Rafael is a writer and reporter based in New York City and his work has been featured in PE Hub, Adweek, Fast Company and Bleacher Report. Coverage focuses include private equity, marketing, sports, business and culture.
The real Super Bowl winner? The company behind the Kelce brothers’ podcast
An inside look at how Travis and Jason Kelce became the first pair of brothers to compete on opposing teams in Super Bowl 57 and their hit online show “New Heights.”
The Kelce brothers partnered with Wave Sports + Entertainment for the show and I took a dive into how and why the Kelces picked Wave and how Wave has drawn attention to the show through its social media strategy.
The Story Behind Mariah Carey’s Secret ’90s Alt-Rock Album
When Mariah Carey released her memoir last fall, it came with infinite revelations. An instant New York Times bestseller, The Meaning of Mariah Carey offered colorful details about Carey’s personal life, including her contentious marriage to former Sony Music head Tommy Mottola and her fling with Derek Jeter. But arguably its most surprising morsel was that, amid the recording of her smash fifth album Daydream, Carey released a secret alt-rock album.
The Boston Celtics Go Small to Help Hometown Businesses With Vistaprint
As the Boston Celtics hope to capture their 18th championship in franchise history in this year’s NBA Finals, small businesses will be at the heart of the team’s story thanks to a multi-year partnership with jersey patch sponsor Vistaprint.
What is venture debt—and how will SVB's collapse affect it?
A look at what venture debt and how it was impacted by Silicon Valley Bank's collapse.
Xerox: Unleash the Power of Mentorship to Build a More Inclusive Workplace
A look at diversity and inclusion in the workplace through the mentor-mentee relationship of Xerox employees.
Just Hold On, We're Out of Home: Drake Takes OOH to Social Media for New Album
With his latest album release, Certified Lover Boy, Drake took the OOH route again. This time, he’s highlighting album cuts by plastering every featured artist’s name in their home city. Here's a look at how he transformed OOH into a social marketing strategy.
Hellah Sidibe Just Ran Across America, And He’s Not Done Yet
Hellah Sidibe is a hard man to pin down. After completing a 3,061-mile, 84-day trip across the country, he’s getting back to his regular routine; on a Thursday, that means a day of running, personal training in soccer, coaching a couple of youth athletes and filming content for his YouTube channel — which has 264,000 subscribers — and social media pages.
Molson Coors' Miller Lite and Coors Light Vie for Super Bowl Limelight
When it comes to Super Bowl marketing, Anheuser-Busch InBev brands have dominated the alcoholic beverage category for 33 years. When its exclusivity agreement with the Super Bowl ended this past summer, competitor Molson Coors almost instantly committed to a Super Bowl 57 ad.
Moldy Whopper Sequel: Burger King Bans 120 Artificial Ingredients
Nelly, Anitta and Lil Huddy lend their real names to new celebrity meals, now with no additives
Is Out of Home Ready for Outer Space?
No, the stars won't be obscured by interstellar billboards
How Publishers Like MTV and ESPN Are Navigating TikTok as the Platform Grows
While TikTok is still in its early stages of popularity, it’s already shown massive growth.
As such, some publishers and brands are scrambling to ascertain potential strategies to grow their audience, and hopefully sales, on the platform.
With quick-hitting videos that only last 15 seconds (longer if you string multiple videos together), the platform offers a unique opportunity for brands.
Tackle-Turned-YouTuber Spice Adams Is the NFL’s Latest Crossover Star
This is Life After Football, a series that examines how current and former NFL players, coaches and executives are building a legacy beyond the gridiron.
It’s a Thursday night, and Anthony “Spice” Adams is in preparation mode. The former defensive tackle best-known for his time with the Chicago Bears plays numerous fictional characters on social media, from the passionate basketball savant Cream E. Biggums to the know-it-all senior with a flair for style, Oldhead. On this particular night, Ad...
How the Secondary Sneaker Market Survived Coronavirus
Every market has its boom and bust cycles. The secondary sneaker market, for instance, was a $2 billion dollar industry last year, with projections that the bubble for popular models such as the Air Jordan III and the Nike SB Dunk could reach $6 billion by 2025.
But that was all before coronavirus, and with it a new recession. If anything was going to deflate the sneaker bubble prematurely, it was a pandemic. Would the secondary sneaker market be sturdy enough to withstand the economic shock ...
The Memeification Of Paul George
As we enter the stretch run of the NBA regular season, the Los Angeles Clippers have a lot to prove. Though the team is third in the West with a 43-20 record and has won 17 of their last 21 games, the regular season seems unimportant.
How Jason Khalipa Built CrossFit Into a Business Goliath
Founded back in 2000 by Greg Glassman, CrossFit has become one of the most impactful fitness brands in the world. Utilizing a strength and conditioning approach to working out, CrossFit heavily emphasizes the idea that the brand is a lifestyle and community intensive experience. The success of CrossFit led to the brand being valued at $4 billion in 2015 by Forbes. There are over 15,000 CrossFit affiliates as of 2018.
Though CrossFit has a stranglehold on the fitness business, it’s also create...