
Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank
By Allison Netzer
In this short series, I interviewed thought makers for their unique perspective on applying the book principles day-to-day.
Although we're no longer recording, please feel free to listen to the content!
More on the book at www.thinklikeabrandbook.com
More on Nymbus at www.nymbus.com

Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank Dec 09, 2022

The Anniversary Edition with Allison and Liz
Join us for a reflection on the first year of TLAB...complete with what's surprised us, predictions for the future and shameless plugs for our new content. And while you're here, listen to a few of the past episodes with some amazing leaders in financial services and beyond.

BONUS: A TLAB Conversation with Dr. Marcus Collins
Marcus’s first book, FOR THE CULTURE, is out this May. He has worked with everyone from Beyonce to Nike to McDonald’s (he’s the brains behind the adult happy meal, most recently Cardi B and Offset) and is an award-winning marketer and cultural translator with one foot in the world of practice—serving as the Chief Strategy Officer at Wieden+Kennedy New York—and one foot in the world of academia—as a marketing professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan.
For the Culture is a guide to understanding the cultural forces that shape our world and how individuals and businesses can harness those forces to build identities that stand the test of time. Collins presents a comprehensive framework for developing a culture-driven marketing strategy, including insights on the importance of understanding one’s audience, developing a strong brand narrative, and leveraging social media to create buzz and engagement. Throughout the book, he illustrates the “whys” and the “hows” to empower others to successfully apply these learnings in their own pursuits… be it personal or professional.

BONUS: Allison and Liz: Tales from the Road
BONUS Episode! Liz and I get together and share some of the most surprising things we've learned traveling around and talking about the book, Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank. Plus, we somehow commit to creating a wine and cocktail list to accompany TLAB bookclubs.

The 🤘Eric Episode:
Today I am speaking to someone who needs no introduction, but since this is audio-only, I will give you some hints:
- The Linked Banker
- The guy who figured out how to put an emoji in front of this name on LinkedIn
- Author of The Recovering Banker Newsletter.
That’s right - it’s 🤘Eric Cook.
Listen for more!

The Joann Episode: Crevices. Starbucks. Life Design Banking.
I am keeping the bar high with my next guest, Joann Marsili. Joann is the Chief Marketing and Digital Experience Officer at Fidelity Cooperative Bank out of Massachusetts. She is a highly regarded, data-driven leader and an all around inspiring person.
Listen in for:
- "Give ideas time to get into the crevices of the organization."
- Why you should perform "the Starbucks Story" live. Really!
- What is "Life Design Banking"
Quick link to "the Starbucks Story" complete with sound effects:

The Michelle Episode: Risk, Le Creuset and Curiosity
We talk a lot about:
How to avoid group think
Product isn’t what it used to be
Passing down your banking relationship
A new book idea!

BONUS: The Starbucks Example
A snippet from my time on Chuck Allen's Cool Change Podcast that gives you a glimpse of the story that started it all (in terms of the book, Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank).
For the full episode, click here.
If you would rather read the intro, I put a copy of it on our website www.thinklikeabrandbook.com

The Josh Episode: "Re-celebration" + Forks and Cranberries
In this episode I am joined by Josh Herman, Vice President of Strategy at the $1B Frankenmuth Credit Union. Josh is a former federal examiner with the NCUA, VP of Compliance at a large regional bank ($70B) and Senior Associate at a Top 100 accounting firm. But wait!
Josh is also the creator of the Envy cannabis banking program at Frankenmuth Credit Union.
We talk about Sometimes Doing the Counterintuitive Thing, Cue the Remix and avoiding binary thinking – plus Josh turns the table and asks me a question - you won’t want to miss it!
Key points
🎉 “Re-celebrate”
🍽️ Use the fork you already have (trust me, you need to hear this analogy)
🏈 No points for hitting the goal posts
For more on Josh, click here.

The Nick Episode - Embrace Tension & Create Contradictions
Nick Kennedy is a Dallas-based business coach who offers practical guidance from his decades as an entrepreneur, author, and executive coach.
For Episode 13, we talk on the Zoom phone about mindset shifts, how Uber drivers deal with the same things as high-powered leaders and the power of embracing tension and creating contradictions.
🛫 Uncertainty is where growth comes from
🛫 Courage is when you move past fear; the obstacle is still there
🛫 We like to wallow in the good things that come out of our decisions
🛫 Everything good we have comes from a risk someone took to make “it” better
And…Nick announces his not-a-plan to launch Bling Bank.

The Cindy Episode: Mastering the Pivot (Cue the Remix)
Cindy Lo is the CEO and Chief Event Strategist at Red Velvet Events.
I wanted to have her on the show to talk about how, during difficult periods like post-911 and COVID-19 she took the opportunity to pivot and remix herself and her businesses.
I think you'll get a lot out of the conversation!
For more on Cindy, please click here.

The Chuck Episode: Marry the Mission, Date the Details
Chuck Allen, host of the top-rated Cool Change podcast, joins me for Episode 11 to talk about doing the counterintuitive thing. I learned a ton during the conversation, including:
· Change of mind before physical change
· Change starts with endings, not beginnings
· Thawing out hamburgers as an analogy for change
· Much of what we seek is already available
· If you can prove the ROI now, it’s not innovation
· Tips for working with “keepers of the status quo” / you can be right or you can build a bridge (influence)
· Everyone organization has old sofas

The Al Episode: Why Room Service Matters + Thoughts On Re-Branding
Al Dominick, Partner at Cornerstone Advisors and fashion icon joins me on this episode to talk about:
- The recent brand work at Cornerstone
- How to coach internal change
- Modernizing roles and decision making
- Brands that are doing it right
For more on Al, please click here.
For more on the book, Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank, please click here.
For more on Nymbus, please click here.

The Keith Episode: Sometimes Do The Counterintuitive Thing

The Derik Episode: Start Simple And See Where It Takes You
Excited to spend a few minutes with the trailblazing CMO of Autobooks, Derik Sutton.
Derik is a Board Member at the Association for Financial Technology (AFT) as well as an award-winning marketer and sought after speaker.
In this episode:
- The importance of one-liners
- Jobs to be done thinking
- The unenviable life of rock stars
- "Start simple and see where it takes you"
For more on Derik: click here
For more on the book, Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank: click here

The Shaun Episode: Alexa, Risk and Room
No good deed goes unpunished!
In Episode 7 (which is over the 5 episode limit I randomly chose), I was delighted to talk to a new connection, Shaun Carson.
Shaun is the SVP and Director of Marketing for Heritage Bank and, as impressively, a champion in his community through work with the Boys & Girls Club and the Emergency Food Network (EFN).
It was Shaun's LinkedIn encouragement that convinced me to keep going with the podcast and I think you'll really enjoy our conversation.
For more on Shaun, please click here.
For more on Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank, click here.

The Margaret Episode: Mutual Value Equations
What do squash (the sport), turning wealth management upside down and being a female founder and CEO have in common?
If you guessed Margaret J. Hartigan, Founder and CEO of Marstone, you would be right.
In this episode, Margaret talks about how non-marketers can apply the book principles as well as some thoughts on how to be more counter-intuitive.
For more on Margaret, please click here.
For more on the book, Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank, click here.

The Justin Episode: Brand and M&A
Episode 5 marks a milestone for the podcast - for the first time I am interviewing a person who not only read the book, but is IN the book.
That’s none other than Justin Dunn, Chief Marketing Officer at WSFS Bank, otherwise known as Wissfiss.
For more on Justin, click here.
For more on the book, Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank, click here.

The Liz (M) Episode: The Rise With Renasant Initiative
Meet Liz Lancaster McIntyre, the Director of Social Media and PR at Renasant Bank AND creator of Rise with Renasant.
She is also a participant of the American Banking Association (ABA) Bank Marketing School and a (relatively) new Texan.
For more on Liz, click here.
For more on the book, Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank, click here.

The Jordan Episode: The FIs And Companies Doing It Right Right Now

The Billee Episode: Ask The Right Questions
Keeping the bar sky high with my next guest, Billee Howard.
Billee is the Founder and CEO of BRANDthrō, Author of WE-Commerce, a former IBM Futurist, regular Forbes columnist and, most recently an Executive Board member at Fast Company.
For more on Billee, click here.
To check out her book, WE-Commerce, click here.
For more on the book, Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank, click here.

The Aleda Episode: Highly Sensitive Success
I am starting with the bar high with my first guest, Aleda De Maria.
Aleda is the Executive Vice President of Consumer Banking and Operations at People’s Bank out of Holyoke, Massachusetts and an award winning leader, accomplished speaker and all around inspiring person.
She'll answer 5 questions about the recently published book, Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank, including how she is putting the principles into practice.
For more on Aleda, click here.
For more on the book, Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank, click here.