Breaking Through The Mayhem

What if performance marketing could do more than drive growth—what if it could drive equity?
In this episode, Michele Ching sits down with Laura Lee, former performance lead at HBO Max and founder of LL Consulting, to talk about using advanced strategy and AI to open doors, not close them.
From helping B2C and DTC startups grow with fractional leadership to championing inclusive representation, Laura shares her mission to uplift API and women founders with strategic expertise that was once reserved for big-budget brands.
 
You’ll hear insights on:
Why performance marketing is equal parts art, science, and human instinct
The pitfalls of over-automation and the importance of a test and learn mindset
How real-time contextual targeting creates meaningful audience connections
What it means to train AI on diverse voices and lead with self-advocacy
The mission-driven businesses Laura supports and the courage behind them
Together, Michele and Laura explore how their shared focus on authenticity, access, and innovation reflects a broader shift toward marketing that’s not just smart, but deeply human.
Because the future of marketing isn’t just what we build. It’s who we build it for.

What do cowboy ethics, climate-conscious media, and the perfect chocolate chip cookie have in common? For John Osborn, it all comes back to purpose.
In this episode, Sightly CEO Adam Katz sits down with John—Director at Ad Net Zero and longtime industry force—for a no-BS conversation about sustainability, values-driven leadership, and why the future of advertising depends on doing the right thing and doing it well.
Together, Adam and John unpack:
💥 The “cowboy ethic” that fuels stronger partnerships
📊 Why carbon measurement is key to smarter media planning
⚖️ How to balance speed with scalable, lasting impact
👥 Why employees—not execs—are redefining brand values from the inside out
🍪 And yes, the secret to the perfect chocolate chip cookie (crispy edges, gooey middle)
They also dig into Sightly’s role in the movement, the rise of real-time value expression, and a global sustainability framework that could unite the industry around measurable change.
Whether you’re deep in ESG strategy or just getting started, this episode makes one thing clear: purpose and performance can go hand in hand.

From airline data to agency boardrooms and long swims to leadership wins, Amy Lanzi’s story proves that the best career journeys don’t follow a straight line.
Sightly CEO Adam Katz sits down with Amy Lanzi, CEO of Digitas North America. Amy shares her unique path from yield management analyst at American Airlines to the top of the agency world, revealing how a foundation in data, customer experience, and relentless self-improvement propelled her career. She opens up about lessons learned from swimming long-distance, her earliest mentors (including her remarkable siblings), and the mindset that’s shaped her leadership style—equal parts grit, compassion, and a little spark.
The conversation dives into:
How brands can move from transactional marketing to building lifelong relationships
The overlooked data that could transform brand strategy
Why the best agencies humanize with intelligence—and what that really means
The realities of being a working parent and award-winning executive
From CEO challenges to personal mantras, this episode brings authenticity, energy, and wisdom in equal measure. Listen now.

What happens when media, mentorship, and mission collide? Cara Lewis isn’t just one of the most powerful voices in media investment. She’s a survivor, a culture-builder, and a mentor redefining what it means to lead with heart. In this episode, she joins Adam Katz for a deeply human and refreshingly real conversation about navigating change, scaling impact, and finding purpose inside the mayhem.
Cara shares her 15-year rise at dentsu, her early obsession with TV (shoutout to The Bold and the Beautiful sets), and how a life-altering breast cancer diagnosis shaped her approach to leadership, empathy, and legacy.
Inside:
🎯 Why leading with empathy is Cara’s true superpower
🚀 Building culture in hybrid work and making it stick
💡 The origin story of Media Ladies Conquering Cancer and the power of peer-to-peer survivorship
👗 Fashion, sewing, karaoke, and other unexpected truths about one of media’s top execs
🔥 Why embracing change might be the most underrated mindset in media today
If you’re leading a team, building a brand, or just looking for clarity in the chaos, this one’s for you. Listen now.

What links the fervor of Montreal Canadiens fans, AI-charged brand strategies, and 40-year-old teen moms? It’s community over stats, says Digitas CSO and Ad Age 40 Under 40 luminary Ali Amarsy. In a vibrant, in-person chat with Sightly’s Ben Lambert, Ali shares his journey from Montreal to Dubai, revealing how his global roots shape his visionary approach to brand building.This conversation blends the intensity of hockey rivalries, the magic of AI-driven creativity, and the art of earning trust within tight-knit communities. Ali explains why psychographics are the future, how Digitas leverages AI for precision and flair, and what it takes to transform a solid idea into a cultural phenomenon. He also opens up about his excitement—and nerves—as he prepares to become a #GirlDad, with plans to raise his daughter as a loyal Canadiens fan (sorry, Bruins fans!).Here’s what you’ll discover:
Why community connection outshines demographic targeting
How AI boosts strategy with accuracy, efficiency, and sparkle
The secret to seeding trends and hitting cultural sweet spots
Ali’s warm and witty take on fatherhood and hockey devotion
Jump into this dynamic episode of Breaking Through the Mayhem to learn how brands can rise above the noise by speaking their audience’s language. It’s a blend of strategy, culture, and genuine connection delivered with humor and heart.

What happens when you stop trying to fit in and start leading from who you truly are?
 
In this episode of Breaking Through the Mayhem, Nancy Benter, Enablement & Strategy Partner at Starbucks, shares what it really means to lead with authenticity in today’s workplace.
 
With over 14 years of experience driving innovation across tech and retail, Nancy unpacks how staying true to her values has shaped her career, why diversity must be a business imperative, and how building trust through transparency creates real organizational impact. She also reflects on her personal journey from assimilation to empowerment and how honoring her Chinese American identity has helped her lead more authentically and inclusively at scale.
 
What you’ll hear:
 ✨ The turning point where Nancy chose authenticity—and didn’t look back
💬 The three questions she uses to check in with herself as a leader
🌱 Why diversity isn't fluff—it’s fundamental to business
☕️ How coffee tastings at Starbucks turned into moments of cultural connection
⚖️Why clarity on your core values makes leadership (and life) a lot less overwhelming
 
Nancy’s powerful reflections on human connection, integrity, and courageous leadership will challenge you to bring more of yourself to your work and help others do the same. 

Wake up, media buyers—irrelevance is stalking you! In this episode, dive into the mind of a Hall of Fame strategist who’s mastered staying ahead in a chaotic industry. Discover why change sucks but irrelevance kills, how to evolve without losing your roots, the power of curiosity in an AI-driven world, and what it takes to stay indispensable in your career. Packed with insights from a 37-year veteran turned self-employed visionary, this conversation will jolt enterprise advertising pros into action. Tune in to Breaking Through the Mayhem with host Adam Katz and guest Rishad Tobaccowala for a no-filter take on thriving amid disruption.
To learn more about Rishad, visit rishadtobaccowala.com. You can also find Rishad's book, Rethinking Work, here on BulkBooks or on Amazon, along with his other books.

The best leaders don’t just set strategy, they build cultures that can execute it. Nicole Estebanell, US CEO of Mediahub, joins Adam Katz to talk about balancing speed with strategy, the real impact of AI on creativity, and why leadership is more about influence than authority. 
From navigating global markets to shaping high-performing teams, Nicole shares what it takes to stay ahead in an industry that moves faster than ever. She breaks down the fine line between innovation and chaos, why mentorship is an overlooked superpower, and how great teams win—not by working harder, but by working smarter together.
 
Inside: 
🏀The leadership philosophy that puts teamwork above individual stardom🤖 AI’s real role in media—beyond the hype and automation
💡The power of mentorship—and how one conversation changed her career trajectory 
🌎How working abroad (and a big leap to London) gave her an edge in global strategy 
 
Nicole’s take on leadership, culture, and innovation will challenge the way you think about building and leading great teams. Listen now!
 

What happens when you go from leading hundreds to launching from scratch—and decide to do it all in public? Jeremy Bloom, founder of OhHello and Co-Founder of Marketecture Media, joins Adam Katz for a no-holds-barred conversation on reinvention, resilience, and the future of adtech.
From viral dance intros to bootstrapping an AI-driven mentorship platform, Bloom shares how authenticity, grit, and a little bit of chaos have shaped his journey. He dives into Marketecture Live, the must-attend adtech conference built for real talk, not fluff, and why he believes mentorship is the industry’s greatest untapped advantage. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to merge media, community, and business—without losing your sanity (or your hoodie).
Inside:
The bold vision behind Marketecture Live and why it’s shaking up industry events
AI, advertising, and the future of mentorship in an industry that never stops evolving
Why Jeremy sees himself as the Phil Jackson of adtech, not the MVP
From WWF theatrics to Ultimate Warrior nostalgia—because life’s too short for boring
 
If you love media, tech, and a good underdog story, hit play.

What does it take to survive a decade in the media game when the rules keep rewriting themselves? Lisa Cialfi, Horizon Media’s Digital VP, sits down with Ben Lambert to unpack her journey—from slinging digital buys in 2015 to steering teams through the streaming explosion and AI’s takeover of ad metrics. She’s seen viewability obsessions give way to attention wars, and she’s got the scars to prove it. Expect tales of mentorship that shaped her, a culture that kept her, and a no-BS take on mental health at work—plus a Super Bowl call so bold it might jinx the Bills.
Inside:
How media morphed from linear TV to algorithmic chaos.
The mentorship magic behind her VP rise.
Why mental health’s the industry’s quiet crisis—and how to fix it.
A Bills fan’s 2025 prophecy you’ll want to bet on.
This isn’t just shop talk—it’s a front-row seat to media’s madness, perfect for ad nerds, career climbers, and anyone who needs a reminder that mental health matters and taking a break is okay. Hit play.