New Rules of Business: Leadership, Brand & Building What Lasts | Betsey Locke on We Mean Business

In this episode of We Mean Business, host Monica Richards sits down with Betsey Locke, President of The Next Rodeo and veteran brand strategist. Betsey shares key lessons from her career leading global advertising strategies for financial giants like Citi, Bank of America, HSBC, M&T Bank, and Regions Bank. She discusses navigating corporate culture as a woman and mother, shifting management styles toward trust and positivity, and leveraging modern AI technology to empower small business growth without losing human wisdom. Chapters 00:00 – Normalizing Motherhood in Leadership 00:12 – Welcome to We Mean Business 01:03 – The Vision Behind We Mean Business & The Next Rodeo 07:00 – Starting Out in Advertising & Global Brand Strategy 10:45 – Shifting Business Culture: Hierarchy to Ecosystems 13:48 – Creating Human-Centered Leadership & Normalizing Parenting 15:53 – Heliotropism: Management Focused on Flourishing 18:08 – Likability, Competence, and Relationships 20:04 – Challenging Corporate Norms 22:18 – Negotiation Strategy: Considering the Opposing Pressure 24:43 – Defining Brand Strategy: Who Are You & Why Should I Care? 27:18 – Applying Brand Strategy to Small Businesses 30:00 – Staying Optimistic About Tech & AI 32:06 – Knowledge vs. Wisdom in the Age of AI 34:10 – Sustainable Career, Marriage, and Stay-at-Home Dads 39:05 – The Importance of Role Models in Leadership 40:48 – It’s a Journey and a Destination 42:04 – Fast Field Notes: Leadership & Financial Decision-Making 46:47 – Final Takeaway: Meaning Business If you enjoyed the episode, pull up a seat by leaving a comment, share your biggest takeaway, and subscribe to We Mean Business for more conversations about entrepreneurship, brand building, marketing, leadership and growth. Explore The Next Rodeo's creative marketing services: @thenextrodeo on social or www.thenextrodeo.com For the best moments and quick actionable insights from our show, connect with us on social @wemeanbusinesspod and for the full We Mean Business audio experience, join us on any of your favorite podcast platforms. We Mean Business is an original podcast brought to you by The Next Rodeo, in partnership with Connoisseur Media, produced by Good Mess Media, with music by JAM Music Collective. Thank you for pulling up a seat with us!