She said the transition from an agency to a corporation was an adjustment, but credits KFC for their support of employees having a work-life balance. It’s a very proud moment to say I launched a national product.”Īs a member of Yum! Brands’ Employee Resource Group, DeLost has taken pride in leading conversations within a Fortune 500 company about the importance of diversity, inclusion, and equity. “To go into a KFC and see it, and see people drinking it, it feels so good. “All the work that we did paid off, and it’s doing well for that reason,” said DeLost, who also worked on the launch of the Cheetos Sandwich and mac and cheese bowls. From a popularity standpoint, they have already doubled their goal within year one. Although challenging to find something that worked for both KFC and MTN DEW, the beverage ultimately encompassed both brands. Varun Beverages bottles and distributes PepsiCo beverages like Pepsi, Mirinda, 7UP, Mountain Dew. What might seem daunting to some was exciting to DeLost, who longed for “that feeling of working on something and the world sees it and knows it…to be a part of a brand that people know, love, and is part of pop culture.”įast-forward 18 months, and The Colonel now has a permanent addition to his finger-lickin’-good menu: MTN DEW Sweet Lightning, exclusively at KFC. KFC, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee outlets in. Soon after arriving at the company, she was challenged with the task of launching KFC’s first signature beverage. In what she considered a leap of faith, DeLost joined KFC as the associate brand manager for beverage innovation. 'It’s a very proud moment to say I launched a national product.'īut DeLost knew she needed a change after seven years between two agencies, citing a high burnout rate in an industry that “will chew you up and spit you out.” After taking a step back and evaluating what she wanted to do, DeLost said goodbye to the agency world and hello to corporate America.

“I love working with clients, working on different brands, and working on campaigns that were innovative.” “I fell in love with the advertising world,” said DeLost, who worked with brands like Sun Tan City and AutoZone. She accepted her first job as a marketing coordinator for a digital advertising agency where she developed her passion for the industry. Intrigued by the way projects ebbed and flowed, her mentors helped her create a career path that translated her determined personality to a profession. After graduating from the College of Business with a degree in marketing, DeLost was unsure what she wanted to do.

Mountain dew at kfc