Are brands prepared for a consumer base that's simultaneously more confident and more cautious?


Agility requires not just reacting to current consumer behavior but anticipating the shifts to come. It also requires a deep understanding of the nuances within different consumer segments, particularly as generational behaviors diverge.


Today, we're going to talk about the evolving landscape of consumer confidence, especially among Gen Z and Millennials, and what this means for brands navigating the current market. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Eric Miao, Chief Strategy Officer at Attentive.
About Eric Miao

Eric Miao on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-miao-62313b9/

Resources

Attentive: https://www.attentive.com [https://www.attentive.com/]

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show [https://www.theagilebrand.show/]
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com [https://www.agilebrandguide.com/]
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company [https://www.missinglink.company/]

#725: Consumer confidence...and caution...with Eric Miao, Attentive

Are most brands still designing customer journeys, or are they just trying to keep up with where their customers are leading them?


Agility requires a willingness to meet your customers where they are—not just where you wish they’d convert. In an era where the consumer journey can begin and end on a social platform or anywhere in between, brands must be fluid enough to engage meaningfully across channels while still connecting the dots behind the scenes.


Today we’re going to talk about the changing consumer journey and why a connected ecosystem that includes social commerce, audience targeting, and measurement is now table stakes.
To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome Janna Navarro, VP, Brand & Media Strategy at Wpromote.

About Janna Navarro

Janna has two decades of experience spearheading brand evolution across sectors such as automotive and quick-service restaurants. As VP of Brand, Media & Consumer Strategy, she leads with an integrated approach to digital-first marketing. Before Wpromote, Janna led teams at CPB, collaborating with brands like Domino’s Pizza to leverage data-driven decision-making and new media. Her experience also includes working with GM on its Cadillac EV line.

Janna Navarro on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannatopolewski/

Resources

Wpromote: https://www.wpromote.com [https://www.wpromote.com/]

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show [https://www.theagilebrand.show/]
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com [https://www.agilebrandguide.com/]
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company [https://www.missinglink.company/]

#724: Social commerce and the customer journey with Janna Navarro, Wpromote

If you had to pick one of the biggest challenges facing CMOs today, how high on your list would customer loyalty be?


Agility requires a deep understanding of your customer and the ability to adapt to their ever-changing needs and expectations. It also requires a willingness to experiment and learn from failures, quickly iterating on strategies and tactics.


Today, we're going to talk about the evolving landscape of travel loyalty programs and how brands can best engage with different generations of travelers, particularly in the face of changing economic conditions and emerging generational trends.


To help me discuss this topic and other highlights from arrivia’s Loyalty and the Changing Traveler report, I'd like to welcome, Jeff Zotara, Chief Marketing Officer at arrivia. Jeff, welcome to the show!
About Jeff Zotara

Jeff Zotara is the Chief Marketing Officer of arrivia, a travel technology company providing travel loyalty, booking, and marketing solutions to consumer-facing companies that want to deliver exceptional value to customers, uncover new revenue streams, and drive growth through exciting travel rewards and member benefits. With more than two decades as a strategic and operational marketing leader, Jeff is focused on driving growth and marketing technology across brands and providing the best member experience at the intersection of travel and tech.  

Jeff Zotara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffzotara/

Resources

arrivia: https://www.arrivia.com [https://www.arrivia.com/]

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Get a copy of arrivia's Loyalty and the Changing Traveler report: https://resources.arrivia.com/report-survey-loyalty-changing-traveler
Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150"

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show [https://www.theagilebrand.show/]
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com [https://www.agilebrandguide.com/]
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company [https://www.missinglink.company/]

#723: Building loyalty across different generations of travelers with Jeff Zotara, arrivia

Building on the talk of AI in recent years, Agentic AI is an exciting area for retailers. But beyond talk, finding real-world examples and best practices can be tricky.
Today we are here at eTail Boston, and I am excited to talk today about a company that is innovating in this space, not a traditional retailer, but an innovative aggregator using AI to standardize product data across multiple retailers.
To talk about Furniture.com’s approach to agentic AI and more, I’m joined by Dan Russotto, General Manager at Furniture.com.

About Dan Russotto

Over 30 years of extensive startup and Fortune 1000 experience related to running tech companies throughout the entire lifecycle. Focused on completing high quality projects, products, and business objectives. Detailed understanding of the Furniture, Real Estate, Hospitality, Software, High Tech, Consumer Business, eCommerce, and Telecommunications industries.
He is currently the General Manager for Furniture.com, a privately backed business that’s using AI, data and technology to evolve the way furniture shoppers discover new brands and products. Prior to Furniture.com, Dan was the VP Product for Apartments.com and the Homes.com (CoStar brands), aggregator marketplaces in the real estate industry. Before CoStar, Dan spent several years across multiple tech startups.

Dan Russotto on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danrussotto/

Resources

Furniture.com: https://www.furniture.com [https://www.furniture.com/]

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show [https://www.theagilebrand.show/]
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com [https://www.agilebrandguide.com/]
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company [https://www.missinglink.company/]

#722: Agentic AI in retail with Dan Russotto, Furniture.com

Is your brand ready to thrive, not just survive, in the face of evolving global consumer expectations and market shifts?


Agility requires more than just quick reactions; it demands proactive foresight, strategic adaptability, and a willingness to embrace continuous evolution. This is particularly critical in today's ever-changing global ecommerce landscape.


Today, we are here at eTail Boston and we're going to talk about navigating the complexities of global ecommerce, from peak season delivery strategies and regional fulfillment, to the latest on de minimis thresholds and tariffs. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Helaine Rich, Vice President Strategic Sales and Administration at ePost.
About Helaine Rich

As the VP of Strategic Sales and Administration at ePost Global, Helaine’s team is responsible for onboarding and managing multi-carrier platforms, involved with the development of new services and tools for customers while growing revenue through strategic account acquisition. 

Helaine Rich on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helaine-rich-b61a207/

Resources

ePost: https://www.epost.com [https://www.epost.com/]

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show [https://www.theagilebrand.show/]
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com [https://www.agilebrandguide.com/]
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company [https://www.missinglink.company/]

#721: Making the most of peak season with Helaine Rich, ePost

AI can create immersive, human-centric experiences that not only drive sales but also foster enduring brand relationships in a rapidly evolving market.
Today we’re going to talk about how AI-driven personalization allows retailers to move beyond generic experiences, crafting unique interactions that resonate with individual preferences and behaviors, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
I’m thrilled to be joined by Noah Zamansky, Vice President of Product, Tech and Design, Client Experience at Stitch Fix here at eTail Boston.

About Noah Zamansky

Noah Zamansky is VP of Product, Client Experience at Stitch Fix He was previously with eBay where he was the Senior Director of Product Management for Fashion & Vertical Experiences. Noah is a seasoned leader who has shaped product vision, strategy and experience as well as helped launch new lines of business. He is a strong collaborator with an ability to bring stakeholders and perspectives together to create the best result. 

Noah Zamansky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nzamansky/

Resources

Stitch Fix: https://www.stitchfix.com [https://www.stitchfix.com/]

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show [https://www.theagilebrand.show/]
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com [https://www.agilebrandguide.com/]
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company [https://www.missinglink.company/]


#720: Building stronger customer relationships using AI with Noah Zamansky, Stitch Fix

Are you building your customer data strategy around your goals, or are your goals constrained by your data platform?


Agility in today’s marketing technology landscape isn’t just about speed—it’s about flexibility. Brands need data architectures that adapt to their needs, not the other way around. And with the right approach, that agility can fuel personalization, better customer outcomes, and real business value.


Today we’re going to talk about composable customer data platforms and how AI is enhancing decision-making to increase customer lifetime value.
To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome Tejas Monahar, co-CEO and co-Founder of Hightouch.

About Tejas Manohar

Tejas Manohar is the cofounder/co-CEO of Hightouch. Prior to founding Hightouch, Tejas was an early engineer at Segment, the leading company in the Customer Data Platform (CDP) space that was acquired by Twilio for $3.2B. At Segment, Tejas realized that many of the challenges of building a best-in-class CDP would be better solved on top of the data warehouse and a modern data stack and hence, he founded Hightouch. When Tejas isn’t thinking about data, he likes running and playing competitive table tennis.

Tejas Manohar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tejasmanohar/

Resources

Hightouch: https://www.hightouch.com [https://www.hightouch.com/] https://www.hightouch.com [https://www.hightouch.com/]

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150"

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show [https://www.theagilebrand.show/]
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com [https://www.agilebrandguide.com/]
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company [https://www.missinglink.company/]

#719: Composable Customer Data Platforms with Tejas Manohar, Hightouch

When consumer trust is more fragile than ever, how can brands, particularly in highly scrutinized categories like infant nutrition, utilize the latest approaches to not only build trust but also deepen consumer relationships?


Agility requires not only adapting to evolving consumer expectations and technological advancements but also maintaining ethical and transparent practices, especially when dealing with sensitive topics such as infant health. It also demands a willingness to experiment, learn, and iterate quickly in response to market feedback and emerging trends.


Today, we're going to talk about building trust in a digital age, navigating the complexities of launching a purpose-driven CPG brand, and redefining what “healthy” means for a new generation of parents. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Meika Hollender, Chief Marketing Officer at Nara Organics.

About Meika Hollender

Meika Hollender is the Chief Marketing Officer of Nara Organics, a pioneering brand redefining infant nutrition with its first-of-its-kind USDA-certified organic whole milk formula.


Before joining Nara, Meika served as Vice President of Brand and Corporate Communications at Grove Collaborative, a leading sustainable consumer products company and the first plastic-neutral retailer in the world. At Grove, she led the development and execution of communications strategy across brand, sustainability, and innovation, driving awareness through powerful storytelling and purpose-driven campaigns. Grove, a certified B Corp, is on a mission to move Beyond Plastic and be 100% plastic-free by 2025.


Meika first made her mark as the Co-Founder and CEO of Sustain, the pioneering brand of natural sexual wellness products for women. After growing Sustain into a category leader, the company was acquired by Grove in 2019. Meika stayed on as President of Sustain while stepping into a broader role at Grove, where she brought her passion for product innovation, social impact, and women’s health to a wider CPG platform.
She holds an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business and is the author of Get on Top, published by Simon & Schuster in 2018. Meika also serves on the board of Net Impact and the Young Visionaries Committee for Planned Parenthood of New York City.

Meika Hollender on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meika-hollender-b574b519/

Resources

Nara Organics: https://nara.com/ https://nara.com/

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150"

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show [https://www.theagilebrand.show/]
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com [https://www.agilebrandguide.com/]
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through

#718: Building trust while building a brand with Meika Hollender, Nara Organics

Is the most effective way to understand real human behavior to simulate it first?
Agility requires a willingness to test ideas that sound strange at first—like asking bots to act more human by narrowing their point of view, or treating synthetic personas as real sources of insight. But when applied correctly, this thinking unlocks entirely new ways to scale customer understanding.


Today we’re going to talk about how synthetic research is reshaping how we understand audiences—and how asking the right questions can make these insights feel far less synthetic and far more human.


To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome Mike Taylor, Founder & CEO of AskRally.


Mike – welcome to the show!

About Mike Taylor

Mike Taylor is the CEO & Co-Founder of Rally. He built a 50 person marketing agency in the US and EU, has taught 300,000 students in online courses, and wrote a prompt engineering book for O’Reilly.

Mike Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjt145/

Resources

AskRally: https://www.askrally.com [https://www.askrally.com/] https://www.askrally.com [https://www.askrally.com/]

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show [https://www.theagilebrand.show/]
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com [https://www.agilebrandguide.com/]
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company [https://www.missinglink.company/]

#717: Understanding customers by simulating them first with Mike Taylor, AskRally

What if building a brand partnership with a major entertainment property could happen in 5 minutes instead of 6 months—and drive 10x better results? What would that change for your marketing strategy?


Today I’m joined by Alan Gould, CEO of Mutual Markets. Alan is at the forefront of a major shift in digital marketing and advertising—using AI to reduce friction between brands and entertainment partners, making high-impact collaborations accessible to brands of all sizes.


Mutual Markets is already working with major streamers and delivering successful partnerships, like PopCorners’ Super Bowl spot with Breaking Bad and Dashlane’s collaboration with NCIS. Alan’s here to talk about how AI is democratizing access to branded entertainment partnerships and what that means for the future of marketing.

About Alan Gould

Alan Gould is a visionary leader and the Founder and Co-CEO of MutualMarkets, the world’s first advanced AI powered partnerships platform that has revolutionized the digital advertising industry. MutualMarkets’ goal is to provide brands with a more organic and efficient way to connect with consumers by setting new industry standards to transform how brands engage with their audiences.


Alan has a long history in data, analytics, and marketing. Prior to co-founding MutualMarkets with his brother Eric Gould, Alan co-founded IAG Research, a media-measurement company created to gauge the effectiveness of ads, and sold it to Nielsen in 2008 for $250M. Alan is also co-founder of a venture capital firm called Peak Opportunity Partners and has been involved in several successful exits from companies like Maker Studios, WorkFusion, Embark Veterinary, Vizu, and early investor roles in iSport.TV, which later saw a $325M minority position from Goldman Sachs valuing the company at $750M.


Under his leadership, MutualMarkets has expanded its global footprint, strengthened its portfolio, and adopted cutting-edge technologies to enhance client outcomes. Alan is passionate about fostering a culture of innovation, transparency, and collaboration, ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of the ever-evolving marketing landscape. In 2021, MutualMarkets announced its $30M raised in seed capital. In 2023, CBS’ Paramount Global partnered with MutualMarkets to grow its advertising efforts. In 2024, MutualMarkets announced its latest innovation - the AI-enabled CMAU - which enhanced collaboration by empowering brands to identify and partner with TV shows and movies seamlessly.


Alan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, a Master's degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School, and a Doctor of Law degree from New York University’s School of Law.

Alan Gould on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alangould/

Resources

Mutual Markets: https://www.mutualmarkets.ai/ https://www.mutualmarkets.ai/

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands


Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150"

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sig

#716: Streamlining brand partnerships with Alan Gould, Mutual Markets

Agile brands understand that customer experience, employee experience, and digital transformation all combine to form brand experience. The Agile Brand is hosted by Greg Kihlström, entrepreneur, advisor, speaker, and best-selling author. It features leaders of top organizations around the world and provides a fresh perspective on the continually evolving dynamic between brands and the audiences they serve.

The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlstrom

Welcome to the Innovation Economy podcast, where we look at the factors that drive business growth, including how people, processes, platforms, and places work together to create the future of work.

The Innovation Economy

From the creators and host of the award-winning The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström podcast, comes B2B Agility, a podcast focused on how B2B marketers and the brands they represent become category leaders and drive optimal results.

The show looks at B2B success in a variety of ways, all with a focus on the intersection of sales, marketing & technology. Guests will represent brands, consultancies, and platforms that enable B2B marketers to do their best work.

B2B Agility with Greg Kihlström

According to a Bain Consulting study, 80% of CEO’s believe their companies deliver a superior customer experience but only 8% of their customers agree. I talk to guests with a wide range of expertise, who share meaningful insights and wisdom to help you close that gap.  We give you practical tips, proven frameworks, and share ways to help you delight YOUR customers.

Delighted Customers with Mark Slatin

The Composable Roadmap isn’t just a listen; it’s a journey. It challenges you to rethink how you view your organizational capabilities and equips you with the foresight to build not just for today, but for a future that is perpetually just around the corner. For anyone serious about making agility a core competency of their organization, this podcast s your starting point.

The Composable Roadmap

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