Black Glass

Love your take on this, Kendra! Some of the best team rhythms and rituals are created unintentionally through human connection, which is absolutely sublime.

We. Are. PUMPED.? Over the past few weeks, we’ve welcomed Joe Brown to the team as our Chief Strategy Officer. Joe’s spent more than 20 years making the world’s most successful Product and Marketing teams work faster. He’s worked on airlines and sports arenas, big tech and biotech, fashion and finance. And, we can’t wait to get him working with our clients.? Joe spent 13 years at the design and innovation consultancy IDEO, where he led a global portfolio of business design and org transformation—rewriting the future of everything from Marketing Strategy to startups from culture change to stage gates. Prior to that, he taught classes at Stanford Graduate School of Business that married Marketing and Organizational Behavior. He’s always wrestling with one question: How can we set up teams to better serve our customers? Originally from Albuquerque, Joe’s spent his adult life in New York, Berlin, and San Francisco. Wherever he is, Joe’s always chasing that moment when a room full of people is wrestling with an impossible problem, a new idea pops up, and everyone lets out an electric YES. Please join us in welcoming him to the team - we can’t wait to get to work!?

What’s more motivating than mutual respect? Some good ol’ fashioned beef. Sunday’s Big Game had Eagles vs. Chiefs, but for many, the real showdown was Kendrick vs. Drake. Their lyrical battle highlights a deeper truth: we do our best work when we have a worthy rival. Here’s why the right enemy can be your greatest asset: ?? It Creates Urgency – Pressure eliminates complacency. ?? It Fuels Innovation – A great rival forces you to level up. ?? It Strengthens Team Bonds – Nothing unites like a common fight. ?? It Builds Resilience – Resistance makes teams stronger. ?? Choose wisely. Your enemy shouldn’t be internal—it should be: ?? A Market Challenge – Industry disruption? Adapt or fall behind. ?? A Competitor – Someone raising the bar? Step up. ?? A Systemic Problem – Bad process or toxic norm? Fix it. The Bottom Line: Your team doesn’t just need a vision—they need a fight worth fighting. What’s your team’s common enemy? Let’s name it, face it, and win. #Leadership #Competition #Growth #Innovation

Our final This or That has us thinking about the great balancing act of stability and growth. For Christina Mallon, Head of Inclusive Design at Microsoft, “We need to continuously change and grow to make the world better.” So much of marketing depends on evolution. But the tension lies in how brands can do so while staying true to their core identity. Do you strive for stability or growth? Why?

We've all heard the adage, "It's who you know, not what you know." The marketing leaders who weighed in on this week’s This or That (almost) unanimously agreed. But how do you actually master networking to form these relationships? Here are?Katie Klumper's 4 tactical networking tips: TIP #1: Diversify your network. Think bigger than your marketing department or immediate professional network. Your personal network, neighbors, and friends can help you expand your footprint. Let their network become yours—and vice versa. TIP #2: Get comfortable talking about yourself and your team. Being top of mind can make all the difference, and networking is about driving that awareness (though sales can be an outcome!) TIP #3: Take the initiative. Send the message! Instead of focusing on the reasons why not to reach out (it's been too long, they won't remember me, etc. etc.)?think of what could go right. TIP #4: We all have value we can bring to our networks. Do not underestimate the many roles you can play (consultant, liaison, planner, and so much more). Own it.

We’ve shared marketing innovators' takes on the role of leadership versus followership in driving outcomes (which were unanimous!) Now we want yours. Weigh in on our poll to share which mindset is more critical to embody.

To lead or to follow—that is the question. Leaders were unanimous in this week’s #ThisOrThat on leadership versus followership. Listen in for takes on how to make your mark from industry experts Claudia Cruz, A.P. Chaney, Robin Forbes, Michelle Moscone (she/her), Susan Credle, Steve Boom, Vivienne Francis, Emily English, Beatrice Cornacchia and Patrick Bennett. Then comment with your best tips and tricks for showing up as a leader!

We’ve shared what marketing leaders think about the role of experimentation versus perfection in driving outcomes (experimentation dominated!) But what’s your take? Which mindset do you think is more critical for marketing leaders to embody?

New year, new you? For Patrick Bennett, progress over perfection is the name of the game. Listen in to this week’s #ThisOrThat for marketing leaders' thoughts on Experimentation vs Perfection.

We’ve shared what marketing leaders think about the role of education versus experience in driving outcomes.?(In case you missed it, experience won!) This comes in the midst of the skills-first revolution as employers move away from formal education requirements and embrace skills gained in other ways (according to?Indeed, only 17.8% of U.S. job postings require a college degree). Which mindset?do you think?is more critical for marketing leaders to embody?