Jake Prieur, co-founder of VideoScale, joins the show to discuss how his unlimited video editing service is transforming content creation for businesses and creators. With a flat monthly fee model, VideoScale is making professional video editing accessible and affordable while addressing common pain points in the industry.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. The Origin Story of VideoScale

• How Jake's experience with previous agencies revealed a gap in the video editing market
• The challenges of finding reliable, skilled editors at reasonable prices
• Why the unlimited subscription model was created to solve these industry-wide problems

2. Video as an Essential Marketing Tool

• Why video has become a non-negotiable element of modern marketing strategies
• How businesses can use video to build trust and connect with potential customers
• The importance of showing the human side of a business through video content

3. Practical Video Production Tips for Non-Professionals

• Essential equipment recommendations: smartphone cameras, lighting, and audio solutions
• Why you don't need expensive gear to create high-quality content
• Simple solutions for recording solo, including tripods, stands, and creative alternatives

4. Content Repurposing and Platform Optimization

• How to slice and dice longer content into multiple platform-specific pieces
• The importance of understanding different aspect ratios and platform requirements
• Leveraging one video shoot to create weeks of varied content

5. The Role of AI in Video Editing

• How VideoScale incorporates AI tools to enhance (not replace) human editors
• The limitations of AI in understanding context and emotional nuance
• Why human oversight remains essential even as AI capabilities advance

6. Breaking Into Video Content Creation

• Why perfection shouldn't be a barrier to getting started
• The value of "just turning on the camera and talking"
• How professional editing can transform even simple footage into compelling content

7. Evolving Video Marketing Platforms and Strategies

• The growing importance of LinkedIn for professional video content
• How different platforms require different approaches to content creation
• Why mastering existing channels matters more than chasing new platforms

Key Takeaways for Businesses and Content Creators:

• For businesses: Video is essential for building trust and connections with potential customers
• For content creators: Don't let perfectionism stop you—starting with simple equipment and improving over time is better than not starting at all
• For everyone: Focus on consistency and quality rather than expensive equipment or perfect execution

Connect with Jake Prieur:

• Visit VideoScale's website
• Follow on LinkedIn

Retry

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Rebecca Shaddix, a seasoned marketer and go-to-market strategist, joins the show to share her expertise in driving revenue growth across industries like education, healthcare, and SaaS. As a Forbes contributor and thought leader, Rebecca brings a unique blend of data-driven marketing, empathetic leadership, and a keen understanding of the evolving marketing landscape.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. The Role of Empathetic Leadership in Marketing

• How balancing high expectations with trust fosters a strong marketing team.
• The power of letting small tests and failures lead to big wins.
• Why leaders must step back and allow data, not just personal preferences, to drive marketing decisions.

2. Data-Driven Decision Making & Testing Strategies

• Why marketers must test and iterate rather than rely on assumptions.
• The importance of product-market fit and refining strategy over time.
• A case study on how Rebecca’s team unseated an industry competitor by leveraging differentiation and UI/UX improvements.

3. The Impact of AI & Technology on Marketing

• How AI is changing the way businesses approach marketing.
• The importance of training AI tools for better results instead of relying on generic prompts.
• Why founders and marketers must integrate AI thoughtfully to maintain authenticity.

4. Scaling Marketing Efforts Without Losing Focus

• The risk of growing too fast and diluting brand messaging.
• How to avoid the mistake of jumping into too many marketing channels at once.
• Why companies should focus on a few, well-executed strategies before expanding.

5. Acquisition vs. Retention: The Key to Sustainable Growth

• Why retaining customers is four times more impactful than acquiring new ones.
• The dangers of short-term promotions and discount cycles.
• Strategies for building long-term customer loyalty and brand trust.

6. What Founders Need to Know Before Hiring a Marketer

• Why most startups don’t need a CMO as their first marketing hire.
• How to determine whether to hire in-house or work with an agency.
• The importance of setting clear goals and defining success before bringing in external help.

Key Takeaways for Marketers & Founders:

• For marketers: Differentiation in marketing takes effort—using AI, tools, and strategies effectively requires training and intentionality.
• For founders: Don’t chase trends blindly; focus on the right hires, the right tools, and a clear strategic direction to grow sustainably.

Connect with Rebecca Shaddix:

• LinkedIn

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Unlocking Brand Alignment with Brandon Coleman Jr.

Brandon Coleman Jr. joins the podcast to share his five decades of experience in brand alignment, marketing strategy, and business growth. As a renowned advisor, author, and entrepreneur, Brandon has helped countless businesses unlock their full potential by ensuring their brand perception matches reality. Through his Brand On movement, he empowers leaders to align their brand, maximize opportunities, and drive substantial success.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The Power of Brand Alignment

• How a professor’s offhand comment led Brandon to a lifelong career in branding.
• Why brand alignment is the hidden power that many businesses overlook.
• The difference between brand tactics and true alignment—and why getting this right can be a game-changer.

Common Brand Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

• The top seven potholes that derail brand alignment, from internal marketing teams to external vendors.
• The dangers of compromising your brand just to please others.
• How small but unintentional shifts in your business can cause brand morphing—and how to stop it.

The Role of AI & Modern Marketing Tactics

• The impact of AI on branding and why business owners must learn to use it without losing authenticity.
• How digital marketing agencies often fail their clients—and what to look for in a truly strategic partner.
• Why influencer marketing isn’t always the golden ticket brands think it is.

The Foundational Principles Every Business Should Follow

• Why ghost-walking your customer journey is one of the most critical exercises before launching or refining a business.
• How to align your business from the inside out, ensuring employees, vendors, and leadership all work towards the same brand vision.
• The importance of stepping back and seeing your brand from the customer’s perspective—before it’s too late.

Brandon’s Advice for Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders

• Don’t get lost in tactics—focus on alignment first.
• Walk your customer’s journey before you launch.
• If you’re not in full brand alignment, you’re leaving money and opportunity on the table.
• Surround yourself with the right experts—because not all marketers understand alignment.

Connect with Brandon & Learn More:

• Brandon Coleman Jr. Website
• Pre-Order the Book: Brand On: The Hidden Power of Brand Alignment order here
• Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn
• Follow Brandons Instagram

This episode is a must-listen for business owners, marketers, and anyone looking to build a brand that truly connects. Are you ready to get your brand aligned?

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Firas Al Mubayad joins the podcast to share his powerful journey as a deaf advocate, educator, and entrepreneur. From growing up in Kuwait and moving to the UK for better education to founding AMB Deaf Accessibility, Firas has dedicated his life to bridging the gap between the hearing and deaf communities. His work empowers individuals and organizations through bespoke BSL training, consultancy services, and accessibility advocacy.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

A Journey of Resilience and Advocacy

• How Firas lost his hearing at age two and the challenges his family faced navigating deaf education in Kuwait.
• The decision to move to the UK for better opportunities and the emotional impact of leaving his family behind at age nine.
• The cultural shifts, struggles, and triumphs of adapting to life in a new country, learning BSL, and building a future.

Building a Career and Supporting the Deaf Community

• How Firas pursued fashion design, becoming the first deaf graduate from Johns Hopkins University in Liverpool.
• The unexpected challenges of returning to the Middle East and why he ultimately chose to build a business in the UK instead.
• His transition from fashion to advocacy and education, recognizing the urgent need for better deaf accessibility.

The State of Deaf Education and Inclusion

• The barriers faced by deaf individuals in education, healthcare, and employment.
• The lack of awareness in mainstream schools about deaf culture and why sign language education is essential.
• The impact of closing deaf schools and the fight to keep British Sign Language (BSL) in the curriculum.

Empowering Businesses and Institutions to Be More Inclusive

• How AMB Deaf Accessibility is transforming businesses, from small schools to global brands like Nestlé Nespresso.
• The importance of training baristas, customer service teams, and corporate employees in basic BSL to improve accessibility.
• The legal and social shifts around deaf rights in the UK, including the BSL Act of 2022.

Firas’ Mission: A More Accessible Future

• Why early exposure to BSL can change lives and how teaching children sign language fosters better inclusion.
• His efforts to expand BSL education in schools, despite financial and bureaucratic hurdles.
• How he is working with MPs and policymakers to push for better accessibility laws and funding.

Firas’ Advice for Entrepreneurs and Advocates

• Don’t give up. If one door closes, find another.
• Choose the right people. Surround yourself with those who believe in your vision.
• Think long-term. Building a movement takes time, but perseverance creates change.
• Focus on accessibility. If we make the world more inclusive for deaf people, everyone benefits.

Connect with Firas and Learn More:

📌 Website Deaf Accessibility

📌 Instagram Deaf Accessibility

📌LinkedIn Feras Al Moubayed

This episode is a must-listen for leaders, educators, and anyone passionate about inclusivity. What role can you play in making the world more accessible?

Rich Kahn, Co-Founder and CEO of Anura, joins the podcast to share his journey from a high school tech enthusiast to a leading expert in digital ad fraud detection. With decades of experience in digital marketing, Rich has built and sold multiple companies, including an Inc. 5000 business, and was honored with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Technology. Now, with Anura, he is on a mission to expose and eliminate fraud in digital advertising, helping businesses protect their ad spend and improve campaign performance.

In this episode, you'll discover:

From Early Internet Pioneer to Ad Fraud Expert
How Rich's fascination with ARPANET and early online networks led him to launch innovative digital ventures, eventually culminating in Anura.

The Hidden Cost of Ad Fraud
How fraudsters—including organized crime syndicates—exploit programmatic advertising, costing businesses billions annually.

How Anura Detects and Prevents Fraud
The difference between general invalid traffic (GIVT) and sophisticated invalid traffic (SIVT), and why most fraud detection solutions fall short.

The Real Impact on Brands and Agencies
Why 25–50 percent of programmatic ad traffic is fraudulent and how companies unknowingly waste millions on non-human impressions.

How to Protect Your Business from Ad Fraud
Rich shares practical strategies for brands and agencies to detect fraud, optimize their ad spend, and demand accountability from ad platforms.

Building a Resilient Business in Digital Marketing
Lessons from Rich’s entrepreneurial journey, from bootstrapping businesses to navigating industry shifts and staying ahead of fraudsters.

Rich’s Top Tips for Businesses and Marketers

• Don’t hire friends—business and personal relationships don’t always mix.
• Always validate your marketing data—bad data leads to bad decisions.
• Set up a retained earnings account to fund growth opportunities without external capital.

Connect with Rich and Learn More

Website: Anura
LinkedIn: Rich Kahn

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Zara Hajihashemi, AI Engineer and Founder of Cybele Health, joins the podcast to share her journey from Apple tech lead to femtech entrepreneur, driven by a mission to revolutionize women's health with AI-driven insights. With a PhD in machine learning, Zara spent six years at Apple leading cross-functional AI projects before founding Cybele Health to address the inefficiencies in healthcare for professional women and working mothers.

In this episode, you'll discover:

The Evolution from AI Engineer to Founder: Learn how Zara’s experience at Apple, coupled with her PhD research, shaped her vision for Cybele Health and the need for AI-powered, personalized healthcare solutions.

Bridging the Healthcare Gap with AI: Zara discusses how Cybele Health is leveraging AI to provide 360-degree visibility into women's health, improving communication between patients and providers to create personalized wellness strategies.

The Importance of Personalized Health: Discover how diet, mental health, and physical activity should be aligned with a woman’s biological cycle to optimize well-being and productivity.

The Role of Functional Medicine and Preventative Care: Zara explains why being proactive rather than reactive in healthcare is crucial, and how AI can assist in creating sustainable, individualized health plans.

The Future of AI in Femtech: Explore how AI is revolutionizing the health industry by acting as a 24/7 health assistant, providing predictive insights, and closing gaps in traditional medical care.

Building a Health-Tech Startup: Zara shares her journey of founding Cybele Health, securing early users, and the marketing strategies she is employing to drive adoption among both providers and consumers.

Zara's Top Health and Wellness Tips:

• Read labels and avoid processed foods with unrecognizable ingredients.
• Sync your diet, workouts, and daily habits with your biological cycle for optimal results.
• Prioritize functional medicine approaches for proactive rather than reactive health management.

Connect with Zara and Learn More:

Website join the waitlist: Cybele Health
LinkedIn: Zara Hajihashemi

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Amy Winner, Co-founder of Wheels Up Collective, joins the podcast to share how she has transformed the traditional agency model through innovative thinking and adaptable leadership. With 25 years of experience turning market uncertainty into growth opportunities, Amy shares how she built a thriving agency during the pandemic that now serves as a beacon for both marketing talent and growth-focused clients.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Revolutionizing Agency Culture: Learn how Amy is reshaping the marketing agency landscape by prioritizing talent happiness, embracing remote flexibility, and creating an environment where seasoned professionals can do their best work while maintaining work-life balance.

Strategic Marketing in the Digital Age: Amy reveals her three-pillar content strategy, comparing SEO to a 401k investment and sharing how to balance AI automation with human creativity for maximum impact.

The Art of Client Partnership: Discover Wheels Up's unique approach to client relationships, from their referral-only model to their philosophy on setting expectations and managing growth-stage companies through market uncertainty.

Fostering Sustainable Growth: Amy discusses how prioritizing team wellbeing and selective client partnerships has led to remarkable resilience through market fluctuations.

Lessons from Scaling Success: Amy shares insights from growing Wheels Up from a pandemic-era startup to a 30-person powerhouse, including navigating the challenges of rapid scaling and market downturns.

Amy's Top 3 Tips for Founders:

1. Prioritize Quality Talent: Never compromise on hiring the best people possible.
2. Stay True to Your Vision: Define what you want and pursue it relentlessly.
3. Find Your Sweet Spot: Ensure genuine passion for your work and industry.

Connect with Amy and Learn More:

• Website: Wheels Up Collecting Marketing Agency
• LinkedIn: Amy Winner

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I sit down with Mackenzie Doheny, Founder and CEO of Antares, to explore her remarkable 24-year journey supporting C-suite executives at the highest level. Mackenzie’s career spans the nonprofit, private, and public sectors, where she has partnered with top executives, presidents, and founders. Her work has redefined the role of executive assistants, transforming them into integral strategic partners. Through Antares, Mackenzie brings mentorship, training, and innovation to the forefront of executive support.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Redefining the Executive Assistant Role: Discover how Mackenzie is shifting the perception of executive assistants from task-doers to strategic partners, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence and chemistry in these roles.

The Gaps in Executive Assistance Training: Mackenzie explains the lack of formal education for executive assistants and how Antares fills this gap with innovative mentorship and structured training programs.

Coaching for Success: Learn how Antares’ coaching programs equip executive assistants and their CEOs with the tools and skills needed for seamless collaboration, including emotional intelligence, executive presence, and AI integration.

Building a Community of Executive Assistants: Mackenzie highlights the importance of fostering community among EAs and how Antares connects like-minded professionals to share insights, support, and growth opportunities.

Lessons from Starting Antares: Mackenzie opens up about the challenges she faced in launching her company, from hiring missteps to navigating early failures, and how those experiences shaped her leadership approach.

Mackenzie’s Top 3 Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:

1. Leverage Your Network: Build strong connections with mentors and peers.
2. Stay Agile: Keep an eye on market trends to remain relevant.
3. Embrace Failure: View failures as opportunities to grow and improve.

Connect with Mackenzie and Learn More:

• Website: antaresinsights.com
• LinkedIn: Mackenzie Doheny | LinkedIn

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