What happens when you reach the top of the corporate ladder and realize it’s not the summit you expected? This week, Shelley Paxton, former CMO of Harley Davidson and author of Soulbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life, joins me to share her powerful journey from marketing executive to Chief Soul Officer.

In this episode, we discuss the lessons Shelley learned while stewarding one of the world’s most iconic brands, the awakening that led her to redefine success on her own terms, and the importance of living authentically. She opens up about her “soul-shaking” realization, how it transformed her life and career, and her mission to inspire others to lead with courage, humanity, and impact.

Whether you’re navigating corporate challenges, entrepreneurial burnout, or your own personal crossroads, Shelley’s story will resonate deeply and leave you with actionable insights for creating a more fulfilling life and career.

About Shelley

Shelley is a 26-year advertising and marketing veteran whose legacy is imprinted on iconic global brands like McDonald’s, Visa, and Harley-Davidson. At the pinnacle of her career, as Chief Marketing Officer of Harley-Davidson, she was shocked to find herself feeling success-empty instead of success-full. That awakening led her on a profound journey that became her mission, business, and bestselling book, Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life (Simon & Schuster).

Now Chief Soul Officer, she works with leaders and organizations to advocate for redefining success and reshaping culture in ways that celebrate humanity, wellbeing, and soul. Her influential work is an empowering antidote to corporate burnout, attrition, and disengagement. It’s gained recognition on platforms from NBC, CBS, Forbes, Inc., and Thrive Global, to the TEDx stage. She’s also a regular contributor to CBS Chicago’s Mental Health Minute.

Shelley is a respected thought leader, advisor, and sought-after keynote speaker who’s been called “the next Brené Brown” by Chip Conley, NY Times Bestselling Author, Former Airbnb Exec, and Founder of MEA. She graduated with a BS in Business and Marketing from Boston College.

Connect with Shelley

https://www.instagram.com/theshelleypaxton/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleypaxton/

Connect with Veronica
https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

This week’s episode of The Rainmaker Podcast is a special one—we’re bringing you an exclusive recording from the virtual launch party we held last week for my first-ever book, Identity Marketing: How to Create Loyal, Lifelong Fans and a Legendary Brand (No Matter What You Sell or the Size of Your Budget)! It was a memorable and special celebration with some of the incredible stars featured in the book, and the insights they shared were just too good not to share with you too.

In this episode, you’ll hear from a few of the stars of Identity Marketing, including Kelly Ruta, Alex Cattoni, and Mike and Nicole from SMASHD. We dive into the key themes of Identity Marketing, including ethical marketing practices, the role of identity in relationship marketing, and actionable ways to elevate your own marketing strategy.

If you desire to make your marketing more human and impactful, this conversation is filled with golden nuggets and practical advice you don’t want to miss. So grab a notebook and enjoy this unique behind-the-scenes look at the Identity Marketing launch party!

Get your very own copy of my new book, Identity Marketing: How to Create Loyal, Lifelong Fans and a Legendary Brand (No Matter What You Sell or the Size of Your Budget) at https://identitymarketingbook.com/

Connect with Veronica
https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

What does it take to craft a standout launch in today’s fast-paced market? This week, Brenda McGowan, a seasoned launch strategist, joins The Rainmaker Podcast to discuss the art and science of successful launches. With Q1 as the busiest season for marketing campaigns, Brenda shares her predictions for 2025, insights into evolving buyer behavior, and strategies to roll over from 2024.

In this episode, we discuss the critical pre-launch phase—what Brenda calls the “pre-open cart courtship”—and how industries like film use slow-burn anticipation to captivate audiences. She also uncovers common missteps and the essential elements to ensure your next launch hits its mark.

Whether you’re gearing up for a product debut, service launch, or major marketing campaign, Brenda’s expertise will leave you with actionable tips to elevate your strategy and boost your results in 2025.

About Brenna

Brenna McGowan is a launch strategist & copywriter. She believes that hustle-based, high-pressure program launches don’t serve you or your customers. Instead, she teaches a systemized pre-launch process to put leads through so they’re primed, pre-sold, qualified, and eager to buy your offer.

By leveraging her pre-launch and Anticipation Marketing™ strategies, Brenna’s clients have tripled — and even quadrupled launch revenue growth — without the frenzy and chaos they used to feel when launching. She also helps her students inside The Pre-Launch Plan Program create strategic pre-launch plans that’ve raked in hundreds of thousands in revenue. When Brenna’s not strategizing or helping clients launch, you can find her walking in her Labradoodle in her Northern California neighborhood, continuing her endless search for the perfect white t-shirt, reading cheesy romance books, or coming to terms with soon becoming an empty-nester.

Connect with Brenna

https://www.instagram.com/brennamcgowanco/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/behindthelaunchwithbrennamcgowan


Connect with Veronica
https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.