2 Minutes With … Erin Levzow, CMO at Museum of Ice Cream

Erin is chief marketing officer at the Museum of Ice Cream, which hosts art installations and interactive multi-sensory exhibits. Earlier, she worked with brands such as Del Taco Restaurants, Marcus Hotels and Resorts, Wingstop and MGM Resorts.

We spent two minutes with Erin to learn more about her background, her creative inspirations and recent work she’s admired.

Erin, tell us …

Where you grew up and where you live now.

I grew up in Byron, near Rockford, a small town in Illinois. After living in Vegas, Dallas and Austin, I currently reside in Milwaukee.

How you first realized you were creative.

I loved all things artsy growing up. If you watch videos of me as a kid, you can tell I marched to the beat of my own drum, whether I was singing Beach Boys songs, performing or dancing. I knew I would someday work in a space where I could be creative. I loved to entertain, create and write stories from an early age, even auditioning for my first community theater show in the eighth grade.

A person you idolized creatively early on. 

I was a big fan of Donny Osmond after seeing him in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Alan Cummings in Cabaret.

A visual artist or band/musician you admire.

I love Ben Platt—his Radio City Concert is so good! My first concert was New Kids on the Block, and I still go see them when they tour. I also love Andy Grammer and his uplifting positive message. Plus Ed Sheeran and his ability to beat to his own drum; his story of writing Justin Bieber’s hit single is amazing. I love Pink and Lady Gaga because they aren’t afraid to be themselves.

A book, movie, TV show, or podcast you recently found inspiring. 

Podcast: I’m a big fan of Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert and how he helps educators and entertainers tell their stories. Film: The Barbie movie was spot-on. Book: Bob Goff’s Everybody Always, about putting good into the world and how we treat others.

Your favorite fictional character.

Team Edward in Twilight.

Someone or something worth following on social media. 

I follow a lot of funny dad jokes and comedians, like Kevin Hart, as well as musicians like Ed Sheeran and Glen Ball.

One of your favorite creative projects you’ve ever worked on. 

One of my favorite projects was at Wingstop. When we took the limited-time-offer flavor away, it become “a thing.” So, we built a campaign around it: “Wingstop Mangonero.”

A recent project you’re proud of.

We launched a partnership with Kendra Scott.

Someone else’s work that inspired you years ago.

There are many storytellers and creatives who have inspired me, such as Pastor Jeff Jones from Chase Oaks Church in Dallas, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Sheryl Sandberg. I find inspiration from my team members as well.

Someone else’s work you admired lately.

In stand-up comedy, I’m a big fan of Nate Bargatze, Bert Kreischer and Matt Rife’s ability to engage the audience. In marketing, I was impressed with the “Black Friday Deals” Mean Girls Walmart commercial:

Your main strength as a creative person.

My passion for storytelling and love of connecting through education in an entertaining way. I enjoy thinking about the psychology of a guest/customer and helping tell the story to get them there.

Your biggest weakness.

Spelling—I still haven’t figured out how to spell “definitely” without spell check.

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in advertising.

Theater, film or dancing. Or coach and therapist.