What happens when you stop trying to blend in-and start leading at full scale? For Esi Eggleston Bracey, that shift didn't just change her career, it helped transform one of the world's largest companies. At the time of this interview, Esi, then President of Unilever USA & CEO of Unilever Personal Care, North America, was already redefining what leadership could look like. Since then, her impact has only accelerated. In 2024, Esi was promoted to Global Chief Growth and Marketing Officer, leading a sweeping global marketing transformation across Unilever's portfolio while championing purpose-led initiatives that connect brands to culture and …

What does great leadership look like when you're stepping into a beloved brand? For Jessica Serrano, it starts with listening. At the time of this interview, Jessica was CMO of Dig Inn. She has since stepped into a new chapter as CMO of Bagel Brands, overseeing brand, digital, culinary innovation, and guest experience strategy across the brands portfolio. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Jessica shares with Lisa Singer the leadership lessons that shaped her career - from taking on the job no one else wanted to rejecting advice that prioritized likability over effectiveness. She opens up about leading …

What if the biggest myth about leadership is that once you reach the top, you finally have it all figured out? Katie Briscoe would tell you the opposite. As CEO of MMGY Global, she believes careers aren't defined by a single breakthrough moment, but by a series of micro-transformations - the pivots, stretches, and seasons that quietly shape how you lead and who you become. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Katie opens up to Lisa Singer about the evolution that comes with each career stage - from early pivots, to taking the helm of a global company. She …

Jessica Kogan wants women to tune out the naysayers and trust themselves. She's a firm believer that we're never limited to one path, and that staying open (and brave) can lead to the most unexpected opportunities. And Jessica certainly practices what she preaches. At the time of this interview, she was serving as The Vintage Wine Estates' chief growth & experience officer. Today, she's on a whole new adventure as Founder & CEO of HSP Brands, a modern adult-beverage sampling and marketing company helping brands create meaningful connections with consumers both in-store and online. Jessica's career is full of standout …

Nicole Moore thrives on innovation - but to her it isn't about disruption, it's about the everyday decisions that make life/work better even when plans fall apart. The Kepler Group's VP of Client Excellence knows innovation isn't just a buzzword - it's a mindset shaped in real time, by real life. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Nicole talks with Lisa Singer about pushing the status quo through life's shifting seasons - navigating marriage, motherhood, career, and even chaos with grace over perfection. She shares a leadership lesson she learned early on that continues to guide her today: a …