What does it take to make a 150-year-old bank feel like a startup?
In this episode of Branded, host Ben Kaplan talks with Shruti Patel, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer for Business Banking at US Bank, about reinventing customer experience in one of the most regulated industries on the planet.
From AI-powered tools to embedded financial products, Shruti shares how US Bank is transforming the way it serves small businesses—while still staying grounded in trust, compliance, and community. It’s a conversation about balancing innovation with responsibility, and how big banks can stay nimble in a FinTech-first world.

What do you ask a man who’s helped shape the future of both education and technology?

In this episode of Branded, host Ben Kaplan sits down with John Hennessy—former President of Stanford University and current Chairman of Alphabet (yes, the Google one)—for a rare conversation about leadership, innovation, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.

From founding tech companies to guiding the next generation of Silicon Valley leaders, Hennessy shares what separates good ideas from great ones, why humility beats hype, and how to stay grounded when you're building for the stratosphere.

This isn’t just a conversation about tech. It’s about legacy.

In this episode of Branded, hosted by Ben Kaplan, we sit down with Camilla Matias, COO of Brex, to unpack the bold decisions, hard-earned lessons, and unconventional thinking behind one of FinTech’s most remarkable scale-ups.
Camilla joined Brex when it was a scrappy startup solving one problem: helping fellow founders get access to corporate credit. Today, Brex is a global financial platform used by both startups and Fortune 500 giants.
We explore:

• How Brex went from “do everything” chaos to ruthless focus
• Why scaling down was key to scaling up
• The power of building your own infrastructure—and your own brand
• How a Brazilian mindset shaped Brex’s adaptability and culture
• What most leaders get wrong about growth, AI, and simplification

Whether you're a founder, operator, marketer, or just obsessed with how great companies grow—this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss.

In this powerful episode of BRANDED, host Ben Kaplan speaks with Maryam Banikarim—former Global CMO at Hyatt Hotels, co-founder of NYC Next, and the visionary behind The Longest Table.

Maryam shares her inspiring journey, navigating a non-linear career path defined by pivots, purpose, and resilience, ultimately becoming a passionate advocate for community-building in New York City.
Discover how Maryam leveraged purpose-driven leadership, brand storytelling, and authentic relationships to drive tangible impact.

She emphasizes the importance of brands genuinely understanding and committing to their values, particularly during times of crisis, and provides valuable insights for marketers and leaders eager to foster meaningful community, loyalty, and brand strength.

Whether you're managing career transitions, seeking to fortify your brand, or striving to build enduring communities, this conversation offers indispensable advice from one of today's most influential leaders.

Trust isn’t just a marketing buzzword—it’s the foundation of every successful brand. But how do you measure it? How do you build it? And how can businesses turn trust into a real competitive advantage?
In this episode of Branded, host Ben Kaplan sits down with Dana Bodine, VP of Marketing at Trustpilot, to explore how brands can leverage customer reviews as more than just testimonials—they’re a powerful intelligence tool that shapes reputation, drives conversions, and builds long-term credibility.Ben and Dana dive into:

• Why trust scores matter more than you think—and how just a 0.1% increase can boost conversion rates by 8x
• The psychology of reviews—why customers actually trust a 4.8-star rating more than a perfect 5.0
• The real impact of responding to customer feedback (even negative reviews can become your biggest asset!)
• How Trustpilot is shaping brand perception in industries like finance, insurance, and e-commerce
• The fine line between using reviews for marketing and ensuring authenticity

If you’re in marketing, branding, or business growth, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Because in today’s world, trust isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have.

In this episode of Branded, Ben Kaplan sits down with Michael Costello, CEO of GNC, to unpack how a 90-year-old health and wellness brand is adapting to today’s fast-changing market.
With supplements available everywhere—from Amazon to your local grocery store—why would anyone still choose to shop at GNC? Michael shares how GNC is redefining its consumer experience, using data, personalization, and trust to set itself apart from the competition. He breaks down GNC’s Five C’s strategy, talks about what really matters to today’s customers, and explains how the brand is evolving without losing what made it successful in the first place.
Key topics include:

• Why in-store experiences still matter in an online-first world
• How GNC is using data and loyalty programs to better serve customers
• The biggest shifts in health and wellness trends right now
• The challenges of leading a legacy brand in a crowded market

Whether you’re into fitness, business, or just curious about how brands stay relevant, this conversation offers a fascinating inside look at the future of GNC—and what other companies can learn from it.

Host Ben Kaplan sits down with Kathryn Bricken, the powerhouse behind Doughlicious, to uncover how she took her passion for baking from school events to Whole Foods shelves across the U.S. Kathryn shares the highs and lows of scaling a global brand, disrupting the frozen snack industry, and making bold moves in a competitive market.

But that’s not all—this episode also features insights from Liquid Death and Campbell’s, as we explore what it takes to build a brand that stands out. From shaking up the beverage world to reinventing legacy food giants, Ben Kaplan leads the conversation on innovation, strategy, and the art of brand disruption.

Ben Kaplan sits down with Mark Bertolini, CEO of Oscar Health and former head of Aetna, to break down one of the biggest healthcare turnarounds in recent history.
Oscar Health was bleeding cash, fully dependent on the Affordable Care Act, and struggling to turn a profit. Within just 10 weeks, Mark uncovered $1.4 billion in hidden opportunities, restructured the business, and set it on a path to profitability for the first time ever.
In this episode, Mark reveals:

• Why Oscar’s original founders avoided hiring healthcare experts—and how that nearly doomed the company.
• How AI and large language models cut costs by 1400 basis points.
• The high-stakes reality of running a company that depends entirely on the U.S. government.
• His no-nonsense approach to leadership, from fixing broken businesses to out-negotiating industry giants like CVS.
• What most CEOs get wrong about running a business—and why courage and curiosity matter more than anything else.

This is a must-listen for anyone in business, tech, or leadership, as Mark and Ben break down what it really takes to transform an industry built to resist change.