“You can't teach give-a-shit.”

That quote sums up the conversation I had with seasoned marketing executive Anne Marie Benard.

Anne Marie shares her journey across industries. From Target and energy sponsorships to media, healthcare, and now higher education at the University of Utah.

But this isn’t just a résumé rundown, it’s an honest, insightful and often hilarious deep dive into how to make bold career moves, lead with EQ, and navigate professional pivots without losing your identity in the process.

Whether you're a rising professional trying to stand out in a crowded market or a seasoned leader in your own season of reinvention, Anne Marie brings equal parts strategy and soul.

About Anne:

Anne Marie Benard is an accomplished marketing and communications leader with a proven ability to build high-performing teams and drive significant results in large, complex organizations. Her career spans diverse sectors, including retail, energy, media, healthcare, and higher education, where she has consistently exceeded expectations in developing and implementing innovative marketing strategies.

Starting with a foundation in retail analytics and brand strategy at Target Corporation, Anne Marie has progressed to lead teams, manage multi-million-dollar budgets, and consistently achieve ambitious financial and campaign goals.

Her expertise in strategic planning, brand management, sponsorship negotiations, digital and traditional media, public relations, team building, and stakeholder management makes her a highly effective leader in dynamic, fast-paced environments.

Connect with Veronica:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vromney/

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

Think you need a big, dramatic life moment to tell a powerful story?

In this episode, I sit down with bestselling author, master storyteller, and 61-time Moth StorySLAM winner Matthew Dicks to explore the magic of everyday storytelling—and how the smallest moments often carry the biggest impact.

From his life-changing “Homework for Life” practice to the science of what makes a story stick, Matthew walks us through the exact tools and mindset shifts that can turn anyone into a better storyteller—on stage, on camera, or around the dinner table.

Whether you’re a speaker, entrepreneur, or someone who just wants to communicate more powerfully, this episode will transform the way you see your own story—and help you share it in a way that truly connects.

About Matthew:

Matthew Dicks is the internationally bestselling author of six novels and three nonfiction titles:

Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Art

of Storytelling

Someday Is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Strategies to Propel Your Creative Life

Stories Sell: Storyworthy Strategies to Grow Your Business and Brand

His novels have been translated into more than 25 languages worldwide.

Matthew is a record 62-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 9-time GrandSLAM champion whose stories have been featured on their nationally syndicated Moth Radio Hour.

His solo show “You’re a Monster, Matthew Dicks” debuted at Theater Works in Hartford, CT in 2023.

He has also performed in the New York City Comedy Festival in 2022 and 2023. Teacher of the Year and a Connecticut Teacher of the Year finalist.

Matthew’s client roster includes Google, Salesforce, Amazon, Microsoft, Smucker’s, the FBI, The Eric and Wendy Schmitt Foundation, Yale University, MIT, and many more. He also works with Olympic athletes, world-class mountaineers, standup comedians, magicians, attorneys, breast cancer survivors, the children of Holocaust survivors, world champion memorizers, the clergy, and more.

Matthew is also the CEO of Storyworthy — a company that creates and distributes online education on storytelling, marketing, sales, and branding. He is also the founder and artistic director of Speak Up, a Hartford-based storytelling organization that produces storytelling shows throughout New England.

Connect with Veronica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

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

You’ve hired a sales team, but they’re not performing the way you hoped. You’re still the one carrying the weight of bringing in revenue, and the dream of “someone taking sales off your plate” feels further away than ever.

Sound familiar?

In this episode, Michael and Veronica break down exactly why your sales team might be struggling and spoiler alert: it’s not about their talent. It’s about your leadership.

If you’ve been caught in the trap of micromanaging, unclear expectations, or trying to delegate sales without direction, this conversation will shift everything. They walk you through the mindset and systems needed to create real sales leadership inside your company, so your team can finally sell without you.

About Michael:

A New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Michael Port has written nine books -- including the mega-hit Book Yourself Solid and The Referrable Speaker, co-authored with our mutual friend, the visionary Andrew Davis.

Michael has delivered keynote speeches on some of the world’s most prominent stages and built and sold multiple successful companies along the way.

‍From 2014 to 2024, Michael served as CEO of Heroic Public Speaking. Under his leadership, the company achieved double-digit growth in 9 out of 10 years and became renowned for its unwavering integrity, unmatched Faculty, and transformational training programs.

Today, Michael focuses on teaching, mentoring the Faculty at HEROIC, and continuously enhancing the efficacy of HEROIC’s programming…

Connect with Veronica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

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