What does it take to build a timeless brand that still feels deeply personal?

In this episode, Christina Panos, Chief Marketing Officer of The Corcoran Group, joins Anastasiia to share how she’s spent over 20 years shaping one of the most emotionally resonant brands in real estate.

From redefining Corcoran’s identity after Barbara Corcoran’s departure to leading a 65-person creative team, Christina shares what it means to build a human-first brand in a data-driven world. She opens up about the power of storytelling, the role of emotion in marketing, and how automation and AI are helping her team create more space for meaningful work.

Christina also gets candid about balancing motherhood and leadership in New York City — and how her definition of success has evolved through each season of her life.

✔️ How Christina transitioned from journalism to advertising — and what drew her to brand storytelling

✔️ The philosophy behind Corcoran’s “Live Who You Are” campaign and why emotion is the most powerful marketing strategy

✔️ Why building team culture starts with joy, trust, and open communication

✔️ How Corcoran uses marketing automation to free up agents for human connection

✔️ Christina’s honest perspective on motherhood, leadership, and redefining success

✔️ The one thing AI will never replace — human creativity

• Linkedin

• Instagram

• Website

Connect with Anastasiia:

• Weekly newsletter for women in marketing: Subscribe here

• Instagram @anastasiia_mann & LinkedIn

• Website: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com

Join the Marketing Your Way Community

AI and automation are changing marketing faster than ever — but you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s why I created the Marketing Your Way Community on Slack: a free space where women in marketing can share AI tools, swap automation workflows, and run ideas past each other.

Whether you’re leading a corporate team, running an agency, or freelancing on your own, you’ll find support, inspiration, and real-world examples you can put into action right away.

It’s free, it’s collaborative, and it’s built to help you work smarter, not harder. Join us here: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com/community

Thank you to our affiliate partners:

This episode is brought to you in partnership with two of my favorite tools for building and managing a marketing business:

✔️ AI Playbook - my favorite community for learning how to actually use AI to simplify your business and gain back 5 to 10 hours a week by automating your workflows. It’s hands-down the best resource I’ve found for marketers and entrepreneurs who want to leverage tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Relay, and more — without needing a tech degree.

Subscribe & Review

Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next.

Episode Website

What happens when your side hustle starts as a class project… and slowly grows into a full-fledged marketing agency?

In this episode, I’m joined by Vanessa Suarez, the founder and Chief Marketing Officer of VCD Marketing — a boutique agency that gives service-based businesses the strategy, structure, and support of an in-house marketing team (without the overhead).

Vanessa didn’t plan on becoming a business owner. She spent years in fundraising, studied graphic design, and was building her career in higher education when a professor saw her potential and encouraged her to form an LLC. From there, one small project led to another — until the “side hustle” became a calling.

In our conversation, we talk about:

✔️The emotional moment she decided to leave her full-time job

✔️Why strategy should always come before execution

✔️Signs a business is ready to invest in marketing

✔️The biggest mistake early-stage entrepreneurs make

✔️Building a lean freelance team that supports real growth

✔️Why your personal brand still matters — even in a referral-based business

Vanessa’s perspective is grounded, thoughtful, and full of permission to build your business in a way that works for you. Whether you’re starting your journey or scaling your services, this episode is your reminder: you don’t have to have it all figured out to begin.

• Linkedin

• Instagram

• Website

Connect with Anastasiia:

• Weekly newsletter for women in marketing: Subscribe here

• Instagram @anastasiia_mann & LinkedIn

• Website: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com

Join the Marketing Your Way Community

AI and automation are changing marketing faster than ever — but you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s why I created the Marketing Your Way Community on Slack: a free space where women in marketing can share AI tools, swap automation workflows, and run ideas past each other.

Whether you’re leading a corporate team, running an agency, or freelancing on your own, you’ll find support, inspiration, and real-world examples you can put into action right away.

It’s free, it’s collaborative, and it’s built to help you work smarter, not harder. Join us here: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com/community

Thank you to our affiliate partners:

This episode is brought to you in partnership with two of my favorite tools for building and managing a marketing business:

✔️ AI Playbook - my favorite community for learning how to actually use AI to simplify your business and gain back 5 to 10 hours a week by automating your workflows. It’s hands-down the best resource I’ve found for marketers and entrepreneurs who want to leverage tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Relay, and more — without needing a tech degree.

Subscribe & Review

Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next.

Episode Website

What does it really take to rise fast in your career — to step into leadership earlier than expected and do it with confidence, grace, and heart?

In this episode, Anastasiia sits down with Addison Cursey, Chief Marketing Officer at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, to talk about what it means to grow quickly in leadership and build influence without losing your authenticity.

Addison shares how she blended creativity and strategy to become a leader early in her career — and what she’s learned about dependability, trust, and showing up fully in every role. She opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, learning to delegate, and building credibility with a multigenerational team.

You’ll also hear Addison’s take on:

✔️ The difference between mentors and sponsors (and why you need both)

✔️ How to manage people who are older or more experienced than you

✔️ Why you should lead before you have the title

✔️ How storytelling can strengthen both your marketing and your leadership

✔️ The importance of rest rituals to prevent burnout

It’s an inspiring, down-to-earth conversation about rising fast, leading with confidence, and staying grounded along the way.

✔️LinkedIn: Addison Cursey

✔️ Winter Park Chamber YouTube Channel

Connect with Anastasiia:

• Weekly newsletter for women in marketing: Subscribe here

• Instagram @anastasiia_mann & LinkedIn

• Website: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com

Join the Marketing Your Way Community

AI and automation are changing marketing faster than ever — but you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s why I created the Marketing Your Way Community on Slack: a free space where women in marketing can share AI tools, swap automation workflows, and run ideas past each other.

Whether you’re leading a corporate team, running an agency, or freelancing on your own, you’ll find support, inspiration, and real-world examples you can put into action right away.

It’s free, it’s collaborative, and it’s built to help you work smarter, not harder. Join us here: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com/community

Thank you to our affiliate partners:

This episode is brought to you in partnership with two of my favorite tools for building and managing a marketing business:

✔️ Full Focus Planner — the only paper planner that’s ever helped me actually feel more in control of my time. Created by productivity expert Michael Hyatt, this planner is designed to help you set clear goals, stay focused on what matters most, and finally break free from the never-ending to-do list cycle.

✔️ Airtable — My go-to tool for organizing client projects, content calendars, and podcast production. If spreadsheets and Dropbox had a baby, it would be Airtable.

Subscribe & Review

Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next.

Episode Website