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.