Marketing Minds: Insights from Our Board
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Required Reading, Listening, and Learning: What AMA Nashville Board Members Suggest Right Now
Welcome to a new series of articles from the AMA Nashville Board of Directors! In this quarterly series, the Board will share the insights and perspectives shaping their work.
In a rapidly changing industry, continuous learning is non-negotiable. This quarter, we asked our board members to share one book, podcast, or article that they believe every Nashville marketer should spend time with right now, and why. Their recommendations offer a blend of foundational principles, innovative branding philosophy, and tactical business strategy to help you stay ahead of the curve.
Here are the resources the leaders of AMA Nashville are turning to:
Pink Goldfish 2.0 by Stan Phelps & David Rendall
"Pink Goldfish 2.0 flips the script on how we think about branding and differentiation. Instead of trying to ‘fix’ weaknesses, it challenges us to embrace them – and in doing so, create authentic connections and unforgettable brands. This book is an encouraging read for marketers who want to stand out in a crowded space."
— Amanda Mazzo | Helping marketing teams and business leaders streamline their creative workload, ensuring brand consistency and delivering compelling visual content for 20+ years.
How Brands Grow by Byron Sharp
"How Brands Grow challenges the way we think about marketing and reminds us that real growth comes from reach, relevance, and fresh ideas."
— Wes Williams | General Manager, Valpak Clipp
The CMO Podcast with Jim Stengel
"Jim Stengel interviews CMOs and other senior leaders at top brands. They dig into the purpose, the people, and the future of our industry could look like. Both are full of relevant, timely conversations for marketers today."
— Katie Peninger | VP Account Service & Business Growth, Lewis
"Focuses on the industry wide business and life of marketing specifically to Gen Z and how we can utilize technology in a variety of ways to increase awareness and experience."
— Samantha Rickert | Marketing Campaign Specialist
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
"This book is a refresher on the core principles of marketing communication & how to do it effectively. It helps to get my head above all the commotion to remember how to stay effective when I’m communicating with others."
— Caleb Spencer | Director of Events
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business -or- The EOS Life by Gino Wickman
"These books are quick reads. Traction provides a playbook to get teams aligned and reach goals and The EOS Life helps you discover work that doesn't feel like work, so you can love what you do every day."
— Britton Watson | VP Marketing & Customer Experience, IRIS Networks | 30+ years in marketing, operations, and strategic planning
How I Built This with Guy Raz
"This is a podcast that interviews CEOs and Founders of successful companies. You get to hear all of the crazy ways that they bootstrapped their business as it was growing and all of the guerrilla marketing tactics they used along the way. They've had everyone on from the founders of Chobani to the guys who started Twitch. There's an episode for everyone go check it out!"
— Dave DeRosa | Sales Director for Media Buying, Simpli.fi
"Anything is possible when you become a master at failure; then the sky is the limit!"
— Dana Taft | Chief Business Development Officer at Signature Transportation with 20+ year experience in Sales and Marketing
Building A StoryBrand by Donald Miller
"So many companies struggle to simplify their message. This book helps cut through the noise and clarify how to make your customer the hero, not your brand."
— Ashly DePew | Founder & CMO, Slantics
SaaS Interviews with CEOs with Nathan Latka
"SaaS Interviews with CEOs gives great insight into scrappy, boots-on-the-ground marketing for startups. Guests share some of their raw strategies that got them from zero to traction; everything from affiliate strategies to raising capital. The host’s candid curiosity shows what it really takes to make ideas stick, even if he can be a little much at times."
— James Hanson | Partner and COO at Current Marketing Solutions
$100M OFFERS by Alex Hormozi
"Generating awareness and leads is great! Converting them to a sale is Gold. Marketing ROI is measured in sales. This unique how-to style no nonsense resource, helps you frame offers that generate more sales than before. It encourages creativity and understands that perception is reality. Each word counts. And, remember, small changes have big impact!"
— Paula Cometto Milam | Founder and Chief Strategist, TruStar Marketing
Agency Business on Spotify
"If you own a marketing agency, this podcast offers insights to help you level up or pivot. It also provides general advertising insights."
— Jacqueline Hayes, MBA, PCM | Principal & Chief Marketing Strategist, Crayons & Marketers
99% Invisible with Roman Mars
"While not a traditional marketing podcast, I believe every marketer can benefit from the insights it shares. This podcast focuses on the unnoticed aspects of design and architecture such as the history of the curb cut or designing a flag and so much more. It turns mundane objects in our everyday lives into compelling stories that showcases design thinking and how design decisions affect human behavior…for better or worse."
— Abigail Hammer | Marketing Program Manager, Grow with Google
Stay tuned for the next installment of Marketing Minds, where we'll tap into the expertise of the AMA Nashville board on another critical topic shaping our industry.