BRAVE COMMERCE

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter sit down with Noah Knoblauch, Head of eCommerce and Retail Media at Suave Brands Company. With a background at Procter & Gamble and deep experience in private equity environments, Noah shares what it takes to rebuild iconic brands like Suave and ChapStick for modern commerce.Noah explains how he started from scratch following the brand’s spin-off from Unilever and Haleon, focusing first on profitability and operational foundations before investing in content or storytelling. From strategic bundling to keyword-level retail media planning, Noah gives a transparent look at what actually drives results in the private equity-backed world of consumer goods.He also shares how he thinks about team structure, omnichannel planning, and the future of social commerce for mass brands looking to stay relevant in emerging platforms.Key takeaways:Profitability is the foundation. Noah prioritized assortment, packaging, and pricing to unlock growth before touching brand content.Retail media drives more than clicks. Strategic investments helped drive in-store velocity and strengthen retailer partnerships.Private equity changes everything. Noah outlines what marketers should know before joining a private equity-backed business and how to thrive in the model. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter sit down with Lander Otegui, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Proximo Spirits. With a portfolio that includes legendary brands like Jose Cuervo and Bushmills, Lander shares how Proximo balances centuries of heritage with bold decisions that shape the future of spirits.He explains how private ownership enables long-term innovation, why tequila has uniquely expanded across price points and use cases, and how the brand manages storytelling on the digital shelf in an era of AI and misinformation. From pioneering new tequila subcategories to building a distillery in the heart of Manhattan, Lander reveals what it takes to stay relevant in a category rooted in tradition.Key takeaways:Heritage drives relevance when paired with innovation. Proximo’s legacy brands succeed by staying true to their origins while evolving for modern consumers.Private ownership creates room for bolder moves. Without quarterly pressure, Proximo invests with a 200-year vision in mind.Digital discovery is powerful but complex. Tequila shoppers are navigating fragmented information across platforms, making clarity and truth essential for brand growth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter sit down with Wendell Venerable, Vice President of eCommerce at Congo Brands. With experience at Nestlé, Reckitt, and Red Bull, Wendell shares how he has built a career by staying focused on the fundamentals, regardless of shifting trends in the commerce landscape.Wendell explains why executional excellence still drives the most meaningful results, how to build influence across functions regardless of org structure, and what future leaders need to prioritize to stay relevant in a constantly evolving industry. He also weighs in on generative engine optimization (GEO), agentic shopping, and why not every new buzzword deserves a strategy.Key takeaways:Execution over buzzwords: Wendell shares why staying grounded in fundamentals is more impactful than chasing trends like GEO or agentic shopping.Ownership over org charts: The effectiveness of an eCommerce team depends less on structure and more on clear strategy, alignment, and influence across the business.Curiosity and consistency win: A career grounded in learning, humility, and cross-functional leadership is what has enabled Wendell to succeed across companies of every size and stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter sit down with Caroline Goodner, Founder and CEO of OrganiCare, the company behind FemiClear. With deep experience launching and scaling health-focused consumer brands, Caroline shares how she has built a business that addresses overlooked but highly common women’s health issues.From vaginal health to product regulation, Caroline opens up about the unique challenges and rewards of creating solutions in a category that has long been underserved. She shares how OrganiCare earns shelf space, engages on social, and educates consumers about choices they didn’t know they had. Caroline also reflects on the personal decision that reshaped her approach to leadership and balance.Key Takeaways:Innovation through Education: Caroline explains how OrganiCare leverages digital platforms like TikTok to inform consumers and drive awareness in a regulated, often misunderstood category.Retail and Consumer Alignment: By offering science-backed, natural products that solve real problems, OrganiCare has been able to scale quickly in brick-and-mortar retail.Bravery in Business and Life: Caroline shares the bold personal choice to step back from a prior venture to focus on family, and how that shaped her leadership journey going forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this compelling episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter sit down with Amber English, President, Digital & Online of the Americas at The Estée Lauder Companies. From launching on Amazon to leading organizational transformation, Amber shares the inside story of how one of the world’s most iconic beauty companies is navigating the future of commerce.With transparency and conviction, Amber unpacks how Estée Lauder is adapting to shifting consumer behaviors, optimizing for agility, and balancing heritage with innovation. She also gets personal, revealing the brave decision that shaped her career path in a surprising way.Key Takeaways:Commerce Meets Consumer Intent: Estée Lauder’s move to Amazon wasn’t just a distribution shift—it was a strategic response to consumer demand. Amber explains how the company protects brand equity while embracing the reality that Amazon is both a retail and media platform.Organizing for Agility at Scale: To keep pace with modern commerce, Estée Lauder is reengineering how teams work, empowering faster decisions, embracing real-time data, and aligning KPIs across channels to reflect the interconnected consumer journey.Career Bravery Beyond the Resume: Amber’s decision not to return to college, despite the prestige-driven culture of corporate America, became one of her bravest—and most transformative—moves. Her story challenges traditional definitions of leadership and success.👉 Tune in for a masterclass in digital transformation, brand stewardship, and modern leadership from one of beauty’s boldest change-makers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter are joined by John Alvarado, U.S. Chief Brand Officer at Suntory Global Spirits. As more companies replace traditional CMO roles with Chief Brand Officers, John explains why brand-building—not just marketing—is central to growth, especially in a category steeped in heritage and ritual.From transforming Jim Beam’s go-to-market strategy to embracing Gen Z’s flavor-first preferences, John shares how Suntory is putting the consumer at the center of everything—from digital upskilling to cultural collabs. Plus, a personal story about bravery that’s both touching and cinematic.Key Takeaways:Why Brand Still WinsIn an age of economic uncertainty, Suntory is doubling down on brand equity rather than discounting. John shares how this conviction is fueling consumer love and long-term loyalty.Upskilling with PurposeFrom media to marketing, Suntory’s teams are evolving into digital generalists. John reveals how a “fail forward” culture and clear alignment have made upskilling more than a box-checking exercise.Flavors, Funnels, and the Future of SpiritsWith Gen Z entering the category, Suntory is leaning into bold flavors, limited-time offerings, and full-funnel marketing. Learn how launches like Jim Beam Pineapple reflect a new generation’s preferences and pace.👉 Tune in to learn how one of the world’s most iconic spirits portfolios is embracing modern marketing while honoring what made its brands iconic in the first place. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you scale a high-growth brand after acquisition without losing the culture that made it special?On this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Stuart Heflin, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Quest Nutrition at Simply Good Foods, about how Quest has tripled in size since joining Simply Good Foods while staying true to its mission and scrappy DNA.Stuart explains how the "flip the macros" product strategy guides every innovation, why democratizing ideas across all levels fuels their culture, and how Quest navigates an increasingly competitive high protein, low sugar market. He also details the company's omnichannel approach, integrating retail media, packaging design, and digital influence to win across physical and digital shelves.Key takeaways:Protect culture at all costs. Flat structures and open forums keep teams engaged and inventive.Use strategy as a filter. If a product cannot flip the macros to high protein, high fiber, low sugar, low net carbs, it does not launch.Treat omnicommerce as a lifestyle, not a channel. Digital is part of the consumer’s daily reality, requiring seamless full funnel execution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you infuse startup agility into a $3B global commerce engine?On this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter sit down with Andrew Lederman, VP of Global Digital Commerce at Mondelez, for a wide-ranging conversation on building at scale while moving with speed. From founding a startup acquired by Alibaba to transforming digital commerce at AB InBev and now Mondelez, Andrew shares how his entrepreneurial DNA shapes his leadership at one of the world's largest CPG companies.He opens up about balancing local autonomy with global vision, the value of taking big swings instead of "safe bunts," and navigating the signal vs. noise of today's crowded tech landscape. With deep candor and clarity, Andrew explains how consumer obsession—not competitor fixation—drives long-term growth, and why brave leadership often means placing smart bets on the future.Plus, hear his answer to our signature closing question—and why he says being a father tops his list of courageous moves.Key Takeaways:Lead with Empathy, Act with Clarity: To drive transformation in large organizations, meet teams where they are and align them with a shared vision of the future.Prioritize Consumer Needs Over Competitive Noise: Long-term growth comes from solving real consumer problems—not chasing what others are doing.Make Strategic Bets with Confidence: Balancing short-term impact with long-term vision requires bold decision-making and operational excellence.Whether you're scaling digital commerce or trying to future-proof your brand, this episode offers a grounded, strategic, and motivating listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Jenna Steele, Vice President of E-commerce and Digital at Riboli Wines. Jenna shares how she is leading transformation in a category rooted in tradition, from building a tech-forward e-commerce function to using digital shelf insights to engage a new generation of wine drinkers.She discusses how consumer confusion, generational preferences, and emerging wellness trends are reshaping the Alcohol landscape, and why she believes wine is poised for a major comeback. Jenna also outlines the tech stack powering her team, the role of retail media in attracting new customers, and how strong partnerships fuel innovation in a highly regulated category.Key takeaways:Wine’s comeback depends on reducing consumer friction and repositioning it as approachable and wellness-alignedTech stacks that integrate AI, digital shelf analytics, and compliant path-to-purchase tools are essential to modernizing Alcohol e-commerceFamily-owned businesses can drive agile innovation by staying laser-focused on the consumer instead of Wall Street Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Chitra Ebenezer, Chief Marketing Officer at Velcro Companies. Chitra shares how the VELCRO® Brand inspires creativity across a wide range of consumer and industrial use cases, and how she balances B2B and B2C marketing strategies to drive growth.She highlights the role of campaigns like “ORIGINAL THINKING®” and “EASY. DOES IT.” in shaping brand perception, and the importance of influencer programs and user-generated content to showcase versatility and build engagement. Chitra also reflects on how Velcro Companies maintains its position as the original hook-and-loop fastener in a competitive market.Key takeawaysEducating consumers on VELCRO® Brand’s infinite use cases requires a balance of awareness, inspiration, and community-driven contentB2B and B2C marketing strategies can complement each other to strengthen brand relevance globallyInfluencer and creator partnerships are critical to inspiring new use cases and driving sales Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.