THE BIG 3 ARE BROKEN. WHAT’S NEXT FOR BRANDS?
Paid is up. Performance is down. Audiences are tuning out.
In this week’s BOARD BRIEFING, Amy Kapolnek and Lacey Norton say what many marketers already feel: the Big 3 are broken. But connection isn’t dead—it’s evolving. From Reddit and Substack to TYB and OnlyFans, they map the new terrain of digital community, loyalty, and long-game storytelling.
If you're still pouring budget into broken channels, this one's your call to rethink and reallocate.
WHY FASHION BRANDS NEED EXPERT NAVIGATION NOW: PART TWO
Tariffs were just the wake-up call. The real challenge? Thriving in a fashion industry where disruption never stops.
In Part Two of her BOARD BRIEFING series, Briana Swords outlines the new rules for fashion leaders—from managing micro-markets and dynamic pricing to building anti-fragile product portfolios. If you're still trying to plan 12 months out in a world that changes by the week, this is the reset you need.
The brands that will win next aren’t the biggest. They’re the ones bold enough to evolve.
WHY FASHION BRANDS NEED EXPERT NAVIGATION NOW: PART ONE
Tariffs are hitting. Orders are being canceled. Customers are confused and fashion brands are in crisis.
In this week’s BOARD BRIEFING, Briana Swords shares what she’s seeing across showrooms, trade floors, and client conversations: a perfect storm of disruption. From Canada’s CUSMA fallout to SHEIN’s forced reinvention, she unpacks what’s happening behind the scenes and why fashion brands need sharp, specialized support now more than ever.
If you’re navigating uncertainty, this one’s not just a read—it’s a roadmap.
AI JUST REWROTE THE GTM PLAYBOOK — ARE YOU READY TO PLAY?
AI didn’t just make go-to-market strategy faster. It made it different.
In this week’s BOARD BRIEFING, Tina Eskridge outlines what the smartest teams are already doing to turn discovery, demand gen, and retention into an always-on growth loop. From Clearbit to HubSpot to Sephora, she shares what it means to GTM in an AI-first world—and why the winners won’t be the ones who shouted the loudest. They’ll be the ones who listened, learned, and closed the loop.
If your GTM still looks like a funnel, this is your wake-up call.
MARKETING THROUGH CHAOS: WHY BRAND EQUITY IS YOUR STRONGEST ASSET IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
In uncertain markets, most brands cut their brand budgets. The best ones don’t.
In this week’s BOARD BRIEFING, fractional CMOs Anna Bleers and Erika Weiss break down why brand equity is your most resilient asset—and how to build it without blowing your budget. From Mike’s Hot Honey to Starbucks and Bobbie, they share what the best brands are doing right now to grow trust, pricing power, and long-term value.
If you're marketing through chaos, read this first.
NEW MARKETING CHANNELS REDEFINING GROWTH: SUBSTACK, REDDIT AND ONLYFANS
Substack. Reddit. OnlyFans.
Not your typical media plan—but maybe they should be.
In this week’s BOARD BRIEFING, Amy Kaplonek unpacks how forward-thinking brands are using unexpected platforms to drive real connection and conversion. From Rare Beauty’s heartfelt Substack to Urban Decay’s headline-making OnlyFans collab, this is a wake-up call for marketers still relying on Instagram and email blasts alone.
If you want to reach people where they actually are—not just where it’s “safe”—this one’s for you.
THE BLACK BOOK x Winnin Partnership
In this BOARD BRIEFING, April Uchitel announces a new partnership between THE BOARD and cultural intelligence platform Winnin. Learn how THE BLACK BOOK identifies high-ROI tech and why Winnin is poised to lead the next wave of culturally driven brand growth.
Why Resonance, Not Just Reach, Is the Future of Brand Growth
You don’t need a million people to like your product. You need the right people to love it.
In this week’s BOARD BRIEFING, beauty execs Leslie Holmes and Jennifer Ritter explain why resonance—not reach—is the future of brand growth. Drawing from decades of experience and the latest Piping Hot session, they show how clarity builds connection, and connection drives conversion.
If you’re building a brand (or rebuilding one), this one’s for you.
FIVE COMMUNICATION GAPS EVERY LEADER MUST CLOSE IN TIMES OF CHANGE.
Most M&A announcements speak to investors. Very few speak to the people who actually make the business run.
In this week’s BOARD BRIEFING, Faye McCray breaks down the five communication gaps that derail even the strongest strategies—from the trust gap to the continuity gap—and makes a clear case that these aren’t messaging problems. They’re leadership ones.
THE TRADITIONAL MODEL OF WORK IS OVER. ADAPT OR BE LEFT BEHIND.
The labor market we once knew is gone. In this week’s BOARD BRIEFING, Stephanie Dobbs Brown unpacks what’s replacing it—and why companies that cling to the old model will get left behind. From AI-native roles to the $9.2B rise of fractional work and the evolution of the office, she makes it clear: this isn’t just a hiring trend, it’s a work transformation.
TARIFF TALK: IS MADE IN THE USA A "MYTH"?
“About 97% of clothes sold in the U.S. are imported—and that’s not changing anytime soon.”
In this week’s BOARD BRIEFING, Sydney Badger goes deep on the reality behind all the “Made in America” talk. From tariffs to labor to logistics, she explains why fashion’s return to domestic manufacturing isn’t just unlikely—it’s uneconomic. But there is opportunity in recommerce, reverse logistics, and new manufacturing tech. If you’ve been wondering where production is headed, this one’s a must-read.
PEOPLE LEVERAGE IS A FORM OF CAPITAL ALLOCATION. IT’S NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
“People leverage is a form of capital allocation.”
In this week’s BOARD BRIEFING, Faheem Siddiqi flips the script on HR—showing how the smartest founders treat talent like balance sheet assets. A-players aren’t just nice to have—they’re margin-expanding, risk-reducing force multipliers. If your org chart isn’t driving your P&L, you’re leaving money on the table.
BRAND. RISK. GOVERNANCE. THE CASE FOR CONNECTION
“Absence of controversy is not the same as alignment.”
In this BOARD BRIEFING, Melissa Roth Mendez shows how treating brand, risk, and governance as separate domains creates confusion, fragmentation, and slow reputational erosion. This one’s for any leader who wants to move fast and stand for something.
PUBLIC RELATIONS IS FALLING APART—FRACTION BY FRACTION
“The industry didn’t fall—it calcified. The audience didn’t vanish—they migrated.”
In this BOARD BRIEFING, Adam Nelson cuts through the noise to expose the failures of legacy PR—and why fractional comms isn’t just a pivot, it’s a power move. If your coverage isn’t shifting reputation, revenue, or recognition, it’s camouflage, not strategy. Read now.
A NEW MODEL FOR A NEW NORMAL
“The first model often fails to launch. The second often launches something forgettable.”
In this week’s BOARD BRIEFING, Rachel Roberts Mattox maps out the white space between startup chaos and incubator bloat—and introduces THE LAUNCH STUDIO: a flexible, founder-focused approach built to meet the moment. Forget end-to-end. This is edge-to-edge.
Building Brands That Matter in Culture
“Cultural relevance isn't just checking boxes on a trend report—it’s the magnetic pull between what you create and what people actually give a damn about.”
In this Special Edition to the BOARD BRIEFING, Rebecca Bartlett distills the magic behind brands that actually matter—from resisting performative noise to zooming in on community truth and zooming out on culture.
FITNESS, FEELINGS, AND FINDING YOUR PEOPLE: A NEW LOOK AT WELLNESS
“Exercise doesn’t make me feel amazing. It just makes me feel less bad.” In this week’s BOARD BRIEFING, Lilly Minkove breaks down the real wellness trends shaping 2025—from stress relief and hormone shifts to community-driven motivation. If your brand is still chasing aesthetics and biohacks, you might be missing the point. Read the full insights, and subscribe to ABOVE BOARD for more human-first strategy.
THE UNSEXY WORK THAT BUILDS ICONIC BRANDS
“If your brand system feels like a script, it’s too rigid. But if it feels like improv with no rules, it’s useless.” In this week’s BOARD BRIEFING, Stevie Wilson makes a powerful case for why language systems—voice guidelines, messaging frameworks, feedback rituals—aren’t just creative niceties, but essential business tools. This one’s for leaders tired of word salad and ready to scale clarity. Read now and subscribe to ABOVE BOARD for more weekly insights.
THE HOLDING COMPANY PLAYBOOK DOESN’T WORK FOR YOU. STOP COPYING IT.
“Looking bigger” is not the flex you think it is. Acting like a holding company might feel like a step up—but all those extra approval layers, 12-person pitch teams, and bespoke decks for every prospect? They're not signs of growth. They're symptoms of insecurity. “These habits don’t show growth. They show insecurity.”
Chantal Sagnes unpacks why indie agencies need to stop copying the big shop playbook and start building smarter, faster, and more intentionally. If you’ve been stuck in overthinking mode, this one’s for you.
IS AI USHERING IN AN ERA OF INFINITE BRANDS?
The effort and skill required to create a new brand from scratch has plummeted. Many companies, celebrities, influencers, civilians, and (yes) agents are going to do it. They’re going to shoot their shots. There’s no upper limit. The only constraints are supply chains, ad real estate, and capital—and the pressure on all three is about to skyrocket. COGS, CPMs, and valuations will shift accordingly.