Episodi

  • Shifting the Search Paradigm: How Branch Discovery Powers On-Device Intent for Half a Billion Users with Harish Thimmappa

    Shifting the Search Paradigm: How Branch Discovery Powers On-Device Intent for Half a Billion Users with Harish Thimmappa
    Jul 30 2026
    What if the most intimate device in your pocket could understand exactly what you need—before you even search for it? In this episode of How I Grew This, hosts Amanda and Adam sit down with Harish Thimmappa, SVP and GM of Discovery Ads at Branch, to explore an on-device solution revolutionizing app discovery. Learn why first-party data is becoming the ultimate competitive advantage, how Branch powers search experiences on half a billion devices worldwide, and the counterintuitive strategies that balance user privacy with advertising performance. Whether you're a marketer looking to diversify beyond Meta and Google, an app developer navigating a crowded ecosystem, or an AdTech enthusiast curious about the future of personalization, this conversation reveals the technology and thinking that's reshaping mobile commerce. Tune in to discover why the next generation of advertising isn't about who bids the most—it's about who understands the user best. What You’ll Learn: How to build trust by prioritizing user experience over ad loadWhy on-device bidding and ad selection outperforms cloud-based systemsThe power of behavioral pattern recognition beyond search intentHow to align supply and demand in ad tech marketplacesWhy first-party data is now the competitive moat in advertisingHow to position experimentation as table stakes for modern marketers About the Guest(s): Harish Thimmappa is the SVP and GM of Discovery Ads at Branch, leading a standalone business unit that has grown into a major force in mobile advertising. With over two decades of experience in adtech, Harish has built a reputation for scaling technology and advertising businesses, previously holding key roles at InMobi, Supersonic Ads, Kensho, and Unboxed. In this episode, he reveals how Branch Discovery leverages on-device machine learning and first-party data to deliver contextually relevant search results and ads to over 500 million devices globally, while maintaining user privacy and trust. Harish shares actionable strategies for marketers on experimenting with emerging ad platforms, demanding performance-based results, and diversifying spend beyond Meta and Google. His work in developing privacy-first, performance-driven advertising solutions makes this conversation essential listening for digital advertisers and adtech professionals seeking to understand the future of mobile discovery and app monetization. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here. Episode Highlights:[00:07:50] Maintain a 90/10 Organic-to-Ad Ratio to Build OEM Trust[00:00:32] Capture Non-Intuitive Behavioral Patterns to Unlock Deeper Targeting[00:17:03] Move Ad Selection On-Device to Overcome Connectivity and Privacy Constraints [00:19:58] Align Supply, Demand, and Product Teams to Prevent Monetization Failures [00:22:56] Win Advertiser Confidence Through Performance Rather Than Features Alone [00:33:20] Marketers Should Experiment Beyond Meta and Google to Find Information Asymmetries Episode Resources: Harish Thimmappa on LinkedInAmanda Vandiver on LinkedInAdam Landis on LinkedInBranch on LinkedInBranch WebsiteHow I Grew This on Apple PodcastsHow I Grew This on SpotifyHow I Grew This on Simplecast
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    35 min
  • Beyond the Install: Erica Johnson on Building Smarter Mobile Campaigns

    Beyond the Install: Erica Johnson on Building Smarter Mobile Campaigns
    Jul 9 2026

    What if the key to mobile campaign success wasn't just about driving installs? In this episode, host Amanda sits down with Erica Johnson, Director of Global Platforms at Publicis Collective, to explore why thinking beyond the install matters, how to build seamless cross-device experiences, and the critical role measurement plays in modern mobile advertising, alongside AI's growing influence. Whether you're navigating measurement challenges, managing complex global migrations, or preparing for 2026's mobile landscape, this conversation is packed with actionable strategies from the Publicis Mobile Summit. Tune in to uncover how a holistic approach to mobile campaigns drives real, measurable growth.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • How to move beyond install-focused metrics and measure long-term value
    • Why the web-to-app journey deserves immediate attention
    • The crawl-walk-run framework for executing large mobile campaigns
    • How to approach MMP migrations strategically
    • Why AI in ad operations requires teaching the technology your standards rather than fearing it
    • How to accelerate into leadership roles

    About the Guest(s):

    Erica Johnson is Director of Global Platforms at Publicis Collective, bringing deep expertise in digital marketing, media technology, and ad operations. With a career spanning mobile advertising, mobile measurement partners (MMPs), and campaign execution across social, search, programmatic, and CTV channels, she has become a recognized MMP power user and advocate for holistic campaign strategy. In this episode, Erica shares insider perspectives from the Publicis Mobile Summit on emerging trends shaping 2026, including the shift beyond install metrics, the transformative role of AI in ad operations, and strategies for seamless cross-device experiences. Her work migrating global clients across platforms and implementing sophisticated measurement infrastructure has positioned her as a thought leader for brands seeking to optimize mobile performance and measurement in an increasingly fragmented ecosystem. This conversation is essential for marketing professionals and growth strategists looking to navigate mobile advertising complexities and build sustainable, data-driven campaign foundations.

    If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here.

    Episode Highlights:

    [00:06:17] Think Beyond the Install to Drive Long-Term Mobile App Value

    [00:16:06] Prioritize Postback Events and Partner Configuration in MMP Migrations

    [00:17:27] Prioritize the Web-to-App Journey as a Critical Campaign Foundation

    [00:21:00] Adopt the Crawl-Walk-Run Framework for Large Campaign Execution

    [00:32:02] Lean Into AI Rather Than Fear It—Build Standards and Drive Quality Assurance

    [00:36:45] Pursue Challenging Projects to Build Leadership Credibility and Expertise

    Episode Resources:

    • Erica Johnson on LinkedIn
    • Publicis Collective on LinkedIn
    • Publicis Collective Website
    • Amanda Vandiver on LinkedIn
    • Branch on LinkedIn
    • Branch Website
    • How I Grew This on Apple Podcasts
    • How I Grew This on Spotify
    • How I Grew This on Simplecast
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    23 min
  • The Viral Growth Blueprint: How Nic Weber Turned Creators Into a Scalable Acquisition Engine

    The Viral Growth Blueprint: How Nic Weber Turned Creators Into a Scalable Acquisition Engine
    Jun 4 2026
    What if you could turn creator content into your most cost-effective acquisition channel? In this episode of How I Grew This, Amanda and Adam sit down with Nic Weber, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Noise, to explore why creator-powered marketing outperforms traditional ads, how to build viral campaigns at scale, and the strategies that transform unknown creators into growth engines for your brand. Whether you're a mobile app founder struggling with user acquisition costs or a marketer looking to unlock authentic engagement, this conversation reveals actionable frameworks on relatability, need, and novelty—plus real examples of brands achieving pennies-on-the-dollar CPMs. Tune in to discover how to leverage 950,000+ creators and tap into the future of performance marketing. What You’ll Learn: How to build a two-sided marketplace that aligns creator incentives with brand performanceWhy the interest graph has replaced the social graphThe three-lever framework for viral content: relatability, need, and noveltyHow to reverse-engineer virality by finding existing successful content in your niche, iterating on it with multiple creators, and then scaling the winning variationWhy users acquired through short-form content are higher-intent than traditional paid adsHow to leverage organic platform algorithms as a free ad network About the Guest(s): Nic Weber is Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Noise, known for his expertise in creator-powered marketing and viral content strategy. With a background spanning graphic design, mobile publishing, gaming, and consumer apps, Weber has built scalable growth systems that transform how brands acquire customers through short-form content. At Noise, he has pioneered a two-sided marketplace that connects creators with brands, enabling acquisition costs as low as 8¢ effective CPM through viral video campaigns—a model Weber himself validated by building a consumer app to 2 million downloads. In this episode, Weber reveals the psychology behind viral content, the formula for creating trends, and how brands can leverage an army of everyday creators to dramatically reduce customer acquisition costs while maintaining authentic brand messaging. His insights on relatability, need, and novelty provide actionable frameworks for marketers looking to move beyond traditional influencer partnerships and tap into the most addictive social platforms in the world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here. Episode Highlights: [00:09:07] Why Human Creators Beat AI for Social Media Marketing – Nic reveals that despite AI videos achieving 20 million views, human creators remain essential because they understand audience psychology and can adapt messaging in real-time. The challenge for brands is that algorithms favor authentic human connection, which AI cannot replicate, making creator-led campaigns fundamentally more effective at driving conversions. While AI can generate volume, it lacks the contextual awareness needed to resonate emotionally with viewers, causing audiences to immediately recognize and skip synthetic content. To leverage this insight, brands should prioritize recruiting diverse creators over investing in AI video generation, even when scaling campaigns across multiple platforms. A concrete example: Noise saw dramatically better performance when they had thousands of creators post variations of a concept rather than relying on a single AI-generated video, because the human variations naturally included hooks and messaging tweaks that resonated differently with different audience segments. For brands looking to maximize ROI on short-form platforms, this means building creator armies that can iterate in real-time based on performance data, not betting on automation. [00:10:49] The Formula for Viral Content: Find, Iterate, Scale – Nic breaks down virality into a repeatable three-step framework: find existing viral content in your niche, iterate on it with multiple creators to test variations, then scale the winning formula across your entire creator base. Most brands fail because they try to create original viral content, ignoring the fact that the internet has already validated what works—making "not being smarter than the internet" the key to success. The real work happens in the iteration phase, where real creators bring their own creativity to hooks, text overlays, and presentation styles, naturally producing variations that hit different audience segments. Brands should start by identifying viral videos in their category with 1+ million views, then brief 50-100 creators to create their own versions with slight modifications, tracking which variations generate the highest views and conversions. For example, if a competitor's cleaning product video went viral, a brand selling a mop should create dozens of variations showing ...
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    41 min
  • The Ad Monetization Paradox: How User Experience Drives 3x Revenue Growth with David Leviev

    The Ad Monetization Paradox: How User Experience Drives 3x Revenue Growth with David Leviev
    May 14 2026
    What if you could transform your app's revenue without sacrificing user experience? In this episode of How I Grew This, hosts Amanda and Adam sit down with David Leviev, Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Founder of Nimbus, to explore how publishers can build custom monetization solutions, why user experience directly impacts long-term revenue, and the key strategies to leverage AI and first-party data in a post-IDFA world. Whether you're a mobile app publisher looking to optimize ad performance or an ad tech enthusiast curious about the future of auction mechanics, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on balancing monetization with retention. Tune in to discover how the right decisioning layer can unlock premium CPMs and sustainable growth. What You’ll Learn: Why building a custom monetization stack makes senseHow to identify the magic retention threshold through testingThe decisioning layer framework for auction optimizationWhy omitting proprietary demand creates competitive advantageThe three-pronged approach to overcome signal loss post-IDFAHow to structure dedicated publisher support for sustainable growth About the Guest(s): David Leviev is Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Founder of Nimbus, a full-stack mobile ad monetization platform. With a background in ad tech spanning companies like Pubgears and pivotal experience monetizing the popular Timehop app, David brings deep expertise in programmatic advertising, auction mechanics, and publisher-first monetization strategies. In this episode, David shares practical insights on building sustainable ad experiences that balance revenue optimization with user retention, providing actionable strategies for app publishers looking to maximize their monetization without sacrificing user experience. His work at Nimbus—where he champions transparency, direct demand relationships, and AI-driven auction optimization—has helped publishers reclaim control over their ad stacks and significantly increase CPMs, making this conversation essential for anyone interested in mobile app monetization and ad tech innovation. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here. [00:14:21] Find Your App's "Magic Number" for Ad Duration Through Retention Testing - David discovered that Timehop's optimal ad display duration was 1.3 seconds—far shorter than industry standards—by systematically testing retention metrics rather than relying on generic benchmarks. Publishers often assume longer ad exposure equals higher revenue, but this approach overlooks the silent user churn that happens when friction increases without generating app store complaints. By monitoring uninstall rates alongside clickthrough rates and viewability scores, you can identify the exact threshold where user experience breaks down. Start with incremental testing, pushing duration limits while watching for organic drops in daily active users or session length. This precision-based approach protects lifetime value and prevents the revenue decay that comes from aggressive ad placements. Smaller publishers can apply this same framework to their own apps, treating retention as the north star metric that balances monetization with sustainable growth. [00:18:56] Assign Dedicated Cross-Functional Teams to Each Publisher Instead of Generic Support Channels - Nimbus provides each onboarded publisher with a dedicated team of five people—an account manager, customer success representative, solutions engineer, technical account manager, and demand facilitator—plus a shared Slack channel for streamlined communication. This stands in stark contrast to industry-standard support models where publishers email a generic address and receive responses from rotating staff across multiple time zones, leading to unresolved issues and missed optimization opportunities. The cost of dedicated support is offset by the ability to deeply understand each app's unique monetization challenges and implement tailored strategies that generic solutions cannot address. These teams proactively monitor ad performance, recommend market trends, and evaluate inventory quality—transforming support from reactive troubleshooting into strategic partnership. For publishers evaluating ad tech partners, demand dedicated support structures as a non-negotiable contract requirement. This investment in human infrastructure becomes a competitive differentiator that directly impacts your ability to optimize revenue while protecting user experience. [00:24:04] Use Machine Learning to Optimize Auction Costs by Predictively Throttling Bid Requests - David explains that applying ML and agentic AI to auction mechanics allows publishers to reduce cloud infrastructure costs (AWS bills) while simultaneously improving bid prices by selectively inviting only demand partners likely to win at premium rates. Traditional waterfall and...
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    35 min
  • Why Your MarTech Stack Is Broken—And How to Fix It Without Starting Over with Rebecca Nackson

    Why Your MarTech Stack Is Broken—And How to Fix It Without Starting Over with Rebecca Nackson
    Apr 23 2026
    What if your MarTech stack was actually working *for* you instead of against you? In this episode of How I Grew This, hosts Amanda and Adam sit down with Rebecca Nackson, CEO of Notable, to explore why most companies fail at implementation after buying tools, how to enlist salespeople as strategic partners in your buying process, and the key strategies to build a system of continuous testing and iteration. Whether you're drowning in marketing software or trying to make sense of your growth stack, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you move from tool chaos to strategic clarity. Tune in to discover why the best-performing teams aren't using more tools—they're using them smarter. What You’ll Learn: How to reframe your career as intentional pattern recognition rather than random luckWhy the sales process is broken and how to fix it as a buyer The critical implementation gap no one talks aboutHow to act as "connective tissue" across distributed teamsThe test-learn-scale framework that separates high-growth teams from stalled onesWhy build vs. buy decisions are about to shift dramatically with AI and low-code tools About the Guest(s): Rebecca Nackson is the CEO of Notable, a marketing consultancy specializing in helping companies navigate and optimize their marketing technology stacks. With a background spanning Audible, iHeartRadio, Bandsontown, and Prolific, Rebecca brings deep expertise in digital transformation, marketing operations, and cross-functional alignment. In this episode, she shares candid insights on bridging the gap between buying marketing tools and successfully implementing them—a critical pain point for modern marketing teams. Her philosophy centers on understanding the "job to be done" rather than defaulting to solutions, and her work has helped numerous companies avoid costly MarTech missteps while building sustainable growth systems. This conversation is essential listening for marketers and product leaders seeking to maximize ROI from their technology investments and create alignment across distributed teams. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here. Episode Highlights: [00:01:45] Embrace "Career Squiggles" Over Linear Planning - Rebecca Nackson reframes career success not as following a predetermined path, but as recognizing patterns across seemingly random opportunities—what she calls "career squiggles." Most professionals assume their early roles must align with their end goal, but Rebecca's trajectory through Audible, iHeartRadio, and Bandsontown shows that adjacent experiences compound into unexpected expertise. The pressure to have a five-year plan can actually blind you to emerging patterns and opportunities that only make sense in hindsight. Instead, focus on developing deep skills in each role and staying alert to common denominators across different industries and companies. By the time you've worked across multiple verticals, you've gained a superpower: seeing what others miss because you recognize repeating patterns. This approach transforms career uncertainty into a competitive advantage, especially when building businesses or advising others through similar challenges. [00:15:45] Fix the Implementation Gap Between Buying and Using MarTech Tools - The largest missed opportunity in enterprise software purchases happens after the contract is signed—the step from buying to actually using the tool is routinely skipped, leaving companies paying for solutions they can't operationalize. Most vendors invest heavily in the sales process but provide little support for the critical transition to implementation and integration. Instead of treating your tool evaluation as a final decision, use it as an opportunity to simultaneously inform both your sales process and your implementation strategy by clearly articulating what's broken today and what success looks like for your specific business. This forces vendors to be specific about cost, resource requirements, and phased rollout timelines—information you'll desperately need the day after signing. By reversing the typical process and enlisting salespeople as partners who understand your real constraints, you create a feedback loop that strengthens both the evaluation and the execution. Companies that front-load this discovery work dramatically improve their ability to extract ROI from new tools rather than letting them gather dust. [00:21:31] Become the "Connective Tissue" Across Siloed Internal Teams - One of the most underrated services agencies provide—and one any leader can replicate internally—is acting as connective tissue between teams that rarely interact, especially in remote-first organizations where marketing, product, and engineering don't naturally cross paths. Without deliberate bridging, these teams often become adversarial, with acquisition blaming ...
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    31 min
  • Reclaim Your Brand Voice and Rise Above the AI Slop with Chris Silvestri

    Reclaim Your Brand Voice and Rise Above the AI Slop with Chris Silvestri
    Apr 9 2026
    What if your messaging could be the infrastructure powering growth instead of just surface-level copy? In this episode of How I Grew This, hosts Amanda and Adam sit down with Chris Silvestri, Founder of Conversion Alchemy, to explore why research and strategy matter more than writing, how to craft messaging that cuts through AI slop and sameness, and the key strategies to balance point of view with value-driven messaging. Whether you're building a brand, launching a product, or navigating the creator economy, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on positioning, personalization, and preparing your messaging for the future of AI agents. Tune in to discover how to make your brand truly stand out. What You’ll Learn: How to Reframe Copywriting as 70% Research and Strategy, Not WritingThe Point-of-View + Value Messaging FrameworkHow to Extract Voice-of-Customer Language Before AI Touches Your CopyWhy Message-Market Fit Matters More Than Message-Product FitThe Three-Layer Research BlueprintHow to Recognize and Avoid AI Slop in Your Brand CommunicationWhy You Need to Validate Messaging Before LaunchHow to Adapt Your Messaging for the AI Agent Economy About the Guest(s): Chris Silvestri is the Founder of Conversion Alchemy, a strategic messaging consultancy that helps B2B and B2C companies clarify their positioning and craft compelling copy that drives conversions. With a unique background spanning over a decade as a software engineer in industrial automation and UX design, Chris brings a technical, infrastructure-focused approach to messaging strategy that goes far beyond surface-level copywriting. In this episode, Chris shares how to balance point of view with value-driven messaging, leverage AI without falling into generic "slop," and adapt your communication strategy for an increasingly attention-scarce market. His methodologies for research, positioning, and testing provide actionable frameworks for organizations looking to stand out authentically and connect meaningfully with their audiences in a crowded digital landscape. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here. Episode Highlights: [00:05:46] Reframe Copywriting as 70% Research and Strategy, Not Writing - Chris reveals that in today's AI-driven world, the mechanical act of writing now represents only 10% of his copywriting work, while research comprises 70% and strategy comprises 20%. This shift is critical because most companies and marketers assume copy is the primary deliverable, missing the foundation that makes copy effective. Without thorough research into internal alignment, customer needs, and competitive positioning, even the most eloquent copy falls flat. The process begins with internal research across product, marketing, support, and customer success teams to identify messaging inconsistencies that undermine brand coherence. Next, external research examines how customers experience transformation through your product, combined with market research analyzing competitor positioning and messaging approaches. This strategic foundation ensures that when copy is finally written, it emerges naturally from deep customer and market understanding rather than guesswork. [00:09:37] Balance Point-of-View with Value-Driven Messaging to Generate Genuine Attention - Chris explains that most companies excel at either showcasing a strong industry perspective or communicating customer value, but rarely balance both effectively—and this imbalance is precisely why they sound generic and forgettable. To create distinctive messaging, ask your team provocative questions like "What misconceptions in your industry drive you crazy?" and "What lies do you want to expose with your product?" These insights form your hook—a unique point of view that makes prospects think "You understand me." However, a strong opinion alone won't convert; you must pair it with clear value messaging that answers "What's in it for me?" When both elements carry equal weight, your messaging becomes a seesaw in perfect balance, generating the attention and engagement competitors cannot replicate. For B2C brands, this point of view shifts from industry-focused to customer-experience-focused, using vivid examples of how your product transforms daily life. [00:17:08] Absorb Customer Language Before Feeding Data to AI Tools - Chris emphasizes that the most common mistake brands make when using AI for messaging is feeding customer data directly into AI models without first deeply absorbing that voice themselves. Before running 500 customer reviews through AI, Chris personally reads every single one to internalize the authentic language, emotions, and concerns customers express naturally. This human-first approach creates an intuitive foundation that allows him to edit and refine AI-generated copy with confidence and accuracy, ensuring it reflects real ...
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    31 min
  • Building Through Every Ad Tech Era: AI, Attribution, and What’s Next with Ionut Ciobotaru

    Building Through Every Ad Tech Era: AI, Attribution, and What’s Next with Ionut Ciobotaru
    Mar 19 2026
    What if the future of performance marketing wasn't about controlling every detail, but about measuring what matters and experimenting beyond the obvious channels? In this episode of How I Grew This, Amanda and Adam sit down with Ionut Ciobotaru, CEO and Co-founder of Hypd.ai, to explore why measurement is the foundation of marketing success, how AI agents are reshaping advertiser workflows, and the untapped channels that savvy marketers should be exploring next. From building PubNative into an ad tech powerhouse to launching a pretzel bakery in Berlin, Ionut shares hard-won lessons about pivoting, scaling, and knowing when to double down. Whether you're optimizing a single channel or managing complex multi-platform campaigns, this conversation is packed with strategic insights to help you allocate your budget smarter and stay ahead of the curve. Tune in to discover why your next competitive advantage might lie in channels you haven't considered yet. What You’ll Learn: How to identify and capitalize on emerging technology wavesWhy pivoting your core product based on market realities is essential for survivalThe "international advantage" of digital-native businessesHow to structure acquisitions and integrations for maximum valueWhy measurement and attribution must come before experimentation in performance marketingHow AI agents will unlock access to fragmented, non-programmatic channels About the Guest(s): Ionut Ciobotaru is a serial entrepreneur and AI-driven performance marketing innovator, currently building Hypd.ai, an AI agent platform designed to streamline marketing operations across multiple advertising channels. With a distinguished career spanning mobile ad tech, programmatic advertising, and strategic business scaling, Ionut co-founded PubNative—a native mobile ad network that was acquired by MGI (now Verve Group)—where he served as Co-CEO overseeing significant M&A integration and product development. In this episode, Ionut shares hard-won insights on building successful ad tech ventures, navigating complex acquisitions, and leveraging AI to solve real-world challenges facing modern performance marketers. His deep expertise in channel innovation, measurement attribution, and emerging advertising platforms provides actionable strategies for entrepreneurs and marketers looking to stay ahead in an increasingly fragmented digital landscape. Whether discussing the evolution from mobile-first advertising to today's omnichannel environment, or the future of AI-powered marketing automation, Ionut's perspective offers invaluable guidance for those seeking to drive measurable business growth. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here. Episode Highlights: [00:01:06] Recognize Technology Inflection Points Before the Market Saturates - Ionut's early career demonstrates the power of identifying emerging tech waves—he moved from web to mobile specifically because he recognized the iPhone represented a fundamental shift in how users would access digital experiences. Rather than starting his mobile venture in Romania where the infrastructure didn't support it, he strategically relocated to Berlin to position himself at the center of mobile innovation. This insight reveals that successful founders don't just follow trends; they **position themselves geographically and professionally where new technologies are being adopted first**. For performance marketers and entrepreneurs, this means **continuously scanning the horizon for the next wave** before it becomes obvious to everyone else. The timing advantage of being early allows you to build expertise, relationships, and credibility that compound over years. Ionut's entire career—from native ads to AI agents—reflects this principle of finding emerging channels before they become commoditized. [00:05:11] Pivot Your Product When Market Forces Demand It, Not When Your Vision Says Otherwise - PubNative began as a native-only ad network designed to replace banner ads, yet by the time Ionut sold the company, it had pivoted to selling primarily banners and programmatic formats—the exact formats he originally opposed. Rather than viewing this as failure, Ionut explains that **sometimes you cannot push against the market itself as a single company**, and larger advertisers demanded standardization across channels. This teaches a crucial lesson: **your founding thesis matters less than your ability to serve what customers actually need**. Large brands wanted consistency, so PubNative adapted rather than die on principle. For performance marketers building products or services, this means **staying obsessed with solving real customer problems** rather than being married to your original feature set. The companies that survive are those flexible enough to follow customer demand while maintaining their core mission of creating value. ...
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    35 min
  • AI won’t replace your artists, but it will free them to create more with Jen Taylor

    AI won’t replace your artists, but it will free them to create more with Jen Taylor
    Mar 5 2026
    What if AI could actually amplify human creativity instead of replacing it? In this episode, Amanda and Adam chat with Jen Taylor, Director of AI Strategy and Integration at Capacity Interactive, about how arts and culture organizations can adopt AI thoughtfully and strategically. From building ethical frameworks and training teams to unlocking practical use cases that drive real business results, Jen shares how to position AI as a thought partner rather than a shortcut—and why keeping humans in the loop is essential to avoiding "AI slop." Whether you're a marketer looking to level up your strategy or an arts administrator curious about where AI actually fits into your workflow, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on how to use these tools to work smarter, not just faster. What You’ll Learn: How to position AI as a thought partner for strategy, not just a workflow optimizer—unlocking deeper thinking on target audiences, messaging, and campaign refinementThe three-phase adoption framework: establish clear organizational policies, invest in training and prompting literacy, then identify business outcomes tied to measurable resultsWhy ethics matter differently in arts organizations: address ownership concerns, environmental impact, and imitation risks by making active, intentional choices about tool useHow to build consistency across departments using branded AI tools that understand your voice, style, and mission without sacrificing human oversightThe "human-driven AI" principle: keep humans in every loop—from prompting strategy through verification—to avoid "AI slop" and ensure quality outputHow to use AI for audience insights and personalization by testing messaging across multiple audience segments, then letting AI surface unexpected audience opportunities About the Guest(s): Jen Taylor is Director of AI Strategy and Integration at Capacity Interactive, bringing over 15 years of experience building and engaging audiences across streaming and digital platforms. With a background in theater marketing and digital audience growth at A&E Networks—where she managed strategy for both ad-supported and subscription streaming businesses—Taylor has become a leading voice in helping arts and culture organizations adopt AI responsibly. In this episode, she shares practical strategies for arts administrators looking to leverage AI for operational efficiency while preserving human creativity and artistic integrity. Her work bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and the arts community, offering actionable frameworks for organizations seeking to enhance their marketing and administrative workflows without compromising their values. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here. Episode Highlights: [00:20:14] Use AI to Elevate Strategy, Not Just Speed Up Tasks - Jen Taylor emphasizes that while AI excels at automating repetitive tasks, its real power lies in serving as a thought partner for strategic thinking. Many organizations get excited about efficiency gains, but miss the opportunity to use AI for deeper strategic work like audience analysis and campaign refinement. The distinction between "making a plan" and "making a strategy" is critical—AI can help you move beyond constant tactical execution into thoughtful, intentional strategy development. Ask AI to stress-test your plans, identify misalignments with specific audiences, and explore angles you might have missed. This approach transforms AI from a time-saving tool into a strategic advisor that elevates your entire marketing function. [00:07:11] Implement a Three-Phase AI Adoption Framework - Rather than rushing to use AI tools, Jen recommends a structured, phased approach: establish clear organizational policy first, invest in training and prompt literacy second, then identify business outcomes tied to specific results. Many arts organizations worry about ethics and values alignment, so beginning with policy ensures AI adoption stays true to your mission. The nuance matters deeply—approving ChatGPT is just the start; you must then decide what features and capabilities team members can actually use. Following this framework prevents scattered adoption and ensures your organization gains consistent, measurable value from AI investments. [00:12:26] Address AI Ethics Head-On by Making Active, Intentional Choices - Jen identifies three critical ethics concerns for arts organizations: ownership and fair compensation for artists whose work trained AI models, environmental impact from computational demands, and the risk of imitation and copyright violation. Rather than paralysis, she advocates for making deliberate choices that mitigate these risks. For example, opening a new chat when changing topics reduces computational load, and applying the same ethical standard you'd use offline—don't ask AI to ...
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    34 min