Ep 290: Amy Martin Ziegenfuss of Carnival Cruise Line - "The 'Rise Together' Leader"

Does someone else have to lose for you to win?

In this episode of Fearless Creative Leadership, Charles Day speaks with Amy Martin-Ziegenfuss, Chief Marketing Officer of Carnival Cruise Line, about redefining success — and rejecting the zero-sum mindset that often drives ambition.

Amy reflects on her journey from a small-town theater kid to leading one of the world's most recognized travel brands. She shares how creativity fuels business strategy, why leadership is about creating emotional safety, and how brands must balance long-term vision with real-time responsiveness in a volatile world.

They explore imposter syndrome, the power of preparation in earning a seat at the table, and why the best leaders see winning as collective, not competitive.

This is a conversation about impact, humility, courage, and the evolution from racing others to rising together.

00:00 — Opening Question: Is Winning Zero-Sum? Reframing leadership beyond competition.

02:53 — Early Creativity & Storytelling Books, theater, and the foundations of expression.

08:15 — From Literature to Marketing Discovering consumer behavior and business impact.

12:20 — Earning a Seat at the Table Preparation, sponsorship, and strategic credibility.

19:50 — Asking for Help as Leadership Strength Building influence through curiosity.

22:30 — Defining Creativity in Business Strategy as the unlock for innovation.

27:10 — Creating Emotional Safety Supporting fragile ideas in high-stakes environments.

33:00 — Leading a Global Brand Balancing long-term planning with rapid response.

38:30 — Imposter Syndrome & Personal Boards Why no leader should navigate alone.

44:40 — Moving Beyond the Race From guarded ambition to collective success.

45:50 — What Are You Hopeful For? Impact, legacy, and rising together.