E385 Michelle Makasini: How All-American Accolades Translate to Shorty Award Wins

Michelle Makasini is a D1 All-American soccer player turned award-winning digital marketer who has built social ecosystems from the ground up for some of the world's most iconic brands; Hilton, American Airlines, and Asana. As the architect behind Hilton's first-ever Shorty Award, Michelle proved that the most powerful marketing moments aren't bought, they're earned through authentic storytelling and community trust.Now Head of Social Intelligence, Engagement & Advocacy at Asana and founder of Makasini Group (makasinigroup.com), Michelle brings the same grit, film study, and team-first mindset from her days on the field to every brand she champions. Her philosophy is simple: in sports, you're always live, no edits, no do-overs, just realness over polished perfection and failure is going to be a part of the journey, so use it to get better, and great marketing should feel exactly the same way.The US Men's National Team surprised kicked off the World Cup in style against Paraguay but the process leading up didn't always look confident, a reminder that winning on the biggest stages doesn't happen overnight. It's built in the reps, the losses, the film sessions, and the moments nobody sees. That's exactly what this episode is about. Tune in for the playbook.