When Stephen Sakash began his journey from journalism school to digital marketing, he never imagined he'd be at the forefront of using artificial intelligence to make marketing more human. Yet that's exactly where his path has led him – developing an AI Chief Marketing Officer tool that helps businesses uncover their higher purpose and translate it into emotionally resonant campaigns.

At the heart of Sakash's approach is a concept he calls BLISS: Building Love Into Scalable Systems. This framework addresses a critical challenge many growing companies face – maintaining authenticity and emotional connection while scaling operations. Without deliberate attention to these elements, businesses often lose the very soul that made them successful as they systematize their processes. Sakash's solution? Consistently finding ways to infuse empathy and purpose into every aspect of marketing and operations.

The results speak for themselves. According to research Sakash cites, customers with strong emotional connections deliver 306% more lifetime value. This underscores why marketers should focus less on features and benefits and more on crafting narratives that make people feel something meaningful. His AI tool helps uncover these emotional connections while saving marketers significant time – potentially allowing them to accomplish in minutes what might otherwise take days.

What makes Sakash's perspective particularly valuable is his focus on using AI to enhance human empathy rather than diminish it. While many AI developers prioritize efficiency and profit maximization, he deliberately programmed his tool to prompt marketers to tell better stories and consider all stakeholders – not just shareholders. "AI is only going to amplify our better angels or our inner demons," Sakash warns, "and we need more people talking about how it can amplify our better angels."

For aspiring marketing professionals, Sakash offers clear guidance: find meaning in your work and look for ways to build love into whatever systems you touch. By approaching business from this perspective, you'll create more effective campaigns and contribute to more fulfilling workplaces where people feel connected to something larger than themselves. Subscribe to our podcast for more conversations with digital innovators who are reshaping the future of media and marketing.

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This podcast is proudly sponsored by USC Annenberg’s Master of Science in Digital Media Management (MSDMM) program. An online master’s designed to prepare practitioners to understand the evolving media landscape, make data-driven and ethical decisions, and build a more equitable future by leading diverse teams with the technical, artistic, analytical, and production skills needed to create engaging content and technologies for the global marketplace. Learn more or apply today at https://dmm.usc.edu.

What if everything you thought you knew about sales and personal branding was backward? Rob Durant, CEO, US Operations of The Institute for Sales Professionals, challenges conventional wisdom by revealing that successful sales and compelling personal brands aren't actually about you—they're about solving problems for others.

Durant's mission to transform the sales profession began with his own experience as a 14-year-old cold caller with no training. Today, his organization provides rigorous, globally-recognized certification that ensures sales professionals deliver value rather than simply pursuing transactions. By partnering with universities worldwide, Durant is reshaping the profession at its roots, giving students the foundation they never had.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Durant reveals what he calls "the secret to success in life"—it's not about what you know or who you know, but who knows you for what you know. This perspective shift reframes how we should approach LinkedIn, job interviews, and professional relationships. Rather than self-promoting, Durant advocates using social platforms to be "approachable, sociable, and generous," creating authentic connections that naturally lead to opportunities.

For students and young professionals, Durant offers counterintuitive yet powerful advice: your resume, LinkedIn profile, and interview responses should focus on solving employers' problems, not listing your accomplishments. He also makes a compelling case for everyone to start a podcast, not just for audience-building but to develop transferable skills highly valued in today's digital workplace.

Even as AI transforms business communication, Durant emphasizes that genuine human connection remains irreplaceable in sales and relationship-building. As he puts it, "Have your bot call my bot and they can do digital lunch sometime"—but real problems need real conversations with real people.

Whether you're a seasoned sales professional, a student planning your career, or anyone looking to build a meaningful digital presence, this episode offers practical wisdom for connecting authentically in an increasingly digital world.

The ISP has a free associate level membership which provides access to a number of our training programs, webinars, and podcasts. And right now the ISP is offering full membership access at no charge to students in formal Sales major, minor, and certificate programs.

This podcast is proudly sponsored by USC Annenberg’s Master of Science in Digital Media Management (MSDMM) program. An online master’s designed to prepare practitioners to understand the evolving media landscape, make data-driven and ethical decisions, and build a more equitable future by leading diverse teams with the technical, artistic, analytical, and production skills needed to create engaging content and technologies for the global marketplace. Learn more or apply today at https://dmm.usc.edu.

Marc Viale takes us on a fascinating journey through the evolution of digital marketing, from the early dot-com days to today's AI revolution, revealing profound insights about growth strategy that challenge conventional wisdom.

Starting in Philadelphia before moving to San Francisco in 1991, Viale's path from direct mail shops to founding Lab415 wasn't straightforward. His breakthrough came when he taught himself SQL database marketing in the late 90s—a skill most marketers avoided. This technical foundation allowed him to access customer insights directly without waiting for engineers, giving him a significant competitive advantage throughout his career.

At The RealReal, Viale helped solve a fundamental trust problem in luxury resale. While eBay operated as a "buyer beware" marketplace, The RealReal differentiated itself through authentication, taking possession of items and verifying their authenticity before selling. This product-focused approach to marketing created a thriving ecosystem where sellers could quickly liquidate luxury items and buyers could purchase with confidence. Perhaps most surprising was his counterintuitive discovery that as marketing spend increased, customer acquisition costs actually decreased—a phenomenon he attributes to proper full-funnel marketing that continuously expanded their audience.

Now with Lab415, Viale helps companies think beyond just Meta and Google advertising. He emphasizes the importance of brand pillars, content strategy, and top-of-funnel awareness—elements often overlooked by companies focused solely on performance marketing. He's also passionate about helping marketers craft compelling narratives about marketing performance for boards and CFOs through media mix modeling that demonstrates correlations between marketing activities and business outcomes.

For today's marketers, Viale's advice is clear: never stop learning, especially about AI and emerging technologies. While he sees tremendous value in AI for content creation and personalization, he maintains that human judgment remains essential. Ready to transform your marketing approach? Start thinking beyond performance metrics to build a brand that scales through trust and innovative storytelling.

This podcast is proudly sponsored by USC Annenberg’s Master of Science in Digital Media Management (MSDMM) program. An online master’s designed to prepare practitioners to understand the evolving media landscape, make data-driven and ethical decisions, and build a more equitable future by leading diverse teams with the technical, artistic, analytical, and production skills needed to create engaging content and technologies for the global marketplace. Learn more or apply today at https://dmm.usc.edu.

Jeffrey Thompson embodies what it means to be a transformational leader in today's rapidly evolving media landscape. With remarkable clarity, he walks us through his journey from being the first Chief Diversity Officer at Disney to spearheading digital strategy at Condé Nast, bringing a unique perspective on navigating massive organizational change amid technological disruption.

Thompson's approach to diversity at Disney wasn't simply about representation but about authentic storytelling that resonated globally. "Media companies are creating culture," he explains, highlighting the special responsibility entertainment companies bear in showcasing the world's richness. This philosophy guided Disney's evolution from characters like Cinderella and Snow White to developing content featuring Princess Tiana and productions like Coco and Black Panther – moves that were both culturally significant and commercially successful.

The conversation shifts to his time at Condé Nast, where he faced the monumental challenge of transitioning a traditional print publisher into the digital age. Thompson reveals his methodology for driving change: building compelling data-driven business cases that help executives visualize market trends and consumer behavior shifts. He cautions against the fate of companies like Kodak and BlackBerry that failed to transform despite having the technology to do so, emphasizing that while being first isn't always necessary, intentional planning for what's next is non-negotiable.

As Commissioner of LA County Workforce Development, Thompson now tackles how technological advancement will reshape employment across industries. From mechanics learning to service electric vehicles to healthcare transformed by analytics, he envisions pathways for workers to adapt rather than be left behind. His documentary work, including "Scrum" and the upcoming "Gibraltar Project," demonstrates his belief in finding "riches in the niches" – stories with profound impact that major studios might overlook.

Join us for this masterclass in leadership during periods of massive change, and discover why Thompson's parting advice to seek perspectives different from your own might be the most crucial skill in an increasingly personalized digital world.

This podcast is proudly sponsored by USC Annenberg’s Master of Science in Digital Media Management (MSDMM) program. An online master’s designed to prepare practitioners to understand the evolving media landscape, make data-driven and ethical decisions, and build a more equitable future by leading diverse teams with the technical, artistic, analytical, and production skills needed to create engaging content and technologies for the global marketplace. Learn more or apply today at https://dmm.usc.edu.

Mariam Chtchyan never planned to enter the tech world. With a linguistics degree and plans to become a teacher, she accidentally found herself in an interview for a tech company when she thought she was applying for a translator position. Today, she's the COO of HackTech, an Armenian software development company that partners with clients across the United States and Europe.

This unexpected journey forms the backdrop of our fascinating conversation about navigating career transitions, building confidence, and the changing landscape of global tech development. Mariam shares her early struggles of learning technical terminology – keeping a notebook during meetings to write down unfamiliar words she would research at night. This determination to learn, coupled with transferable skills from her linguistics background, propelled her from project manager to executive leadership.

What makes HackTech stand out is not just their global client base but their commitment to diversity. With women making up 51% of their workforce, they're challenging tech industry norms. Mariam discusses how maintaining an in-office environment (rather than remote work) creates stronger team dynamics and communication channels, particularly valuable for complex software engineering projects. She also reveals how they've mastered working across time zones with their exclusively international client base, some relationships spanning nearly nine years.

Beyond her executive role, Mariam hosts the "Digital Shifts" podcast, coaches aspiring project managers, and balances being a mother to her young son. Her perspective on continuous learning, embracing AI tools as productivity enhancers, and building confidence as a woman in tech offers valuable insights for anyone considering a career pivot or looking to advance in the digital space.

Subscribe to Mediascape for more conversations with digital changemakers who are transforming industries and breaking barriers across the global technology landscape.

This podcast is proudly sponsored by USC Annenberg’s Master of Science in Digital Media Management (MSDMM) program. An online master’s designed to prepare practitioners to understand the evolving media landscape, make data-driven and ethical decisions, and build a more equitable future by leading diverse teams with the technical, artistic, analytical, and production skills needed to create engaging content and technologies for the global marketplace. Learn more or apply today at https://dmm.usc.edu.

What happens when a seasoned digital marketer embraces AI not just as a tool, but as a foundational part of their entire business operation? Justin Lane of Adalane Media Group pulls back the curtain on his agency's remarkable AI transformation in this eye-opening conversation.

Justin reveals how he's built a sophisticated system of custom AI agents that have fundamentally changed his marketing approach. "I fire up a new agent for everything I do," he explains, detailing how he trains specialized models for different marketing tasks—from analyzing Google Ads performance to generating platform-specific content that doesn't sound AI-generated.

The results are striking. By analyzing client phone calls, Justin's AI discovered keywords that customers mentioned but never searched for online, leading to 800 targeted LinkedIn posts addressing these hidden pain points. His systems can personalize websites for individual visitors, rewrite content to match stakeholders' preferences, and even generate code so effectively that Justin admits, "I'm done writing code. I literally just have it write it."

What makes this conversation particularly valuable is Justin's candor about both capabilities and limitations. He explains the technical concepts of LoRas and RAG in accessible terms, distinguishes between hallucinations and creative output, and acknowledges that despite these advances, human creativity remains essential. "All of this AI was trained on things that creative people built," he notes.

For marketers wondering where to start their own AI journey, Justin offers practical advice: begin with accessible tools like ChatGPT or Claude, focus on asking the right questions, and systematically build your knowledge base. The competitive advantage, he suggests, belongs to early adopters—at least for now.

Ready to explore how AI might transform your marketing approach? Listen now and discover what's possible when you embrace the AI revolution happening right under our noses.

This podcast is proudly sponsored by USC Annenberg’s Master of Science in Digital Media Management (MSDMM) program. An online master’s designed to prepare practitioners to understand the evolving media landscape, make data-driven and ethical decisions, and build a more equitable future by leading diverse teams with the technical, artistic, analytical, and production skills needed to create engaging content and technologies for the global marketplace. Learn more or apply today at https://dmm.usc.edu.

What if the secret to digital success isn't just about who you know, but how authentically you connect with them? Greg Wasserman reveals his powerful philosophy—"Life is about time and relationships. You have no clue where one conversation is going to lead"—that has guided his journey from traditional media sales through Yahoo and CBS to becoming a respected voice in the podcasting industry.

This conversation delves deep into the often-misunderstood world of podcast monetization, challenging the notion that sponsorships are the only viable revenue path. Greg shares how treating your podcast as part of your business strategy rather than a standalone entity creates significantly more value. We explore the critical differences between affiliates, referrals, and brand ambassadors—distinctions that can transform your approach to partnership marketing.

The true gem of this episode emerges when we discuss vulnerability as the ultimate connection point in digital media. "Podcasting is all about vulnerability," Greg explains. "Lean into that piece... people will connect with you more." This authentic approach builds the crucial know-like-trust factor that drives business relationships in ways perfectly polished content never could.

For USC students and alumni, there's special insight into leveraging the powerful Trojan Network, which Greg credits as "truly the greatest network" he's encountered. His practical advice on making meaningful connections—whether through alumni groups, professional communities, or podcast audiences—provides actionable strategies for digital changemakers at any career stage.

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn to continue this conversation and discover how time and relationships might be the missing pieces in your digital success strategy.

This podcast is proudly sponsored by USC Annenberg’s Master of Science in Digital Media Management (MSDMM) program. An online master’s designed to prepare practitioners to understand the evolving media landscape, make data-driven and ethical decisions, and build a more equitable future by leading diverse teams with the technical, artistic, analytical, and production skills needed to create engaging content and technologies for the global marketplace. Learn more or apply today at https://dmm.usc.edu.

The battle between beneficial AI innovation and malicious exploitation is intensifying daily. Anatoly Kvitnitsky, USC Marshall alum and founder of AI or Not, takes us deep into this crucial conflict where digital trust hangs in the balance.

Drawing from his extensive background in fintech, venture capital, and fraud prevention, Kvitnitsky created a company with a deceptively simple name but profoundly important mission: distinguishing between human-created and AI-generated content. What began as a tool for businesses has evolved into a shield protecting everyone from increasingly sophisticated digital deception.

The stories Kvitnitsky shares are both fascinating and alarming. A woman spent six figures on supposed human-created art only to discover it was AI-generated. Another lost $850,000 and her marriage to a deep-fake "Brad Pitt." Medical professionals discovered AI-generated x-rays submitted for insurance fraud. These aren't distant threats but present dangers affecting real people.

Most unsettling is how accessible these deceptive technologies have become. Voice cloning requires just 20-30 seconds of audio—approximately the time it takes to answer an unknown call. Image generation has progressed from obvious flaws like six-fingered hands to photorealistic perfection indistinguishable to the human eye. This is precisely why we need AI detection technology working at the pixel level to identify patterns invisible to us.

Despite these dangers, Anatoly maintains optimism about AI's positive potential. He recommends Claude for writing, Perplexity for research, ChatGPT for reasoning, and shares valuable insights about when to trust these tools with sensitive information. His company's freemium model ensures everyone—from businesses to students—can access protection against AI fraud.

Whether you're a digital media professional, concerned about online safety, or simply curious about distinguishing truth from fiction in our increasingly synthetic world, this episode provides essential knowledge for navigating the AI revolution. Question everything—your financial and emotional wellbeing may depend on it.

This podcast is proudly sponsored by USC Annenberg’s Master of Science in Digital Media Management (MSDMM) program. An online master’s designed to prepare practitioners to understand the evolving media landscape, make data-driven and ethical decisions, and build a more equitable future by leading diverse teams with the technical, artistic, analytical, and production skills needed to create engaging content and technologies for the global marketplace. Learn more or apply today at https://dmm.usc.edu.