Who Can You Trust? Influencers, Institutions & Accountability

Influencer marketing is a multibillion-dollar business, but are consumers still buying what influencers are selling? And when trust breaks down, whether in business, media or major institutions, what happens next?

On this episode of Not The Smartest Guys in the Room, Tom Langan and Dominick Domasky start with the changing influencer economy, the erosion of consumer trust, and why follower counts don't always translate into real influence.

Tom and Dom discuss the billions being poured into influencer marketing, why the word “authentic” may have lost some of its meaning, and what brands should consider before attaching their reputation to someone else's personal brand. Instead of constantly paying to borrow someone else's audience, should businesses spend more time building relationships with their own?

The conversation then takes a much more serious turn with an extended discussion about the allegations surrounding the Cornell assault case. Tom and Dom examine questions and criticisms surrounding how Cornell University and the district attorney's office handled the situation, the public outrage that followed, and where they believe institutions need to do better when serious allegations are made. They discuss accountability, transparency, due process, responsibility and the importance of institutions earning the trust of the people they serve.

It becomes a larger conversation about trust itself. Whether you're an influencer asking someone to buy a product, a business protecting its reputation, a university responsible for its students, or a public institution responsible for pursuing justice, trust isn't something that comes automatically with a title, platform or position. It has to be earned and protected.

As usual, the conversation doesn't stay in one lane. Personal stories, fast food, business, marketing, social media, current events, courage and accountability all find their way into the room.

ABOUT TOM LANGAN

Tom Langan is an award-winning producer, director and entrepreneur with decades of experience in television, film, media and storytelling. His career has given him a front-row seat to the evolution of entertainment, advertising and content creation. On Not The Smartest Guys in the Room, Tom brings the perspective of someone who has spent a career behind the camera building stories, brands and productions.

ABOUT DOMINICK DOMASKY

Dominick Domasky is an author, publisher, entrepreneur and founder of Motivation Champs. Through publishing, podcasting, speaking and media, Dom has spent years helping entrepreneurs, authors and organizations tell their stories and build stronger connections with their audiences. He also cohosts The Creative Entrepreneur Podcast, where business, media and current trends collide.

Together, Tom and Dom bring two different perspectives, plenty of stories and a willingness to tackle difficult subjects without pretending to be the smartest guys in the room.

Topics include: influencer marketing, consumer trust, authenticity, personal branding, social media, the Cornell assault allegations, institutional accountability, the response from Cornell and the district attorney's office, due process, public outrage, courage, integrity and what it means to do better when trust is lost.

Sound Bites:

“Trust in influencer marketing is eroding.”

“Trust is a risk you don't have to take.”

“Numbers are not a true indication of impact.”