Ep 20: From Oprah Winfrey Network to The League: Dana Bontemps on Redefining Success, Social Impact, and Storytelling That Matters

What does it really mean to build a career that blends purpose, performance, and personal truth? In this episode of the Marketing Your Way Podcast, I sit down with Dana Bontemps, award-winning marketing leader and Chief Marketing Officer at The League. Dana has spent more than 20 years creating campaigns rooted in culture and impact, with leadership roles at VaynerMedia, Starcom/MediaVest, and as Head of Integrated Marketing at OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. Her work has earned Anthem, Effie, and even Daytime Emmy Awards — proof that storytelling can be both human and results-driven. Dana opens up about: 1️⃣ Why your lived experience is your greatest edge in an automated world 2️⃣ What it’s really like to step into the Oprah Winfrey Network and work alongside Oprah’s team 3️⃣ How she redefined success after leaving NYC and moving into the nonprofit space 4️⃣ The role of curiosity and kindness in leadership — and how they fuel creativity 5️⃣ What it takes to drive social change in today’s overstimulated content environment Whether you’re in corporate marketing, dreaming about your next chapter, or already building something of your own, Dana’s perspective is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t have to be linear — and that the very things that make you different are what make you valuable. Connect with Dana: • LinkedIn • Instagram Connect with Anastasiia: • Weekly newsletter for women in marketing: Subscribe here • Instagram @anastasiia_mann & LinkedIn • Website: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com Join the Marketing Your Way Community AI and automation are changing marketing faster than ever — but you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s why I created the Marketing Your Way Community on Slack: a free space where women in marketing can share AI tools, swap automation workflows, and run ideas past each other. Whether you’re leading a corporate team, running an agency, or freelancing on your own, you’ll find support, inspiration, and real-world examples you can put into action right away. It’s free, it’s collaborative, and it’s built to help you work smarter, not harder. Join us here: www.marketingyourwaypodcast.com/community Thank you to our affiliate partners: ✔️ Make.com lets you connect the apps you already use — like Gmail, Airtable, Slack, or Canva — and build automations that run on autopilot. Think: new client signs a contract, and instantly their info gets added to your CRM, a welcome email goes out, and a Slack notification pings your team — all without you lifting a finger. Subscribe & Review Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next. Episode Website