Debbie Laskey's Blog

Welcome to Debbie Laskey's insights and commentary about BRANDING, MARKETING, LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, and CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES. Debbie has worked in high-tech, the Consumer Marketing Department at Disneyland Paris in France, nonprofits, and insurance. Expertise includes strategic planning, brand development, marketing plans and audits, competitive positioning, websites, communications, public relations, employee engagement, customer experiences, and social media marketing.

Monday, October 12, 2026

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES 2026 featuring Allan Pratt

Following in the footsteps of eight previous series where thought leaders responded to questions on my blog over the last several years to discuss leadership, marketing, reading, and the Olympics, I'm thrilled to announce that it's time for my 9th series!

During the Fall season (each Monday from September 28th through December 20th), I'm welcoming a dozen thought leaders to share their insights about reading, books, personal branding, and leadership. Today, Allan Pratt is my featured expert. Allan is an infosecurity strategist and represents the intersection of management and technology. He has an MBA Degree and six CompTIA certifications in computers, cloud computing, networks, servers, security, and mobility; and formerly worked in various roles in the tech sector. He has also been a contributor to several technology blogs and been quoted in industry publications. For the past 15 years, he has taught numerous CompTIA certification courses at Los Angeles City College (online since the covid pandemic began resulting in larger classes than when they were held in-person). His most notable accomplishment was the creation of the Cybersecurity Certificate and A.S. program for LA City College, the first program of its kind within the Los Angeles Community College District.

Before we begin, I'd like to share my two favorite reading quotes to set the stage:

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel (from her work of historical fiction, "The Paris Daughter")

"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

And now, let's begin.

QUESTION: What was the last book (fiction or non-fiction) you read? What stood out as memorable, and would you recommend it?

ALLAN PRATT: My favorite genre is geopolitical thrillers featuring international politics, military strategy, espionage, high-pressure situations, and more. Recently, I discovered R.J. Patterson's 21-book series featuring former Navy SEAL Brady Hawk and just finished reading book number 17, "Code Red." The novel featured a United States President, a terrorist cell, and an election - no more details to avoid a spoiler. Check out the series if you enjoy this genre.

I enjoy detailed character development over time and different situations that can only happen when there are many books in a series, and I also like the connection that results between the main character and the reader. Other examples are Lee Child's Jack Reacher, James Patterson's Alex Cross, and Stephen King's Roland Deschain.

QUESTION: Which book (fiction or non-fiction) is on the top of your to-be-read pile (or first in your digital reader), and why?

ALLAN PRATT: Due to my enjoyment of geopolitical thrillers, I'm also a fan of Brad Thor's 25-book series featuring protagonist Scot Horvath. His latest novel is next on my reading pile, "Choke Point." Here's a teaser from his website, "A devastating series of bombings tears through Bangkok. Scores of American citizens are dead. The attacks send shock waves around the world. As global assistance pours into Thailand including the FBI's famed Evidence Response Team, the President of the United States quietly prepares a plan B: Scot Harvath, America's top spy, trained to operate outside the law and probe the dark corners others can't...or won't. But the bomber Harvath is pursuing isn't a terrorist. He's something far more dangerous — one of ours. Meanwhile, in Washington, a former United States Marine is being hunted — and he has no idea why. Desperate for answers, he turns to the one person he still trusts — his ex-fiancée, a rising star in the White House. The problem is, she isn't sure she can trust him. As Harvath closes in on the bomber, a devastating truth begins to emerge. China has quietly deployed its most elite intelligence unit to Thailand. Their objective: to ignite chaos, trigger a military coup, and seize control of a narrow but critical piece of land, one that could give Beijing a decisive advantage. If the plan succeeds, Beijing will secure a key gateway between two oceans, eroding American naval dominance and tipping the balance in any war between the world's great powers. China will control the ultimate geopolitical choke point."

And on a side note for those who enjoy television and/or movie adaptations, Netflix announced in January 2026 that it's developing a feature adaptation of "Cold Zero" co-written by Brad Thor with Ward Larsen. The story was described as follows, "A vanished plane. An earth-shattering secret. A countdown to World War III. Hemisphere Airlines Flight 777 — the most advanced jetliner ever built — disappears without a trace over the North Pole. Crippled by sabotage, it crash-lands on the ice, stranding the surviving passengers in a wasteland of frigid cold and chaos. The real storm, however, is still coming. Hidden inside the wreckage is the prototype for a revolutionary piece of technology that could upend the balance of world power. Now Washington, Moscow, and Beijing are racing to be the first on scene to retrieve it — at any cost. Trapped in the middle of the world’s most dangerous flash point are CIA operative Kasey Sheridan and former fighter pilot turned first officer, Brett Sharpe. Hunted by enemy forces, they must spirit both the device and its creator across the ice to safety — before rival superpowers turn the Arctic into a war zone. With the clock ticking and the temperature dropping, the fate of the free world is about to be decided at the top of the globe." I guess that book is also in my to-be-read pile!

QUESTION: With all the streaming services available, many works of fiction are now adapted into films or TV series. During the last year, have you watched a film or TV show and been impressed and/or inspired by the adaptation? (If you haven't watched any adaptations, are you looking forward to any currently in the planning or production phases?)

ALLAN PRATT: I would be remiss not to return to Lee Child's series about Jack Reacher, or just "Reacher," as the character tells people when they refer to him as "Mr. Reacher." He's a former U.S. military police officer who travels by bus, train, or by hitch-hiking without a destination, and as a result, gets mixed up in crazy adventures with bad people by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I've read the entire series, and when I heard that a new version would be made for television (on Amazon Prime Video), I hoped Tom Cruise would not be cast again in the lead role. He portrayed Reacher in two films ("Reacher" in 2012 and "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" in 2016), and he was the wrong choice.

By contrast, Adam Ritchson (in the TV version) is exactly how I pictured the character while reading the books. He has the stature, the confidence, the dry sense of humor, the personality, and the overall attitude as Lee Child described him in the series. In fact, Ritchson is such an embodiment of the character that he was injured performing stunts during the filming of the third season. The fourth season showcased much of the same action, character development, and storytelling that viewers like me have come to expect as well as Reacher's concern for a stranger that he runs into and has to help, just because that's the type of person he is. Prime Video already renewed the show for a fifth season set to debut in 2027.

According to The Times (of London), "In a world of often over-hyped publishing numbers, the most intimidating statistic of all is the fact that a Jack Reacher novel is purchased somewhere around the globe every four seconds. Reacher novels had been sold in 95 countries and in 40 languages."

Here's a fun fact: Lee Child says he came up with the character's name because an old woman remarked on his own physique while asking him to reach for a can of pears in a supermarket. (Child is 6 feet 4 inches tall.)

And here's an interesting reversal of a book's adaptation into a TV show or film: a character from the "Reacher" series and TV show, U.S. Army Master Sergeant Frances Neagley, became so popular during the TV show that a spin-off premiered on Prime Video on September 16th (the same night as the final show of series four of "Reacher"). And more exciting news for "Reacher" fans, a NEAGLEY novel by Lee Child and Yasmin Angoe entitled "Zero Margin" will be published in March 2027.

QUESTION: If you're a fan of the TED LASSO series on Apple TV, have you watched the new season (that returned on August 5th)? If yes, what stands out about Ted's leadership lessons or leadership style from the new season? Alternatively, if you're not a fan of the show or have not yet watched it, is there another CURRENT TV show that showcases inspiring leadership?

ALLAN PRATT: As season four began, Ted realized that he was in a rut. Due to the job offer from soccer/football team owner Rebecca to return to England to coach a girls team, Ted decided to move his family and return to England. As a leader, one has to know when they're stuck in place, treading water, and when to move on. This is critical because employees know when their leaders are unable to inspire them due to their own negative mindsets.

As season four continued, feminism became a major theme because Rebecca hired a man (Ted) to coach a girls soccer team. At the first press conference, Ted was asked about the men's team, not the women's team - and he didn't know the status of the team nor the players. The assistant coach for the girls team was a woman (Alice), and she had wanted the head coaching job, but Rebecca explained that she had not even considered Alice, instead, she had hired Ted. But then, Rebecca asked herself why she had ignored the opportunity that had been in front of her all along: hiring a woman to lead the girls team.

While the entire season has not yet unfolded, the concept of equal opportunities in the workplace became front and center. As a leader, do you hire people based on ability or how they look or speak? Do you promote people based on ability or how they look or speak? Do you lead with blinders on?

Ted showed his support of Alice by asking her to remain as his assistant coach (she had resigned in the second episode of the season), and hopefully, we'll be inspired by Ted's other leadership lessons as the season continues.

QUESTION: Which author (either from history or currently writing) would you choose to have dinner with, and what would you discuss?

ALLAN PRATT: I would like to dine with Stephen King. I would pick his brain as to how he creates his plots and characters. We would also discuss "The Dark Tower" series, since those books are my favorites.

He also wrote a book about writing entitled, "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft," and explained, "The situation comes first. The characters — always flat and unfeatured, to begin with — come next. Once these things are fixed in my mind, I begin to narrate. I often have an idea of what the outcome may be, but I have never demanded a set of characters that they do things my way. On the contrary, I want them to do things their way. In some instances, the outcome is what I visualized. In most, however, it's something I never expected."

Sunday, October 11, 2026

Recent Marketing News: Animals, Books, Cybersecurity, and More

During the last couple of weeks, there were news stories that reflected brand experiences, brand identity, brand naming, brand storytelling, brand strategy, celebration marketing, corporate culture, customer experience marketing, logo design, marketing leadership, personal branding, product marketing, rebranding, signage, special event marketing, and more.

PANDAS ARRIVE AT ZOO ATLANTA

Giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang landed in Atlanta on September 27th via a special FedEx Panda Express Boeing 777 aircraft. According to Raymond B. King, President and CEO, "This is a thrilling day for Zoo Atlanta and a historic moment for the City of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and beyond. We are elated to welcome Ping Ping and Fu Shuang and could not be more excited about sharing that joy with our Members, guests, city, and community in the coming weeks. Zoo Atlanta is honored to partner with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to see important work continue toward the conservation of giant pandas, which is the most important benefit of guarding this species.”

The pandas are currently housed in a biosecure area of Zoo Atlanta's new giant panda complex for a routine quarantine period of around a month. The date when members and guests can expect to see the pandas will be announced soon.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Each October, people unite to raise awareness and support for the millions affected by breast cancer, which affects 1 in 8 women in the United States over their lifetime - that's one person every 2 minutes in the U.S. (according to Susan G. Komen). The two most common risk factors of breast cancer are being born female and getting older. Doctors recommend annual mammograms starting at age 40 for average-risk women with a baseline mammogram for high-risk women starting at age 35. The pink ribbon is a symbol for solidarity and hope.

CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH

Launched in 2004, the National Cybersecurity Alliance and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) lead the campaign every October to assist organizations to talk to their employees and customers about staying safe online. According to StaySafeOnline.org, "Staying safe online isn't about making one perfect decision. It's about building habits and repeating them consistently in the small moments that happen every day. In doing this, we can all make life difficult for cybercriminals. Small actions make a big difference. We recommend starting with four easy steps anyone can take to boost their online safety: (1) Use strong passwords and a password manager; (2) Turn on multifactor authentication; (3) Recognize and report scams; and (4) Update your software."

NATIONAL DESSERT MONTH

October is also National Dessert Month. According to NAAtlanta.com, "Beloved for its chewy texture and rich flavor, the chocolate chip cookie was invented in 1938 by Ruth Wakefield, a chef, dietitian, educator and author from Walpole, Massachusetts, who also owned a tourist lodge with her husband Kenneth that they named the Tollhouse Inn. Brownies originated in Chicago in 1893 at the Palmer House Hotel, where Bertha Palmer asked her chefs to create a portable dessert that could be served at the World's Columbian Exposition. Apple pie is synonymous with American culture. With its flaky crust and sweet, spiced filling, it evokes a sense of nostalgia and comfort, and is often accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream."

CUSTOMER SERVICE WEEK

In 1992, the U.S. Congress proclaimed Customer Service Week a nationally recognized event to be celebrated annually during the first full week in October. During 2026, it was celebrated from October 5th to 9th. It's an international celebration of the importance of customer service and of the people who serve and support customers on a daily basis. Thousands of companies around the world celebrate and represent financial, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, retailing, hospitality, communications, nonprofit, and educational organizations, as well as government agencies, and others. Gratitude Walls, Service Awards, and thank-you cakes are just some of the ways that organizations can thank their teams.

BANNED BOOKS WEEK

Banned Books Week takes place during early October each year, and this year, it took place from October 4th through 10th. Co-sponsored by the American Library Association and Banned Books Week Coalition, 2026's theme was "Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read."

According to American Library Association President Sam Helmick. "Banned Books Week is a celebration of the freedom to read and the joy that comes from discovering stories that expand our understanding of ourselves and one another. Every person has the right to seek information and choose books without censorship. When we say "Let Books Be," we're showing up for readers everywhere and reaffirming that libraries are for everyone...As we look toward the next 250 years, the choice is ours. We can let our libraries fade, viewed as charming relics of a bygone era. Or, we can choose to invest in them as a bedrock of our future. Let us decide, right now, that they are not optional. They are the very breath of a free society and they are worth fighting for."

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE AND FICTION FOR FEMALE FANS CAMPAIGN

Sports Business Journal reported, "The mainstream success of on-screen adaptations of hockey-themed romance novels "Heated Rivalry" and "Off Campus" over the past year has introduced an entirely new -- and largely female -- audience to the sport. After a few NHL teams leaned into the trend last season through merchandise and content plays, the league has launched a marketing effort for 2026-2027 called "Hot for Hockey" that specifically targets the same demographic.

Led by new CMO Sean Eggert, who joined from Under Armour in May, the NHL is rolling out a series of short stories on audiobook platforms throughout the season that present real-life NHL storylines in the style of romance novels. The league has contracted popular hockey romance authors to write and narrate the 60-to-90-second pieces, which will direct listeners to tune in to upcoming games to see how the stories play out on the ice. It will also tap influential "BookTok" creators to spread the word. Eggert explained, "The popularity of hockey romance in not only this country, but North America at large, even parts of Europe, it's unmistakable. You can't hide from it. And so it's a great opportunity for us to extend and reflect that culture back in our storytelling."

"According to Eggert, hockey is the most popular sport by a wide margin within the broader sports romance category, which he said generates around 16 million downloads annually. Market research firm Circana reported that 51 million romance books were sold in print during the 12 months preceding June 2025 and identified sports romance as one of the category's fastest-growing subjects."

WORLD ANIMAL DAY

The objective for World Animal Day, held this year on October 4th, was to raise global awareness for animal welfare, improving living standards for farm and captive animals, and highlighting habitat and ecosystem preservation.

According to MarineConnection.org, "World Animal Day brings together the animal welfare movement, uniting people around the globe in a shared commitment to making the world a kinder, better place for all animals, and this year's official theme is: "See the World Through Their Eyes." When we truly begin to see the world through the eyes of captive dolphins and whales, we begin to imagine a very different life. A life without the freedom to choose where to go or without the constant discovery of new places and surroundings. To understand their world is to consider what life means to them – remarkably repetitive days, the same enclosure, the same boundaries, the same routines, day after day. Imagine waking each morning to the same walls, swimming the same circles, seeing the same view, knowing that tomorrow will be much the same. When we try to see the world through their eyes, our choices begin to change, because compassion begins when we take the time to imagine what life feels like for someone else."

According to Irene Gould of Everything French on Facebook, "On Sunday, October 4, the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France, shut down to cars for two hours and filled up with hundreds of dachshunds trotting from the Arc de Triomphe toward Place de la Concorde. It's called the Paris Sausage Walk and has been a Paris tradition since 2018, inspired by a similar event in London. This year, for the first time, organizers moved the whole thing to the Champs-Élysées, taking over roughly 1.2 miles, or 1.9 kilometers, of the avenue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The walk was free, open to everyone, and you didn't need a dachshund to show up and watch. It also happens to land on World Animal Day. Every year, it doubles as a fundraiser for Teckels Sans Doux Foyer, a charity that rescues and rehomes abandoned dachshunds, with merchandise sales on-site going straight to the cause."

According to Earth.com, "World Animal Day is older than a lot of people expect. Heinrich Zimmermann, a writer and editor working in Berlin, organized the first one on March 24, 1925, at the city's Sports Palace, and more than 5,000 people attended. He had wanted the event on the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, who's known as the patron saint of animals. Logistical problems pushed the first celebration to March, and it didn't land on that feast day, October 4, until 1929. In May of 1931, animal protection groups meeting at an international congress in Florence, Italy, approved his proposal to make October 4 the official date. Zimmermann also ran a magazine in which he wrote against cruelty to animals. Last year marked the day's 100th anniversary with the theme "Save Animals, Save the Planet." This year's theme shifts the focus from saving animals to understanding how they experience the world."

JAMES BOND DAY

According to Men's Journal, "October 5 has become an international celebration known as "James Bond Day." Although Ian Fleming's first Bond novel, "Casino Royale," was released on April 13th,1953, "James Bond Day" celebrates the U.K.'s theatrical release of "Dr. No," on October 5th, 1962, which was the first Sean Connery-led 007 film." Fans still await the announcement of the next actor to portray the famous character in the franchise's next film.

WORLD TEACHERS DAY

World Teachers Day was celebrated on October 5th. In the words of Sesame Street, "To teach is to change a life forever! To teachers, thank you for everything you do to help us grow smarter, stronger, and kinder." And from the United Nations, "Thank you to all educators around the world for their unwavering dedication to future generations."

SHARE THIS: Thank you to all educators around the world for their unwavering dedication to future generations. ~United Nations #WorldTeachersDay #CelebrationMarketing #DebbieLaskeysBlog

WORLD ARCHITECTURE DAY

World Architecture Day was celebrated on October 5th. Created in 1985 by the International Union of Architects (UIA), World Architecture Day is a day to show appreciation for the work that architects do and to celebrate the inspiring and memorable works of architecture around the world. Famous works of architecture have become part of the natural landscape. Consider what the city of Paris would be without the Eiffel Tower, or what New York City would be without the Statue of Liberty, or what San Francisco would be without the Golden Gate Bridge. Without these amazing architectural structures, these cities would lack their artistic souls and brand identities.

SHARE THIS: Architecture is not just about designing buildings; it's about creating spaces that inspire and uplift. ~Unknown #WorldArchitectureDay #CelebrationMarketing #DebbieLaskeysBlog

DECLINING CMO TENURE

Digiday reported, "A survey of 13,000 U.S. marketing professionals has found the median time in office enjoyed by CMOs is down 35 percent since 2010. The study, which surveyed companies with over 100 employees, was conducted by recruitment firm Findem and networking platform CMO Huddles. Per the report, 33 percent of CMOs had been in their role for more than five years, with those at public companies generally charting longer tenures. Software firms were among those with the shortest-lived CMOs, with an average of 27 months in their position.

Compared to, say, English Premier League soccer coaches (15 months), CMOs are here for the long haul. Chief executives actually hang around for longer, with their average tenure reaching 7.4 years. The tenure of chief information officers and supply chain chiefs (5.2 years each) also remained steady.

That difference can be explained when one considers U.S. companies’ top priorities in 2026: AI, cybersecurity and a tough economic outlook dominated by tariff-related pressures. All topics that make work for idle CIOs and CSOs. The relative power of the average chief marketers, however, has fallen or stalled in recent years. According to Gartner's recent CMO surveys, marketing spend as a share of sales flatlined at 7.8 percent this year, down from 11.2 percent in 2018.

Shrinking tenure may be a symptom of a greater sickness — the fall in influence of CMOs. For one, fewer companies are going with a CMO. According to Forrester, just 36 percent of Fortune 500 firms use the CMO term, a 49 percent decrease on the previous year. In 2024, that figure was 55 percent. Another Forrester study pointed to a reduction in influence among CMOs, with 46 percent reporting to someone other than their CEO, suggesting they're often at least one degree removed from the corporate top table."

Forrester analyst Jay Pattisall said, "Clearly there's a misalignment...the shrinking CMO tenure isn't so much the story as is the misalignment of where the CMO reports and of expectations. Some CEOs see marketing as a communications or campaign function."

Drew Neisser, CEO of CMO Huddles, said, "Companies want marketing leaders to fix growth, reposition the business, build demand, sharpen the brand, align sales, and prove impact fast. But the data is screaming that too many CMOs are being handed transformation-sized mandates on trial-period timelines. That is not just hard on CMOs. It is expensive and self-defeating for companies."

BRISBANE OLYMPICS LOGO REVEAL

The Guardian reported, "The Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics emblems have been accidentally leaked by the Games' official YouTube channel, three days before its own big reveal. The emblems depicting a pink cockatoo for the Olympics and a sulphur-crested cockatoo for the Paralympics, were shown in the top-right corner of a video."

According to NBC Sports, "The logos bring together the places, people and spirit that will take us to 2032. And yes...that little character is a cockatoo! Distinctive. Unmistakably Queensland. And just a little bit cheeky."

In 2021, the Australian Museum called the pink cockatoo "an outback Australian icon. Pink cockatoos are found in low densities across the arid and semi-arid inland of Australia, surviving in some of Australia's harshest habitats...Few birds more enliven the monotonous hues of the Australian forest than this beautiful species [with] pink-colored wings and a distinctive bright red, yellow, and white flowing crest."

CAMPARI PINK SPRITZ

CNN reported, "As the alcohol industry deals with a dreary environment in the U.S., Aperol's parent company hopes a brightly colored aperitif imported from Italy will entice drinkers. Campari Group is making its biggest investment ever for the U.S. launch of Sarti Rosa, a tropical pink-colored aperitivo liqueur made for spritzes. The Sarti Spritz has built a devoted following from Americans visiting Europe over the past few years. The Italian company has seen its U.S. business grow consecutively for the past five years by heavily promoting Aperol and Campari, popularizing the spritz to Americans cutting back on drinking as a lighter alternative to booze-heavy cocktails. With Sarti Rosa, however, the aim is to attract younger drinkers who prefer a sweeter aperitivo that doesn't taste bitter. For those unfamiliar, a Sarti Spritz has tasting notes of mango, passion fruit, and blood orange that is mixed with Prosecco and club soda. The pink-hued cocktail is photogenic, which has made it a social media sensation."

NOVO NORDISK REBRAND

CNBC reported, "Novo Nordisk, the Danish drugmaker, is rebranding its name to "Novo" and updating its corporate culture as the company works to win back market share in the obesity drug space. The company called the changes the beginning of a new chapter, as it has been grappling with stiff competition from chief rival Eli Lilly and investor pressure to deliver new blockbuster products and chart a path toward long-term growth. CEO Mike Doustdar said the rebrand and culture shift are "part of the same package" for the company to evolve its strategy...and added that Novo needs to improve several aspects – from research and development and manufacturing to sales and marketing – to be able to compete in the obesity drug market.

The drugmaker said its corporate culture will be based on a new set of four principles that will help it gain advantages in an increasingly competitive market where more of its products have gone direct-to-consumer. Those tenets are: (1) innovating with patients as the primary focus; (2) raising the company's performance to create greater value for all stakeholders; (3) setting clearer priorities and simpler workflows; and (4) never compromising on patient safety and ethics."

DEATH OF DEE BROCK

The New York Times reported, "Dee Brock, a high school English teacher and model who started the original Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, who would become known worldwide for their sexy sideline dancing in blue tops, star-spangled vests and shorts, and white boots, died on September 23rd in Tyler, Texas, at the age of 96. In 1961, Tex Schramm, the Cowboys' president, hired Brock and told her he wanted to stock the squad with models. It was the second year of the team's existence, following its winless debut as an NFL expansion team in 1960. She suggested recruiting local high school cheerleaders - girls at first, then boys, for a few years starting in 1964 - to add gymnastic stunts in the traditional cheers. For a time, they were known as the Cowbelles and Beaux, which Brock hated. They wore mostly white outfits that didn't show much skin."

But the group evolved under Brock's leadership - and wow, did the entire world of professional football team cheerleaders change! She integrated the cheerleaders in 1965, hired a choreographer, sketched designs for "abbreviated" costumes, and recruited women over age 18. Brock led the cheerleaders in a part-time role while also continuing as a teacher in Dallas. She earned a doctorate and also became a public television executive. The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders performed at Super Bowls and on dozens of USO tours. In 2022, past and current cheerleaders traveled on a Cowboys team bus to Brock's home in Tyler, Texas, to present her with a lifetime achievement award in the form of a glittering rhinestone football.

Eunice Taylor Cicero, one of the first two black cheerleaders, said, "Dee will never know the strength she gave me as a young kid to believe in myself, to believe what I could do."

ONE WAY GERMANY DEALS WITH ITS HISTORY

CNN reported, "There has been outrage after a small town in eastern Germany banned the installation of new Holocaust memorial plaques that mark the last known residence or workplace of Jews and other victims of Nazi persecution. "Stolpersteine," meaning "stumbling blocks," are found across Germany, as well as in other European countries, and are intended as a daily reminder of Nazi atrocities. The motion was proposed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), who argued that passersby are "walking over or even stepping onto the names of the victims." On September 24th, the city council of Heidenau, a town near Dresden, backed the motion. Opponents argue that part of the purpose of the memorials is their subtle intrusion into everyday life...The International Auschwitz Committee slammed the CDU’s support of the motion as scandalous, according to Deutsche Welle.

The small 10cm brass cubes, often installed in sidewalks outside residential homes, are the work of German artist Gunter Demnig who initiated the project in the 1990s. They all carry similar information, such as the individual's name, date of deportation, and place of death. To date, 116,000 plaques have been installed across 31 countries, the vast majority are in Germany. Demnig himself has rejected the recent motion in Heidenau. Speaking to German media, he said that the blocks must be visible in the specific locations where people used to live or work, and that they help bring history to life for young people."

SPACEXAI NAME NEWS

Reuters reported on October 4th, "SpaceX CEO Elon Musk posted on social media that he would rename the company's AI unit (SpaceXAI) to SpaceXSI, ‌following Trump's push to use the term "super intelligence" instead of "artificial intelligence." Musk did not provide any additional information regarding the name change, nor did he give a timeline for when the change would occur."

EXCITING MILESTONE ON #DEBBIELASKEYSBLOG

Lastly, in case you missed it, on October 7th, I celebrated an exciting milestone, my 1,000th blog post! I've included the link below this post's image credits and invite you to check it out. My gratitude to the many guests who I've interviewed over the years, and to you, my readers, for reading, commenting, and sharing my posts. I look forward to the topics and events that inspire me to write about brand marketing, leadership, customer experiences, employee experiences, and more in the days ahead.

Don't forget baseball's World Series marketing highlights later this month.

What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? Since there's always something happening that impacts marketing, read #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!

Image Credits: NHL (via Sports Business Journal), Yes Yes Paris (via Facebook), and FedEx.

Read My #1,000th Post:

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2026/10/celebrating-special-milestone-on.html

Read about the Australian cockatoo:

https://australian.museum/blog/amri-news/new-insights-into-the-pink-cockatoo-an-outback-australian-icon/

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Personal Branding Tips and Trumpet Music

Are you familiar with the song "Narco," an instrumental tune featuring a lively trumpet? Today is a good day to learn about this memorable piece of music because it's National Trumpet Day.

According to WhatNationalDayIsIt.com. "During the 9th century, trumpets made of metal emerged in Europe. These early trumpets were straight and lacked valves or keys, making them limited in terms of the range of notes they could produce, but their bright and penetrating sound made them ideal for military signaling and fanfare. By the 14th century, musicians began experimenting with different ways to change the pitch of the trumpet. This led to the development of slide trumpets, also known as sackbuts. Slide trumpets featured a movable slide that allowed players to alter the length of the instrument, thus changing the pitch. This innovation expanded the range of notes that could be played, making the trumpet a more versatile instrument. The 19th century marked a major breakthrough in trumpet design with the invention of valves. In the early 1800s, valve mechanisms were first added to the trumpet, enabling players to easily change the pitch with the press of a finger. Valved trumpets quickly gained popularity in orchestras and brass bands. During the 20th century, the trumpet found its way into various genres of popular music, particularly jazz. Renowned jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis played a pivotal role in popularizing the trumpet as a lead instrument capable of expressive solo performances."

And now, some background about "Narco" from Wikipedia: "Narco is a song by Dutch DJ/production duo Blasterjaxx and Australian DJ/producer Timmy Trumpet, that was released as a single in 2017. The song has become widely popular for being the walk-out song for Edwin Díaz, a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Díaz first used "Narco" as his walk-out song during 2018, when he played for the Seattle Mariners. After he was traded to the New York Mets, he briefly changed his walkout song to "No Hay Limite" by Miky Woodz, though "Narco" retook its position as Díaz's walkout song in 2020...Matt Monagan, writing for Major League Baseball, said that the use of "Narco" as Díaz's entrance song is one of "the best all time" among baseball entrance music...As of August 16, 2022, the song was Number 18 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart...When Díaz joined the Los Angeles Dodgers, his Dodger debut would see local trumpeter Tatiana Tate welcoming him with a live performance of the song on March 27, 2026."

Here are three personal branding tips from Edwin Díaz and his walk-out music:

RECOGNITION

Each time that Díaz enters a game, his walk-out song is used as a way to announce him. The song is associated with him, so it's his calling card. How do you announce to your co-workers and/or teammates that you're available to provide feedback, attend meetings, etc.?

ENTHUSIASM

The choice of a personal walk-out song creates enthusiasm for the baseball fans in the stadium as well as the entire Dodgers team, coaches, and staff. Do you have a song, a brainstorming team activity, or another way to create enthusiasm or positive energy among your co-workers or team?

MOTIVATION

According to Díaz, the tune motivates him before pitching. He explained back in 2022, "The trumpets were unique. Something different from what everybody uses. That's why I picked it." Do you walk around the block or sing to yourself before an important presentation? How do you motivate yourself and your co-workers and teammates?

Sadly, Diaz was on the injured list for most of the 2026 season, but Dodgers fans hope he will be healthy during the 2027 season and that his trumpet song will be heard often.

What else can we learn from music and apply to the workplace and personal branding? Chime in and share.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Celebrating a Special Milestone on #DebbieLaskeysBlog: Post Number 1,000!

Today is a big day on my blog because you're reading my 1,000th post. Similar to how Oscar winners begin their acceptance speeches, I'd like to thank the Academy.

Seriously, since I'm reaching this amazing milestone after 17 years, I'd like to thank a webmaster colleague who, in 2009, encouraged me to start my own blog; my husband, who, after hearing interesting news stories on television or radio or after experiencing good or bad customer service, always patiently listened to me when my first comment was, "This would make a good blog post," and also provided much appreciated proofreading expertise; and lastly and most importantly, YOU, my readers, who've read my posts, shared them, and provided insightful comments. I'm both honored and grateful that you've been part of my creative journey as I've shared my commentary about marketing, leadership, brand experiences, customer experiences, employee experiences, social media, book reviews, and more.

My first post was published on October 9th, 2009, and was entitled, "GM Hired a Woman to Lead US Sales - Yes, a Woman." I still recall my discussion with my company's web designer as we discussed this exciting announcement. He said, if I felt strongly about the news, I should start a blog to share my commentary. I did, and here we are, 1,000 posts later.

I've met dozens of amazing people over the years through my participation on Twitter, and many have appeared here on my blog. To quote Matthew Kobach, "Twitter is a key that unlocks thousands of doors, some of which you never even knew existed." From the early days of Twitter, the social network became an international water cooler for me. I met people from all around the world who wanted to discuss marketing and leadership, and so, TweetChats and Twitterverse had meaning. In addition, hashtags such as #branding #brandmarketing #brandstrategy #brandexperience #leadership #CX #employeeexperience and #employerbranding became part of my lexicon. And after meeting many people on Twitter, I invited many to appear on my blog in a Q&A. So, while some people have left Twitter for other social networks, I send my gratitude to the social network that started my social media journey.

And on a side not, if the back-to-back World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers can refer to Twitter as Twitter (and not "X"), then I will continue to do so too.

As the URL evolved into the name of the blog, DEBBIE LASKEY'S BLOG, it was time for a hashtag to also appear, thus, the creation of #DebbieLaskeysBlog in August 2021. This hashtag, as a form of marketing and brand-building, has since accompanied all posts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more.

And now, please join me as I celebrate 1,000 posts by sharing my favorite series, posts, quotes, and more!

HERE ARE MY 10 FAVORITE BLOG SERIES:

(1) "Top 10 Marketing Highlights" of the previous year (so far, 16 of these posts each January)

(2) "Best Social Media Post" of the previous month (so far, 20 of these posts each month since February 2025)

(3) "Best Book I Read Last Year" (so far, 3 of these posts each February)

(4) "Brand Identity Changes" of previous year (so far, 6 of these posts each January)

(5) "Words and Terms" that told the story of the previous year (so far, 4 of these posts each January) (plus "National Ampersand Day" and "National Dictionary Day" and "My Favorite Marketing Terms" posts annually)

(6) "Women's Equality Day Posts" (so far, 7 of these posts every August 26th) (plus several for "Women's HERstory Month" during March annually)

(7) "National Leadership Day Posts" (so far, 4 of these posts every February 20th)

(8) My commentary about the Pantone color of the year (so far, 10 of these posts each December)

(9) My commentary about the TIME Magazine person of the year (so far, 8 of these posts each December)

(10) My "Monday Morning Quarterbacking" of the Super Bowl Ads (so far, 14 of these posts each Monday following each year's Super Bowl since 2012)

HERE ARE MY 15 FAVORITE QUOTES THAT HAVE APPEARED ON MY BLOG OVER THE YEARS:

(1) "Leadership doesn't require you to be the smartest person in the room. It requires you to block and tackle for others." ~Mark Herbert

(2) "Great leaders don't do it alone...they get help." ~Erika Andersen

(3) "True leadership has nothing to do with your job title or what's on your business card, true leadership is earned." ~Michael Kerr

(4) "Products are made in a factory, but brands are created in the mind." ~Walter Landor

(5) "Give something of meaning to your audience by inspiring, engaging, and educating them with story. Stop marketing. Start storytelling." ~Storyteller Agency

(6) "Great leaders seek honest and open feedback and then use that input to become better leaders." ~Eric Jacobson

(7) "A customer-focused culture is one in which everything is designed with the "lens of the customer" in mind." ~Dennis Snow

(8) "A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit." ~Arnold Glasow

(9) "Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning." ~Bill Gates

(10) "Books are an infinite treasure chest, available at any time." ~Erika Andersen

(11) "Reading is the master key to everything important in life and work." ~James Strock

(12) "Reading encourages curiosity and critical thinking - and convinces us to get outside our echo chambers." ~Gail Robertson

(13) "A recurring business lesson from the Olympics is the capacity to serve as part of a team." ~James Strock

(14) "Slapping a logo everywhere and calling it a day is the opposite of strategic branding." ~Julia Carcamo

(15) "If you can, always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be Batman." ~Jenn McKinlay

In addition, I have featured nine series in which thought leaders responded to questions over the last several years. Questions have included topics such as marketing, personal branding, leadership in TV shows and films, team-building, reading, the Olympics, and more. If you'd like to read any, type the hastag into the search box, and enjoy!

(1) #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026

(2) #OlympicsLeadershipSeries2026

(3) #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025

(4) #SpringLeadershipSeries2025

(5) #HolidayLeadershipSeries (2024)

(6) #PostElectionSeries (2024)

(7) #OlympicsLeadershipSeries (2024)

(8) #SpringLeadershipSeries (2024)

(9) #FallBacktoReadingSeries (2023)

My most consistent posts each month are my "Marketing News of the Week," and "Recent Marketing News" and "Marketing News of the Month." These posts feature recaps of recent mainstream news with a marketing twist or highlight sections of the marketing pie such as advertising, brand identity, brand marketing, brand messaging, brand names, brand partnerships, brand storytelling, brand strategy, brand experiences, competitive positioning, customer experience marketing, cobranding, digital content strategy, holiday marketing, logo design or redesign, packaging, personal branding, product design or redesign, product launches, promotions, rebranding, social media marketing, special event marketing, or technology PLUS leadership, employee experiences, corporate culture, onboarding, communications, teamwork, employer branding, or more.

Writers often talk about writer's block. But this recap has demonstrated that, when you view the world through "marketing-tinted glasses," then writer's block is definitely NOT a problem. There are simply TOO MANY marketing-related topics to write about.

Thank you for joining me in today's celebration and for continuing to read my posts and share your comments! Also, my gratitude to everyone who has appeared on my blog in a Q&A or by sharing a quote over the years.

Do you have a fave post here on my blog? If yes, please chime in and share the title.

Are you curious as to what I will write about next? Swing by soon for post number 1,001 to find out - and thanks again for being a treasured member of my blog community!

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

A Tale of Customer Data, Email Marketing, and Fast Food

Do you know what's happening this week in the world of business? It's Customer Service Week, which means that organizations should make the extra effort to acknowledge the importance of customer service and its impact on profits. With that objective in mind, I'd like to share a recent customer experience.

I received an email from a doctor's office. The email served as confirmation for an upcoming appointment. While I definitely prefer an email confirmation rather than an intrusive phone call or text, this email stood out due to its poor customer service.

The email included the date and time for my upcoming appointment but also included the following sentence: "If this is your first visit, make sure to arrive 15 minutes early to fill out new patient paperwork."

Since I'm a long-time patient, and this upcoming appointment will probably be my tenth visit, that sentence should not have been included in the email.

The inclusion of that sentence made me wonder why the doctor's office doesn't have two different versions of its email appointment confirmations. Would it be too difficult to send one version without that sentence to existing patients?

In today's era of data overload, the doctor's office has my name, address, date of birth, insurance information, dates of previous appointments, and my medical records. So, when sending an email confirmation, it would have been simple to remove the sentence about "first visit/new patient paperwork."

According to RestaurantDive, "The problem isn't that you don't have data. It's that none of it connects."

And according to Joe Rospars, Founder and CEO of Blue State Digital, "Big data is about having an understanding of what your relationship is with the people who are most important to you - and an awareness of the potential in that relationship."

Lastly, here's an excellent example of looking at customer data and then taking action. Juan Castro of West for Elavon shared an analogy from the early days of fast food: "Chains used to sell burgers, fries, and sodas separately, until the data showed that customers were buying all three nearly every time. The combo meal is a business improvement from that observation."

Monday, October 5, 2026

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES 2026 featuring Joseph Lalonde

During the Fall season (each Monday from September 28th through December 20th), I'm welcoming a dozen thought leaders to share their insights about reading, books, personal branding, and leadership. Today, Joseph Lalonde is my featured expert. Based in Michigan, Joe is experienced in all aspects of IT, leadership, project/sales, and design with a history of working with small businesses and individuals. He is also an award-winning leadership blogger ranked in the top 40 leadership blogs in the world, and his book "Reel Leadership" showcases the intersection of leadership and entertainment. As Joe says, "I love great stories and feel we all have a great story to tell."

Before we begin, I'd like to share my two favorite reading quotes to set the stage:

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel (from her work of historical fiction, "The Paris Daughter")

"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

And now, let's begin.

QUESTION: What was the last book (fiction or non-fiction) you read? What stood out as memorable, and would you recommend it?

JOSEPH LALONDE: The last book I read was "The Hoarder In You" by Robin Zasio. Zasio is a psychologist and has been featured on the show Hoarders. It's helped me understand why some of us collect and hoard items while others don't have the same compulsion.

QUESTION: Which book (fiction or non-fiction) is on the top of your to-be-read pile (or first in your digital reader), and why?

JOSEPH LALONDE: I'm really excited to read "X-Men: Elsewhen" by John Byrne. It's a graphic novel that revisits the X-Men after the Phoenix Saga. It's an alternative timeline and one Byrne had wanted originally, but his vision had been nixed by Marvel's leadership.

JOSEPH LALONDE: I watched "Project Hail Mary" when it was released in theaters. The film was adapted from the book of the same name by Andy Weir. The story was fun and engaging. It was a blast seeing the book brought to life.

JOSEPH LALONDE: As you mentioned, there are so many streaming services available to viewers today. Apple TV is not a service I subscribe to currently, so I'm missing out on the current Ted Lasso series. I have watched previous seasons and enjoyed them. I did notice quite a few leadership lessons from Ted. Here's one from a previous season: There's a team relationship between two players, Jamie and Roy. Roy is frustrated with Jamie because he's the hotshot, up-and-coming football player with a lot of attitude. He's good, great, in fact. However, he brings the team down because of his actions and attitude. Through the episodes so far, there's a great scene where Roy realizes he's been the Jamie of the team. He had the same type of attitude and opinion that he's seeing in the younger player.

QUESTION: Which author (either from history or currently writing) would you choose to have dinner with, and what would you discuss?

JOSEPH LALONDE: I'd choose to have dinner with Dan Miller (1947-2024). He's the author who really set me on the path of personal development and self-improvement. He literally changed the course of my life. I'd love to have the opportunity to sit down and chat with him about his personal faith, how he overcame so many obstacles, and how he feels, knowing that he's impacted so many lives.

Let's Celebrate Emily Warren Roebling on World Architecture Day!

Have you ever heard the name Emily Warren Roebling? If not, you definitely know the bridge that she's associated with - whether by walking across it in person or by seeing it in movies or Law & Order television shows. After her husband was incapacitated in an accident, Emily Warren Roebling took over supervising the construction of the bridge over New York's East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan that became known as the Brooklyn Bridge. So today, on World Architecture Day, let's celebrate this often overlooked member of the architecture history books.

According to History.com, "The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began with a freak accident. In late June 1869, John Augustus Roebling, the designer and builder of wire rope suspension bridges, was surveying his new project site in Lower Manhattan when an approaching ferry crushed his foot against some wooden pilings. Roebling died of tetanus three weeks later, and the job of chief engineer went to his eldest son, Washington Roebling, who had been his father's right-hand man for construction of the great bridge spanning the Ohio River in Cincinnati, as well as on the design of the new bridge.

Three years later, with construction well underway on what would be the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time, and the first to use steel wires, Washington himself was incapacitated by "caisson disease" (now known as decompression sickness or "the bends"). With the chief engineer confined to his bed in his Brooklyn Heights home, his wife, Emily Warren Roebling, stepped up and steered the completion of one of the 19th century's most impressive architectural achievements."

According to Sacyr.com, "With her husband unable to work, Emily Warren Roebling assumed a crucial role: she managed her husband's communications, studied his plans, copied his specifications, and relayed instructions to assistant engineers. Washington described her as his "wisest counsellor" and "a woman of infinite tact." She visited the construction site daily, attended board meetings, and oversaw the project, all the while carefully concealing the extent of her involvement in order to protect her husband's reputation. Along the way, she learned about material strength, stress analysis, cable construction, and the mathematics of the catenary curve."

History.com further explained, "The day before its grand opening on May 24, 1883, Emily Warren Roebling earned the honor of driving the first carriage across the completed Brooklyn Bridge carrying a rooster as a symbol of victory. And her unconventional achievements were not limited to her role in the Brooklyn Bridge's construction. In 1899, at the age of 55, she graduated with high honors from the Woman's Law Class of New York University, making her among the first female lawyers in New York state, and wrote a prize-winning article in the Albany Law Journal arguing for greater equality for women in marriage."

In addition, according to Sacyr.com, "After the bridge's completion, she travelled alone to Europe, where she met Queen Victoria in London and attended the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II in Moscow. Upon her return, she gave lectures about her experiences in Russia for the Federation of Women's Clubs, becoming increasingly active in the fight for gender equality. She toured the country, speaking in defense of women's suffrage and social services for the poor, and urged women to study law."

From a personal branding perspective, despite advice in her early years that women needed no higher education, Emily Warren Roebling studied mathematics and science. Above all, she placed the importance of the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge plus her husband's personal brand above hers - truly admirable.

According to Natiba Guy-Clement, director of special collections at the Brooklyn Public Library's Center for Brooklyn History, "Being one of 12 kids, being the daughter of a politician, I think that she just had to have that level of empowerment within herself."

And CBS News reported, "Underneath the Brooklyn tower of the bridge is Emily Warren Roebling Plaza. Unveiled in 2021, the public green space is now used to see the engineering marvel up close."

Lastly, to quote the United Nations, “Women of the world want and deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes, and violence, a future that’s sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights, and opportunities for all. To get there, the world needs women at every table where decisions are being made.”