Behind the face of success

It’s the season finale of an incredible Season 2, and I couldn’t be more excited to close it out with a powerhouse in business marketing—Lindsey Irvine.In this episode, we dive into Lindsey’s journey, exploring the path that led her to become the CMO of Square, a global fintech company that simplifies commerce for businesses of all sizes. She shares insights on personal growth, the importance of continuous self-development, and how setting boundaries has shaped her success and created focus. You'll get plenty of tips, insights and life hacks. This episode is a must-listen.More about LindseyLindsey is the Chief Marketing Officer  at Square. With nearly two decades of experience in marketing, strategy, and leadership across both large enterprises and fast-growing startups, Lindsey is responsible for overseeing Square’s global marketing efforts, driving brand awareness, customer engagement, and market growth around the world, all in service of the company's mission to empower businesses and entrepreneurs worldwide.Before joining Square, Lindsey was CMO at Benchling, pioneer of the R&D Cloud powering the biotechnology industry. Prior to that, she spent nearly a decade at Salesforce, where she held several leadership roles, including global CMO for MuleSoft, and played a key part in developing go-to-market strategies across IoT, industry verticals, and cloud solutions. She is credited with driving high-impact global marketing strategies and helping position Salesforce as a leader in the enterprise software space.With thanks to partners of Behind The Face of Success Creative Brief The River Group Amansan CreativesContent is Queen

We often take our own stories for granted, forgetting they hold the potential to teach, inspire, and connect with people. But how do we share them effectively?In this episode, Host Visha Kudhail, sat down with Aneesh Lal, the Founder of the Wishly Group—fondly known as the "Jerry Maguire of LinkedIn." Aneesh is on a mission to help people amplify their stories on business platforms like LinkedIn, creating meaningful connections at scale.Listen in as Aneesh shares his journey of leaving the corporate grind to start his own agency, carving a niche in the market by empowering B2B Creators and Subject Matter Experts to elevate their voices.LinkedIn has fast become a powerful tool for personal brand building, sales and marketing. Yet, for all its power the platform is quite a cluttered space where cutting through is difficult. Lal has been able to utilise LinkedIn and embrace it as an opportunity. This conversation is packed with actionable insights about:Building your personal brand.Owning your narrative Networking digitally across the globe.Staying consistent and courageous in building your own business If you’re looking for motivation to kickstart the year and take charge of your story, this is a must-listen episode.Learn more about Aneesh LalAneesh Lal is a business executive, industry expert and founder of The Wishly Group, an independent agency specializing in the B2B Creator economy.Having spent nearly two decades accelerating revenue growth and closing over $50MM in high-ticket B2B sales at companies like Pinterest, Flipp, The Coca-Cola Company, and The Weather Network, Lal’s creator-first mindset and sales-savvy background have industry leaders lauding him as the “Jerry Maguire” of today’s rapidly growing B2B space. A business-savvy entrepreneur, Lal and his team booked over $1M in revenue for his diverse roster of talented Creators in the first year, harnessing the superpower of content marketing at the intersection of the rising B2B Creator on LinkedIn.Focused on helping Creators build their brands and scale their business, Lal and his team represent the biggest names in B2B, from John Barrows to Brianna Doe and Morgan Ingram; offering a unique, white-glove service spanning portfolio management, brand sponsorships and partnership deals as well as operational support.Lal’s expertise on LinkedIn runs deep. As the former Head of Community at RevGenius, a LinkedIn community of revenue generating sales, marketing, customer success, and revops professionals, Lal helped launch and accelerate membership in its early days, bolstering RevGenius as the platform for revenue professionals to connect, collaborate and create the future of B2B. Lal also regularly contributes to articles and educational sales trainings and webinars, including “Mastering the Art of Closing $50 Million in B2B Sale” on YouTube.Aneesh also launched “Show Me The Money,” a weekly conversation with AudiencePlus’s Todd Clouser, breaking down creator contracts and B2B influencer marketing.Lal’s reputation, results and rise to success have earned him seats at some of the biggest industry conferences and conference rooms from Inbound to LinkedIn and HubSpot.

In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome none other than the "Dean of Dopeness" herself—Sadira E Furlow. This one is all about making big moves!Join us for an insightful, candid conversation on how to navigate big career transitions, embrace new roles with humility, and safeguard the impact of marketing in any business.This isn’t just a chat between friends; it’s a mini masterclass in career development, packed with actionable tips to help you elevate your professional journey. In under an hour, you’ll gain insights that can typically only be found through personal mentorship, all in a lighthearted, accessible format you can revisit anytime.Tune in, take notes, and if you find value, please rate, review, and share with others who might need a little career inspiration.About Our Guest: Sadira E. FurlowDean of Dopeness | Chief Global Brand & Communications OfficerSadira Furlow has a remarkable career spanning billion-dollar brands and rapid-growth startups. From her days fueling growth for brands to leading impact-driven marketing at Tony’s, Sadira blends creative genius with strategic vision. Her role at Tony’s Chocolonely has her leading the charge in brand storytelling, culture shaping, and high-impact campaigns that challenge industry norms—all with her signature authenticity and style.Behind The Face of Success is hosted by Marketing Leader Visha Kudhail, and supported by Media Partner Creative Brief and Production Partner The River Group.

Introducing a very special episode featuring not one but two accomplished Chief Marketing Officers - Pete Markey and Tony Miller. This conversation holds a personal touch, as Pete and Tony are not just industry leaders, but also close friends and mentors of mine. We dive deep into their unique career journeys, uncovering the paths they’ve taken to achieve remarkable success in marketing.Packed with invaluable insights, this episode covers everything from staying creative and relevant in an ever-evolving industry, to embracing new opportunities and overcoming the trap of overthinking. Pete and Tony also share how personal choices have led them to more meaningful, fulfilling careers.Whether you’re a marketing professional or simply seeking inspiration, you won’t want to miss this episode filled with advice, wisdom, and actionable takeaways.More about the guests: Tony Miller is a CMO, a digital marketing consultant and is the Non-Exec Board Chair for the DMA (Data Marketing Association). He’s led marketing at some big exciting brands including Disney and Weight Watchers and has been recognised as a highly influential marketer. Pete Markey is the CMO of Boots and is responsible for all the marketing for the UK. Pete has been awarded five prestigious Marketer of the Year awards and is a Fellow of the Marketing Society and the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Pete is very active in the marketing industry and has recently been appointed as President at ISBA and was also appointed Chair of the Advertising Association’s Front Foot in 2022.

Visha Kudhail - The Power of Short Wins and MoodsIn this quick 16-minute PodShort, I dive into the incredible impact of short wins and how they can fuel your sense of fulfilment and motivation. As the year progresses, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, burdened by a lack of achievement or progress. But what if the key to overcoming these feelings lies in celebrating the small wins?I also explore a fascinating study I read on the Harvard Business Review website that reveals how even minor progress can significantly improve your mood and set the stage for future success. By shifting your mindset and focusing on these short wins, you'll gain more self-awareness about your personal growth and uncover your purpose through everyday achievements.Tune in as you take a break away from the screen or pop to the shops -  to learn how to reframe your thinking, celebrate your small wins, and keep your momentum going throughout the year.

Welcome to a special mini-edition of "Behind the Face of Success." I'm your host, Visha Kudhail, and for this PodShort, I’m joined by the one and only Ed Watson, an extraordinary ballet dancer who also happened to be my very first guest when this podcast launched. As I reflect on the journey of this podcast, especially as we delve into this shorter, more introspective episode, Ed was the first person I wanted to bring back to reflect on our experiences over the past year.When I started "Behind the Face of Success," my goal was simple: to highlight the brilliance of my guests and inspire listeners by sharing their stories. But along the way, I realised that these conversations were teaching me just as much as they were inspiring others. I remember specific quotes and moments from my guests that have stayed with me, particularly during difficult times.So settle down with a cup of tea or pour yourself a glass of wine, as you hear two friends speak openly about vulnerability and growth. Thanks for listening and supporting this show. ♥️Supporting partners: Creative Brief & The River Group

In this special episode, I sit down with former professional cricketer Azeem Rafiq to dig deeper into the impactful moments following his brave decision to expose the racism he experienced. We discuss the profound changes he faced in his career and personal life as a result of his whistleblowing.Azeem, now an author with his new book, "It's Not Banter, It’s Racism," shares an intimate look at his life—from growing up in Pakistan to his tenure with Yorkshire County Cricket Club."One person’s banter is another person’s demise," he says, highlighting the crucial need for self-awareness in today’s society to ensure everyone feels welcome.This podcast tells all about Azeem’s emotional journey, showcasing his resilience and the positive changes he has made for himself and his family. We explore his work in campaigning for change, his transition into a podcaster, author, and speaker, and his efforts to inspire the younger generation to strive for better.  Azeem's story is incredibly inspiring. Tune in to hear the highs and lows of his career, and gain valuable lessons in how to never give up.More about AzeemAzeem is a former cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club, eventually becoming the first Asian player to captain Yorkshire in a senior game. Azeem’s story is a particularly tough one to tell on this podcast because of how the thing that he loved the most - which is being a cricketer, has led to a lot of trauma in his life. After experiencing bullying and racism which he spoke up about - and an independent report finding it to be true, it led on to a major media story breaking which ultimately has negatively affected his life. What I particularly appreciate and admire about Azeem is that despite all this, he is STILL campaigning for positive change in the sporting world. He’s recently written a book to raise more awareness and he’s made changes in his career to be a keynote speaker and podcaster to bring his passion for cricket into the wider community. It’s a true story of resilience and strength to change the face of cricket forever.

On this episode we are joined by an inspiring guest - fashion brand owner, Irene Agbontaen. A woman that epitomizes what this podcast is about - real and honest talk. Irene is the founder of her own fashion brand - TTYA (Taller than your average) which was the first inclusive label in sold in Selfridges and she sold out in ASOS, she’s also a podcaster herself hosting TTYA Talks with some incredible guests to help inspire more women in the creative industries, and beyond fashion and podcasting she has also forged iconic collaborations with artists like Burna Boy and Central Cee bringing her passion for creativity, music and fashion together. As a cultural influencer, she also takes that responsibility very seriously by actively speaking up about inclusivity and here’s something surprising about Irene… She loves a bit of DIY and renovated her own home by herself. This episode speaks to how hard work gets you to the places you want to be. It teaches you about knowing your value and knowing what a good business partnership should look like. You’ll learn about the highs and lows of starting a business and how purpose drives growth - personally and professionally. A big thank you to Soho House for supporting us by offering space to record this episode.