Bozoma Saint John: From Boardrooms to Bravo, and Now “On Brand with Jimmy Fallon”
Bozoma Saint John, the marketing powerhouse renowned for her C-suite roles at global giants like Netflix, PepsiCo, Apple, and Uber, is embarking on her latest venture as a mentor on NBC’s new reality competition series, On Brand with Jimmy Fallon. This move marks a surprising full circle moment for Saint John, 48, whose path to the national stage was unexpectedly paved by her recent entry into the world of reality television with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
After 25 years navigating the demanding landscape of traditional corporate marketing, Saint John consciously stepped away a few years ago. Embracing an entrepreneurial spirit, she launched her hair and hair care company, Eve by Boz, which recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, and penned her candid memoir, The Urgent Life: My Story of Love, Loss, and Survival. This shift was guided by her philosophy of intuition over rigid long-term plans. “I have famously said, I don’t write five-year plans or 10-year plans — I don’t even write a year plan because I feel like I should just follow the intuition of what I’m supposed to be doing,” Saint John exclusively told PEOPLE.
From Beverly Hills Housewife to Co-Host
Her decision to join Season 14 of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills last year was met with warnings that it could jeopardize her storied career. Yet, Saint John remained resolute. “I was like, ‘No, it doesn’t have to be that. It doesn’t have to be a bad experience. I can make my experiences exactly what I want to.’ I’ve done that for 25 years and it has proven true,” she asserted, demonstrating her unwavering self-belief.
Indeed, it was her presence on RHOBH that serendipitously led her to On Brand. For two years, Jimmy Fallon had been searching for a co-host for his new show, sifting through numerous Chief Marketing Officers without finding the right fit. The breakthrough came when Fallon’s wife, Nancy Juvonen, suggested Saint John after spotting her on The Real Housewives. Despite Fallon’s initial skepticism, “What, a Housewife? That’s not the vibe I’m going for,” he did his due diligence, even purchasing and listening to Saint John’s memoir on Audible. The connection proved undeniable, leading to Saint John securing the coveted co-hosting role.
“On Brand with Jimmy Fallon”: The New Marketing Competition
On Brand with Jimmy Fallon, which premiered on September 30, features 10 aspiring creatives working within Fallon’s marketing firm. They compete by conceptualizing and pitching innovative ideas for top-tier national brands such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Marshalls, and Southwest Airlines. The show quickly resonated with audiences, debuting as the number one unscripted program in its time slot across television.
Saint John emphasizes that marketing is far more than just sales; it’s about profound storytelling. “You’re trying to connect with people on products or ideas that they will feel personally connected to, that is the magic of marketing,” she explains. On set, she provides sharp, critical feedback, balancing the financial implications of ineffective ideas with Fallon’s passionate enthusiasm. She teases that Fallon himself gets “very emotional” this season, showcasing his deep commitment to the contestants’ ideas.
Her extensive career is punctuated by impactful campaigns, notably the global launch of Netflix’s mega-hit, Squid Game. Saint John revealed that the show’s creator had struggled to sell his concept for 12 years before she, at Netflix, allocated a significant majority of her budget to the “little tiny Korean weird drama/comedy/horror,” a decision that ultimately led to its phenomenal worldwide success.
Trusting Intuition and Future Endeavors
Beyond her television endeavors, Saint John is currently planning her wedding following her engagement to Keely Watson on August 29. She continues to champion the power of intuition in her career decisions, advocating for aspiring professionals to trust their inner guidance rather than conforming to external expectations, even from well-meaning friends and family.
New episodes of On Brand with Jimmy Fallon air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET and Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, and are available for streaming on Peacock.
