Cherene Aubert is the CEO of Growth Capital, a growth marketing firm that scales consumer brands. As a seasoned e-commerce and digital growth leader, she has nearly two decades of experience scaling DTC brands and managing media investments across multiple high-growth companies. Before Growth Capital, Cherene was the Fractional SVP of Digital & eCommerce at ILIA Beauty, where she drove omnichannel digital strategy for a rapidly growing clean beauty brand.

Marketing has become automated and identical across companies. Brands chase the same ads, channels, and short-term wins, only to discover that growth stalls and loyalty disappears. How can you build something memorable and scale without losing trust?

The way forward starts with obsessing over customers, not competitors. As a growth and e-commerce leader, Cherene Aubert maintains that brands should use customer insights — from ad data to conversations — to guide creative strategy, redefine quality as value for the customer, and invest in full-funnel thinking. This requires originality, emotional resonance, and the space for creative teams to build long-term demand rather than quick conversions.

In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris sits down with Cherene Aubert, CEO of Growth Capital, to discuss how brands can escape the marketing echo chamber. Cherene explains why copying competitors backfires, how full-funnel content drives sustainable growth, and how premium and beauty brands can stay culturally relevant.

Kevin Anderson is the Founder and CEO of Kevin Anderson & Associates, a global leader in professional book-writing, editing, and publishing navigation services. A #1 New York Times best-selling editor, national best-selling author, entrepreneur, and investor, Kevin has built KAA into an industry-leading firm with a team of former Big-5 executive editors, literary agents, and best-selling writers. Since founding the company in 2007, he has helped launch thousands of authors and contributed to hundreds of national and international bestsellers. Kevin is also the Founder of Dissertation Editor and the co-author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller PhDone.

Books can elevate ideas beyond the noise of social media and fast-moving content. They don't just share information — they build credibility, trust, and lasting authority in a way few other mediums can. How can publishing a book open doors for founders?

According to best-selling editor and publishing expert Kevin Anderson, books signal depth, expertise, and timeless value, making them a powerful tool for entrepreneurs who want to stand out. He notes that the ROI isn't in book sales, but in the opportunities that follow: media visibility, stronger SEO authority, and increased trust from high-level audiences. Kevin encourages founders to publish before they think they're ready, focusing on solving readers' problems rather than waiting to feel like they've accomplished enough. A well-positioned book becomes a long-term asset that compounds influence over time.

In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris talks with Kevin Anderson, Founder and CEO of Kevin Anderson & Associates, about how books help founders build authority and unlock new opportunities. Kevin discusses why books create lasting credibility, how they generate ROI through media and visibility, and how founders can maximize impact after publication.

Ross Correia is the Co-founder and CEO of Reactiv, an AI-powered mobile commerce platform. Under his leadership, Reactiv has raised significant seed funding and forged partnerships with major retail brands. Before Reactiv, Ross held sales and leadership roles at companies, including Shopify. He has also been named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list for retail and e-commerce.

Most e-commerce brands believe they own their customers — until ad costs spike, algorithms shift, or attribution breaks overnight. When growth depends on rented attention, even healthy revenue can hide fragile foundations. What allows brands to build durable growth and real customer relationships in an increasingly noisy digital world?

Mobile app builder Ross Correia maintains that the strongest brands focus on ownership over optimization — prioritizing direct relationships, reducing friction at every touchpoint, and meeting customers where and when they're most receptive. Brands should stop over-optimizing short-term metrics, design experiences that feel native to how people use their phones, personalize outreach thoughtfully, and choose long-term trust over quick wins. The result is sustainable growth rooted in loyalty, not volatility.

In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris talks with Ross Correia, Co-founder and CEO of Reactiv, about building owned customer channels in e-commerce. Ross explains why paid ads create hidden risk, how mobile-first experiences increase retention, and what it takes to build a company — and culture — by choosing the difficult but durable path.