Alaina Andreozzi is the Co-founder of Pizza Wine, a sparkling red wine brand designed to pair perfectly with pizza. With a background in brand strategy and fractional CMO work, Alaina has helped early-stage companies refine their messaging, test creative ideas quickly, and scale with lean resources. She’s held leadership roles at companies like Suma Brands and Haldi, bringing a sharp, no-nonsense perspective to what makes a brand resonate. At Pizza Wine, she brings that same ethos of scrappy creativity and message-first marketing to life, building a beverage brand that’s both playful and intentional.
About the Episode
Many brands spend too much time perfecting design and not enough time clarifying their message. This episode explores how early-stage companies can accelerate, experiment with messaging, and craft brands that resonate. Tyler Lane hosts Alaina Andreozzi as they discuss the value of minimum viable creative, structuring fractional roles for high impact, and why message clarity consistently outperforms polished campaigns.
Key Moments
From Agencies to Startups
- Why Alaina traded agency life for hands-on startup brand building [2:00].
The Four Buckets of a Fractional CMOl
- How she structures her value across strategy, execution, operations, and team-building [8:08].
Consulting vs. Fractional Work
- Why the word “consulting” carries baggage and how to stay outcome-focused [13:45], [17:17].
Message Over Design
- Why early testing and message clarity matter more than flashy creative [24:05], [27:47].
Fast, Scrappy Wins
- Using MVPs to test brand strategy and get faster market feedback [30:50].
Building a Trusted Bench
- The value of a curated network of creatives to move faster and scale better [35:39].
Top Insights
- Validate Messaging Before You Scale Design – Early message testing avoids costly creative missteps and ensures your positioning truly resonates.
- Sharp Messaging Beats Polished Creative – Great brands prioritize clarity and customer connection over high-end production.
- Structure Fractional Work With Exit in Mind – Time-bound fractional roles empower internal teams and keep the work focused and high-impact.
- Speed Matters in Brand Development– Using MVPs and “minimum viable messaging” allows teams to iterate and learn faster.
- Trust Your Referral Network – Having go-to creative specialists on hand means you can execute with confidence and speed.
Notable Quotes
- “If your message is spot on, it can be like a PowerPoint screenshot, and it’s gonna work.”
- “Niching down is an unlock. You can’t be everything for everyone, and you shouldn’t try.”
- “I personally feel like consulting carries a lot of baggage, which some people perceive as lazy work.”
- “Start by working backwards from the life you want, then figure out the math from there.”
- “Imperfect work is actually better than ten perfectly designed ads that don’t say the right thing.”
Resources
Industry Experts
Companies and Brands
The Brand Strategy That Converts
If you’re struggling to get traction with your brand despite high-quality design and paid media, it might be time to zoom out. At Session Interactive, we help brands uncover the messaging that actually moves people and pair it with scrappy creative execution that converts. Let us help you build a brand that breaks through the noise and drives real results.
For more insights and practical advice, subscribe to the Built to Convert podcast or contact Session Interactive to elevate your marketing strategies.
