Marketing Your Way Podcast

Ep 24: Two Decades of Brand Evolution: Inside Corcoran’s Human-First Marketing with CMO Christina Panos

What does it take to build a timeless brand that still feels deeply personal?
In this episode, Christina Panos, Chief Marketing Officer of The Corcoran Group, joins Anastasiia to share how she’s spent over 20 years shaping one of the most emotionally resonant brands in real estate.
From redefining Corcoran’s identity after Barbara Corcoran’s departure to leading a 65-person creative team, Christina shares what it means to build a human-first brand in a data-driven world. She opens up about the power of storytelling, the role of emotion in marketing, and how automation and AI are helping her team create more space for meaningful work.
Christina also gets candid about balancing motherhood and leadership in New York City — and how her definition of success has evolved through each season of her life.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
✔️ How Christina transitioned from journalism to advertising — and what drew her to brand storytelling
✔️ The philosophy behind Corcoran’s “Live Who You Are” campaign and why emotion is the most powerful marketing strategy
✔️ Why building team culture starts with joy, trust, and open communication
✔️ How Corcoran uses marketing automation to free up agents for human connection
✔️ Christina’s honest perspective on motherhood, leadership, and redefining success
✔️ The one thing AI will never replace — human creativity
Connect with Christina:
• Linkedin
• Instagram
• Website
 
Connect with Anastasiia:
• Weekly newsletter for women in marketing: Subscribe here
• Instagram @anastasiia_mann & LinkedIn
• Website: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com
 
Join the Marketing Your Way Community
AI and automation are changing marketing faster than ever — but you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s why I created the Marketing Your Way Community on Slack: a free space where women in marketing can share AI tools, swap automation workflows, and run ideas past each other.
Whether you’re leading a corporate team, running an agency, or freelancing on your own, you’ll find support, inspiration, and real-world examples you can put into action right away.
It’s free, it’s collaborative, and it’s built to help you work smarter, not harder. Join us here: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com/community
Thank you to our affiliate partners:
This episode is brought to you in partnership with two of my favorite tools for building and managing a marketing business:
✔️ AI Playbook - my favorite community for learning how to actually use AI to simplify your business and gain back 5 to 10 hours a week by automating your workflows. It’s hands-down the best resource I’ve found for marketers and entrepreneurs who want to leverage tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Relay, and more — without needing a tech degree.
Subscribe & Review
Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next.
Episode Website
 

From Side Hustle to Scaled Strategy: Vanessa Suarez on Building a Marketing Agency That Grows With You

What happens when your side hustle starts as a class project… and slowly grows into a full-fledged marketing agency?
In this episode, I’m joined by Vanessa Suarez, the founder and Chief Marketing Officer of VCD Marketing — a boutique agency that gives service-based businesses the strategy, structure, and support of an in-house marketing team (without the overhead).
Vanessa didn’t plan on becoming a business owner. She spent years in fundraising, studied graphic design, and was building her career in higher education when a professor saw her potential and encouraged her to form an LLC. From there, one small project led to another — until the “side hustle” became a calling.
In our conversation, we talk about:
✔️The emotional moment she decided to leave her full-time job
✔️Why strategy should always come before execution
✔️Signs a business is ready to invest in marketing
✔️The biggest mistake early-stage entrepreneurs make
✔️Building a lean freelance team that supports real growth
✔️Why your personal brand still matters — even in a referral-based business
Vanessa’s perspective is grounded, thoughtful, and full of permission to build your business in a way that works for you. Whether you’re starting your journey or scaling your services, this episode is your reminder: you don’t have to have it all figured out to begin.
Connect with Vanessa
• Linkedin
• Instagram
• Website
Connect with Anastasiia:
• Weekly newsletter for women in marketing: Subscribe here
• Instagram @anastasiia_mann & LinkedIn
• Website: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com
Join the Marketing Your Way Community
AI and automation are changing marketing faster than ever — but you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s why I created the Marketing Your Way Community on Slack: a free space where women in marketing can share AI tools, swap automation workflows, and run ideas past each other.
Whether you’re leading a corporate team, running an agency, or freelancing on your own, you’ll find support, inspiration, and real-world examples you can put into action right away.
It’s free, it’s collaborative, and it’s built to help you work smarter, not harder. Join us here: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com/community
Thank you to our affiliate partners:
This episode is brought to you in partnership with two of my favorite tools for building and managing a marketing business:
✔️ AI Playbook - my favorite community for learning how to actually use AI to simplify your business and gain back 5 to 10 hours a week by automating your workflows. It’s hands-down the best resource I’ve found for marketers and entrepreneurs who want to leverage tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Relay, and more — without needing a tech degree.
Subscribe & Review
Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next.
Episode Website
 
 

Rising Fast: Learning to Lead Early in Your Marketing Career with Addison Cursey

What does it really take to rise fast in your career — to step into leadership earlier than expected and do it with confidence, grace, and heart?
In this episode, Anastasiia sits down with Addison Cursey, Chief Marketing Officer at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, to talk about what it means to grow quickly in leadership and build influence without losing your authenticity.
Addison shares how she blended creativity and strategy to become a leader early in her career — and what she’s learned about dependability, trust, and showing up fully in every role. She opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, learning to delegate, and building credibility with a multigenerational team.
You’ll also hear Addison’s take on:
✔️ The difference between mentors and sponsors (and why you need both)
✔️ How to manage people who are older or more experienced than you
✔️ Why you should lead before you have the title
✔️ How storytelling can strengthen both your marketing and your leadership
✔️ The importance of rest rituals to prevent burnout
It’s an inspiring, down-to-earth conversation about rising fast, leading with confidence, and staying grounded along the way.
Connect with Addison
✔️LinkedIn: Addison Cursey
✔️ Winter Park Chamber YouTube Channel
 
 
Connect with Anastasiia:
• Weekly newsletter for women in marketing: Subscribe here
• Instagram @anastasiia_mann & LinkedIn
• Website: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com
 
Join the Marketing Your Way Community
AI and automation are changing marketing faster than ever — but you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s why I created the Marketing Your Way Community on Slack: a free space where women in marketing can share AI tools, swap automation workflows, and run ideas past each other.
Whether you’re leading a corporate team, running an agency, or freelancing on your own, you’ll find support, inspiration, and real-world examples you can put into action right away.
It’s free, it’s collaborative, and it’s built to help you work smarter, not harder. Join us here: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com/community
 
Thank you to our affiliate partners:
This episode is brought to you in partnership with two of my favorite tools for building and managing a marketing business:
✔️ Full Focus Planner — the only paper planner that’s ever helped me actually feel more in control of my time. Created by productivity expert Michael Hyatt, this planner is designed to help you set clear goals, stay focused on what matters most, and finally break free from the never-ending to-do list cycle.
✔️ Airtable — My go-to tool for organizing client projects, content calendars, and podcast production. If spreadsheets and Dropbox had a baby, it would be Airtable.
 
Subscribe & Review
Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next.
Episode Website
 
 

Boundaries, Burnout, and Building a PPC Agency: Kim Wright’s Story of Reinvention

After years in high-pressure agency roles, working in male-dominated industries and managing multimillion-dollar ad budgets, Kim Wright reached a breaking point. She knew the burnout wasn’t sustainable — and she knew she wanted more control, more integrity, and more freedom in her work.
Today, she’s the founder of Big Pecan PPC, a boutique Google Ads agency where she helps clients across the U.S. and internationally — all from her home in Texas (complete with a few cows on her ranch).
In this candid conversation, Kim shares how she overcame self-doubt, found her voice, and built a business around her values. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re “qualified enough” to go out on your own, this episode is for you.
1️⃣ How Kim navigated burnout and a toxic work culture in the automotive space
2️⃣ The mentors who helped her rebuild her confidence
3️⃣ Her decision to leave a director-level agency role and go freelance
4️⃣ Why boundaries and mutual respect are now non-negotiable in her business
5️⃣ The mindset shift that helped her finally believe she was ready
6️⃣ Her take on the future of Google Ads, AI search updates, and PPC trends
Connect with Kim
• LinkedIn: Kimberly Wright
• Email: kim@bigpecanppc.com
 
Connect with Anastasiia:
• Weekly newsletter for women in marketing: Subscribe here
• Instagram @anastasiia_mann & LinkedIn
• Website: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com
 
Join the Marketing Your Way Community
AI and automation are changing marketing faster than ever — but you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s why I created the Marketing Your Way Community on Slack: a free space where women in marketing can share AI tools, swap automation workflows, and run ideas past each other.
Whether you’re leading a corporate team, running an agency, or freelancing on your own, you’ll find support, inspiration, and real-world examples you can put into action right away.
It’s free, it’s collaborative, and it’s built to help you work smarter, not harder. Join us here: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com/community
 
Thank you to our affiliate partners:
This episode is brought to you in partnership with two of my favorite tools for building and managing a marketing business:
Squarespace — The all-in-one platform I recommend for building your first business website. Easy to customize, beautifully designed, and no coding required.
Airtable — My go-to tool for organizing client projects, content calendars, and podcast production. If spreadsheets and Dropbox had a baby, it would be Airtable.
 
Subscribe & Review
Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next.
Episode Website
 
 

From Oprah Winfrey Network to The League: Dana Bontemps on Redefining Success, Social Impact, and Storytelling That Matters

What does it really mean to build a career that blends purpose, performance, and personal truth?
In this episode of the Marketing Your Way Podcast, I sit down with Dana Bontemps, award-winning marketing leader and Chief Marketing Officer at The League. Dana has spent more than 20 years creating campaigns rooted in culture and impact, with leadership roles at VaynerMedia, Starcom/MediaVest, and as Head of Integrated Marketing at OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. Her work has earned Anthem, Effie, and even Daytime Emmy Awards — proof that storytelling can be both human and results-driven.
Dana opens up about:
1️⃣ Why your lived experience is your greatest edge in an automated world
2️⃣ What it’s really like to step into the Oprah Winfrey Network and work alongside Oprah’s team
3️⃣ How she redefined success after leaving NYC and moving into the nonprofit space
4️⃣ The role of curiosity and kindness in leadership — and how they fuel creativity
5️⃣ What it takes to drive social change in today’s overstimulated content environment
Whether you’re in corporate marketing, dreaming about your next chapter, or already building something of your own, Dana’s perspective is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t have to be linear — and that the very things that make you different are what make you valuable.
Connect with Dana:
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
Connect with Anastasiia:
• Weekly newsletter for women in marketing: Subscribe here
• Instagram @anastasiia_mann & LinkedIn
• Website: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com
Join the Marketing Your Way Community
AI and automation are changing marketing faster than ever — but you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s why I created the Marketing Your Way Community on Slack: a free space where women in marketing can share AI tools, swap automation workflows, and run ideas past each other.
Whether you’re leading a corporate team, running an agency, or freelancing on your own, you’ll find support, inspiration, and real-world examples you can put into action right away.
It’s free, it’s collaborative, and it’s built to help you work smarter, not harder. Join us here: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com/community
Thank you to our affiliate partners:
✔️ Make.com lets you connect the apps you already use — like Gmail, Airtable, Slack, or Canva — and build automations that run on autopilot. Think: new client signs a contract, and instantly their info gets added to your CRM, a welcome email goes out, and a Slack notification pings your team — all without you lifting a finger.
Subscribe & Review
Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next.Episode Website
 
 

Smarter Marketing with AI & Automations: How to Streamline Workflows in Corporate, Agencies, and Freelance

Marketing today feels heavier than ever — more platforms to post on, more reports to deliver, more pressure to perform. But here’s the good news: AI and automations can take the overwhelm off your plate and free you up to focus on the work that actually moves the needle.
In this solo episode, I share how AI and automation can streamline marketing at every level — whether you’re leading a corporate department, running an agency, or freelancing on your own. From onboarding team members to reporting dashboards, content repurposing to client onboarding flows, you’ll walk away with practical ideas you can start implementing right away.
Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:
✔️ A personal story about how automation saved my agency 10–15 hours each month on social media scheduling.
✔️ The big shift happening in marketing and why “working harder” isn’t sustainable anymore.
✔️ How corporate marketing leaders can use AI for onboarding, internal Q&A, meeting notes, and reporting.
✔️ Ways agencies can leverage automations for client onboarding, content planning, repurposing, and reporting.
✔️ How freelancers can set up automations to handle lead capture, proposals, invoicing, and content scheduling.
✔️ The mindset shift: why automation doesn’t take away your creativity — it gives it back to you.
✔️ Practical first steps to start automating without overwhelm.
Let’s Connect:
✔️ Weekly newsletter for women in marketing: Subscribe here
✔️ Instagram: @anastasiia_mann & LinkedIn
✔️ Website: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com
Join the Marketing Your Way Community
AI and automation are changing marketing faster than ever — but you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s why I created the Marketing Your Way Community on Slack: a free space where women in marketing can share AI tools, swap automation workflows, and run ideas past each other.
Whether you’re leading a corporate team, running an agency, or freelancing on your own, you’ll find support, inspiration, and real-world examples you can put into action right away.
It’s free, it’s collaborative, and it’s built to help you work smarter, not harder. Join us here: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com/community
Thank you to our affiliate partners:
✔️ Make.com lets you connect the apps you already use — like Gmail, Airtable, Slack, or Canva — and build automations that run on autopilot. Think: new client signs a contract, and instantly their info gets added to your CRM, a welcome email goes out, and a Slack notification pings your team — all without you lifting a finger.
Subscribe & Review
Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next.Episode Website
 

She Marketed the World’s Biggest Brands — Then Rebuilt Her Life From the Inside Out with Roisin Branch

What happens when the career you built — with all the right titles, all the right brands, and all the external success — no longer fits?
In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Roisin Branch, former Chief Marketing Officer at Fountain Life (founded by Tony Robbins and Peter Diamandis), who spent 20+ years leading marketing for iconic brands like Equinox, SoulCycle, and BLADE. She jokes that her LinkedIn reads like a Tinder profile for marketers — but in 2021, a near-fatal accident forced her to reevaluate everything.
We talk about:
• The signs of misalignment that high-achieving women often ignore
• Why fear, perfectionism, and “success on paper” can keep you stuck
• The moment she realized she was building other people’s dreams — not her own
• How to reconnect with your intuition and purpose (including a powerful visualization exercise you can try today)
• What to do if you feel like you’re meant for more… but aren’t sure what comes next
This one is for the woman quietly wondering, “Is this really it?” The fog might be thick — but clarity comes through momentum. Let’s dive in.
Mentions in This Episode:
• The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
• Aspire with Emma Grede Podcast
• The Diary of a CEO Podcast with Steven Bartlett
Connect with Roisin:
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• YouTube
Connect with Anastasiia:
• Weekly newsletter for women in marketing: Subscribe here
• Instagram: @anastasiia_mann & LinkedIn
• Website: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com
 
Thank you to our affiliate partners:
✔️ The AI Playbook - my favorite resource for learning how to actually use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Relay to simplify your business and 5-10 hours every week.
✔️ Full Focus Planner — the only paper planner that’s ever helped me actually feel more in control of my time. Created by productivity expert Michael Hyatt, this planner is designed to help you set clear goals, stay focused on what matters most, and finally break free from the never-ending to-do list cycle.
Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next. Episode Website

No Resume Needed: Lindsey McFadden, CMO of Stretch Zone, on Leadership, Growth & Letting Your Work Speak

What if your work spoke so loudly… you never needed a resume again?
In this episode of Marketing Your Way, I’m joined by Lindsey McFadden, Chief Marketing Officer at Stretch Zone, one of the fastest-growing wellness franchises in the U.S. with over 400 locations and zero closures. Lindsey’s journey from agency life to CMO is filled with powerful lessons on leadership, relationship-building, and redefining work-life balance as a high-performing marketing executive and mom of two.
We talk about:
· The shift from consultant to in-house CMO
·  Why “doing what you say you’re going to do” is an underrated career strategy
·  Leading an all-female marketing team in a male-dominated industry
·  The myth of work-life balance and what it actually looks like in practice
·  Why Stretch Zone focuses on human connection and “interact before you transact”
Whether you’re dreaming of the CMO seat or carving your own path as a creative leader, this conversation will leave you feeling empowered to own your value and trust the work.
Connect with Lindsey:
LinkedIn
Stretch Zone Website
Let’s Connect:
✔️ Weekly newsletter for women in marketing: Subscribe here
✔️ Instagram: @anastasiia_mann & LinkedIn
✔️ Website: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com
Thank you to our affiliate partners:
✔️ Relay.ai helps you automate the back-and-forth — the approvals, reminders, follow-ups — so you can actually focus on marketing, not chasing updates or sorting through email threads.
✔️ Full Focus Planner — the only paper planner that’s ever helped me actually feel more in control of my time. Created by productivity expert Michael Hyatt, this planner is designed to help you set clear goals, stay focused on what matters most, and finally break free from the never-ending to-do list cycle.
✔️Squarespace — the all-in-one platform I recommend to every marketer ready to launch their business and finally build a website they’re proud to share.
Subscribe & Review
Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next.Episode Website

What I Wish I Knew Before Leaving My 9-to-5: A Marketing Founder’s Honest Lessons

If you’re a marketing professional quietly dreaming of working for yourself… this episode is for you.
I’m pulling back the curtain on what it really looked like to leave my corporate job and start my own business. From the unexpected fear and messy middle to the lessons I learned the hard way — this is the honest version of entrepreneurship I wish I had heard earlier.
In this episode, I share:
1️⃣ The truth about building a business that isn’t linear
2️⃣ Why your first idea won’t be your final one (and that’s okay)
3️⃣ The hidden cost of software overload — and how to start scrappy
4️⃣ The mistake I made when hiring too soon (and how to fix it)
5️⃣ Why sending that newsletter — even when no one replies — matters
6️⃣ The underrated power of word-of-mouth marketing
7️⃣ How to protect your energy and calendar like the CEO you are
Whether you’re still in your 9–5, side hustling on nights and weekends, or in the early days of growing your marketing business — consider this your pep talk and permission slip to take the next step.
Join the Free Beta Cohort:
I’m inviting the first 10 people into a free beta round of my new 1-hour workshop: The 48-Hour Plan to Launch Your Marketing Business
No fluff. No overwhelm. Just a clear, confidence-boosting roadmap to help you turn your marketing skills into a real business.
➡️ DM me “Beta Workshop” on Instagram @anastasiia_mann or comment on my latest post to claim your free seat.
Let’s Connect:
✔️ Weekly newsletter for women in marketing: Subscribe here
✔️ Instagram: @anastasiia_mann & LinkedIn
✔️ Website: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com
Thank you to our affiliate partners:
✔️ Relay.ai helps you automate the back-and-forth — the approvals, reminders, follow-ups — so you can actually focus on marketing, not chasing updates or sorting through email threads.
✔️ The AI Playbook - My favorite community for learning how to actually use AI to simplify your business and gain back 5 to 10 hours a week by automating your workflows.
✔️ Airtable is my go-to platform for managing everything in my business, from content calendars and lead tracking to client deliverables and team tasks. It’s like a spreadsheet and a project management tool had a very smart baby — one that’s customizable, easy to use, and actually fun to look at.
Subscribe & Review
Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next.Episode Website

The Lie of the Career Ladder: Kathleen Ross on Finding Freedom, Leadership, and AI

What if the career ladder you’ve been climbing… isn’t actually taking you where you want to go?
This week on Marketing Your Way, I’m joined by Kathleen Ross — award-winning CMO, creative leader, and fractional brand strategist — for a real and refreshing conversation about what it really takes to build a career that aligns with your life.
From publishing to product launches, from corporate burnout to reinvention, Kathleen has seen it all. She’s worked with some of the world’s most iconic brands — BMW, Vera Wang, MONAT — and now helps marketing teams navigate creative leadership and AI innovation on their own terms.
We talk about:
1️⃣ Why the traditional “career ladder” is a myth (and what your career probably looks like instead)
2️⃣ Kathleen’s transition from publishing to global marketing leadership
3️⃣ The hard lessons burnout taught her — and how she rebuilt her career with intention
4️⃣ The realities of entrepreneurship vs. corporate (spoiler: neither is the “easy” path)
5️⃣ How AI is changing the game for marketers — and why women must be part of the conversation
Plus: Tap dancing, side hustles, leadership lessons, and how to stay creatively inspired when life gets loud.
Connect with Kathleen:
· Instagram: @kathleenrosscreative
· LinkedIn: Kathleen Ross
· Website: www.kathleenrosscreative.com
 
Resources & Mentions:
✔️Book: Time Traps by Todd Duncan*
✔️FloDesk — the easiest, most beautiful email marketing platform out there. Stunning templates, simple automation, and no list limits. Get 50% off your first year: Sign up here
Join the Marketing Your Way Community
This free Facebook group is for women in marketing and creative roles who want to stay inspired, supported, and sharp — no pressure to start a business, just real talk, creative trends, and honest conversations about what’s working.
Inside the group, we:
✔️ Share campaign wins and lessons learned
✔️ Trade resources, tools, and automation tips
✔️ Host casual Zoom chats and brainstorm sessions
✔️ Support each other’s growth — whatever that looks like
Come as you are → Join here
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*This is an affiliate link - I only recommend tools I use and love.Episode Website