Episode 51: Rich Keller - CATALYST, Cancer Survivor, 25-Year Brand Marketing Executive

Today’s guest is Rich Keller. Rich is a CATALYST. That’s his “one word” personal brand and he’s on a mission to transform one million lives, “one word” at a time. With over 20 years of experience as a brand marketing executive for some of the world’s most iconic consumer brands like Godiva Chocolate, Chips Ahoy! Cookies, and Planters Peanuts, Rich travels the country as a motivational speaker showing young entrepreneurs how crafting their personal brands and their business ventures around their ‘One Word’ core value is the pathway to achieving excellence. Rich and his wife are also cancer survivors, with Rich having beaten testicular cancer and his wife beating breast cancer. There’s much more to his story, and Rich does fantastic job of illustrating it and bringing out the lessons learned. In this interview, we get into how and why Rich felt invisible growing up, his time as an accountant, the shift to working in marketing for consumer brands, battling cancer, and the current work he does in helping people find their “One Word”.

Timestamps

00:02:37 The story behind his bandana

00:05:19 Growing up in Brooklyn and Staten Island, NY

00:07:22 Growing up in a disconnected home

00:11:55 Success is the best revenge mentality

00:17:35 College days and majoring in accounting

00:23:06 Working in accounting

00:26:34 The moment he knew he wanted to work in consumer

00:29:07 Biggest takeaways from working in accounting

00:31:05 Going to business school at Wharton

00:37:45 Is he extroverted or introverted?

00:39:30 Challenge of finding a marketing job in business school

00:42:53 Moment he knew marketing was for him

00:44:45 Rundown of his marketing career

00:51:15 Importance of having a support system as you progress in your career

00:53:18 Working at the lingerie company and why he left the corporate world

01:00:14 Getting diagnosed with testicular cancer

01:03:26 Battling the cancer

01:05:43 How cancer changed his perspective on life

01:08:11 His wife's cancer diagnosis and how he dealt with it

01:14:50 How him and his wife's cancers have influenced them as parents

01:19:13 The shift to his current venture

01:20:53 The "One Word" idea

01:37:52 What he wants to accomplish over the next few years

01:39:13 His daily routine

01:44:28 His driving force

01:47:52 Parting words of wisdom around personal branding & development