Behind the Business with Michelle Toh

What do you do when 97% of consumers already know your brand? Our latest guest is Samsung Electronics America CMO Allison Stransky, who takes 3 pressing questions about winning attention in an increasingly fragmented online world, the future of marketing and where AI fits in. In this conversation, we dive into: 00:00: Introduction 01:18: How Allison found her path in marketing 02:45: Lessons from L’Oréal, Google and YouTube 04:50: How Allison landed her role 06:37: The career lesson that changed how Allison reaches audiences 07:54: Competing for attention in an algorithmic market 10:20: Which brands are winning 11:27: Building an influencer and creator strategy 14:54: How Samsung allocates its marketing budget 15:43: Why Samsung skipped the Super Bowl this year 17:13: Ad 18:14: Common generative AI marketing mistakes 19:55: AI skepticism, product bugs and getting it right 21:35: Are we in an AI bubble? 23:03: Inside Samsung’s “Solve for Tomorrow” program — AI fluency for the next generation 26:12: Ad 27:37: How Samsung markets its AI ecosystem 30:03: Daily routine, priorities, and work-life balance 32:16: Building a global marketing strategy37:18: Lessons about data and decision-making 39:02: Rapid-fire round 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. This episode is brought to you by our show sponsors: QUO: Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BTB FAIRE: Get 50% off your first wholesale order at https://www.faire.com/BTB (Terms may apply) 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️ About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all — and also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property crunch. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Instagram: / bymichelletoh TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, NBA champion, entrepreneur and investor Jeremy Lin takes us on his journey from underdog to global sports phenomenon. From going undrafted out of Harvard to finding himself at the center of "Linsanity," Jeremy has had a career unlike almost any other. Now, a year after retiring, he's building the next chapter of his career and seeking to redefine success beyond basketball. We get a special peek into Jeremy’s world on and off the court, hear about his ambitions in media, startups and VC, and meet "the one person" whom Jeremy says has helped him and his brand the most: JLIN LLC CEO (and Jeremy's sister-in-law!) Patricia Sun. In this episode, we dive into: 00:00: Introduction 01:28: Walk & talk at Jeremy's basketball training camp for young AAPI athletes 04:56: How would the students describe Coach Jeremy? 05:54: Developing a winning mindset 07:00: Transitioning to life after retirement 09:24: Find joy in the journey: What he's hoping to pass down to the next generation 11:22: Sitting down with Jeremy in-studio 11:56: Playing at the YMCA: The beginning of Jeremy’s basketball journey 13:10: Why basketball felt like an escape 14:05: The moment the NBA dream actually felt real 14:57: Going undrafted and overcoming self-doubt 17:36: What it felt like to live through Linsanity 19:30: Handling pressure and overthinking 19:54: Highlight moments: Scoring 38 points against the LA Lakers, Kobe Bryant 21:13: Winning the NBA championship — and not feeling enough 23:05: Managing self-talk and criticism 24:33: Learning to be proud of where you’re at 28:01: Chopping a long-term goal into "10,000 small goals" 29:30: Ad 32:10: Rebuilding his career after injury 33:50: Going overseas 34:23: Competing with yourself 36:35: Playing basketball in Asia 37:23: Representation in sports: How perceptions of Asian athletes have changed 35:20: Couch-surfing: Crashing with Landry Fields, his brother and sister-in-law 38:49: Introduction to Patricia Sun, the CEO behind Jeremy Lin's brand 40:50: How Patricia became Jeremy’s business partner 42:10: How Jeremy’s family managed the rise of Linsanity 43:11: Building a global brand strategy 43:54: What being "mission-driven" really means 45:08: Ad 47:32: How to evaluate deals and decipher which ones to turn down 48:11: What it's like to work with family 49:52: Entering the VC world: What the team looks for when investing in startups 51:39: Opportunities in Southeast Asia 52:20: Investment strategy and business vision 54:48: Jeremy’s next big career goal 56:26: The long-term vision for JLIN LLC 58:16: Starting a hydration drinks brand in Taiwan and staying true to their values 01:00:00: Audience question 01:02:20: Cultural differences: Jeremy’s funniest story from playing in both the NBA and CBA 01:03:05: Rapid-fire round This episode is brought to you by our show sponsors: Perplexity Computer — try it for free for a limited time at: http://pplx.ai/BTB Chime — sign up for 5% cash back at: https://www.chime.com/BTB Policygenius — see how much you could save on life insurance at: http://policygenius.com/BTB OneSkin — get 15% off with code "BTB" at: http://oneskin.co/BTB 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️ About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property crunch. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bymichelletoh TikTok: behindthebusinessshow #jeremylin #linsanity #nba #basketball #athlete #leadership #leadershipmindset #brandbuilding #entrepreneurship #investing #business #leadership #career #careergrowth #careerjourney #startups #sportsbusiness #philanthropy #AsianAmerican #AAPI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Away CEO Jessica Schinazi takes us behind one of the most recognizable names in travel — and what it takes to keep building when the market moves faster than ever. In this conversation, we dive into: 00:00: Introduction 02:04: From Brazil and France to building a life in New York 02:41: How family dynamics shaped Jessica’s leadership style 03:16: Leadership lessons from Dyson, Amazon and LVMH 06:09: Away’s brand strategy and competitive advantage 08:48: Joining Away at a pivotal moment 11:11: How Away navigated previous leadership challenges and COVID 14:18: Jessica’s approach to fostering a positive company culture 16:17: First priorities as CEO: Why Jessica spent her first year visiting every Away store and factory before putting her strategy in place 19:07 Ad 20:06: Where Away sees opportunity in the market 21:05: Away’s social media and lifestyle marketing strategy 23:32: How brands can navigate copycats and dupes 26:09 Ad 27:31: How Away navigates challenges in a volatile business landscape 29:08: How Away, a poster child of the DTC boom, is expanding into retail and wholesale 32:22: Finding the balance between DTC and wholesale 33:58: Away’s brand partnership strategy 36:48: How Away is rethinking its products around different travelers' pain points — including with a new so-called “closet on wheels” 38:13: Away’s expansion into softside luggage and new categories 41:33: Away’s international growth and localization strategy 45:05: How Away is approaching AI for business and travel 47:28: How Jessica balances daily priorities for sustainable growth 49:30: Jessica's response to potential IPO plans 50:08: Jessica’s 10-year vision for Away 52:17: Audience question 53:46: Rapid-fire round This episode is brought to you by our show sponsors: • QUO: Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BTB • MasterClass: Get at least 15% off any annual membership at https://www.masterclass.com/BTB 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. 👇🏼 *SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW:* YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️ About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Instagram: / bymichelletoh TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow #ceo #leadership #management #consumerbrands #brandstory #strategy #corporatestrategy #commercialstrategy #travelindustry #lugggage #vc #scaling #womeninbusiness #femaleleadership #business #businesspodcast #away Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s guest is Peloton CEO & President Peter Stern. He takes us inside the company’s push to reinvent itself after its post-pandemic struggles — including its latest move into gyms. Peloton became one of the biggest winners in business during the pandemic, but as consumers returned to gyms and life moved on, the company faced a very different reality. Stern, a former Apple executive who helped create Apple Fitness+, calls the Peloton job a “dream” opportunity. In his first year as CEO, Stern has set out to “refound” Peloton around a broader connected wellness ecosystem spanning fitness, mental wellbeing, sleep and recovery. Plus, Stern shares how he manages Wall Street pressure, the “25” system he uses to help his team sift through priorities, the “one-touch” rule that keeps his inbox from piling up, and where he ultimately wants to take Peloton. In this conversation, we discuss: 00:00: Introduction 01:24: Peter's career journey and early ambitions 02:45: Lessons from McKinsey and Time Warner Cable 03:55: What Apple taught Peter about subscription businesses 05:58: Lessons from leaving Apple for Ford 09:00: Why Peter chose to take on this challenge — and reaction from friends and family 11:06: Why Peter personally called Peloton’s recruiter to pitch himself 13:44: The "biggest misunderstanding" about Peloton 15:18: Ad 16:34: Strength classes, Pilates and breathwork: Building an overall wellness ecosystem 18:06: “Refounding” the company 20:21: Peloton IQ: What Peloton is really trying to solve with AI 23:06: Balancing Peloton’s hardware and subscription businesses 25:43: Why Peloton is expanding from homes into commercial gyms 29:11: Partnering with hotels32:03: The rise of GLP-1 and why Peter thinks it could actually be good news for the fitness industry 33:53: Peloton’s international expansion strategy 36:06: Balancing Wall Street expectations with long-term growth 38:21: Peter’s long-term vision 40:01: The “25” system that forces the company to prioritize 42:29: Overhauling its entire product lineup and launching four new products in 10 months 42:59: Audience question 45:03: The “one-touch” rule Peter uses to manage his inbox 44:12: Rapid-fire round This episode is brought to you by Long Angle: https://www.longangle.com/business 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️About Behind the BusinessBehind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays.About Michelle TohMichelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Find her on Instagram: / bymichelletoh TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow #ceo #leadership #management #consumerbrands #brandstory #strategy #corporatestrategy #commercialstrategy #fitnessindustry #wellnessindustry #software #hardware #exercise #siliconvalley #vc #scaling #turnaround #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining us this week is Cameron Adams, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Canva — the company that has simplified online design and become one of the world’s fastest-growing tech platforms. What began in 2013 has grown into Australia’s most valuable private tech company, valued at as much as $40 billion and backed by investors including former Disney CEO Bob Iger. Canva has transformed how people create everything from presentations and social posts to party invitations — taking a once-gatekept industry and making design accessible to more than 265 million people each month. The company has crossed billions of dollars in annual revenue and is now doubling down on AI as it enters its next phase of growth. In this conversation, we dive into: 00:00: Introduction 01:30: From law school to design and entrepreneurship 07:28: Cameron’s early entrepreneurial instincts 03:10: Choosing passion over a traditional career path 04:17: What Google Wave taught Cameron about product development 07:00: Story of building Fluent and its failure 08:52: The connections that brought Canva’s co-founders together 09:46: Why Cameron initially turned down the opportunity to join Canva 12:17: Cameron’s accident hours before Canva’s launch 14:51: How Canva scaled to more than 265 million monthly users 16:52: How Canva built a truly localized global product 18:12: Ad 20:11: When should founders trust their intuition over user and investor feedback? 22:34: Why Canva scrapped its social networking features 23:04: How luck and timing shaped Canva’s success 24:18: Fundraising lessons for startup founders 26:37: How Cameron went from a shy kid to a confident public speaker 27:51: Canva’s strategy for competing with Adobe and Microsoft 29:14: How Canva built and maintains its global user community 31:27: The company’s biggest product shift with Canva AI 2.0 34:50: The challenges of building Canva AI 2.0 36:22: Has AI-powered design overcome its early limitations? 37:36: AI Boom vs. early innings 39:26: Will AI replace entry-level creative roles? 41:17: Cameron Adams on Canva’s IPO plans 42:03: Cameron’s approach to philanthropy and the Giving Pledge 45:08: Cameron’s long-term vision for Canva 46:11: Audience question 47:33: Rapid-fire round Note: This episode was recorded in April 2026. Check out Cameron's own new podcast, Prompted: https://promptedpodcast.com/ This episode is brought to you by our show sponsors: Quince: Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns at https://www.quince.com/BTB | QUO: Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BTB 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Find her on Instagram: / bymichelletoh TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow #Leadership #Entrepreneur #Founder #Design #Unicorn #Scaling #Growth #Startup #Technology #Tech #Australia #EntrepreneurialJourney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices