Let's Meet At The Intersection Of Marketing, Leadership And Blogging! A Q&A With Debbie Laskey

Credit: iStock Photo

For the past 16 years, I have relied on Debbie Laskey's Blog for expert leadership guidance and always interesting insights into marketing best practices and recaps of marketing trends.

Fortunately, through the years, Debbie has also shared her expertise through a variety of postings on my blog, and I'm honored again today to feature Debbie with the following Q&A's:

QUESTION: You've featured many leadership experts on your blog through the years. What is a common theme from all the Q&A's?

DEBBIE LASKEY: Back in 2011, I met Mark Herbert, a leadership expert and author based in Oregon, as a result of our interactions on Twitter/X. I interviewed him several times, and he provided a quote that I will always remember and share often: "Leadership doesn't require you to be the smartest person in the room. It requires you to block and tackle for others."

That quote has appeared on my blog countless times over the years because, during Q&A's with leadership and marketing experts, I've shared the quote and asked what it means to them. All the answers inspire me, so I would have to say that it's a running theme on my blog.

Let's return to Mark's explanation for the quote: "There are many facets that make up a successful strategy. One person is typically incapable of mastering all of them. The best leaders recognize the elements that need to be represented in a complete strategy and integrate them. They don’t try to be the first chair - to use a musical analogy - they conduct the orchestra. I have watched people step up and do amazing things when they were given permission and freedom to make mistakes without fear of failing."

QUESTION: Why do you think there are so many books published each year about leadership?

DEBBIE LASKEY: The easy (but sad) answer is that there are too many unqualified people who are in positions of authority, whether their title is supervisor, manager, or member of the C-Suite. I'd like to say that each year's new crop of books help these individuals to improve their leadership and people skills, but unfortunately, the bad leaders don't read the helpful books.

QUESTION: What do you think leaders most often get wrong when it comes to branding?

DEBBIE LASKEY: First of all, the employee experience is critical. If employees are not happy
or trained regularly, their actions will suffer, and in the process, their interactions with customers will suffer - which can, and will, result in loss of customers.

Second, happy employees will find creative ways to solve customers' problems, resulting in happy customers - which will result in increased profits/sales/donations.

And third, a combination of happy employees plus happy customers will lead to a positive brand experience - which will lead to positive word-of-mouth marketing and positive social media reviews.

This alignment of employee experience, customer experience, and brand experience must be top-of-mind for everyone in an organization's C-Suite, not just a Chief Brand Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, and/or Chief Customer Experience Officer. The finance, personnel, and IT people need to understand the importance of marketing...bottom line, EVERYONE in the organization is an ambassador for the brand!

Here's a perfect anecdote from Mark Herbert that appeared on my blog back in 2016:

A man visited a hospital in Texas because he wanted to meet a famous heart surgeon. As the man left the hospital following his meeting with the surgeon, he met an elderly man who was mopping the floor. The visitor asked, "What do you do here at the hospital?" The elderly man who was mopping the floor replied, “Dr. DeBakey and I save lives together.” The elderly man explained that Dr. DeBakey had told all staff members that hospital infections kill more patients than disease, so the elderly man was doing his part to keep the hospital clean. Dr. DeBakey was a man before his time. He provided a roadmap for employees before it was called employee engagement.

Now, think about your business and your culture. If a total stranger interacted with any of your employees, would he or she have the same type of experience? Would he or she see firsthand that your employees understand your business, your brand promise, your competitive advantage, and why your business exists?

QUESTION: You’ve been blogging for 17 years. What is most rewarding to you about blogging?

DEBBIE LASKEY: I learn something from EVERY post - and not always related to marketing or leadership. Here's a sampling of fun facts that have recently appeared on my blog:

(1) Since the original of Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night" is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, MoMA partnered with Mattel to create a "Starry Night" Barbie. The doll transformed one of the world's most iconic paintings into couture fashion. (Blog tie-in: co-branding - appeared on my blog on October 21, 2025 and January 6, 2026.)

(2) Give me a "L" "E" A" D" "E" "R" - started in 2005 and celebrated in March every year, National Cheerleading Week is dedicated to acknowledging the contributions of cheer athletes to the world of sports. (Blog tie-in: celebration marketing and leadership - appeared on my blog on March 3, 2026.)

(3) Would you like to pet and interact with a llama? If you're traveling through the Portland International Airport, you might have a chance to interact with therapy llamas. According to USA Today, "Since 2023, with handlers by their sides, the trained therapy llamas hang out at the entrance and main terminal, welcoming attention and affection. It's hard to miss them, not only because llamas and alpacas typically stand six feet tall and can weigh up to 450 pounds, but also because they're also dressed up in cheerful costumes. Pirates or western cowboys are just a couple of the outfit themes. During the hour-and-a-half-long visits, passengers can pet and hug the llamas and alpacas. Each camelid also has its own trading card that frequent fliers like to collect." (Blog tie-in: brand ambassadors - appeared on my blog on March 29, 2026.)

QUESTION: When you aren't blogging what brings you joy?

DEBBIE LASKEY: In addition to attending car shows and visiting museums and zoos, I love to read fiction for exposure to new experiences and different perspectives. I consider reading a good book as a gift to myself, and I never know when something I read will result in my saying, "That would make a good blog post!"

Let's not forget what Bill Gates says, "Reading fuels a sense of curiosity about the world. Every book teaches me something new or helps me see things differently."

My favorite genres and topics to read about include: historical fiction featuring inspiring women whose accomplishments have been overlooked or whose voices have been forgotten; legal thrillers; political thriller; medical thrillers; stories about books/bookstores/libraries/book clubs; stories about Paris/France/Italy/Greece; stories involving trains and airplanes; and kids' books due to their fun stories and amazing illustrations. The last one was added due to my involvement with Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California, a 53-year-old nonprofit whose mission is to give books free of charge to children in at-risk communities to create lifelong readers and help them build their own home libraries. I guess my bucket list includes writing a kids' book - but first I would have to find a talented illustrator to join me in the project!

I'd like to share the names of my favorite authors (translation, I'll read anything they write):
(1) Kristin Harmel
(2) Kristin Hannah
(3) B.A. Paris
(4) Janet Skeslien Charles
(5) S.A. Cosby

And here are the BEST books I've read during the last several years:
(1) The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel
(2) The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
(3) The Women by Kristin Hannah
(4) Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
(5) American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
(6) The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper

And a final note, here's my favorite quote about reading:

"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka
___

Debbie Laskey has nearly three decades of marketing experience and an MBA Degree. She developed her marketing expertise while working in the high-tech industry, the Consumer Marketing Department at Disneyland Paris in France, the nonprofit arena, and financial services and insurance sectors.

Her expertise includes brand marketing, social media, employee engagement, leadership development, and customer experience marketing. A brand marketing consultant to emerging businesses and nonprofits, she is also a regular contributor to several national blogs that provide insights about marketing and leadership and has been recognized as one of the "Top 50 Branding Experts" to follow on Twitter/X at @DebbieLaskeyMBA. Visit her website and her blog where you'll find something new nearly every day.

Comments

How To Transform The Influences Of Your Childhood Into Your Unique And Most Effective Leadership Style

The most significant predictor (up to 80 percent) of how someone shows up in their interpersonal interactions as a leader, and as a human, is their childhood, claims Pam Manfredo Curtis, PhD , author of the new book, The Origins Of A Leader: Transforming Family Patterns Into Leadership Power . Grounded in decades of psychological analysis, executive coaching, and behavioral data, Curtis elaborates that how leaders perform today is dramatically influenced by their childhood, with patterns formed early in life continuing to shape behavior, decision-making, and relationships at the highest levels. “When you know your why , you can change your how ,” says Curtis. “Put another way, when you understand the influential factors of your life, you can choose how they affect you. Curtis encourages you to explore specific childhood environments and discover how they shaped your strengths, communication patterns, and hidden limitations. Regarding the implications o...

James G. Ellis Shares The Leadership Lessons Behind A Lasting Legacy

In his new book, James G. Ellis shares the lessons he learned throughout his career as an entrepreneur, CEO, professor, mentor, and one of the nation’s most respected business school leaders. He is the former Dean of the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. For aspiring leaders, educators, and entrepreneurs, A Journey of Insights: Lessons In Leadership And Legacy , offers a roadmap to success grounded in real-world experience, with a focus on humility, listening, and building strong, collaborative environments. The book is both a personal memoir and a strategic guide for those aiming to leave a lasting legacy in business. At the core of his message is the central theme that listening to voices around you throughout life is the key to success. “In essence, ears can speak louder than voices,” shares Ellis. The book also explores pivotal moments that helped define Ellis’ understanding of leadership, including encounters with Pres...

How To Rewire Your Mind To Build Your Adaptability Quotient

Alec Litowitz argues that the most valuable skill of the next decade isn't IQ or even EQ (Emotional Intelligence). It's AQ: your Adaptability Quotient, the ability to question assumptions, update beliefs, and respond effectively when reality changes. Litowitz is the author of the forthcoming book (releasing on September 15, 2026) The Adaptability Quotient: Rewiring Your Mind For Success In The Next Human Era . And he shares that “AQ is a learnable way of using your mind like a high-performance machine: to model risk, absorb feedback, make faster corrections, and create repeatable advantages in conditions where most people stall out—or drown.” In short, it’s all about how to move from “making the right decision” to “making decisions right.” “As artificial intelligence, media, and scientific advances reshape the cognitive landscape, adaptability becomes the essential discipline for reclaiming human agency,” adds Litowitz. “And a s AI resha...

How To Maximize Employee Involvement

Here are 10 tips for how to maximize employee involvement : Have active ways to listen to your employees. Check often with employees to see if the information you are sharing with them is what they need and what they want. Share information about customer satisfaction with employees. Discuss financial performance with your employees and be sure everyone understands the importance of profitability and how they can contribute to profitability. Allow ad hoc teams among employees to form to address organizational problems and work with those teams to tackle the identified issues. Encourage employees to make suggestions for improvement whether those ideas are large or small. Take an idea from one employee and share it with other employees and teams and let everyone make a contribution to build upon that idea. Train! For long-term employees, find ways to keep their jobs interesting through new assignments and challenges. Conduct meetings around specific issues and brai...

10 Best Quotes From The 5 Levels Of Leadership

Here are some of my favorites quotes from John C. Maxwell's book, The 5 Levels of Leadership -- a book I believe should become a must-read for any workplace/organizational leader: Good leadership isn't about advancing yourself. It's about advancing your team. Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others. Leadership is action, not position. When people feel liked, cared for, included, valued, and trusted, they begin to work together with their leader and each other. If you have integrity with people, you develop trust. The more trust you develop, the stronger the relationship becomes. In times of difficulty, relationships are a shelter. In times of opportunity, they are a launching pad. Good leaders must embrace both care and candor. People buy into the leader, then the vision. Bringing out the best in a person is often a catalyst for bringing out the best in the team. Progress comes only fro...

How Will You Get Involved?

"Philanthropy isn't just a pursuit for the wealthy. Philanthropy is about involvement . Pick your issue, work at it, and do your best to make things happen. Even if you're not wealthy, you have time, expertise, skills and other resources you may not even have realized that can be used to serve others." Thanks for this great advice from author Eli Broad.

Six Ways To Help Retain Your Employees

I had the pleasure of interviewing Leigh Branham over the past few years. He's the author of the popular book called, The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave . He told me that in research that he has done about the leaders of companies that have won " Best-Place-To-Work " competitions in 45 U.S. cities, that there are six things these effective leaders do that don't cost money . They do, however, cost time and effort. But, that is time and effort that can pay big dividends. Here are the six things you can do : Make the commitment to create a great place to work. Inspire employee confidence in decisions and clear business direction Work to build trust based on honesty and integrity Practice open, two-way communication, especially in times of uncertainty Look out for the organization before you look out for yourself Believe employees should be developed and retained; not burned out and discarded Thanks for these great leadership tips, ...

Seven Indicators Of The Right Work For You

In Brian Tracy 's new book, Find Your Balance Point , he shares this helpful list of the seven indicators of the right work for you and the career where you will feel fully engaged and where you will be the happiest in serving other people: The right work for you is something that you really enjoy doing; something that you love to do. The right work for you is easy for you to learn and easy to do. In many cases, you learned it automatically, without thought or effort. You love learning more and more about the work if it is the right work for you. When you are engrossed in this work, the hours fly past. You forget what time it is, and later you are surprised to see how much time has passed. The right work for you gives you energy when you are doing it. You can spend hours at this work, often forgetting to eat. If it is the right work for you, you want to be excellent at it, and you are constantly striving to learn and improve in that area. If it is the right work for y...

How To Coach Rather Than Supervise Employees

Bill Berman and George Bradt , authors of the book, Influence and Impact , explain the importance of helping your employees to understand what their jobs entails, and what the culture expects, so they can do the work you need from them the most. More importantly, they say that it is better for you as a leader to coach employees rather than supervise them. And, as you coach, they recommend you: Ensure the employee fully understands their job responsibilities. Pave the way for the employee to be successful. Given them the time, resources and encouragement they will need. Help them know themselves better. Consider a personality assessment by a trained evaluator so they understand their styles and preferences. Help them know the business. Ensure they know the organization’s mission, vision and purpose, business strategies and cultural norms. Help them know you. Help them to really understand what you really need from them to make you and the organiz...

How To Achieve Continuous Improvement

In addition to your 2017 New Year's resolution and the goal that you've be working on this year, add reading The School of Greatness to your "to do" list before year's end. It's a highly uplifting and motivational book on how to strive for greatness in your everyday life. Specifically, author Lewis Howes , shares his progression of a series of lessons -- eight areas that help you focus on continual improvement: Create a vision. Turn adversity into advantage. Cultivate a champion's mindset. Develop hustle. Master your body. Practice positive habits. Build a winning team. Be of service to others. Packed with exercises, tools, tips and examples, the book makes for a perfect read at the start of the new year.

Eric Jacobson On Management And Leadership

Search This Blog