Marketing Happy Hour

Laura Geller’s love of beauty began backstage on Broadway and behind the scenes with celebrities — but her true passion has always been making makeup work for real women. That belief led her to launch Laura Geller Beauty, a brand rooted in simplicity, inclusivity, and confidence at every age.
In this episode, we’re joined by Laura Geller, Founder, and Sara Mitzner, VP of Marketing, to discuss how the brand continues to resonate with women 40+ while thriving in today’s fast-moving marketing landscape. From QVC to social media, affiliate marketing to storytelling, this conversation explores what it really takes to build longevity — especially when marketing to an audience often ignored by the beauty industry.
This episode is especially relevant for millennial and Gen Z marketers navigating how to modernize legacy brands, build trust across generations, and market with purpose.
Key Takeaways:
// Women 40+ Are an Underserved Growth Opportunity: Brands that genuinely understand and respect this audience can build deep loyalty and long-term growth.
// Legacy Brands Win by Staying True to Their Core: Evolution doesn’t mean reinvention — the strongest brands modernize their channels without abandoning their values.
// Social Media Isn’t Just for Younger Audiences: With the right tone, humor, and authenticity, social content can connect across generations.
// Storytelling Builds Trust in Beauty Marketing: Real experiences, real education, and real representation matter more than perfection.
// Focus Beats Fragmentation: With so many marketing channels available, clarity on where to invest time and budget is critical.
// Longevity Comes from Purpose: Building something meaningful — not just trendy — is what creates brands that last decades.
Connect with Laura Geller Beauty: Website | LinkedIn
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Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collective
Say hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. ⁠
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In this episode of Marketing Happy Hour, we’re officially closing out our biggest year yet and looking ahead to what’s next. We reflect on key milestones from 2025 — bringing Ally on as co-host, partnering with brands like Vayner and Digital Summit, expanding our speaking and workshop opportunities, and continuing our mission to deliver actionable insights that help you grow your marketing career.
Then, we share what’s new for 2026, including our refreshed brand identity and the launch of the MHH Collective, our first-ever online community designed to support marketers through connection, learning, and real career conversations.
To close out the episode, we dive into our top four marketing trends and predictions for 2026, including the evolving role of AI, the rise of online + offline communities, why quality content matters more than ever, and how “treatonomics” is influencing consumer behavior.
Whether you’re planning your marketing strategy for the year ahead or thinking about how to future-proof your career, this episode will help you step into 2026 with clarity and intention.
Key Takeaways:
// AI Will Be a Skillset, Not Just a Tool: Marketers who understand how to work with generative AI — not just use it — will become indispensable. AI will handle efficiency and data, but human creativity and storytelling will remain the differentiator.

// Community Is No Longer Optional: Brands that win in 2026 will blend online and offline experiences to build real relationships. Communities that go beyond transactions will drive loyalty, insight, and long-term growth.

// Quality Will Outperform Quantity High-quality, intentional content will continue to outperform high-volume posting. Marketers need to align on why content exists and what value it delivers to the audience.

// Treatonomics Is Shaping Consumer Behavior: Consumers are prioritizing small, everyday moments of joy. Brands that understand how to meet audiences emotionally — not just functionally — will stay culturally relevant.

// Career Growth Requires Proactivity: Investing in learning (AI education, community participation, and skill-building) is essential for staying competitive in a rapidly evolving marketing landscape.
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Join the MHH Collective! The MHH Collective is a community for marketers and business owners to connect, ask real questions, and grow their careers together. Join for access to live Q&As with industry experts, a private Slack community, and ongoing resources: https://www.marketinghappyhr.com/mhh-collective

Say hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - We can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. ⁠
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In this episode of Marketing Happy Hour, I’m joined by Stephanie Sandbo, Chief Revenue Officer at LTK, to break down where the creator economy is headed, and what brands need to understand to succeed in it. As AI accelerates content creation and campaign execution, Stephanie explains why trust, authenticity, and real community remain the most valuable currencies for both creators and brands. We discuss how creator marketing has evolved, what brands often get wrong when they chase speed or scale, and how platforms like LTK help brands drive measurable impact without losing the human connection that makes creator partnerships work in the first place.
Key Takeaways:
// AI is helping brands and creators move faster, but speed alone does not build trust.
// The creators who continue to grow are those rooted in real communities, not just reach.
// Authenticity is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s a requirement for sustainable creator marketing.
// Brands risk eroding consumer trust when creator partnerships feel overly automated or transactional.
// The most effective creator strategies prioritize long-term relationships over one-off activations.
// Platforms like LTK enable scale while preserving credibility and measurable outcomes.
// The future of the creator economy belongs to brands that respect creators as partners, not placements.
Learn more about LTK: Website
Connect with Stephanie: LinkedIn
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Say hi! DM me on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - I can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. ⁠
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REWIND EPISODE: In this solo episode, I dive into the three critical skills every marketer needs to develop continuously: Copywriting, Relationship-Building, and Adaptability. Inspired by a listener's question, we explore how these skills not only form the foundation for successful marketing careers but also remain vital throughout a marketer's journey.
Whether you're just starting or are well into your career, this episode offers actionable insights to enhance your marketing prowess and stay ahead in a fast-evolving industry.
Key Takeaways:
// Mastering Copywriting: Consistent, well-crafted copy is essential for effective communication and brand alignment.
// Building Genuine Relationships: Strong professional connections can open doors and drive long-term success.
// Humanizing Brand Interactions: Personal engagement on social media builds trust and community.
// Embracing Adaptability: Flexibility and openness to change are crucial in a rapidly evolving marketing landscape.
// Proactive Problem-Solving: Anticipating changes and preparing in advance helps navigate industry shifts smoothly.
Read more on this topic via the MHH blog: ⁠HERE⁠
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Say hi! DM me on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - I can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. ⁠
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In this episode of Marketing Happy Hour, Cassie and Ally sit down with Lisa Bubbers — Chief Brand Officer at Orchestra and Co-Founder of Studs — for a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how the world’s most culturally relevant brands are built. Lisa breaks down the real story behind Studs’ breakout success, the early risks that paid off, and how she now leads strategy for a portfolio of ambitious brands navigating growth and transformation. She shares how Orchestra decodes audience signals, pressure-tests hunches with data, and designs systems for rapid learning, bold decision-making, and breakthrough creative. Whether you’re an early-career marketer or a seasoned brand leader, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on instinct vs. insight, innovation, and building brands people actually care about.
Key Takeaways:
// How Studs broke through the noise and became a category-defining brand in retail.
// The early, risky decisions that shaped Studs’ identity and long-term traction.
// How Orchestra identifies cultural signals and emerging trends before they gain steam.
// Why great brands balance instinct with insight—and how to know which to trust when.
// What an “innovation system” actually looks like inside a modern marketing organization.
// How to design brand teams for speed, iteration, and breakthrough creativity.
// Why the C-suite must cultivate entrepreneurial agility to drive results in fast-moving markets.
// Top advice for young strategists who want to work inside an integrated model like Orchestra.
// How to build brands that are culturally relevant, emotionally resonant, and impossible to ignore.
Connect with Lisa: LinkedIn
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Say hi! DM me on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - I can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. ⁠