Rising - Conversations with Leaders On Their Way Up

Hosted by Direct Agents and Prophet

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Apr 2026

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About the show

There’s a lot of focus in our industry on those already at the top, but change is driven at all levels. Rising highlights the builders, the shapers and the doers across marketing, media, and innovation — the ones tagged to be our future leaders. Each episode showcases a leader rising up and what they see ahead. Hosted by Josh Boaz and Mat Zucker, we talk to guests about career trajectory, the people who helped them, skills gained along the way, and the trends they're watching. Don't forget to rate, review & subscribe

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60 recent

April 14, 202640 min

Brian Myers - Careers Are Human

Brian Myers is the Founder and CEO of CURVEJUMPER Growth Accelerator, where he works with companies from Fortune 5 to startups to drive high-growth strategy and execution. With over 25 years of experience across Accenture, Prophet, and SC Johnson, he brings a unique blend of brand, innovation, and operational expertise.In this episode, Brian shares his journey from a “regular kid” in Texas to global consulting and brand leadership, the role of earned luck in career growth, and how AI is reshaping early careers. He also discusses launching CURVEJUMPER, the importance of learning hard skills, and how reconnecting with his passion for coaching baseball reshaped his definition of success, reminding us that careers, at their core, are humanSegment highlights~2:00 Brian’s early career + “regular kid” background ~5:00 Transition into brand management ~8:00 Building design + growth capabilities at Prophet & Accenture ~10:30 Founding CURVEJUMPER + the “333 model” ~12:30 Luck vs. hard work + early career advice ~15:30 How AI is reshaping careers + “academy companies” ~17:50 Career paths for 20-year-olds today ~20:00 Starting a business + lessons learned ~22:30 Biggest career mistake ~24:30 MBA + professional education POV ~29:30 Career decisions + shifting priorities over time ~31:00 Coaching baseball + redefining success ~35:00 Thank you notes ~38:30 Top Picks Links MentionedClaude Cowork (Anthropic)Rode Wireless Microphones Design Your Life Program (Stanford d.school)Find us on LinkedInJosh Boaz (host) Mat Zucker(host) Brian Myers⁠(guest)

December 1, 202536 min

Andrea Sullivan - Selling Vegetables

Andrea Sullivan is the CEO of vYve by Vayner, a leadership and business acceleration venture within VaynerX that helps high-performing entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs unlock their next level of growth. Drawing on her experience as a former CMO of VaynerX and Interbrand, a professor at the School of Visual Arts, and a longtime advisor to Fortune 500 leaders, she blends heart, strategy, and human transformation in her work. In this episode, Andrea shares her journey from a Wisconsin farm stand to global brand leadership, the career pivots that shaped her path, and why authenticity, storytelling, and community are essential for modern leaders.Segment highlights~2:00 Andrea's career arc (including selling vegetables and being Midwestern)~8:50 Career pivot to branding~12:56 Takeaways about tenure~17:54 About the new role at Vyve by Vanyner~24:33 Balancing, doing everything~26:33 Differentiating yourself (without B.S.)~29:24 Thank you notes (James___?)~31:50 Top PicksLinks Mentioned Unreasonable Hospitality, by Will Guidara (book)Cracking the Rich Code: 21 Thought Leaders Share Strategic Living, Jane BarandesMonarch Money (budgeting app)Find us on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠Josh Boaz⁠⁠⁠⁠ (host)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mat Zucker⁠⁠⁠⁠ (host)⁠Andrea Sullivan (guest)

September 9, 202523 min

Ada Stout - From Classroom to Career

Breaking into the professional world isn’t easy especially in today’s job market. For Ada Stout, a summer marketing intern at Prophet the path from campus to industry has been shaped by persistence, curiosity, and a willingness to learn by doing.In this episode, Ada shares the realities of the internship search, the lessons she’s gained through hands-on experience, and why mentorship matters more than ever. She also offers a candid Gen-Z perspective on navigating rejection, building connections, and the practices that help young professionals rise.Links MentionedRick Steves on The Interview (Podcast) Spiraling Up by Hinge (Podcast) Attio CRM Find us on Linkedln Josh Boaz(host)Mat Zucker(host) Ada Stout(guest)

July 22, 202530 min

Jodi Cary - The Art of Re-Emergence

Jodi Cary is the Director of Brand and Creative at Corewell Health, where she leads with empathy, clarity, and a strong creative vision. After stepping away from the workforce for over a decade to focus on motherhood, Jodi reemerged with a fresh perspective shaped by consulting, strategy, and deep curiosity. In this episode, Jodi joins us to talk about reemergence, how to navigate major career shifts, stay sharp during time away, and return to a fast-changing industry with confidence and purpose.Links MentionedCoursera Google Analytics courseGiggly Squad (Podcast)Unhedged Financial Time (Podcast)Find us on LinkedlnJosh Boaz (host)Mat Zucker (host)Jodi Cary (guest)

June 10, 202531 min

Greg P. Liccardi - The Holy Grail of Marketing

Greg P. Liccardi is the Vice President of Sponsorships and Partner Programs at the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), where he connects leading brands with innovative marketing solutions. Known for his collaborative spirit, he helps brands drive engagement across the full marketing funnel as well as in his latest book, The Holy Grail of Marketing. Greg also teaches Integrated Marketing Communications as an Adjunct Professor at Fordham and Seton Hall Universities. In this episode, he joins us to explore how marketing and sales work together and the essential skills professionals need to grow in both. Links MentionedHoly Grail of Marketing by Greg LiccardiMorning Brew Daily (podcast)Zoe Science & Nutrition (podcast)Clearspace (app)Find us on LinkedIn⁠⁠Josh Boaz⁠⁠⁠ (host)⁠⁠⁠Mat Zucker⁠⁠⁠ (host)Greg Licciardi (guest)

March 19, 202532 min

Kenny Smithnanic - The Direct Response Marketer

Kenny Smithnanic is an experienced marketing leader with a strong background in driving growth through digital strategy, content marketing, and customer engagement. Currently serving as a key figure at Mint Mobile, Kenny has led successful initiatives that enhance brand presence and deliver measurable results. With previous roles emphasizing data-driven marketing and creative storytelling, Kenny brings a wealth of expertise to his work. In this episode of Rising, Kenny shares insights on his career journey, lessons learned from developing impactful marketing strategies, his experience navigating leadership roles, and how his commitment to innovation has shaped his success.

July 29, 2024Episode 235 min

Omar Akhtar - Run Towards the Vegetables

Omar is the Founder and Principal Analyst of Benchmarker, where he has spent the last decade publishing research and advising companies on marketing excellence. Previously, he was the head of research at Altimeter, a Prophet Company, and an Associate Partner at Prophet, advising Fortune 500 companies on improving their marketing and content strategies. He is also the co-author of the best-selling book Winning Through Platforms - How To Succeed When Everyone Has One. In this episode, our guests and hosts talk about A.I. benefits and costs, moving from brand-name to start-up, rising through expertise, and more. 7:30 - Moving from name-brand to startup9:00 - Factoring in risks10:20 - Journalist to Analyst14:40 - Talking to the software16:30 - Rising through expertise19:25 - A.I. benefits—and costs20:35 - Becoming a consultant 23:20 - What good looks like quantitatively25:30 - Deciding to be an entrepreneur 29:55 - Josh’s advice30:25 - Thank you notes: Mina Kimes31:17 - Top Pick Links Mentioned Writing Without Bullshit by Josh Burnoff CanvaAccuWeatherRemarkable Find us on LinkedIn ⁠⁠Josh Boaz⁠⁠⁠ (host) ⁠⁠⁠Mat Zucker⁠⁠⁠ (host) Omar Akhtar (guest)

May 6, 2024Episode 132 min

Tom Berry - Climb Across

Tom Berry is CMO at the CFA Institute where he leads a global team responsible for brand strategy, new learner acquisition, and engagement with over 200,000 members across the world. Prior to CFA Institute, Tom was Global Product Director at the Red Flag Group and previously worked in marketing at Euromoney Institutional Investor. In this episode of Rising, Tom speaks with our hosts about his dynamic professional journey, what he learned across direct response and brand, international moves including moving to Hong Kong, the shift to the CMO role, and how he has stayed curious throughout his career. In this Episode 0:00 - About Tom & Career 1:30 - First Job in a Call Center2:28 - Wanting to Be in Marketing & Early Learning7:37 - Global Moves11:03 - The Shift to CMO13:39 - Finding Peer Support27:54 - MBA or no MBA?19:42 - Lateral vs. Vertical Moves23:26 - Tenure vs. Switching26:58 - Thank You Notes28:04 - Top Picks Links Mentioned Tipping Point, Malcolm GladwellThe Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, James McBrideForced (app) Find us on LinkedIn ⁠Josh Boaz⁠⁠ (host) ⁠⁠Mat Zucker⁠⁠ (host) Tom Berry (guest) Subscribe to never miss a show! Hosted by Josh Boaz and Mat Zucker, Rising is produced by Direct Agents and Prophet. For more information or to nominate a guest, please visit rising-podcast.com or email us at marketing@directagents.com. Original theme music created by Movers + Shakers.

March 12, 2024Episode 1027 min

Andrea Derby - 3 Companies, 12 Jobs

Andrea Derby is Vice President of Digital Marketing at UPS. Beginning her career in the Ogilvy Associates program in New York City, she gained valuable experience in various agency functions including strategy, account management, and production. Andrea discusses her transitions between prominent agencies like Ogilvy and BBDO, delving into her roles in customer insights, one-to-one marketing, and large-scale brand campaigns. She reflects on her strategic shift to client-side positions, highlighting her impactful work at UPS and the startup initiative, Ware2Go. Andrea offers insights into mentorship, the art of internal selling, and the non-finality of ‘no’ in client-side roles. Her story is enriched by her decision to pursue an EMBA, emphasizing continuous learning and leadership development in the marketing sector. In this Episode ~0:00 - About Andrea & Career ~3:40 - Early Mentorship ~6:32 - Blending Brand & Performance ~10:09 - Moving Client Side ~16:37 - Business School ~21:41 - Work at UPS ~25:01 - Thank You Notes ~26:40 - Top Picks Links Mentioned Mr. Beast on Youtube Cult-ish, Amanda Mantell The Economist Podcasts Find us on LinkedIn ⁠Josh Boaz⁠ (host) ⁠Mat Zucker⁠ (host) Andrea Derby (guest) Subscribe to never miss a show! Hosted by Josh Boaz and Mat Zucker, Rising is produced by Direct Agents and Prophet. For more information or to nominate a guest, please visit rising-podcast.com or email us at marketing@directagents.com. Original theme music created by Movers + Shakers.

February 28, 2024Episode 935 min

Bob Sherwin - Value in Variety

Bob Sherwin has 20 years of operating experience as a Strategist, Chief Marketing Officer, Retail Executive, and Advisor. He’s a board member at Articore (parent company of RedBubble and TeePublic) and an independent advisor to public and private companies on a range of strategic, marketing, and organizational topics, such as creating innovative and data-driven cultures. His most recent full-time corporate role was as Chief Marketing Officer at Wayfair, where he was responsible for the entire family of global brands. Prior to Wayfair, he was a consultant at McKinsey and began his career at IBM’s Business Consultant Services. He shares with Josh and Mat about his trajectory, why he got an MBA, the early influence of data, important attributes for a career, the value of variety in what you do, and what to prioritize early in your career vs. later. In This Episode 0:00 - Seeking Variety & Learning Analysis in Consulting 6:01 - Getting an MBA 7:04 - McKinsey & IBM 9:02 - Wayfair 11:32 - Trade-offs, Titles & Building Teams 15:22 - Scope & Struggles 17:12 - Managing 1,000 People 19:14 - Having a Support System (Including The Marketing Academy) 21:02 - Being on a Board 22:57 - Career Attributes 25:42 - Prioritizing Skill & Content Accumulation 27:20 - Thank You Notes 31:12 - Top Picks Links Mentioned The Marking Academy High Output Management, Andy Grove "Peter Attic Drive" (Podcast) "Zoe Podcast: Science & Nutrition" (Podcast) Goodpods (Podcast Platform) Noble Rot Find us on LinkedIn Josh Boaz (host) Mat Zucker (host) Bob Sherwin (guest) Subscribe to never miss a show! Hosted by Josh Boaz and Mat Zucker, Rising is produced by Direct Agents and Prophet. For more information or to nominate a guest, please visit rising-podcast.com or email us at marketing@directagents.com. Original theme music created by Movers + Shakers.