Podcast: How I Built Culinary Experiences That Scale Globally
Being a guest on GlobalEdgeTalk felt like the ultimate validation of my unconventional career path. Host Alex Romanovich let me tell the whole story. From choosing my stage name as a TV journalist, to cooking for Hollywood A-listers, to that disastrous Gangnam Style viral marketing campaign in Vietnam, to building culinary experiences in Prague while consulting for AI companies. The conversation covered everything: how I balance creativity with corporate constraints, why local market knowledge trumps headquarters assumptions every time (hello, chicken influencer in Africa!), and how AI supports but never replaces human connection. The podcast format allowed me to share the messy, real entrepreneurial journey. The failures that taught me more than successes, the ego checks, the relocations, the pivots. If younger entrepreneurs listen to this and realize it's okay to have a winding path, that expertise comes from doing the work across multiple industries and countries, then I've done my job.
GlobalEdgeMarkets featured me on their GlobalEdgeTalk podcast, a deep-dive conversation about building scalable experiences, navigating international markets, and balancing culinary arts with tech marketing consulting. The episode explored my journey from broadcast journalism to celebrity chef to fractional CMO.
Key Topics Discussed:
How I chose my name "Mariko Amekodommo" for my TV journalism career
Building a celebrity chef brand in Los Angeles through strategic marketing
The viral marketing disaster in Vietnam and lessons learned
Creating emotional experiences whether in kitchens or boardrooms
Why local market expertise beats HQ assumptions (the African "chicken influencer" story)
How AI tools support research while human connection drives experiences
Advice for early-stage founders: hire for blind spots and listen to experts
Best Quote from the Episode: When asked what I'd tell my younger self: "Get ready, because you're gearing up for the adventure of a lifetime, and every single thing that happens to you over the next 20 years has a purpose."
Listen to the Full Episode How a Chef-Marketer Built Experiences That Scale - GlobalEdgeTalk Podcast
Want to work together? Whether you need F&B consulting, international marketing strategy, or private culinary experiences in Prague, let's talk.