Keely Powell’s Post

"We are an industry of almost limitless talent and ambition. Can you imagine if we all directed that at businesses that were actually good for the world or the people in it? Can you imagine if we all actually gave a real shit about the brands we worked on?" A honest, refreshing and inspiring read by Andy Pearson!

We’re excited for our Founder & CEO, Dan Berman, to speak at MJ Unpacked, Nov. 5-7 in St. Louis! Don’t miss his session! *What is MJ Unpacked and why is it different? 💥Retailer-Centric: MJ Unpacked events are designed to put retailers and brands front and center, with a qualified audience of licensed operators, decision-makers, and investors. No one gets stuck in the back—everyone is visible, and everyone has a chance to shine. 💥Brand & Retail Showcase: It’s not just about filling a space. MJ Unpacked is focused on showcasing brands and creating real, meaningful relationships between brands and retailers. 💥 Equity & Inclusivity: MJ Unpacked elevates equity businesses with prime positioning to ensure they’re at the heart of the conversation. Inclusion isn’t an afterthought—it’s at the core of what they do. 💥 Networking That Works: From their Investor Breakfast to their Afterparty Sponsorships, MJ Unpacked designs opportunities for true engagement—not just walking by a booth, but actually sitting down to build relationships. Mark your calendars and join us for an informative and engaging discussion! REGISTRATION INFO: https://lnkd.in/eqXy-8P4 #MJUSTL24 Rica Askew Kim Christmas Bill Hockensmith Pauline Stewart Ashley Clark Kristen Rusch Iris Davenport Saralyn Dague nakethia Banks-Smith

Help bring MADO to the 2025 SXSW stage! 🎉 Our own Jaclyn Suzuki and Mattel, Inc.'s VP of Insights Tasja Kirkwood have crafted an exceptional presentation titled "The Shape of Play: Harnessing Global Research to Innovate in Play." Discover how we partnered with Mattel to conduct a global study involving 33,000 participants across 3 continents, exploring the present and potential futures of play. Our report reveals insights that support Mattel's legacy as a brand always at the forefront of what's next in play. From this presentation, you'll learn how to: 💡 Design a provocative insights research program that uncovers surprising findings 🎨 Use insights to fuel creative breakthroughs that will position your company as a thought leader in your industry 📊 Think about research differently, and infuse future-forward ideas into current business strategies Voting closes on August 18—cast your vote today to get us to #SXSW2025! #design #consumerinsights #designthinking #innovation #creativity #play #toys #consumerresearch #strategy #trendresearch #panelpicker #Mattel #conferences #events #vote #deadline

3 Takeaways from My Week as a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow 🌟 Community is everything. ✨ Surrounding yourself with supportive networks, both professional and personal, is paramount. Filtering out negativity amplifies productivity and creativity. Stay true to your vision. ✨ External influences shouldn’t alter long-term growth strategies. Since starting my company, I’ve often compared myself to founders who secured external funding, viewing them as more successful. I’ve even doubted my own path. However, learning from successful founders who built large companies without venture capital—utilizing creative financing to fund growth—was incredibly reaffirming. Not all brands have the same path. Compelling stories win. ✨ As founders, we sell unwritten stories. And it can be a challenge to script the narrative and land the brand messaging. This past week has made me reflect on the legacy and impact I want to leave. There’s so much story behind the @urswim brand.

For us, conscious care extends across not only our products, but also all our partnerships.  Our favorite tip for connecting with values-driven partners? Create meaningful relationships that better the planet and people by advocating for economic empowerment of local, traditional, and ethical businesses — by getting out of your comfort zone.  As the age-old adage goes, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” We find this to be especially true when aligning with inspiring, like-minded brands and retailers.  We actively seek disruptive industry partners who challenge us to do better by the earth and by our customers. Sound like you? Reach out and share your tips below!

Despite its importance, many organizations find their DEI efforts dwindling as businesses prioritize other needs, and as anti-DEI social movements grow. This #Brandweek session offered a compelling examination of how brands can reignite their dedication to equity, focusing on the unique role marketers can play. NAACP’s Aba Blankson, Giving Gap’s Heather Infantry, Fifteen Percent Pledge’s Aurora James and Victoria’s Secret & Co.’s Lydia Smith, MBA shared specific strategies for implementation and articulate the financial impact of investment in equity initiatives--and why it's a priority that drives brand and business momentum. "At Victoria Secret, we recognize that our consumer base continues to get more and more diverse so if you think about our business strategy, it's important that our teams and the people who are behind the scenes from everything to designing, merchandising, and marketing are reflective of the communities and the customers that we want to ultimately create products for," said Smith. Tune into more conversations live from Brandweek: https://adweek.it/3BgLLSK

I made TWO clients cry this week. Ok, maybe they didn't sob, but there was definitely a light, joyful spritzing when we unveiled the first iteration of their brand repositioning strategies. Imagine thinking this part of the process is boring (I've heard that many times). This is the bit where you learn about what your audiences REALLY want (Spice Girl style) and how to show them you're IT! And your team *finally* agrees on how your brand should be positioned, your messaging, and your vision. It's the part of the process where everything comes together and starts to make sense. Sometimes, for the first time ever. I LOVE unveiling brand strategy because I only ever work with social or environmental impact businesses. So, the strategy and messaging aren't just about building a brand your audiences rave about; they're growing a business that makes a positive difference and gives back. And, my clients are always SO invested in every part of the process. Big up another brilliant Electric Peach B Corp client, Enjoolata Foundation, for the connection and doing so much to keep Sussex-based social enterprises thriving. Now, back to my mission to make founders and teams ugly cry. From joy, of course! What are you celebrating this week, peach?

We have been noodling with some of the top marketers in the country over the past few months. Insights abound in this great piece by Jason Cieslak. Small preview here: "AI: “This is the dumbest it will ever be.” There wasn’t a single attendee who didn’t have an AI story to share. Every organization is looking at AI, whether casually playing around or aggressively applying it to reduce costs. The stories of lessons learned abound, each brander sharing what not to do when implementing AI. While there are wild swings in the tools and appropriate applications, all attendees agreed that the speed at which AI is improving is profound."

PART 1 —— Stagwell's SXSW recap, focused on ATHLETES + BRANDS... 1️⃣ ATHLETES AS BRANDS — A NEW FANDOM HOOK? Brandon Marshall (former NFL Wide Receiver & host of I AM ATHLETE), says today’s athletes are multi-hyphenate leaders – building businesses and nonprofits, and creating identities that go well beyond the field, court or track. For brands —— this offers a major opportunity to write a new playbook for partnership that positions athletes as multi-dimensional ambassadors to reach consumers who are hungry for authentic connection. According to Kalen Thornton (former NFL; senior PepsiCo exec): Authenticity is especially crucial in today’s marketing landscape; consumers appreciate genuine connection, and it can make or break whether they transition to long-term brand fans. If CMOs can build stronger partnerships with athletes that reflect that, they’re in a better place to activate athletes as brand storytellers – in turn creating fandom with customers. _____ SXSW has long helped businesses unveil the trends at the intersection of culture, commerce, and digital transformation. LISTEN: https://lnkd.in/eCaKJvGT

How can brands be a unifying force in today’s world? This is a thought-provoking piece from my colleagues exploring the role of brands in a deeply polarized society. Check it out on Fast Company.