I love that this is a demonstration of a company that is proving it can “Do Well by Doing Good.” Beyond the pitches, there was programming and training – I was just really impressed to see how Lowe’s was supporting these entrepreneurs.
Amanda Brinkman’s Blog
Asking For What You Want Is Daunting
But you should do it. Too often people in the workplace, particularly women, avoid the compensation conversation for fear of alienating their bosses. My advice: be brave. Get in there. Do your due...
The One Where I Learn To Play The Ukulele
When I walked into Quattlebaum Music in Searcy, Arkansas, I had one thought: I want to play one of these beautiful instruments. And much to my delight, owner Greg Geroy was happy to oblige. I’m not...
Q&A With Leadership Expert Sue Hawkes
Sue Hawkes is one of those people who jumps out of bed and can’t wait to get started each morning. I marvel at her energy and talent. As a bestselling author, award-winning leader, certified...
Q&A: Maria Keller of Read Indeed
Maria Keller had a dream in 2009 to collect and distribute one million books by the time she turned 18. Remarkably, she was just eight years old at the time. That birthday has since come and gone...
Meet the mom-preneur behind a powerful innovation in women’s clothing
I had a delightful time visiting with Tammi Relyea, founder of BRA-serie in Danville, CA. Relyea is a mom-preneur on a mission to reinvent the bra strap and build a global company that promotes a...
In Defense Of Daydreaming
I know what it’s like to be super-busy. There’s an adrenaline to it. A satisfaction. But I also believe in spending time at work day-dreaming. Yes, day-dreaming. It may seem like gratuitous non-busy...
Take A Look At My Interview With Inspiring Candle Maker Tina Richardson
I so enjoyed my discussion with Tina Richardson, the proprietor of Hometown Candle Co (formerly Reclaimed Heart) in Arlington, WA. She has one of the most fun jobs I can imagine as a small business...
Q&A: Nancy Lyons, founder of digital agency Clockwork
Nancy Lyons is a CEO, entrepreneur, and all-around good human. She has made it her life’s work to champion a human-centered approach to business. She’s someone I deeply admire, and I was grateful...
Take Inspiration From My “Small Talks” Interview With Kevin Diedrich Of Pacific Cocktail Haven
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Kevin Diedrich, the general manager of the nationally renowned Pacific Cocktail Haven in San Francisco. He didn’t start out in the hospitality industry....
Slow Is Smooth and Smooth Is Fast
I love this phrase. It’s from the U.S. Navy Seals. It’s a reminder that the best way to move fast in a professional setting is to take your time, slow down, and do the job right. Start with a deep...
Q&A: Pam Borton, basketball coaching legend, book author and executive coach
I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that, when the University of Minnesota women’s basketball team made the Final Four in 2004, it was among Minnesota’s most memorable sports moments from the...
Check Out My “Small Talks” Interview With Rose and Steve Selko of Cañon City Lanes
I recently had the great joy of visiting with Rose and Steve Selko of Cañon City Lanes in Cañon City, Colorado, as part of our “Small Talks” video series. They have a remarkable story. They weren’t...
Q&A: Meenal Patel, author of children’s books on growing up in India
Meenal Patel is an illustrator, graphic designer, children’s book author and ceramics artist. She grew up in Minneapolis but now lives in San Francisco. She has spent more than a decade doing design...
What Peyton, Pink and Prince Can Teach Us About Using Public Platforms For Good
“Stick to your job.” “Stay in your lane.” “Don’t mix business with the personal.” This is what some people say about discussing non-work issues on public platforms. I say the opposite. Think...
Why non-profit board service could pay off big in your career
Endless to-do lists. Relentless notifications. Phone blowing up. It seems like everyone today is crazy busy. Who has time for non-profit board service? As outlined in my latest Forbes article, I...
Best Buy Is Showing Great Leadership With Its Teen Tech Centers
Did you know that Best Buy is investing millions of dollars into teen tech centers designed to light a spark in the imaginations of tomorrow’s leaders? It’s an incredibly ambitious, inspiring and...
Q&A: Ellen Walthour, executive director of The BrandLab
Ellen Walthour is CEO of The BrandLab, a Minneapolis non-profit dedicated to increasing diversity in the marketing industry. She is bringing real change to an area that has long had much discussion...
April is a time of renewal
I feel it in the way people are looking for connection these days. With each other and the brands they support. That’s the new expectation. Gone are the days where brands and consumers had an...
Do Well By Doing Good: The Ultimate Win-Win
In case you couldn’t tell, I’m a people person. I believe in connection. I believe in mutually beneficial outcomes. I don’t believe in the zero-sum game. I believe we’re all here to make the world a...
Don’t Overlook Your Local Chamber of Commerce and Other Community Organizations
I’ve worked with some of the world’s most recognizable brands and forword-thinking marketers, employing the most cutting-edge technology. So what I’m to about to say may sound quaint. But for...
It Blew My Mind Visiting “Small Business Revolution- Main Street” Finalist
One of my favorite times of the year is January, when I embark on an epic road trip to visit the Top 10 towns in the running for Small Business Revolution – Main Street. This year, we got a whopping...
Public Speaking Can Be Fun (Seriously)
Let’s face it, public speaking is not high on the lists of things that most people enjoy. But it honestly is for me. I look forward to getting up in front of audience. I find it stimulating and...
Q&A: Mary Deelsnyder of Dee Design
Mary Deelsnyder is a vital part of the female business community here in the Twin Cities. She is a talented designer, a fearless entrepreneur and, in her free time, she acts as a megaphone telling...
Listen and Learn: 6 Tips to Master Social Media Listening
There’s a fallacy about social media marketing: it’s that the primary goal should be making viral content that gets shared all over the world. Sure, that would be nice. We all want tons of eyeballs...
Q&A With Make-A-Wish President Mia Hoagberg
Mia Hoagberg makes people’s dreams come true for a living. Talk about a dream job? But she’s also seen her own dreams come true, as the head of Make-A-Wish and parent to two thriving children. I...
Shop Local This Holiday Season
I’ve been fortunate to visit hundreds – probably thousands – of small businesses all across America as part of the Small Business Revolution. I’ve seen firsthand the way that every dollar spent at a...
Why The “CMO Of The Future” Needs More Than Data
I was recently interviewed for an article by the Association of National Advertisers, an organization of which I’m a proud board member. The writer asked marketing leaders from a variety of...
How To Market To Millennials? Start By Not Marketing To Millennials. Listen To Them.
The millennial mindset is a topic that gets covered a lot. But it’s a subject worthy of such scrutiny for one simple reason: there are 75 million millennials. They make up one-quarter of the U.S....
Watch “Small Talks” With IC Stars and Reece Law
When you think about running a business, there are two things you’re going to need: talented staff and a good lawyer. As part of our “Small Talks” interview series, I talked to business leaders who...
Q&A With Culinary Entrepreneur Michelle Battista
Michelle Battista does not believe in failure. She believes in experience – and in bringing people together. She began her career in fashion, built a reputation in the design and marketing industry,...
Why The #SeeHer Initiative Is Both Necessary And Exciting
As a board member of the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), I’m proud of many efforts that the organization has launched in recent years. But one of my all-time favorites is definitely the...
Yes, Work Can Be Fun. Yes, Work Should Be Fun. Bill Murray Knows. So Should You.
Lucila's Alfajores Lucila Giagrande grew up in a small town in Argentina, enjoying the desserts that her mother, grandmother and aunts would bake for her. It wasn’t until she moved to Chicago that...
Giving Back Through Storytelling: The Power of the Corporate Megaphone
In addition to being a nationally renowned chef, Deborah VanTrece is a certified “badass” – seriously, just ask Zagat. She has been redefining soul food in Atlanta for 20 years, and as an...
Small Talks with Koval Craft Spirits and Town Hall Brewing
Sonat and Robert Birnecker of Koval Craft Spirits wanted to bring the distilling traditions of Robert’s Austrian grandfather to America, and Peter Rifakes of Town Hall Brewing wanted to bring a new...
Q&A With Hilary Hutcheson of Lary’s Fly and Supply
If you want to find Hilary Hutcheson, look outside. She’s the owner of Lary’s Fly and Supply in Montana and the host and cofounder of Trout TV. She was never cut out for an office job. Instead, she...
Fearless Girl: The Pitfalls of Forgetting to Look at Your Brand First
Regardless of whether you follow the marketing industry, I’m guessing you’ve seen (at least pictures of) the bronze Fearless Girl statue. For a quick refresher: The investment firm State Street...
What Jennifer Bishop Jenkins Can Teach Us All About Grace and Advocacy
Jennifer Bishop Jenkins, who runs LoveFurDogs, a dog-grooming company in Chicago, is an impressive entrepreneur. (That’s why my team enlisted her as an industry expert in the upcoming season of...
Watch “Small Talks” with Co-Working Pioneers from Fueled Collective and Blue1647
There’s a new documentary about Mr. Rogers, who made neighborliness a virtue. And some have commented on the timeliness of the film, which highlights Mr. Rogers’ positive voice during such a...
Did These Beer Brands’ Feel-Good Super Bowl Ads Hold Water?
I applaud any company making an effort to Do Well By Doing Good. And like so many other people, I excitedly await each year’s Super Bowl ads – arguably the world’s biggest stage for advertising, and...
Q&A with Retail Expert Lynne Robertson of Fame Retail
Lynne Robertson is a natural leader with a long resumé. On top of being the owner and CEO of Minneapolis-based Fame Retail, she is a member of The Hub Braintrust, an honorary AdFed Board member and...
Watch “Small Talks” with Fashionistas from Hazel & Rose and Hovet Fashion Studio
Last month I announced the launch of “Small Talks,” a new series where I hit the road to talk to successful small business owners about their unique journeys. I shared an interview with Spencer...
Q&A with Nina Hale, Marketing Extraordinaire
Having worked with entrepreneurs across the country, I’m always inspired by their passion and commitment to driving their business forward. And I’m even more amazed by those who manage to juggle the...
Q&A with Juanita Copeland of Sound Emporium Studios
I’ve had the honor of encountering (and learning from) some particularly bad-ass women throughout my career. But I have to say, for season three of Small Business Revolution, when we enlisted six...
Simple Steps That Make Social Media Marketing Less Overwhelming
I’m what you might call a social media junkie. I love it. You can frequently find me scrolling through my feeds or typing out hashtags on my phone. I enjoy living in a time when there are so many...
Q&A with Rock Star Attorney Wendy Coats of Fisher Phillips
Wendy McGuire Coats has a lot of titles. She’s a partner and appellate counsel in the San Francisco office of Fisher Phillips. She’s a certified specialist in appellate law by the California Board...
Introducing The “Small Talks” Interview Series
Have I mentioned how much I love talking to amazing small business owners, and sharing their insights with the world? I’ve met countless entrepreneurs, and I’ve heard time and again how much they...
Q&A with Jennifer Zick of Authentic Brand and Two or More
There’s nothing I love more than meeting – and learning from – inspirational, insightful women. In my experience as a marketing executive, a nonprofit board member, a mom, and whatever other hat I...
Tide’s “Loads of Hope” Program Epitomizes Doing Well by Doing Good
Readers of this blog may already be familiar with my “Doing Well By Doing Good” philosophy – the belief that companies can do well as a business while doing good in the world. (View my TEDx Talk on...
The Power of Passionate Employees
Those who know me know that “thanks” is among my most-used words. I count myself incredibly lucky to be surrounded by amazing colleagues every day, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with...
That Time I Gave a TEDx Talk
How many billions of dollars are spent each year on marketing? And what if the companies spending those dollars began thinking differently – focusing not just on selling products, but on taking true...
We Can All Do Well by Doing Good
Hello! Amanda Brinkman here, with my very first blog post from my very own website (insert giddy exclamation here). So fun. When I sat down to draft my first blog post, I began (checking my email...
Book Amanda
Looking for your next speaker? Want to learn more about Amanda’s “Do Well by Doing Good” mantra? Eager to brainstorm with Amanda about your brand’s storytelling opportunities?