Tame the Mobile Beast Transcending Traditional Boundaries in Marketing with Michael Kassan, Founder & CEO of MediaLink
In today’s episode of Masters of MAX, Tom is joined by an amazing guest, Michael Kassan, Michael is the founder, chairman, and CEO of MediaLink, the media and marketing industry’s most trusted and connected strategic advisory firm, specializing in identifying areas of opportunity, optimization, and ultimately growth for its clients.
Michael is an absolute veteran in the industry, having worked with executives at brand companies across various spaces. On the show, he emphasizes the importance of being a good storyteller as a CMO both externally to customers and internally to leadership and finance teams. Michael believes that the role of the CMO has evolved beyond just marketing, and now includes responsibilities in growth, communications, and product.
Michael acknowledges that mobile app consumers are highly valuable to brands and stresses the need for brands to be involved in the creation of content, rather than just supplying commercial messages. He believes that purpose-driven marketing and content creation can have a significant impact on both brand growth and cultural change. Overall, this conversation provides valuable insights into the role of the CMO, the importance of storytelling and customer experience in marketing, and the evolving landscape of mobile apps and brand content creation.
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Guest Bio
Michael E. Kassan is the founder and CEO of MediaLink, a leading strategic advisory firm. Described as the “ultimate power broker,” he is a trusted advisor on speed dial with every major executive in the media, marketing, entertainment and technology C-Suite. Kassan and his global team of more than 200 specialists provide counsel for navigating the age of digital disruption in areas including: marketing transformation, data and technology solutions, growth strategy, private equity advisory, executive search and talent advisory, and entertainment, sports and culture marketing. MediaLink is a part of United Talent Agency (UTA), which, together with Kassan, acquired the firm from Ascential pLc in 2021. Kassan had sold to Ascential pLc in 2017. In 2019, Kassan was inducted into the American Advertising Federation’s Hall of Fame, which is considered the highest honor in advertising.
Prior to founding MediaLink in 2003, Kassan was President/COO and Vice-Chairman of Initiative Media Worldwide, growing billings from $1.5 billion to over $10 billion. Before that, he was President and COO of International Video Entertainment (Artisan Entertainment).
In addition, Kassan has served on the Board of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society, the Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy and the Cultural Affairs Commission – City of Los Angeles and has been Chairman of the State Senate Select Committee on the Entertainment Industry. Kassan currently serves as Chair of the UJA-New York Marketing Communications Committee as well as on the Boards of the American Advertising Federation, the Ad Council, and the Hollywood Radio and Television Society. He served as Chairman of the California State Senate Select Committee on the Entertainment Industry.
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Guest Quote
"Chief Marketing Officers necessitate more technology decisions than ever before, and Chief Technology Officers need to make more marketing decisions than ever before. I was a CEO that did understand that the person with the pocket square (CMO), and the person with the pocket protector (CTO) actually had to have the same pockets." – Michael Kassan
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Time Stamps
*(01:49) What does the CEO not know about the CMO?
*(04:17) The evolution of the CMO
*(07:48) Why it all comes down to storytelling
*(10:07) How a succesful CMO proves value
*(12:57) Who is responsible for customer experience?
*(14:25) Why you need your brand to excel on all platforms
*(16:12) Taking lessons from the quick service industry
*(18:08) The power of surprise and delight
*(20:02) Where does the responsibility lie for a mobile app?
*(22:12) What marketing trends are out there between industries?
*(27:17) The push and pull of advertising your core beliefs
*(29:38) Rapid Fire Questions
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Links