Anncy Rowe has spent decades building iconic beauty brands, but this conversation goes far beyond titles and milestones. In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin Rice sits down with the Chief Commercial Officer of Rodan + Fields to explore what it really looks like to grow into leadership over time while navigating identity, motherhood, ambition, and legacy.

Anncy reflects on rising through the ranks at L’Oréal without ever chasing a specific end goal, driven instead by passion for the work itself. She opens up about navigating imposter syndrome at every new level, being the only one in the room who looked like her, and learning to trust that she belonged. From loving the craft of brand building to leading a major omni-channel transformation at Rodan + Fields, Anncy shares how purpose and confidence are built through experience, not certainty.

The conversation also moves deeply into parenthood and seasons of life. Anncy shares the emotional reality of red-eye flights for birthdays her son would never remember, the wake-up call of burnout, and the moment of dropping her daughter off at college that felt like an “extraction.” She reflects on what it means to redefine yourself as your children grow more independent, asking the powerful question, “Who are you when you’re no longer caring for someone?”

This is an honest, thoughtful episode about ambition without a blueprint, leading with care, modeling behavior for teams and children, and preparing for the next chapter with intention. It’s a conversation for anyone navigating growth, change, and the evolving definition of success.

In This Episode You'll Learn

• Why Anncy never chased titles but still rose to the C-suite

• How passion builds confidence faster than career planning

• What imposter syndrome really looks like at senior levels

• Why over-sacrificing can lead to burnout

• How to rethink presence in parenting and leadership

• What changes emotionally when your child leaves for college

• How to model boundaries and behavior for teams and family

• Why legacy is about how you make people feel

Top Takeaways

• Confidence is built through doing, not knowing

• Imposter syndrome often signals growth, not failure

• You don’t need a 10-year plan to build a meaningful career

• Over-functioning eventually comes at a cost

• Children learn more from what we model than what we say

• Leadership and parenting require the same self-awareness

• Preparing for the next life chapter is an act of leadership

• Legacy is rooted in care, kindness, and impact

About Anncy Rowe

Anncy Rowe is a seasoned beauty industry executive and currently serves as Chief Commercial Officer at Rodan + Fields, where she is helping lead the brand through a major omni-channel transformation. She previously held senior leadership roles at L’Oréal, including on the Maybelline brand, and served as CMO of StriVectin. A passionate advocate for helping women feel confident at every stage of life, Anncy is also a mother of two and a leader deeply committed to purpose-driven growth, culture, and legacy.

Chapters

00:00 Loving the work without chasing the title
02:31 Rising through the ranks at L’Oréal
06:02 Confidence, tenacity, and imposter syndrome
10:07 Passion, purpose, and finding your industry
13:53 Leading Rodan + Fields through omni-channel change
18:56 Immigration, upbringing, and resilience
25:17 Over-sacrificing, burnout, and red-eye wake-up calls
27:35 Self-care, faith, and filling your cup
32:51 Modeling boundaries for teams
36:29 Dropping a child off at college
39:43 Redefining identity and...

• (00:00:00) - The Secret to Success in Career
• (00:00:48) - CEO and ABC: Real Stories From Executives
• (00:01:56) - What gave you the confidence to climb the ladder at L'O
• (00:06:48) - Have You Got Imposter Syndrome?
• (00:10:16) - Passion and purpose in the makeup industry
• (00:13:18) - Ulta Beauty's Big Change to Direct-to-Consumer
• (00:18:36) - The Importance of Stories From Your Parents
• (00:21:05) - Married Parents Talk About The Sacrifice They Make
• (00:27:26) - The Secret to Taking Care of Yourself
• (00:29:41) - The Secret to a Happy Holidays
• (00:33:27) - The Importance of Modeling
• (00:35:50) - Have You Cried When Your Daughter Goes To College?
• (00:39:33) - The Next Chapter in Your Life
• (00:42:35) - Tim Ferriss on His Legacy
• (00:44:45) - CEO and ABCs: Ansi and Kevin

Robert LoCascio went public at 33, helped invent web chat, and spent nearly three decades building LivePerson into a $6 billion company. What followed was not the ending he expected.

In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin Rice sits down with the founder of LivePerson for a rare and deeply honest conversation about leadership under extreme pressure, navigating macro events like the dotcom crash, 9/11, and COVID, and what happens when the greatest threat comes from inside the system. Rob opens up about activist investors, an unplanned exit from the company he built over 28 years, and the emotional toll that season took on his identity and his family.

Rob shares the hard-earned leadership lessons that shaped him, from the moment a board member told him “just don’t bullshit them,” to why the best response to chaos is often no response at all. He explains why slowing down during crises creates clarity, how fear-based decisions compound risk, and why your weakest links matter most when you’re under attack. The conversation also explores fatherhood, marriage later in life, and what it looks like to rebuild from scratch.

Today, Rob is starting again in a completely different space, building a kid-first AI product designed around safety, creativity, and bringing families back into connection. This episode is a masterclass in resilience, integrity, and what it really means to begin again when the game changes.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

- What it’s like to take a company public at 33
- How to lead through layoffs with honesty and integrity
- Why slowing down is critical during macro crises
- How fear distorts decision-making at the executive level
- What activist investors really do behind the scenes
- How leadership pressure spills into family life
- Why rebuilding sometimes means starting from zero
- How fatherhood reshaped Rob’s definition of success
- Why imposter syndrome may actually be your inner child
- How to think about AI, kids, and creativity responsibly

Top Takeaways

- Truth builds long-term trust, even in the hardest moments
- The worst decisions are made when fear is driving
- Macro events should be observed before they’re reacted to
- Weak leadership links are exposed under pressure
- You cannot dump the business onto your family and stay connected
- Success brings visibility, and visibility brings risk
- Resilience is modeled, not taught
- No one can take your ability to create and rebuild
- Starting over can unlock deeper purpose

About Robert LoCascio
Robert LoCascio is the founder of LivePerson and a pioneer of internet-era customer communication, credited with inventing web chat. He took LivePerson public in 2000 and led the company for nearly 30 years, growing it to a peak market capitalization of over $6 billion. Today, Rob is the founder of KID, a kid-first AI product designed to empower creativity, ensure safety, and strengthen family connection. He is also a father of three and a lifelong builder focused on integrity, imagination, and impact.

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:05:52) - Navigating Challenges: Lessons from the Dot Com Era
• (00:12:53) - Growth Through Adversity: The Impact of COVID-19
• (00:19:46) - Balancing Act: Family Life and High-Pressure Careers
• (00:29:53) - From Public Company to Startup: A New Chapter
• (00:30:16) - The Impact of Activist Investors
• (00:34:22) - Navigating Existential Threats in Business
• (00:38:42) - Family Dynamics During Corporate Turmoil
• (00:43:01) - Rebuilding After Exit: A Personal Journey
• (00:47:08) - Lessons Learned from Leadership Challenges
• (00:49:59) - Innovating for the Next Generation: A New Venture

Jessica Serrano has spent nearly two decades shaping some of the world’s most loved food brands, but what makes her story hit is the way she’s built a life that can hold both motherhood and executive ambition.

In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin Rice sits down with the CMO of Bagel Brands (Einstein Bros and Noah’s Bagels) to talk about what it really takes to lead at a high level without feeling like you’re constantly choosing between work and family. Jessica shares the full circle moment of starting a new CMO role on the exact day her twin daughters started kindergarten, with three generations in one car on day one. From multi generational living and cross country moves to ruthless prioritization and energy protection, she breaks down the real systems that keep her grounded.

They also go deep on career growth, including the hard lessons that came with moving into the C suite, why conviction matters when you report to a founder, and how she evaluates roles using a skill building matrix so she doesn’t fall in love with the fireplace. If you’re trying to grow your career, stay present at home, and lead with clarity, this conversation will give you both perspective and practical tools.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• How Jessica makes big career moves without destabilizing her family life
• Why the first 15 minutes after work are the highest impact parenting minutes
• How multi generational living can unlock ambition without guilt
• What changes when you move from director to the C suite
• How to lead through others when you’re used to being in the trenches
• Why protecting energy matters more than protecting hours
• How to make career decisions using a skill building matrix

Top Takeaways

• Parenthoood does not shrink ambition, it clarifies it
• You can do both, but usually not with traditional life constructs
• Presence is an energy decision, not just a time decision
• Strong leaders bring conviction, not compliance
• The right support system makes travel and demanding roles sustainable
• Work and life do not need strict buckets, they need intention and alignment

About Jessica Serrano

Jessica Serrano is the Chief Marketing Officer of Bagel Brands, home to Einstein Bros and Noah’s Bagels. She has led culturally resonant marketing across some of the biggest names in food, including leadership roles at Taco Bell and Burger King, and she helped drive brand and growth as CMO at Dig Inn. Jessica is known for blending business rigor with warmth and creativity, and for building teams and brand strategies that connect deeply with consumers while staying grounded in what matters most at home.

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:02:54) - The Decision to Move for Career Opportunities
• (00:08:42) - The Impact of Motherhood on Career Ambitions
• (00:14:53) - Maintaining Family Connections Amidst Career Demands
• (00:17:40) - Transitioning to Executive Roles
• (00:26:26) - Career Growth Through Unconventional Roles
• (00:29:46) - Balancing Work and Family Life
• (00:35:21) - Managing Stress in New Roles
• (00:38:31) - Keeping Your Cup Full
• (00:41:36) - Empathy in Leadership