What does it really take to build an unforgettable personal brand?

This week, Sun Yi, branding expert and founder of Night Owl Nation, joins me for a no-BS conversation about personal branding, marketing, and the fine line between influence and integrity. Sun shares why most personal brands fail, the difference between true experts and knowledge brokers, and how to stand out in a world full of noise.

In this episode, we dive into the power of storytelling, the importance of authenticity in branding, and why detaching from outcomes can lead to greater success. Sun also shares his experiences working with high-profile personal brands like Jay Shetty and Mel Robbins—and what separates the truly great from the rest.

If you're looking to build a personal brand that actually matters (without selling out), this episode is packed with insights, real talk, and strategies you can apply today.

About Sun

Founder at Night Owls and Night Owl Nation, Entrepreneur, Personal Branding Expert, Storyteller, TEDx Speaker, Mentor, Podcaster of Authentic As F*ck podcast and Forbes Agency Council Member.

Sun Yi is a personal branding expert and founder of Night Owls , the award-winning digital agency behind Fortune 500 companies and branding specialized for clients such as Mel Robbins, Jay Shetty, Marc Randolph. With over 20 years of experience working in digital branding, Sun has helped brands go from virtual zero revenue to $1 billion.

He is passionate about teaching and has taught over 28,000+ students on Domestika through his online course, "The Art of Storytelling for Freelancers and Creators," as well notable achievements on Forbes Agency Council. In 2022, he started Night Owl Nation, a global community of entrepreneurs and creators who practice storytelling together.

Connect with Sun

https://sunyi.co/

https://instagram.com/sun.yi

https://linkedin.com/in/sunyi-nightowls

https://www.youtube.com/c/sunYiCo

Connect with Veronica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

What does it take to craft meaningful connections between brands, athletes, and fans?

This week, Cameron Wagner, a veteran sports marketer with over two decades of experience, joins me to share her journey in creating impactful activations and redefining sports marketing. From orchestrating partnerships at six Olympic Games to working with iconic brands like Hasbro and P&G, Cameron offers a behind-the-scenes look at how she’s elevated fan experiences and brand storytelling.

We discuss the art of activation, the evolving role of personal branding in sports, and how to balance creativity with strategy to cut through the noise. Cameron also shares her perspective on mentorship, the challenges of cultivating new talent in a post-pandemic world, and the unconventional methods that fuel his creativity.

Whether you’re a marketer, a sports enthusiast, or simply curious about the stories behind unforgettable campaigns, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration to take your craft to the next level.

About Cameron:

Cameron Wagner is the Chief Client Officer at Elevate, an award-winning, full-service consulting firm supporting high-performing organizations in sports and beyond. In her role leading the agency’s global brand consulting and activation practice, Wagner utilizes Elevate’s powerful data and insights engine to create convention-defying partnerships and activations for brands. She believes in the unique power of sports and live events to forge meaningful connections between consumers and brands and has played a key role in crafting some of the most iconic brand programs in sports history.

Before joining Elevate, Wagner served as the Chief Client Officer at GMR Marketing, where she oversaw US-based offices in New York, San Francisco, and Charlotte, as well as teams in the UK, Brazil, and Tokyo. Before her tenure at GMR, Wagner held a key leadership role at IMG, leading significant programs for major brands including Coca-Cola, Visa, and Hasbro.

Among her industry accolades, Wagner considers the client programs her team developed and activated across eight Olympic Games as some of the most significant and meaningful of her career. This includes work for clients, such as Procter & Gamble, Visa, Intel, General Electric (GE), Bridgestone, and many others.

Wagner earned her B.S. in Communications from Appalachian State University. A casual runner and determined golfer, she resides in Charlotte, NC, with her husband and two sons. She is an active member of the community, serving on the board of Charlotte’s Crisis Assistance Ministry and previously on boards for the Charlotte Housing Authority Scholarship Fund and the Bethlehem Center, where she also served as a CHAMPS mentor.

Connect with Cameron

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-wagner-0a92394

Connect with Veronica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

What does it take to rise as a young leader in competitive, male-dominated industries? This week, Melissa Rosenthal joins me as she shares her inspiring journey from her meteoric career at BuzzFeed to her leadership role at ClickUp and her leap into entrepreneurship. As a seasoned marketer, Melissa reflects on the challenges of navigating transitions between industries and balancing her professional growth with personal resilience.

We dive into her strategies for fostering self-awareness, creating a positive work culture, and overcoming the hurdles of being a young female leader. Melissa also discusses the unique dynamics of working alongside her husband and the valuable lessons she’s gained from her experiences. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder or pursuing entrepreneurial dreams, Melissa’s story offers actionable insights and inspiration.

Learn more about Melissa:

Melissa Rosenthal is an award winning media and tech executive currently building Outlever.

Previously, Rosenthal served as the CCO of ClickUp, CMO of Insight Timer, CRO of Cheddar, and VP of Creative at BuzzFeed. Her achievements have been recognized by Forbes' 30 Under 30, Business Insider’s 30 Most Creative People Under 30, and Digiday's "Changemakers."

With a passion for net new value creation, Rosenthal has always been focused on enabling brands to own the conversations they care about while reaching their ideal customers. This drive led to the co-founding of Outlever, a company that transforms brands into the #1 news source in their industry.

Melissa's Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissarosenthal5/

Connect with Veronica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

What happens when you reach the top of the corporate ladder and realize it’s not the summit you expected? This week, Shelley Paxton, former CMO of Harley Davidson and author of Soulbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life, joins me to share her powerful journey from marketing executive to Chief Soul Officer.

In this episode, we discuss the lessons Shelley learned while stewarding one of the world’s most iconic brands, the awakening that led her to redefine success on her own terms, and the importance of living authentically. She opens up about her “soul-shaking” realization, how it transformed her life and career, and her mission to inspire others to lead with courage, humanity, and impact.

Whether you’re navigating corporate challenges, entrepreneurial burnout, or your own personal crossroads, Shelley’s story will resonate deeply and leave you with actionable insights for creating a more fulfilling life and career.

About Shelley

Shelley is a 26-year advertising and marketing veteran whose legacy is imprinted on iconic global brands like McDonald’s, Visa, and Harley-Davidson. At the pinnacle of her career, as Chief Marketing Officer of Harley-Davidson, she was shocked to find herself feeling success-empty instead of success-full. That awakening led her on a profound journey that became her mission, business, and bestselling book, Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life (Simon & Schuster).

Now Chief Soul Officer, she works with leaders and organizations to advocate for redefining success and reshaping culture in ways that celebrate humanity, wellbeing, and soul. Her influential work is an empowering antidote to corporate burnout, attrition, and disengagement. It’s gained recognition on platforms from NBC, CBS, Forbes, Inc., and Thrive Global, to the TEDx stage. She’s also a regular contributor to CBS Chicago’s Mental Health Minute.

Shelley is a respected thought leader, advisor, and sought-after keynote speaker who’s been called “the next Brené Brown” by Chip Conley, NY Times Bestselling Author, Former Airbnb Exec, and Founder of MEA. She graduated with a BS in Business and Marketing from Boston College.

Connect with Shelley

https://www.instagram.com/theshelleypaxton/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleypaxton/

Connect with Veronica
https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

This week’s episode of The Rainmaker Podcast is a special one—we’re bringing you an exclusive recording from the virtual launch party we held last week for my first-ever book, Identity Marketing: How to Create Loyal, Lifelong Fans and a Legendary Brand (No Matter What You Sell or the Size of Your Budget)! It was a memorable and special celebration with some of the incredible stars featured in the book, and the insights they shared were just too good not to share with you too.

In this episode, you’ll hear from a few of the stars of Identity Marketing, including Kelly Ruta, Alex Cattoni, and Mike and Nicole from SMASHD. We dive into the key themes of Identity Marketing, including ethical marketing practices, the role of identity in relationship marketing, and actionable ways to elevate your own marketing strategy.

If you desire to make your marketing more human and impactful, this conversation is filled with golden nuggets and practical advice you don’t want to miss. So grab a notebook and enjoy this unique behind-the-scenes look at the Identity Marketing launch party!

Get your very own copy of my new book, Identity Marketing: How to Create Loyal, Lifelong Fans and a Legendary Brand (No Matter What You Sell or the Size of Your Budget) at https://identitymarketingbook.com/

Connect with Veronica
https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

What does it take to craft a standout launch in today’s fast-paced market? This week, Brenda McGowan, a seasoned launch strategist, joins The Rainmaker Podcast to discuss the art and science of successful launches. With Q1 as the busiest season for marketing campaigns, Brenda shares her predictions for 2025, insights into evolving buyer behavior, and strategies to roll over from 2024.

In this episode, we discuss the critical pre-launch phase—what Brenda calls the “pre-open cart courtship”—and how industries like film use slow-burn anticipation to captivate audiences. She also uncovers common missteps and the essential elements to ensure your next launch hits its mark.

Whether you’re gearing up for a product debut, service launch, or major marketing campaign, Brenda’s expertise will leave you with actionable tips to elevate your strategy and boost your results in 2025.

About Brenna

Brenna McGowan is a launch strategist & copywriter. She believes that hustle-based, high-pressure program launches don’t serve you or your customers. Instead, she teaches a systemized pre-launch process to put leads through so they’re primed, pre-sold, qualified, and eager to buy your offer.

By leveraging her pre-launch and Anticipation Marketing™ strategies, Brenna’s clients have tripled — and even quadrupled launch revenue growth — without the frenzy and chaos they used to feel when launching. She also helps her students inside The Pre-Launch Plan Program create strategic pre-launch plans that’ve raked in hundreds of thousands in revenue. When Brenna’s not strategizing or helping clients launch, you can find her walking in her Labradoodle in her Northern California neighborhood, continuing her endless search for the perfect white t-shirt, reading cheesy romance books, or coming to terms with soon becoming an empty-nester.

Connect with Brenna

https://www.instagram.com/brennamcgowanco/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/behindthelaunchwithbrennamcgowan


Connect with Veronica
https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

What does it take to build a brand that’s both authentic and impactful? In this episode, I sit down with marketing legend Seth Godin for an unforgettable conversation about identity in marketing and beyond. We explore the power of personal branding, the ethical dilemmas marketers face today, and why authenticity is the key to building genuine connections. From unpacking cultural phenomena like the Swifties to examining how identity shapes consumer behavior, Seth offers profound insights that challenge traditional marketing practices and inspire a more thoughtful, human-centered approach.

But our discussion doesn’t stop at marketing. Seth and I dive into leadership, community building, and even the lessons we can learn as parents trying to instill core values in our kids. We tackle the balance between authenticity and consistency, the challenges of leading with integrity, and the transformative potential of meaningful connections in a digital age.

Whether you’re a marketer, a leader, or someone seeking to make an impact, this episode is packed with insights to help you rethink how you show up in the world.

About Seth:

A serial entrepreneur, Seth Godin has a degree in computer science and philosophy from Tufts University, and an MBA from Stanford Business School. He runs the altMBA, a global business-thinking workshop, and founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne. In 2013, Godin was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame, and in May 2018 he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame too.

Connect with Seth:

Website: https://www.sethgodin.com/

Social links: https://seths.blog/socialmedia/

Connect with Veronica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

Are you confident your coach has the qualifications to guide you? In this week’s episode, Kelly Ruta, a clinical psychotherapist turned coach, joins me in tackling the ethical challenges plaguing the coaching industry. We candidly share frustrations, including a disappointing $1,500 one-to-one session, highlighting the prevalence of unqualified coaches and manipulative tactics.

Together, we examine the emotional toll of unethical coaching and the misuse of marketing strategies that prey on vulnerability. We also discuss the vital role of intuition when selecting a coach and advocate for a more transparent, integrity-driven industry.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking guidance in a coaching relationship or looking to navigate the industry with discernment.

Learn more about Kelly:
Kelly Sullivan Ruta is a seasoned clinical psychotherapist of two decades who leaped into the coaching world to help entrepreneurs create the ultimate inner operating system for rapid growth without rapid breakdown.
Kelly believes entrepreneurs are perfectly positioned to create a massive positive impact on the planet. But she also knows that no strategy, plan, or tactic will ever outperform one’s mindset, limiting beliefs, conditioned programs, or habits.
She is obsessed with helping entrepreneurs and their teams do deep inner work, unlocking their generational wealth-building potential along the way.
Kelly is a hardcore introvert, 9 Quickstart, and Enneagram 8. Her soul calls the beach home. When she isn’t working, Kelly hangs with her ride-or-die besties, has her head in a book, or is with her husband and two (mostly grown) sons.

Kelly's Links:

Website: www.kellyruta.com

Instagram: @kellysruta

Free Radical Resilience Roundtable Replay: https://kellyruta.com/op/roundtable-registration-october-2024

Connect with Veronica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.