The Life of a CTO in the Age of AI with Lauri Tarkkala at Smartly.io

On this special episode celebrating International Women’s Day, we feature Alice Li, founder of First Day, and host Nicola Mendelsohn, Head of Global Business Group at Meta, as they dive into the challenges and triumphs of leveraging technology in female entrepreneurship. They explore the personal motivations behind First Day's inception and the pivotal role of AI in shaping marketing strategies. The conversation also touches on the importance of resilience, strategic planning, and the impact of social initiatives in today's business landscape.   Key Takeaways:   (01:28) Alice Li's personal motivation for starting First Day. (02:31) The social impact of First Day's products. (03:07) Encouragement for women founders to ‘take the leap’. (03:42) Balancing professional responsibilities and personal well-being. (04:45) Focus on omnichannel growth and Meta investments. (05:31) Strategies for increased performance and sales. (06:14) Exploiting the Q5 concept for scaling up. (07:05) Role of AI in First Day's operations. (08:26) Building a company culture valuing effectiveness over background.   Finally, as we face the year 2024, may we ask you this: How can you lend a hand and help another woman on her path to success?    Resources Mentioned: First Day   #innovation #technology #genz #metaverse #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing  

On our latest episode, Alex McArthur, Chief Marketing Officer at Kizik, and Jimmie Stone, Vice President and Global Head of Creative Shop at Meta, leaders in marketing innovation, delve into the transformative power of customer connection and AI in marketing. They share insights on Kizik's unique approach and the role of creativity in reaching diverse audiences. They look at the future of footwear marketing and how AI is reshaping creative strategies.    Key Takeaways:   (03:07) Kizik, the hands-free shoe company. (06:19) Kizik's marketing strategy for the younger audience. (07:21) Creative advertising for Kizik. (08:17) Customer feedback and video survey usage. (13:20) The importance of original content in marketing. (17:31) AI's role in creative processes and marketing. (22:26) 'Conversational marketing' and brand alignment with community culture. (25:55) Future trends in footwear and marketing. (30:10) Creativity, customer connection and the future of marketing. Resources Mentioned:   Kizik   #innovation #technology #genz #metaverse #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing  

On the first episode of 2024, guests Kevin Goodwin, VP of Performance Marketing at New Engen, Inc., and Bianca Bradford, Director and Head of North American Agency at Meta, delve into the world of digital marketing with a focus on the power of Reels. They share valuable insights on leveraging Reels for enhanced engagement and digital marketing success.   Key Takeaways:   (01:23) Kevin introduces Reels as a crucial digital marketing tool. (03:47) Bianca discusses the algorithmic benefits of Reels. (05:31) Trends in user engagement with Reels. (08:15) Success stories from brands using Reels. (10:42) Strategies for creating effective Reel content. (13:57) Measuring Reels' performance. (16:20) Future of Reels in digital marketing. (18:45) Q&A session addressing listener queries.   Resources Mentioned:   New Engen’s Website   #innovation #technology #genz #metaverse #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing  

On this episode, hosts Jordan Rogers-Smith and Christine Lu are joined by Gamze Yılmaz, Head of Paid Social of Delivery Hero, as they delve into the dynamic world of Instagram and Facebook Reels. They explore its profound impact on digital marketing, highlighting Reels as a pivotal tool for driving Direct Response results through immersive short-form video content and consumer engagement.   Key Takeaways:   (04:09) Differentiation in using Reels for branding and advertising. (06:37) Adapting stories creatively for Reels. (07:26) Progressing into the language of Reels. (08:47) Explanation of product level video by Christine Lu. (09:36) Gamze Yılmaz on testing product level video. (11:36) Integrating product level video in BAU. (17:26) Testing video and images in product level video. (18:30) Tips and tricks for using Reels effectively.   #innovation #technology #genz #metaverse #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing  

Edlynne Laryea, Head of Industry, CPG Food and Beverage at Meta, hosts this episode as we delve into the complexities of marketing strategy with Byron Sharp, Professor of Marketing Science and Director of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, University of South Australia.    Key Takeaways:   (02:34) Attention as a questionable metric in advertising. (03:27) The significance of fleeting ad exposure. (04:24) Short ads can be effective. (04:40) Long-term impact of advertising over immediate sales. (07:45) Overlapping mental and physical availability for brands. (08:39) Frequent, concentrated ad exposure strategy. (13:32) Poorly-targeted advertising. (16:12) The need for more creativity in advertising. (17:30) AI's potential role in marketing. (19:17) Advertising as a long-term investment, especially during recessions. (23:45) Advice for marketers: Be open-minded and skeptical.     Resources Mentioned: ”How Brands Grow: What Marketers Don't Know” by Byron Sharp   #innovation #technology #genz #metaverse #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing  

In an exploration of AI's influence on business operations and customer interactions, Cristina Fonseca, VP of Product at Zendesk, and Shadi Copty, Senior Director of Business Engineering at Meta, discuss the future of AI in the corporate landscape.    Key Takeaways:   (04:38) AI existing “off the shelf.” (09:04) AI's transformative role in customer service. (12:18) Initial skepticism faced by agents when introducing AI. (14:32) How AI assists new agents in remote working environments. (20:21) Using AI to enhance user experience. (21:04) Challenges in transitioning technologies to customer interfaces. (21:40) The irreplaceability of deep thinking in professional realms. (22:01) Future prospects of AI integration in daily operations. (22:27) AI as a ubiquitous technological tool in the near future. (23:30) AI's evolving role in shaping human and business interactions.     Resources Mentioned:   AI at Meta   #innovation #technology #genz #metaverse #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing  

We’re living through times of great technological change, with emerging trends like AI shaping the way businesses and marketers operate on just about every level, and CTOs must be ready to adapt to these rapid transformations.   On today’s episode, we’re joined by Lauri Tarkkala, Chief Technology Officer at Smartly.io. We talk about:   - Lauri’s career path and where he is today. - A typical day in Lauri’s life as CTO. - The potential of AI in the fields of technology and marketing. - Using AI in targeting and measurement. - Measuring the impact of advertising in a world where privacy is a key concern. - Tech solutions to challenges around incrementality. - Lauri’s approach to fostering innovation in his teams.     #innovation #technology #genz #metaverse #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing  

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Wesley Saraceni, Senior Director of Digital Commerce (E-Commerce and DTC) at Mondelēz International   We talk about: - Wes’ background and what led him to his current role. - How direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing brings brands and customers closer. - Some exciting ways Mondelēz International is using DTC to connect with its audiences. - What are some of the biggest challenges facing marketers today? - Thinking about privacy and security in a new era of digital marketing. - How Mondelēz International is thinking about performance marketing. - How Meta’s platforms can help with performance marketing. - Predictions for digital commerce over the next decade.         #innovation #technology #genz #metaverse #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Luke Hurd, Director of Experience Design (XR) at VMLY&R. Luke is here to discuss augmented reality and immersive spaces and what these concepts mean for today’s advertisers.   We talk about:   - What exactly is AR? - How can people discover and use AR? - How AR storytelling has evolved. - The importance of interaction when it comes to AR. - Using Instagram Reels in storytelling.   Resources mentioned: Instagram Reels   #innovation #technology #genz #metaverse #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing  

Today’s podcast features a talk from Jake Bailey, Senior Director, Head of Industry and VC Partnerships at Meta, which covers:   - Performance 5 — five data-backed strategies to help marketers maximize performance. - How these five pillars have evolved and been refined. - The importance of account simplification. - How advertisers can succeed with automation. - How Meta’s Advantage tools can help tap into the power of automation. - How performance marketers have achieved great results with Advantage+ shopping campaigns. - Why creative differentiation is so important. - Using customer data and measuring results effectively.   Resources mentioned: Performance 5 About Advantage+ shopping campaigns #innovation #technology #genz #metaverse #financialservices #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing