How Mango Habanero, Metrics, and Masterful Moves Redefined Marketing Genius<\/strong><\/h3>\nEvery so often, a guest comes along who doesn\u2019t just raise the bar\u2014they throw it into orbit. Erin Levzow is one of those guests. From the moment she joined\u00a0The ADOTAT Show<\/em>, it was clear we were in the presence of brilliance. Erin is a marketing powerhouse, blending emotional intelligence with razor-sharp strategy, all wrapped in a package of humor, humility, and dazzling storytelling. She\u2019s the kind of guest you could talk to for hours and still feel like you\u2019ve only scratched the surface.<\/p>\nErin isn\u2019t just a marketer\u2014she\u2019s a phenomenon. Whether she\u2019s orchestrating mango-flavored revolutions, leading with radical empathy, or dazzling on the ballroom floor, she approaches every challenge with the perfect mix of creativity and grit. By the end of this episode, we weren\u2019t just inspired; we were in awe. Let\u2019s dive into the magic she shared with us.<\/p>\n
The Mango Habanero Revolution: A Case Study in Marketing Genius<\/strong><\/h3>\nImagine this: a company launches a limited-time flavor, quietly retires it, and suddenly finds itself at the epicenter of a full-blown consumer uprising. This isn\u2019t an exaggeration\u2014it\u2019s the\u00a0mango habanero saga<\/em>\u00a0at Wingstop, and Erin Levzow, the marketing mastermind behind the brand\u2019s response, turned the chaos into one of the most brilliant campaigns in recent history.<\/p>\n\u201cThey took out a\u00a0change.org<\/em>\u00a0petition,\u201d Erin said, still marveling at the intensity of the reaction. \u201cThat\u2019s like save the whales, but for sauce.\u201d<\/p>\nWhen Wingstop removed the mango habanero sauce from its menu, Erin\u2019s team didn\u2019t expect much backlash. After all, it was a limited-time offer that wasn\u2019t even a top-seller. But the reaction from fans was immediate, loud, and relentless. Social media erupted with demands for the sauce\u2019s return, and customers didn\u2019t just voice their disappointment\u2014they mobilized.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thought about it,\u201d Erin explained, \u201cand instead of coming back to them and being like, \u2018Okay, here you go, have it back,\u2019 we talked internally and decided, let\u2019s do this for the people who are really loud about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s strategy was simple but genius: lean into the outrage and make customers feel like part of a movement. They didn\u2019t just bring back the sauce\u2014they launched a guerrilla-style campaign that made fans feel like they were at the center of something special.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe put together influencer kits and mailed them to approximately 125 people who were very vocal about this,\u201d Erin said. \u201cWe got their address by asking them to vote on whether they wanted mango habanero to come back.\u201d Fans who voted were prompted to fill out a form with their name and address, which Wingstop then used to send out the kits.<\/p>\n
Each kit was stamped with\u00a0Viva el Revoluci\u00f3n<\/em>\u00a0and included stickers, t-shirts, and even a masked character who declared, \u201cWe\u2019ve taken over the airwaves to bring back mango habanero.\u201d But here\u2019s the twist: the kits didn\u2019t explicitly say they were from Wingstop.<\/p>\n\u201cThere was nothing that said it was from Wingstop, but it was obviously from Wingstop,\u201d Erin said, smiling.<\/p>\n
The response was overwhelming. Fans unboxed their kits on social media, posted photos, and speculated wildly about what was happening. \u201cWe grew our social reach by a thousand percent overnight,\u201d Erin recalled. \u201cIt was unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n
The campaign didn\u2019t just bring back the sauce\u2014it turned a product recall into a brand-building moment. When the sauce finally returned to menus, Erin noted that it \u201cmixed slightly higher\u201d than before but, more importantly, it drove significant traffic to Wingstop locations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe told a story through it,\u201d Erin said, \u201cand people told the story actually on our behalf.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Secret Sauce<\/strong><\/h3>\n\u201cIt wasn\u2019t just about bringing the flavor back,\u201d Erin explained. \u201cIt was about making people feel like they were part of something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
This story isn\u2019t just about wings\u2014it\u2019s about what makes great marketing. Erin didn\u2019t just respond to customer complaints; she created a campaign that resonated emotionally, turned fans into advocates, and gave the brand a massive boost in engagement and loyalty.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0mango habanero saga<\/em>\u00a0wasn\u2019t just a win for Wingstop; it was a masterclass in how to take a seemingly small product issue and turn it into a viral, unforgettable moment. As Erin put it, \u201cWe got to make it about them, and that made all the difference.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Dance of Data and Storytelling<\/strong><\/h3>\nIf you think marketing is all about crunching numbers and analyzing charts, Erin Levzow is here to burst that bubble\u2014and she\u2019ll do it in two sentences flat. \u201cEmotional intelligence and emotional technology really go hand in hand,\u201d she explained. \u201cYou have the technology piece\u2014that\u2019s the math base, understanding how to get and when to get to your customer. And then you have the emotional side, the storytelling.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a deceptively simple idea: blending data and emotion to create marketing campaigns that resonate. But Erin doesn\u2019t just talk the talk; she\u2019s built a career on this philosophy. Whether she\u2019s masterminding a viral campaign or guiding her team through complex strategies, she wields both analytics and creativity with the precision of a Cirque du Soleil performer.<\/p>\n
Erin\u2019s approach to marketing is a rare blend of science and art. On one side, there\u2019s the data\u2014the clicks, impressions, and conversion rates that guide decision-making. On the other, there\u2019s the emotional narrative that transforms those numbers into a story worth engaging with. \u201cWe have all this data,\u201d Erin said, \u201cbut data without a story is just noise. What makes it meaningful is how you connect it back to people\u2019s lives, their emotions, their needs.\u201d<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t just about selling products; it\u2019s about building connections. Erin views metrics as the foundation, but the heart of her campaigns lies in the human experience. Her ability to translate cold, hard numbers into campaigns that make people laugh, cry, or rally behind a mango habanero sauce is what sets her apart.<\/p>\n
For Erin, the real magic happens when technology and storytelling come together seamlessly. \u201cIt\u2019s not enough to know when and how to reach your customer,\u201d she said. \u201cYou need to know why they care in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Take, for example, the mango habanero saga. It wasn\u2019t just about analyzing the number of tweets or Change.org signatures demanding the sauce\u2019s return. It was about understanding the emotional undercurrent driving that demand. By tapping into that sentiment, Erin turned a flavor recall into a full-blown cultural moment. \u201cData tells you what people are doing,\u201d Erin explained, \u201cbut it\u2019s the storytelling that tells you why they\u2019re doing it. And that\u2019s where the real opportunity lies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Erin doesn\u2019t just analyze data; she orchestrates it like a symphony conductor. To her, every piece of data is a note in a larger melody, and the story she creates from it is the music that captivates her audience. \u201cIt\u2019s about making the numbers sing,\u201d she said. \u201cSure, you can look at impressions, clicks, and open rates, but unless you know how to weave them into a narrative, they\u2019re just stats on a spreadsheet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ballroom Dancing and the Art of Marketing Recovery<\/strong><\/h3>\nOh, did we mention Erin Levzow is a competitive ballroom dancer? Because of course she is. As if dominating the marketing world wasn\u2019t enough, Erin spends her spare time flipping through the air with the kind of grace most of us can only dream of. But don\u2019t let the sequins and salsa moves fool you\u2014ballroom dancing isn\u2019t just a hobby; it\u2019s a mirror of her approach to work and life.<\/p>\n
Take one of her routines, for example\u2014a daring flip where her head was mere inches from the floor. \u201cMy partner took a misstep, and I knew in his face my head was about to crash into the ground,\u201d Erin said, recalling the adrenaline and panic of that moment. But instead of unraveling, they adapted on the spot. \u201cWe finished the routine as if it was part of the choreography,\u201d she said, laughing at the memory.<\/p>\n
If that isn\u2019t the ultimate metaphor for Erin\u2019s career, I don\u2019t know what is. Whether it\u2019s on the dance floor or in a boardroom, Erin doesn\u2019t let a stumble define the story. Her philosophy? It\u2019s not about avoiding failure\u2014it\u2019s about how you recover. \u201cWe all fall down,\u201d she said. \u201cIt has everything to do with how you get back up.\u201d<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t just a lesson for dancers; it\u2019s a masterclass in resilience for anyone with a pulse. Marketing campaigns flop. Strategies go sideways. Teams make mistakes. Erin knows this better than anyone, but she also knows that resilience isn\u2019t about perfection\u2014it\u2019s about improvisation, adaptability, and finishing strong, no matter how messy the middle gets.<\/p>\n
Ballroom dancing may seem worlds apart from marketing, but for Erin, the parallels are striking. Both require trust, collaboration, and a willingness to take risks. And just like on the dance floor, there are moments in her career where the choreography didn\u2019t go to plan. But instead of letting those missteps throw her off, Erin leans into the recovery, finding ways to pivot and turn mistakes into moments of brilliance.<\/p>\n
Rick Ross, QR Codes, and Buzzword Burials<\/strong><\/h3>\nErin\u2019s irreverence for outdated marketing norms is as refreshing as it is hilarious. She\u2019s not here for buzzwords like \u201comnichannel\u201d or metrics like impressions. \u201cSomeone asked me why their impressions were down but revenue was up,\u201d she said, laughing. \u201cAnd I told them, \u2018Who cares about impressions? Your revenue is up!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked about her favorite marketing pivot, Erin didn\u2019t hesitate to highlight the moment she replaced Troy Aikman\u2014yes, the legendary football player\u2014with Rick Ross as Wingstop\u2019s brand ambassador. Why? Because Rick Ross actually resonated with their 18-to-24-year-old audience. \u201cIt didn\u2019t feel relevant or cool to them,\u201d Erin said about Aikman. \u201cBut Rick Ross? He made sense. He was already a franchisee and a great cheerleader for the brand.\u201d<\/p>\n
And let\u2019s not forget her take on obnoxious trends like QR code Super Bowl ads. \u201cWas it creative? I don\u2019t know,\u201d she quipped. \u201cWas it annoying? A little. But it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leadership with Empathy and Radical Candor<\/strong><\/h3>\nBeyond her marketing brilliance, Erin Levzow\u2019s leadership philosophy is a masterclass in empathy and authenticity, the kind that makes you rethink what it means to lead effectively. She doesn\u2019t just manage teams\u2014she cultivates environments where people feel safe to thrive, fail, and try again. At the heart of her philosophy is radical candor, a concept Erin wields with the precision of a sculptor carving out greatness. \u201cIf I care about you, I\u2019m going to be direct with you,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I\u2019ll hug and love you every step of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t some soft, feel-good leadership buzzword. For Erin, it\u2019s about giving people the tools and feedback they need to grow, even when it\u2019s uncomfortable. She doesn\u2019t sugarcoat the truth, but she also doesn\u2019t deliver it with a sledgehammer. Her method is equal parts grit and grace\u2014a balance that\u2019s as rare in boardrooms as it is essential.<\/p>\n
Erin also has no patience for the obsession with fixing weaknesses, a mindset she believes stifles potential. She points to Michael Jordan as her quintessential example: \u201cHe was the best at basketball, not baseball. Why focus on weaknesses when you can make someone the Michael Jordan of what they\u2019re already great at?\u201d It\u2019s a perspective that\u2019s both practical and visionary. Instead of asking her team to patch up their shortcomings, Erin zeroes in on what they\u2019re already brilliant at, empowering them to excel in areas where they naturally shine.<\/p>\n
Her leadership philosophy is as bold and refreshing as her marketing campaigns. Erin isn\u2019t afraid to challenge norms, push boundaries, or ask the hard questions\u2014all while making sure her team feels supported and empowered. She takes the same approach to her team dynamics that she does to her marketing: a perfect blend of logic and emotion, of precision and passion.<\/p>\n
And let\u2019s not forget Erin\u2019s sense of humor, which is woven into everything she does as a leader. Whether she\u2019s citing basketball metaphors or admitting that, yes, sometimes you just need a cry-and-White-Claw moment, Erin reminds her team that success isn\u2019t about perfection. It\u2019s about progress, resilience, and learning to lean into what makes you uniquely excellent.<\/p>\n
What makes Erin truly stand out, though, is her ability to inspire those around her\u2014not just to do their jobs, but to believe in their potential. She leads with a kind of audacious optimism that\u2019s infectious. \u201cLeadership isn\u2019t about being perfect,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s about figuring out how to get back up after you\u2019ve fallen and helping others do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Power of Perseverance: Erin Levzow\u2019s Journey Through Love, Loss, and Lessons<\/h3>\n
Erin Levzow isn\u2019t just a marketing powerhouse\u2014she\u2019s a human hurricane of resilience, humor, and heart. Beneath her brilliance on the business battlefield lies a deeply personal story that has shaped her outlook on everything, from leadership to living fully. Her husband\u2019s life-altering accident wasn\u2019t just a test of their strength as a family\u2014it was a masterclass in how to endure, adapt, and thrive when the universe throws everything at you, including the kitchen sink.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing really matters, and yet everything\u2019s important,\u201d Erin said, a philosophy that could only come from someone who\u2019s been to hell and back. Her husband\u2019s recovery from a traumatic brain injury\u2014something doctors said had less than a one-percent chance of happening\u2014isn\u2019t just a miracle; it\u2019s a lesson in what sheer grit and love can accomplish.<\/p>\n
But let\u2019s not sugarcoat this: Erin\u2019s journey wasn\u2019t all inspirational speeches and life-affirming moments. \u201cPeople kept saying, \u2018You\u2019re so strong,\u2019 but I felt anything but,\u201d she confessed. \u201cI was a mess. There were days I didn\u2019t want to get out of bed, and the only goal was to sit up, then maybe shower. Baby steps.\u201d<\/p>\n
In classic Erin fashion, though, she didn\u2019t just survive\u2014she thrived. During her husband\u2019s recovery, Erin chronicled their journey on a\u00a0CaringBridge<\/em>\u00a0blog, which quickly snowballed into something bigger than she ever imagined. \u201cAbout 42,000 people read it,\u201d she said, still astonished. \u201cAnd if I missed a day, people would lose their minds. \u2018Is he okay? Are the kids okay?\u2019 It was wild.\u201d<\/p>\nBut what really stuck with Erin were the messages she received\u2014people from all over the world sharing how her story had inspired them to keep going through their own challenges. \u201cThey\u2019d say, \u2018Your journey gave me hope,\u2019 and all I could think was, \u2018Me? I\u2019m just trying to get through the day without falling apart.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
This raw honesty and openness are what make Erin\u2019s story so powerful. She didn\u2019t just chronicle the victories; she let people in on the messy, unfiltered reality of struggle. And in doing so, she gave others permission to admit that they, too, were struggling\u2014and that it was okay.<\/p>\n
Even now, the challenges haven\u2019t disappeared. \u201cHe still has a traumatic brain injury, and there\u2019s still a lot of trauma,\u201d Erin shared. \u201cThe first time I heard an ambulance after everything happened, I collapsed into a corner, crying. I didn\u2019t even know that was PTSD.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Erin, the journey has been as much about accepting help as it has been about pushing forward. \u201cPeople want to help, but we\u2019re so bad at letting them,\u201d she said, a mix of candor and frustration. \u201cEspecially as women, we think we have to be strong all the time. But sometimes the strongest thing you can do is admit you need help. Drink a White Claw, cry in a corner, and let people show up for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her husband\u2019s recovery taught her one of life\u2019s greatest truths: resilience isn\u2019t about being unshakable. It\u2019s about wobbling, falling, and still finding the strength to stand back up. And if that isn\u2019t the ultimate marketing metaphor, I don\u2019t know what is.<\/p>\n
Why Erin Levzow Is One of Our Best Guests Ever<\/strong><\/h3>\nErin Levzow isn\u2019t just a guest; she\u2019s a phenomenon. Her stories, insights, and humor made this episode unforgettable. From mango revolutions to ballroom moves,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Erin showed us that great marketing isn\u2019t about playing it safe\u2014it\u2019s about taking risks, making connections, and always, always staying authentic.<\/p>\n
Erin isn\u2019t just a marketer\u2014she\u2019s a phenomenon. Whether she\u2019s orchestrating mango-flavored revolutions, leading with radical empathy, or dazzling on the ballroom floor, she approaches every challenge with the perfect mix of creativity and grit. By the end of this episode, we weren\u2019t just inspired; we were in awe. Let\u2019s dive into the magic she shared with us.<\/p>\n
The Mango Habanero Revolution: A Case Study in Marketing Genius<\/strong><\/h3>\nImagine this: a company launches a limited-time flavor, quietly retires it, and suddenly finds itself at the epicenter of a full-blown consumer uprising. This isn\u2019t an exaggeration\u2014it\u2019s the\u00a0mango habanero saga<\/em>\u00a0at Wingstop, and Erin Levzow, the marketing mastermind behind the brand\u2019s response, turned the chaos into one of the most brilliant campaigns in recent history.<\/p>\n\u201cThey took out a\u00a0change.org<\/em>\u00a0petition,\u201d Erin said, still marveling at the intensity of the reaction. \u201cThat\u2019s like save the whales, but for sauce.\u201d<\/p>\nWhen Wingstop removed the mango habanero sauce from its menu, Erin\u2019s team didn\u2019t expect much backlash. After all, it was a limited-time offer that wasn\u2019t even a top-seller. But the reaction from fans was immediate, loud, and relentless. Social media erupted with demands for the sauce\u2019s return, and customers didn\u2019t just voice their disappointment\u2014they mobilized.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thought about it,\u201d Erin explained, \u201cand instead of coming back to them and being like, \u2018Okay, here you go, have it back,\u2019 we talked internally and decided, let\u2019s do this for the people who are really loud about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s strategy was simple but genius: lean into the outrage and make customers feel like part of a movement. They didn\u2019t just bring back the sauce\u2014they launched a guerrilla-style campaign that made fans feel like they were at the center of something special.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe put together influencer kits and mailed them to approximately 125 people who were very vocal about this,\u201d Erin said. \u201cWe got their address by asking them to vote on whether they wanted mango habanero to come back.\u201d Fans who voted were prompted to fill out a form with their name and address, which Wingstop then used to send out the kits.<\/p>\n
Each kit was stamped with\u00a0Viva el Revoluci\u00f3n<\/em>\u00a0and included stickers, t-shirts, and even a masked character who declared, \u201cWe\u2019ve taken over the airwaves to bring back mango habanero.\u201d But here\u2019s the twist: the kits didn\u2019t explicitly say they were from Wingstop.<\/p>\n\u201cThere was nothing that said it was from Wingstop, but it was obviously from Wingstop,\u201d Erin said, smiling.<\/p>\n
The response was overwhelming. Fans unboxed their kits on social media, posted photos, and speculated wildly about what was happening. \u201cWe grew our social reach by a thousand percent overnight,\u201d Erin recalled. \u201cIt was unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n
The campaign didn\u2019t just bring back the sauce\u2014it turned a product recall into a brand-building moment. When the sauce finally returned to menus, Erin noted that it \u201cmixed slightly higher\u201d than before but, more importantly, it drove significant traffic to Wingstop locations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe told a story through it,\u201d Erin said, \u201cand people told the story actually on our behalf.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Secret Sauce<\/strong><\/h3>\n\u201cIt wasn\u2019t just about bringing the flavor back,\u201d Erin explained. \u201cIt was about making people feel like they were part of something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
This story isn\u2019t just about wings\u2014it\u2019s about what makes great marketing. Erin didn\u2019t just respond to customer complaints; she created a campaign that resonated emotionally, turned fans into advocates, and gave the brand a massive boost in engagement and loyalty.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0mango habanero saga<\/em>\u00a0wasn\u2019t just a win for Wingstop; it was a masterclass in how to take a seemingly small product issue and turn it into a viral, unforgettable moment. As Erin put it, \u201cWe got to make it about them, and that made all the difference.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Dance of Data and Storytelling<\/strong><\/h3>\nIf you think marketing is all about crunching numbers and analyzing charts, Erin Levzow is here to burst that bubble\u2014and she\u2019ll do it in two sentences flat. \u201cEmotional intelligence and emotional technology really go hand in hand,\u201d she explained. \u201cYou have the technology piece\u2014that\u2019s the math base, understanding how to get and when to get to your customer. And then you have the emotional side, the storytelling.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a deceptively simple idea: blending data and emotion to create marketing campaigns that resonate. But Erin doesn\u2019t just talk the talk; she\u2019s built a career on this philosophy. Whether she\u2019s masterminding a viral campaign or guiding her team through complex strategies, she wields both analytics and creativity with the precision of a Cirque du Soleil performer.<\/p>\n
Erin\u2019s approach to marketing is a rare blend of science and art. On one side, there\u2019s the data\u2014the clicks, impressions, and conversion rates that guide decision-making. On the other, there\u2019s the emotional narrative that transforms those numbers into a story worth engaging with. \u201cWe have all this data,\u201d Erin said, \u201cbut data without a story is just noise. What makes it meaningful is how you connect it back to people\u2019s lives, their emotions, their needs.\u201d<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t just about selling products; it\u2019s about building connections. Erin views metrics as the foundation, but the heart of her campaigns lies in the human experience. Her ability to translate cold, hard numbers into campaigns that make people laugh, cry, or rally behind a mango habanero sauce is what sets her apart.<\/p>\n
For Erin, the real magic happens when technology and storytelling come together seamlessly. \u201cIt\u2019s not enough to know when and how to reach your customer,\u201d she said. \u201cYou need to know why they care in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Take, for example, the mango habanero saga. It wasn\u2019t just about analyzing the number of tweets or Change.org signatures demanding the sauce\u2019s return. It was about understanding the emotional undercurrent driving that demand. By tapping into that sentiment, Erin turned a flavor recall into a full-blown cultural moment. \u201cData tells you what people are doing,\u201d Erin explained, \u201cbut it\u2019s the storytelling that tells you why they\u2019re doing it. And that\u2019s where the real opportunity lies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Erin doesn\u2019t just analyze data; she orchestrates it like a symphony conductor. To her, every piece of data is a note in a larger melody, and the story she creates from it is the music that captivates her audience. \u201cIt\u2019s about making the numbers sing,\u201d she said. \u201cSure, you can look at impressions, clicks, and open rates, but unless you know how to weave them into a narrative, they\u2019re just stats on a spreadsheet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ballroom Dancing and the Art of Marketing Recovery<\/strong><\/h3>\nOh, did we mention Erin Levzow is a competitive ballroom dancer? Because of course she is. As if dominating the marketing world wasn\u2019t enough, Erin spends her spare time flipping through the air with the kind of grace most of us can only dream of. But don\u2019t let the sequins and salsa moves fool you\u2014ballroom dancing isn\u2019t just a hobby; it\u2019s a mirror of her approach to work and life.<\/p>\n
Take one of her routines, for example\u2014a daring flip where her head was mere inches from the floor. \u201cMy partner took a misstep, and I knew in his face my head was about to crash into the ground,\u201d Erin said, recalling the adrenaline and panic of that moment. But instead of unraveling, they adapted on the spot. \u201cWe finished the routine as if it was part of the choreography,\u201d she said, laughing at the memory.<\/p>\n
If that isn\u2019t the ultimate metaphor for Erin\u2019s career, I don\u2019t know what is. Whether it\u2019s on the dance floor or in a boardroom, Erin doesn\u2019t let a stumble define the story. Her philosophy? It\u2019s not about avoiding failure\u2014it\u2019s about how you recover. \u201cWe all fall down,\u201d she said. \u201cIt has everything to do with how you get back up.\u201d<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t just a lesson for dancers; it\u2019s a masterclass in resilience for anyone with a pulse. Marketing campaigns flop. Strategies go sideways. Teams make mistakes. Erin knows this better than anyone, but she also knows that resilience isn\u2019t about perfection\u2014it\u2019s about improvisation, adaptability, and finishing strong, no matter how messy the middle gets.<\/p>\n
Ballroom dancing may seem worlds apart from marketing, but for Erin, the parallels are striking. Both require trust, collaboration, and a willingness to take risks. And just like on the dance floor, there are moments in her career where the choreography didn\u2019t go to plan. But instead of letting those missteps throw her off, Erin leans into the recovery, finding ways to pivot and turn mistakes into moments of brilliance.<\/p>\n
Rick Ross, QR Codes, and Buzzword Burials<\/strong><\/h3>\nErin\u2019s irreverence for outdated marketing norms is as refreshing as it is hilarious. She\u2019s not here for buzzwords like \u201comnichannel\u201d or metrics like impressions. \u201cSomeone asked me why their impressions were down but revenue was up,\u201d she said, laughing. \u201cAnd I told them, \u2018Who cares about impressions? Your revenue is up!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked about her favorite marketing pivot, Erin didn\u2019t hesitate to highlight the moment she replaced Troy Aikman\u2014yes, the legendary football player\u2014with Rick Ross as Wingstop\u2019s brand ambassador. Why? Because Rick Ross actually resonated with their 18-to-24-year-old audience. \u201cIt didn\u2019t feel relevant or cool to them,\u201d Erin said about Aikman. \u201cBut Rick Ross? He made sense. He was already a franchisee and a great cheerleader for the brand.\u201d<\/p>\n
And let\u2019s not forget her take on obnoxious trends like QR code Super Bowl ads. \u201cWas it creative? I don\u2019t know,\u201d she quipped. \u201cWas it annoying? A little. But it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leadership with Empathy and Radical Candor<\/strong><\/h3>\nBeyond her marketing brilliance, Erin Levzow\u2019s leadership philosophy is a masterclass in empathy and authenticity, the kind that makes you rethink what it means to lead effectively. She doesn\u2019t just manage teams\u2014she cultivates environments where people feel safe to thrive, fail, and try again. At the heart of her philosophy is radical candor, a concept Erin wields with the precision of a sculptor carving out greatness. \u201cIf I care about you, I\u2019m going to be direct with you,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I\u2019ll hug and love you every step of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t some soft, feel-good leadership buzzword. For Erin, it\u2019s about giving people the tools and feedback they need to grow, even when it\u2019s uncomfortable. She doesn\u2019t sugarcoat the truth, but she also doesn\u2019t deliver it with a sledgehammer. Her method is equal parts grit and grace\u2014a balance that\u2019s as rare in boardrooms as it is essential.<\/p>\n
Erin also has no patience for the obsession with fixing weaknesses, a mindset she believes stifles potential. She points to Michael Jordan as her quintessential example: \u201cHe was the best at basketball, not baseball. Why focus on weaknesses when you can make someone the Michael Jordan of what they\u2019re already great at?\u201d It\u2019s a perspective that\u2019s both practical and visionary. Instead of asking her team to patch up their shortcomings, Erin zeroes in on what they\u2019re already brilliant at, empowering them to excel in areas where they naturally shine.<\/p>\n
Her leadership philosophy is as bold and refreshing as her marketing campaigns. Erin isn\u2019t afraid to challenge norms, push boundaries, or ask the hard questions\u2014all while making sure her team feels supported and empowered. She takes the same approach to her team dynamics that she does to her marketing: a perfect blend of logic and emotion, of precision and passion.<\/p>\n
And let\u2019s not forget Erin\u2019s sense of humor, which is woven into everything she does as a leader. Whether she\u2019s citing basketball metaphors or admitting that, yes, sometimes you just need a cry-and-White-Claw moment, Erin reminds her team that success isn\u2019t about perfection. It\u2019s about progress, resilience, and learning to lean into what makes you uniquely excellent.<\/p>\n
What makes Erin truly stand out, though, is her ability to inspire those around her\u2014not just to do their jobs, but to believe in their potential. She leads with a kind of audacious optimism that\u2019s infectious. \u201cLeadership isn\u2019t about being perfect,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s about figuring out how to get back up after you\u2019ve fallen and helping others do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Power of Perseverance: Erin Levzow\u2019s Journey Through Love, Loss, and Lessons<\/h3>\n
Erin Levzow isn\u2019t just a marketing powerhouse\u2014she\u2019s a human hurricane of resilience, humor, and heart. Beneath her brilliance on the business battlefield lies a deeply personal story that has shaped her outlook on everything, from leadership to living fully. Her husband\u2019s life-altering accident wasn\u2019t just a test of their strength as a family\u2014it was a masterclass in how to endure, adapt, and thrive when the universe throws everything at you, including the kitchen sink.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing really matters, and yet everything\u2019s important,\u201d Erin said, a philosophy that could only come from someone who\u2019s been to hell and back. Her husband\u2019s recovery from a traumatic brain injury\u2014something doctors said had less than a one-percent chance of happening\u2014isn\u2019t just a miracle; it\u2019s a lesson in what sheer grit and love can accomplish.<\/p>\n
But let\u2019s not sugarcoat this: Erin\u2019s journey wasn\u2019t all inspirational speeches and life-affirming moments. \u201cPeople kept saying, \u2018You\u2019re so strong,\u2019 but I felt anything but,\u201d she confessed. \u201cI was a mess. There were days I didn\u2019t want to get out of bed, and the only goal was to sit up, then maybe shower. Baby steps.\u201d<\/p>\n
In classic Erin fashion, though, she didn\u2019t just survive\u2014she thrived. During her husband\u2019s recovery, Erin chronicled their journey on a\u00a0CaringBridge<\/em>\u00a0blog, which quickly snowballed into something bigger than she ever imagined. \u201cAbout 42,000 people read it,\u201d she said, still astonished. \u201cAnd if I missed a day, people would lose their minds. \u2018Is he okay? Are the kids okay?\u2019 It was wild.\u201d<\/p>\nBut what really stuck with Erin were the messages she received\u2014people from all over the world sharing how her story had inspired them to keep going through their own challenges. \u201cThey\u2019d say, \u2018Your journey gave me hope,\u2019 and all I could think was, \u2018Me? I\u2019m just trying to get through the day without falling apart.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
This raw honesty and openness are what make Erin\u2019s story so powerful. She didn\u2019t just chronicle the victories; she let people in on the messy, unfiltered reality of struggle. And in doing so, she gave others permission to admit that they, too, were struggling\u2014and that it was okay.<\/p>\n
Even now, the challenges haven\u2019t disappeared. \u201cHe still has a traumatic brain injury, and there\u2019s still a lot of trauma,\u201d Erin shared. \u201cThe first time I heard an ambulance after everything happened, I collapsed into a corner, crying. I didn\u2019t even know that was PTSD.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Erin, the journey has been as much about accepting help as it has been about pushing forward. \u201cPeople want to help, but we\u2019re so bad at letting them,\u201d she said, a mix of candor and frustration. \u201cEspecially as women, we think we have to be strong all the time. But sometimes the strongest thing you can do is admit you need help. Drink a White Claw, cry in a corner, and let people show up for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her husband\u2019s recovery taught her one of life\u2019s greatest truths: resilience isn\u2019t about being unshakable. It\u2019s about wobbling, falling, and still finding the strength to stand back up. And if that isn\u2019t the ultimate marketing metaphor, I don\u2019t know what is.<\/p>\n
Why Erin Levzow Is One of Our Best Guests Ever<\/strong><\/h3>\nErin Levzow isn\u2019t just a guest; she\u2019s a phenomenon. Her stories, insights, and humor made this episode unforgettable. From mango revolutions to ballroom moves,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Erin showed us that great marketing isn\u2019t about playing it safe\u2014it\u2019s about taking risks, making connections, and always, always staying authentic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey took out a\u00a0change.org<\/em>\u00a0petition,\u201d Erin said, still marveling at the intensity of the reaction. \u201cThat\u2019s like save the whales, but for sauce.\u201d<\/p>\n When Wingstop removed the mango habanero sauce from its menu, Erin\u2019s team didn\u2019t expect much backlash. After all, it was a limited-time offer that wasn\u2019t even a top-seller. But the reaction from fans was immediate, loud, and relentless. Social media erupted with demands for the sauce\u2019s return, and customers didn\u2019t just voice their disappointment\u2014they mobilized.<\/p>\n \u201cWe thought about it,\u201d Erin explained, \u201cand instead of coming back to them and being like, \u2018Okay, here you go, have it back,\u2019 we talked internally and decided, let\u2019s do this for the people who are really loud about it.\u201d<\/p>\n The team\u2019s strategy was simple but genius: lean into the outrage and make customers feel like part of a movement. They didn\u2019t just bring back the sauce\u2014they launched a guerrilla-style campaign that made fans feel like they were at the center of something special.<\/p>\n \u201cWe put together influencer kits and mailed them to approximately 125 people who were very vocal about this,\u201d Erin said. \u201cWe got their address by asking them to vote on whether they wanted mango habanero to come back.\u201d Fans who voted were prompted to fill out a form with their name and address, which Wingstop then used to send out the kits.<\/p>\n Each kit was stamped with\u00a0Viva el Revoluci\u00f3n<\/em>\u00a0and included stickers, t-shirts, and even a masked character who declared, \u201cWe\u2019ve taken over the airwaves to bring back mango habanero.\u201d But here\u2019s the twist: the kits didn\u2019t explicitly say they were from Wingstop.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was nothing that said it was from Wingstop, but it was obviously from Wingstop,\u201d Erin said, smiling.<\/p>\n The response was overwhelming. Fans unboxed their kits on social media, posted photos, and speculated wildly about what was happening. \u201cWe grew our social reach by a thousand percent overnight,\u201d Erin recalled. \u201cIt was unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n The campaign didn\u2019t just bring back the sauce\u2014it turned a product recall into a brand-building moment. When the sauce finally returned to menus, Erin noted that it \u201cmixed slightly higher\u201d than before but, more importantly, it drove significant traffic to Wingstop locations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe told a story through it,\u201d Erin said, \u201cand people told the story actually on our behalf.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t just about bringing the flavor back,\u201d Erin explained. \u201cIt was about making people feel like they were part of something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n This story isn\u2019t just about wings\u2014it\u2019s about what makes great marketing. Erin didn\u2019t just respond to customer complaints; she created a campaign that resonated emotionally, turned fans into advocates, and gave the brand a massive boost in engagement and loyalty.<\/p>\n The\u00a0mango habanero saga<\/em>\u00a0wasn\u2019t just a win for Wingstop; it was a masterclass in how to take a seemingly small product issue and turn it into a viral, unforgettable moment. As Erin put it, \u201cWe got to make it about them, and that made all the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n If you think marketing is all about crunching numbers and analyzing charts, Erin Levzow is here to burst that bubble\u2014and she\u2019ll do it in two sentences flat. \u201cEmotional intelligence and emotional technology really go hand in hand,\u201d she explained. \u201cYou have the technology piece\u2014that\u2019s the math base, understanding how to get and when to get to your customer. And then you have the emotional side, the storytelling.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a deceptively simple idea: blending data and emotion to create marketing campaigns that resonate. But Erin doesn\u2019t just talk the talk; she\u2019s built a career on this philosophy. Whether she\u2019s masterminding a viral campaign or guiding her team through complex strategies, she wields both analytics and creativity with the precision of a Cirque du Soleil performer.<\/p>\n Erin\u2019s approach to marketing is a rare blend of science and art. On one side, there\u2019s the data\u2014the clicks, impressions, and conversion rates that guide decision-making. On the other, there\u2019s the emotional narrative that transforms those numbers into a story worth engaging with. \u201cWe have all this data,\u201d Erin said, \u201cbut data without a story is just noise. What makes it meaningful is how you connect it back to people\u2019s lives, their emotions, their needs.\u201d<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t just about selling products; it\u2019s about building connections. Erin views metrics as the foundation, but the heart of her campaigns lies in the human experience. Her ability to translate cold, hard numbers into campaigns that make people laugh, cry, or rally behind a mango habanero sauce is what sets her apart.<\/p>\n For Erin, the real magic happens when technology and storytelling come together seamlessly. \u201cIt\u2019s not enough to know when and how to reach your customer,\u201d she said. \u201cYou need to know why they care in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n Take, for example, the mango habanero saga. It wasn\u2019t just about analyzing the number of tweets or Change.org signatures demanding the sauce\u2019s return. It was about understanding the emotional undercurrent driving that demand. By tapping into that sentiment, Erin turned a flavor recall into a full-blown cultural moment. \u201cData tells you what people are doing,\u201d Erin explained, \u201cbut it\u2019s the storytelling that tells you why they\u2019re doing it. And that\u2019s where the real opportunity lies.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin doesn\u2019t just analyze data; she orchestrates it like a symphony conductor. To her, every piece of data is a note in a larger melody, and the story she creates from it is the music that captivates her audience. \u201cIt\u2019s about making the numbers sing,\u201d she said. \u201cSure, you can look at impressions, clicks, and open rates, but unless you know how to weave them into a narrative, they\u2019re just stats on a spreadsheet.\u201d<\/p>\n Oh, did we mention Erin Levzow is a competitive ballroom dancer? Because of course she is. As if dominating the marketing world wasn\u2019t enough, Erin spends her spare time flipping through the air with the kind of grace most of us can only dream of. But don\u2019t let the sequins and salsa moves fool you\u2014ballroom dancing isn\u2019t just a hobby; it\u2019s a mirror of her approach to work and life.<\/p>\n Take one of her routines, for example\u2014a daring flip where her head was mere inches from the floor. \u201cMy partner took a misstep, and I knew in his face my head was about to crash into the ground,\u201d Erin said, recalling the adrenaline and panic of that moment. But instead of unraveling, they adapted on the spot. \u201cWe finished the routine as if it was part of the choreography,\u201d she said, laughing at the memory.<\/p>\n If that isn\u2019t the ultimate metaphor for Erin\u2019s career, I don\u2019t know what is. Whether it\u2019s on the dance floor or in a boardroom, Erin doesn\u2019t let a stumble define the story. Her philosophy? It\u2019s not about avoiding failure\u2014it\u2019s about how you recover. \u201cWe all fall down,\u201d she said. \u201cIt has everything to do with how you get back up.\u201d<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t just a lesson for dancers; it\u2019s a masterclass in resilience for anyone with a pulse. Marketing campaigns flop. Strategies go sideways. Teams make mistakes. Erin knows this better than anyone, but she also knows that resilience isn\u2019t about perfection\u2014it\u2019s about improvisation, adaptability, and finishing strong, no matter how messy the middle gets.<\/p>\n Ballroom dancing may seem worlds apart from marketing, but for Erin, the parallels are striking. Both require trust, collaboration, and a willingness to take risks. And just like on the dance floor, there are moments in her career where the choreography didn\u2019t go to plan. But instead of letting those missteps throw her off, Erin leans into the recovery, finding ways to pivot and turn mistakes into moments of brilliance.<\/p>\n Erin\u2019s irreverence for outdated marketing norms is as refreshing as it is hilarious. She\u2019s not here for buzzwords like \u201comnichannel\u201d or metrics like impressions. \u201cSomeone asked me why their impressions were down but revenue was up,\u201d she said, laughing. \u201cAnd I told them, \u2018Who cares about impressions? Your revenue is up!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n When asked about her favorite marketing pivot, Erin didn\u2019t hesitate to highlight the moment she replaced Troy Aikman\u2014yes, the legendary football player\u2014with Rick Ross as Wingstop\u2019s brand ambassador. Why? Because Rick Ross actually resonated with their 18-to-24-year-old audience. \u201cIt didn\u2019t feel relevant or cool to them,\u201d Erin said about Aikman. \u201cBut Rick Ross? He made sense. He was already a franchisee and a great cheerleader for the brand.\u201d<\/p>\n And let\u2019s not forget her take on obnoxious trends like QR code Super Bowl ads. \u201cWas it creative? I don\u2019t know,\u201d she quipped. \u201cWas it annoying? A little. But it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond her marketing brilliance, Erin Levzow\u2019s leadership philosophy is a masterclass in empathy and authenticity, the kind that makes you rethink what it means to lead effectively. She doesn\u2019t just manage teams\u2014she cultivates environments where people feel safe to thrive, fail, and try again. At the heart of her philosophy is radical candor, a concept Erin wields with the precision of a sculptor carving out greatness. \u201cIf I care about you, I\u2019m going to be direct with you,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I\u2019ll hug and love you every step of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t some soft, feel-good leadership buzzword. For Erin, it\u2019s about giving people the tools and feedback they need to grow, even when it\u2019s uncomfortable. She doesn\u2019t sugarcoat the truth, but she also doesn\u2019t deliver it with a sledgehammer. Her method is equal parts grit and grace\u2014a balance that\u2019s as rare in boardrooms as it is essential.<\/p>\n Erin also has no patience for the obsession with fixing weaknesses, a mindset she believes stifles potential. She points to Michael Jordan as her quintessential example: \u201cHe was the best at basketball, not baseball. Why focus on weaknesses when you can make someone the Michael Jordan of what they\u2019re already great at?\u201d It\u2019s a perspective that\u2019s both practical and visionary. Instead of asking her team to patch up their shortcomings, Erin zeroes in on what they\u2019re already brilliant at, empowering them to excel in areas where they naturally shine.<\/p>\n Her leadership philosophy is as bold and refreshing as her marketing campaigns. Erin isn\u2019t afraid to challenge norms, push boundaries, or ask the hard questions\u2014all while making sure her team feels supported and empowered. She takes the same approach to her team dynamics that she does to her marketing: a perfect blend of logic and emotion, of precision and passion.<\/p>\n And let\u2019s not forget Erin\u2019s sense of humor, which is woven into everything she does as a leader. Whether she\u2019s citing basketball metaphors or admitting that, yes, sometimes you just need a cry-and-White-Claw moment, Erin reminds her team that success isn\u2019t about perfection. It\u2019s about progress, resilience, and learning to lean into what makes you uniquely excellent.<\/p>\n What makes Erin truly stand out, though, is her ability to inspire those around her\u2014not just to do their jobs, but to believe in their potential. She leads with a kind of audacious optimism that\u2019s infectious. \u201cLeadership isn\u2019t about being perfect,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s about figuring out how to get back up after you\u2019ve fallen and helping others do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin Levzow isn\u2019t just a marketing powerhouse\u2014she\u2019s a human hurricane of resilience, humor, and heart. Beneath her brilliance on the business battlefield lies a deeply personal story that has shaped her outlook on everything, from leadership to living fully. Her husband\u2019s life-altering accident wasn\u2019t just a test of their strength as a family\u2014it was a masterclass in how to endure, adapt, and thrive when the universe throws everything at you, including the kitchen sink.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing really matters, and yet everything\u2019s important,\u201d Erin said, a philosophy that could only come from someone who\u2019s been to hell and back. Her husband\u2019s recovery from a traumatic brain injury\u2014something doctors said had less than a one-percent chance of happening\u2014isn\u2019t just a miracle; it\u2019s a lesson in what sheer grit and love can accomplish.<\/p>\n But let\u2019s not sugarcoat this: Erin\u2019s journey wasn\u2019t all inspirational speeches and life-affirming moments. \u201cPeople kept saying, \u2018You\u2019re so strong,\u2019 but I felt anything but,\u201d she confessed. \u201cI was a mess. There were days I didn\u2019t want to get out of bed, and the only goal was to sit up, then maybe shower. Baby steps.\u201d<\/p>\n In classic Erin fashion, though, she didn\u2019t just survive\u2014she thrived. During her husband\u2019s recovery, Erin chronicled their journey on a\u00a0CaringBridge<\/em>\u00a0blog, which quickly snowballed into something bigger than she ever imagined. \u201cAbout 42,000 people read it,\u201d she said, still astonished. \u201cAnd if I missed a day, people would lose their minds. \u2018Is he okay? Are the kids okay?\u2019 It was wild.\u201d<\/p>\n But what really stuck with Erin were the messages she received\u2014people from all over the world sharing how her story had inspired them to keep going through their own challenges. \u201cThey\u2019d say, \u2018Your journey gave me hope,\u2019 and all I could think was, \u2018Me? I\u2019m just trying to get through the day without falling apart.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n This raw honesty and openness are what make Erin\u2019s story so powerful. She didn\u2019t just chronicle the victories; she let people in on the messy, unfiltered reality of struggle. And in doing so, she gave others permission to admit that they, too, were struggling\u2014and that it was okay.<\/p>\n Even now, the challenges haven\u2019t disappeared. \u201cHe still has a traumatic brain injury, and there\u2019s still a lot of trauma,\u201d Erin shared. \u201cThe first time I heard an ambulance after everything happened, I collapsed into a corner, crying. I didn\u2019t even know that was PTSD.\u201d<\/p>\n For Erin, the journey has been as much about accepting help as it has been about pushing forward. \u201cPeople want to help, but we\u2019re so bad at letting them,\u201d she said, a mix of candor and frustration. \u201cEspecially as women, we think we have to be strong all the time. But sometimes the strongest thing you can do is admit you need help. Drink a White Claw, cry in a corner, and let people show up for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Her husband\u2019s recovery taught her one of life\u2019s greatest truths: resilience isn\u2019t about being unshakable. It\u2019s about wobbling, falling, and still finding the strength to stand back up. And if that isn\u2019t the ultimate marketing metaphor, I don\u2019t know what is.<\/p>\n Erin Levzow isn\u2019t just a guest; she\u2019s a phenomenon. Her stories, insights, and humor made this episode unforgettable. From mango revolutions to ballroom moves,\u00a0<\/p>\n Erin showed us that great marketing isn\u2019t about playing it safe\u2014it\u2019s about taking risks, making connections, and always, always staying authentic.<\/p>\nThe Secret Sauce<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Dance of Data and Storytelling<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ballroom Dancing and the Art of Marketing Recovery<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Rick Ross, QR Codes, and Buzzword Burials<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Leadership with Empathy and Radical Candor<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Power of Perseverance: Erin Levzow\u2019s Journey Through Love, Loss, and Lessons<\/h3>\n
Why Erin Levzow Is One of Our Best Guests Ever<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.adotat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-01-15-at-4.22.55\u202fPM-1024x588.avif\")
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