with some incredible insights for anyone interested in brand marketing, action sports or innovative start-ups looking to disrupt commodity markets with punk rock sensibilities. 

Discussion Topics:

(1:53) The return of summer music festivals.

(6:37) Red Bull’s entry into the North American market.

(13:52) Red Bull marketing the heads of its athletes.

(18:18) Red Bull’s attention to detail and cutting-edge events.

(27:37) Pabst Blue Ribbon 100x increase in sales through grassroots marketing.

(35:27) The ROI of long-term marketing efforts at Pabst.

(42:00) PBR’s outlook in a post-Pandemic world.

(50:00) Liquid Death’s approach to comedy and viral ads.

(58:56) Becoming a great brand while doing good.

(1:04:03) Raising $50M with celebrity investors.

(1:10:01) Building the coolest marketing team ever.

(1:15:54) Stix advice for others looking to get into action sports and marketing.

Des Martin is the Vice President of Marketing at Brave Software, responsible for leading marketing and growth for the Brave browser. Brave is a free, privacy-focused browser that blocks third-party ads and trackers. Users retain guardianship of their data and have a faster and safer browsing experience. Integrated into the browser is a token called the Basic Attention Token ("BAT") which anyone can buy and sell on most cryptocurrency exchanges. Users also earn BAT while browsing and can pay BAT to publishers to access and support digital content and services online. I believe that BAT and Brave represent one of the most interesting projects in the crypto spaces which aims to disrupt the $330 billion digital advertising industry. Des is part of a world-class team at Brave, which includes Brendan Eich, the creator of JavaScript, Mozilla, Firefox.

Des is a crypto evangelist and highly experienced digital marketer. He and I discuss the recent volatility in the entire crypto space, Elon Musk’s crypto endgame, bitcoin as an inflation hedge, monetizing attention, Brave and Basic Attention Tokens, the Internet of Value, Web 3.0, and the future of digital marketing. Des also shares his wisdom and guidance for anyone looking to make a career in crypto and where you should focus your attention to do so.

Discussion Topics:

(1:50) Bitcoin’s recent dip in price.

(5:45) Elon Musk’s crypto endgame.

(12:08) Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation.

(15:19) Brave mission to put privacy first.

(19:16) Governance and controls related to user privacy.

(23:46) Brave’s user adoption & growth.

(28:00) Basic Attention Tokens.

(30:08) The Internet of Value.

(35:25) Digital Marketing’s crisis of consciousness. 

(43:10) Advice for anyone looking to make a career in crypto.

(50:26) Rapid fire questions.

Rahul Pagidipati is the CEO of ZebPay, India’s oldest and most widely used Bitcoin and crypto asset exchange, with over 3 million users and $3 billion worth of transactions. 

Prior to ZebPay, Rahul was a co-founded of Freedom Health which became the largest Private Health Insurance company in America with over $1.8 Billion in annual revenue. The company was acquired by Anthem in 2018. Along with his family office, Rahul has led investments in multiple "Unicorn" Healthcare companies.

Rahul has a JD/MBA from the Northwestern School of Law and Kellogg School of Management, and he has been investing in Blockchain and digital currencies since 2011.

Rahul and I talk about his early investments in Ethereum, what he thinks about Dogecoin, the future of digital assets, basic attention tokens, Ethereum 2.0 and more. If you are a crypto expert or beginner, there are plenty of great insights in this episode. We also talk about Rahul risking much of his personal wealth to acquire ZebPay despite the Reserve Bank of India’s ban on crypto-related payments – a move many felt was crazy but turned out to be an incredible investment once the Supreme Count of India reversed the ban. Finally, Rahul shares his wisdom on the future of business school education and he shares his advice for anyone seeking a career in crypto.

Discussion Topics:

(1:45) All things Ethereum.

(15:52) Acquiring ZebPay during the Reserve Bank of India’s ban on crypto-related payments.

(19:10) ZebPay acquisition investment thesis and risk-taking.

(21:50) Social impact, corporate social responsibility & Bitcoin as social enterprise.

(28:52) Mining Dogecoin back in 2014.

(31:28) Interesting NFT applications that is not art or collectables. 

(38:55) How co-founding Freedom Health helped prepare Rahul for success with ZebPay.

(44:00) MBA & business school advice.

(48:19) Basic Attention Tokens (BAT).

(49:27) The Metaverse pioneers and prisoners.

(58:22) Rapid fire questions.

Nate Bosshard is an entrepreneur, investor and brand builder of iconic, category-defining, multi-billion-dollar consumer brands. He has managed and re-positioned heritage brands through changing market dynamics, been on IPO rocketships, experienced being inside of company acquisitions and integrations.

 Nate has had an incredible and diverse career working as brand manager for Burton Snowboards, The North Face and GoPro. He was the co-founder of Tonal, the world’s most intelligent fitness system. Currently, he is the Founder and Managing Partner of Offline Ventures which has invested in companies like Clubhouse, Notion, and Hims & Hers which in 2019 was the second-fastest startup to become a unicorn after Bird. The company went from founding to an IPO in 4 years at a $1.6Bn valuation.

 Nate and I talk about anticipating cultural trends before they happen, the recent explosion of digital art and NFTs, The North Face/SUPREME collaborations that he helped build, his philosophy and methods for marketing major brands, venture capital and stealth projects that will help define new categories.

 Nate is very bright and has a gift for seeing opportunities and growth before others. He holds an MBA from Babson College and shares his thoughts and advice for students contemplating an MBA.

Nate has some really cutting-edge insights that you are not going to want to miss.

Discussion Topics:

(1:55) The future of digital art and NFTs.

(9:42) The North Face/SUPREME collaboration.

(12:40) Staying true to oneself while transitioning to different industries and roles.

(15:37) The intense curiosity needed to identify culture trends and VC opportunities.

(17:58) Hims and Hers explosive growth through data analytics, regulatory change and market tests.

(24:00) Qualities of that make a good founder from an investor standpoint.

(27:03) Managing the GoPro, The North Face and Burton Snowboard’s brands.

(30:15) Launching Tonal and the future of gym equipment post-COVID.

(35:37) What the next big thing will be.

(39:28) Why pursue an MBA?

(44:21) Rapid fire questions mostly focused on snowboarding.

Shannon McIntyre Hooper is a fellow classmate from the Duke University Fuqua School of Business Executive MBA program. Shannon talks about what it took for her to be awarded the coveted distinction of Fuqua Scholar, graduating in the 10% of our class. We also talk about what it was like to go back to campus for two weeks during COVID and how the experience changed our perspectives on business school education and networking.

Shannon is a healthcare innovation and business strategy enthusiast with experience and leadership in both start-up and corporate environments. Currently, she is the Chief Growth Officer of ReviveHealth, which recently won healthcare agency of the year for 2020; their clients include the nation’s leading hospitals and health systems, as well as health technology and services innovators. Shannon has been on the frontlines of helping hospitals navigate PR, marketing and communications during COVID-19, and she shares her insights into what that process has been like and her predictions for changes to healthcare technology moving forward.

Finally, Shannon has a deep understanding of stoic philosophy and she shares her wisdom for how stoicism can help make one a better CEO, executive and business leader.

Discussion Topics:

(2:10) Strategy for becoming Fuqua Scholar.

(5:40) Business School Bubble. Going back to campus for school during COVID-19.

(9:43) Stoicism in business and how stoic philosophy can make one a better business leader.

(27:04) Marketing, communications and strategy for hospitals dealing with COVID-19.

(30:44) Expected innovations for healthcare technology.

(35:28) Rapid fire questions.

Dan King is former CEO of ReadyTalk, a company he cofounded with his brother Scott in 2000.  ReadyTalk makes cloud-based conferencing and communications technology that more than 6,000 businesses use for virtual meetings, webinars and training sessions. Dan was recognized as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008 in the Software Services category. In 2017, ReadyTalk sold to Premiere Global Services Inc.

Dan has more than 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and related fields. Prior to ReadyTalk, Dan held senior positions in business development and financial management for ICG Communications.

Dan earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a MBA from the University of Colorado, where he also lettered in track and cross country. Still active in Masters athletics, Dan won a gold medal in 8K Cross Country at the 2011 World Masters Track and Field Championships. In 2012, Dan earned the title of World’s Fittest CEO® by winning the CEO Endurance World Championship. Last month, Dan set three American Records for running in his age category.

Dan is an incredibly inspiring person. We talk about how personal fitness can help one become a better CEO, the psychology of risk-taking and building a company after the dot.com bubble and exiting 17 years later.

Discussion Topics:

(2:00) Dan’s early years as a “ski bum” working for Vail and Breckenridge.

(5:10) Starting a business from scratch, raising $13.5 million and then losing funding a year later.

(11:25) The psychology of risk-taking.

(17:35) Advice for starting a business with family members.

(22:29) How founders and CEOs can become better salespeople.

(28:31) Dan discusses his business mentorship role with Techstars & Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network.

(30:34) Dan discusses his running career and using COVID lockdowns to improve his training and setting World records.

(35:53) Becoming the World’s Fittest CEO and how fitness helps improves one’s abilities as a CEO.

(39:43) Rapid fire questions.

Amanda Russell has been referred to as “Carrie Bradshaw meets fitness.” As an award-winning brand creator and international digital marketing strategist, Amanda helps companies re-imagine how they interact with their customers and manage their businesses in the new digital world.

She is the creator of Fit Strong and Sexy, an online fitness and lifestyle community for women. Amanda has been featured in publications including Forbes, The Huffington Post, Women’s Health Magazine, SELF and SHAPE. Selected as one of the world’s Most Popular YouTube Fitness Stars by Ryan Seacrest, Amanda knows first-hand what it takes to build a strong brand.

Amanda designed & co-created UCLA's Influencer Marketing course, the world’s first fully accredited program in Influencer Marketing. She has now brought that curriculum to the University of Texas at Austin and is in instituting it in universities across the globe.

Amanda and I discuss her new book “The Influencer Code: How to Unlock the Power of Influencer Marketing” as well as the state of marketing curriculum at Business schools. Amanda also shares her inspiring story of missing the Beijing Olympics due to a career ending injury and how she used that experience to a pivot and become a successful entrepreneur. 

Amanda has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Richmond, Robins School of Business and an MBA from Mercy College. 

Discussion Topics:

(3:07) How MBA programs should be updated to meet the changing nature of modern-day marketing.

(9:11) How to find and exercise one’s influence.

(10:38) Influencer marketing misconceptions: buzz vs. influence.

(13:15) How best to justify your marketing spend and win budget.

(18:14) Free versus paid advertising and attribution.

(25:40) Legal considerations for Influencer marketing.

(29:48) Amanda’s story of launching a business in NYC and early Youtube days.

(41:45) Rapid fire questions.

Sam Weeks earned his MBA from Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, funded by a scholarship from the Saïd foundation. He was named on the Dean’s list, elected Social Chair, and graduated with Distinction in 2018. 

Based in Amsterdam, Sam founded a consulting business with the purpose of leveling the playing field for international applicants, helping determined candidates get admitted into top business schools. International applicants often feel at a disadvantage expressing the nuanced differences between schools. Sam personally guides candidates through every step, supporting their application with his own experience and writing.

Prior to starting Sam Weeks Consulting, he worked as an Equity Derivatives Trader at IMC Trading. In addition to his MBA, Sam has a Master of Engineering degree from King’s College in London.

Sam and I talk about the business school admissions process and trends that he has seen in 2020, working directly with admissions officers. We compare stories of studying in the US versus the UK and why Said Business School was a great fit for him. We also discuss how business schools have adapted during COVID and I share my experience of being back on-campus at Duke this past September.

Sam shares a lot of great advice and wisdom for anyone looking to apply to business school. 

Discussion Topics:

(3:09) Sam’s decision to launch an MBA consulting business.

(5:57) Business application stats for 2020 and why schools are seeing increased applications.

(10:00) Advice for avoiding “achievement soup” in MBA application essays.

(15:00) Selecting the right business school.

(18:43) Oxford University’s Saïd Business School experience.

(29:35) The future of MBA program formats post-COVID.

Reggie Love is a true renaissance man and witness to history. Reggie was a political aide and former Duke football and basketball player. He was the captain and a starter for the Duke Men’s basketball team during his senior year. Reggie served as the special assistant and personal aide for President Barack Obama. He has traveled the world, met with world leaders, hung out with Jay-Z and Beyoncé and was at the President’s side during his campaign and while working in the White House.

Reggie and I discuss his best-selling book Power Forward: My Presidential Education. We talk about the inauguration, balancing academics and sports, and mentorship. Having worked directly with two incredible leaders (Coach K and Barack Obama), he shares his wisdom on different management styles and how to lead during uncertain times.

Reggie has a Bachelor of Science degree from Duke in Political Science and Government and an MBA from the Wharton. We talk about the challenges of balancing work and a rigorous MBA program and some of the hardest classes he took while at Wharton.

Discussion Topics:

(4:45) Preparing for the President’s Inauguration day speech.

(9:09) Duke Basketball and going from walk-on to team captain.

(15:14) Mentorship & volunteering to help others.

(20:04) Choosing a career path and advice for recent graduates.

(24:24) The Wharton MBA experience and the most challenging courses.

(28:54) Working one of the world’s largest alternative investment firms.

(31:01) Post-COVID economic recovery discussion.

(35:26) The similarities and differences of Obama & Coach K’s leadership styles.

(38:42) Rapid fire questions.

Helen Bulwik is an experienced CEO, board director, strategic advisor and executive mentor. Helen has been the CEO of six middle-market private equity-owned companies. She has led business development and client strategy for the retail management consulting practices of IBM, Accenture and the Tom Peters Group, and she started her career as a merchandiser for Macy’s. Helen has also served on more than a dozen private and public boards, and she has been the only female on every one of them. Helen has a Bachelor of Science and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.

Helen is also the founder of Pacific Art Group which has over 10,000 images, sold in over 122 countries. As a retail and eCommerce art guru, Helen talks about the art market, recent changes to retail and what company’s like Macy’s need to do be successful going forward. Helen also provides her advice for female executives looking to join corporate boards. Finally, we discuss why only 11% of business school cases involve female protagonists and what needs to take place in order to help change that.

Discussion Topics:

(2:55) Adjusting to COVID-10 lock downs from a business and personal standpoint.

(5:51) The global art market and growth in Chinese contemporary art.

(9:22) Trends in online art and the impact of COVID-19 on sales.

(15:25) Macy’s Inc. plan to reclaim luxury leadership.

(20:21) The future of retail post-COVID-19.

(23:04) Advice for female executives looking to join corporate boards.

(27:25) Female protagonists in business school cases.