Earned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy

In Ep. 129 of Earned, Conor sits down with Brad Schultz, co-founder and CMO of BeatBox. To start, we dive into how Brad and his high school buddy Justin Fenchel (fellow co-founder and CEO of BeatBox) evolved from teenage business enthusiasts to the masterminds behind a beverage revolution. Brad pulls back the curtain around the pair’s experience on Shark Tank, and we hear how the critical mentorship of Mark Cuban fueled the brand’s trajectory towards innovation and market success. We then discuss the strategic shifts that propelled BeatBox to new heights, like transitioning to eco-conscious Tetra Pak packaging. We explore the complex challenges of the alcohol industry's regulatory landscape and how Beatbox has navigated them with grace. Switching gears, Brad touches on Beatbox’s influencer marketing program and the community-building strategies that have kept the brand top of mind for consumers. To close the show, Brad reveals his favorite BeatBox flavors. In this episode, you’ll learn:  How leveraging word-of-mouth marketing, real-life experiences, and influencer partnerships can expand your brand. How strategic product shifts, like transitioning to eco-friendly single-serve packaging, and a strong brand identity centered on community have propelled BeatBox to the top of the alcohol industry.  How BeatBox’s Shark Tank appearance, mentorship from Mark Cuban, and subsequent strategic decisions played pivotal roles in navigating financial hardships and regulatory challenges in the alcohol industry.   Resources: Beatbox - https://beatboxbeverages.com/   Connect with the Guest: Brad’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradorbradley/   Connect with Conor Begley & CreatorIQ: Conor’s LinkedIn - @conormbegley CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq   Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @TribeDynamics CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ  

In this Earned x CreatorIQ Connect Europe session, Conor introduces Kory Marchisotto, CMO of e.l.f. Beauty and President of Keys Soulcare. To start, we dive into what e.l.f. achieved during 2023, and how the brand has managed to lock down the title of No. 1 stock on the NYSE out of over 1.6k companies. Kory shares how e.l.f. has climbed the ranks and caught up with long-tenured beauty brands. We then learn about the ‘e.l.f. Ethos’ of being bold disruptors with kind hearts, which is what guides the team from the C-suite outward. Kory discusses the art of attracting kindred spirits to work with e.l.f., and how these new team members enter the orbit of inspiration. Kory shares how to avoid the “logo slap” when it comes to working with other brands, as well as how to get your whole to be greater than the sum of each brand’s separate parts. To close the keynote, Kory discusses e.l.f.’s efforts to listen while people are speaking, bring diversity into the boardrooms, and equip its team to be agile enough to move at the speed of culture. In this episode, you will learn: How e.l.f. has managed to lock down the title of No. 1 stock on the NYSE out of over 1.6k companies How the ‘e.l.f. Ethos’ empowers the entire team to be bold disruptors with kind hearts in an industry that can be ruthless  The five-step formula that Kory calls the “blueprint to success,” which has propelled e.l.f. into the leading spot in EMV for the beauty category   Resources: E.L.F Beauty - https://www.elfbeauty.com/   Connect with the Guest: Kory’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kory-marchisotto-0b8aa87/   Connect with Conor Begley & CreatorIQ: Conor’s LinkedIn - @conormbegley CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq   Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @TribeDynamics CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ

In Ep. 128 of Earned, Conor sits down with Deepica Mutyala, founder and CEO of inclusive beauty brand Live Tinted. To start, we dive into how Deepica harnessed her online influence to establish the beauty empire that is Live Tinted. Deepica shares why she created the viral Hue Stick, a product that has won three Allure Best of Beauty Awards since launch, and has helped fill a void in the beauty industry for underrepresented audiences. We then hear about the early days of the influencer landscape, and Deepica reveals the shift from big-name collaborations to partnerships built around genuine affinity. We discuss Deepica’s content creation journey, from being on the Today Show as a beauty expert, to founding her own brand. Deepica recounts pitching Live Tinted to industry titans like Sephora and Ulta, and emphasizes the importance of aligning with partners that share your vision. To close the show, Deepica discusses her quest for fulfillment beyond financial success, and shares how she is still searching for the balance between business achievements and personal life. In this episode, you will learn: How entrepreneurship can bring emotional complexity, with challenges such as managing stress and finding fulfillment beyond financial success. The influential power of choosing the right retail partner and the role enthusiasm can play in this symbiotic relationship.  The value of embracing your identity as a content creator and leveraging your unique narrative to distinguish your personal brand in a saturated market.   Resources: Live Tinted - https://www.livetinted.com/   Connect with the Guest: Deepica’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepica-mutyala-0a063711/   Connect with Conor Begley & CreatorIQ: Conor’s LinkedIn - @conormbegley CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq   Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @TribeDynamics CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq   CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ

Larissa Jensen, SVP at Circana, discusses the evolution of beauty standards, the shift to a personalized digital marketplace, and the rise of 'prejuvenation' trends. She also explores the challenges brands face, the role of social media analytics, and how Circana provides insight into online buzz and sales. Larissa shares career advice emphasizing curiosity and perseverance, and highlights the importance of finding joy in work.

In Ep. 126 of Earned, Conor sits down (again!) with Ashton Wall, co-founder of GateMaker Community and expert in all things creator economy. To start, we dive into how Ashton achieved her dream of owning her own B2B company, GateMaker Community—a brand-focused, performance-driven earned media agency built around the power of community. Ashton shares GateMaker’s greatest strength as a marketing agency, and how they’ve bridged the gap between the agency and brand teams. We then learn about Ashton’s partnership with her co-founder and “operational genius” Amelia Soohoo. Ashton reveals the biggest mistakes that brands make in their creator marketing programs,  as well as the strategies she’s seen lead to success. We explore how brands are shifting their product development processes, and Ashton shares why she believes creator marketing should be everybody’s job—from finance to engineering. Switching gears, Ashton shares what it was like to build a business from the ground up, and why she recruits younger professionals to her team. To close the show, Ashton lends us some career advice, before revealing why she decided to move to Paris.  In this episode, you’ll learn:  Why you should invest in long-term influencer partnerships over one-off content bursts to power sustainable brand growth. How to build a strategic budget for influencer marketing that balances gifting, events, and paid partnerships to maximize impact. Why a "human-first" philosophy in business translates to powerful influencer engagements and authentic brand narratives. Resources: GateMaker Community - https://gatemakercommunity.com/   Connect with the Guest: Ashton’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashton-wall-marketing/   Connect with Conor Begley & CreatorIQ: Conor’s LinkedIn - @conormbegley CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq   Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @TribeDynamics CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ  

In Ep. 125 of Earned, Conor sits down with Jackie Pimentel, Senior Director of Creators and Threads at trillion-dollar social networking conglomerate Meta. To start, we dive into the origin story of Facebook, and learn how our previously fragmented world has become increasingly more connected. Jackie shares why Meta keeps  users at the center of everything they do, and how that contributes to a constantly evolving platform. We then pivot to Reels, and Jackie reveals that they’ve grown to over two billion views per day. We dive into Meta’s newest platform—Threads—and hear how the team incorporated “FOMO” into the launch strategy. Jackie reveals the secrets to a successful product launch, and we discuss the diverse and vibrant communities that have grown within each of Meta’s platforms. We then explore Jackie’s own publishing journey, and hear how she found her authentic voice, before she praises creators for everything they do. To close the show, Jackie shares how she strives to live a balanced life as a leader and a mother. In this episode, you’ll learn:  How strategically balancing technology and human insight propelled the growth and evolution of Meta's product suite. How Meta leverages community feedback to drive successful product launches and increase user engagement. Why Meta encourages its users to embrace their humanness and share their authentic selves on social platforms.   Resources: Meta - https://about.meta.com/   Connect with the Guest: Jackie’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-pim/   Connect with Conor Begley & CreatorIQ: Conor’s LinkedIn - @conormbegley CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq   Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @TribeDynamics CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ

In Ep. 124 of Earned, Conor sits down with Courtney Shields, social media icon (with over 1M Instagram followers) and Co-founder of fast-growing beauty brand DIBS. To start, we dive into the ups and the downs of product creation, and learn the story behind two of DIBS Beauty’s most successful product launches. Courtney shares why she needs to feel 100% confident in a product before putting it out in the world, and how that only enhances the excitement of seeing DIBS “in the wild.” With over 10 years of experience in social media and a passion for beauty, Courtney explains how the idea for DIBS Beauty came out of understanding her community’s needs and wanting to create a solution for them. We unpack how Courtney built a loyal fanbase for DIBS Beauty in its early stages by finding people who truly love and use the brand organically, before hearing why the DIBS Beauty team focuses on the entire experience of the product to take the guesswork out of beauty. Next, Courtney reveals the secret to her success co-founding a brand as a creator, and how her personal experiences as a creator have helped inform DIBS Beauty’s influencer marketing strategy. We then dive into Courtney’s life as a creator and hear where her “line” is when it comes to sharing her personal life online. Courtney reveals her “evolve or die” mindset when it comes to ever-changing social media platforms, and how she approaches Instagram versus TikTok. To close the show, Courtney reminds us that what you see on social media is a packaged polished version of people, and that if you don’t like following someone—unfollow them!  In this episode, you’ll learn:  How balancing transparency and privacy in personal branding can foster an authentic connection with audiences without compromising personal boundaries. The importance of evolving content strategies across platforms, like shifting from Instagram to TikTok, to stay relevant and engaged with your community. The critical role of personal experiences in shaping a brand's narrative and product development, as seen through the creation of DIBS Beauty. Resources: Dibs - https://dibsbeauty.com/collections/all   Connect with the Guest: Courtney’s Website - https://courtneyshields.com/   Connect with Conor Begley & CreatorIQ: Conor’s LinkedIn - @conormbegley CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq   Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @TribeDynamics CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ  

Michelle Crossan-Matos, CMO of Ulta Beauty, discusses shaping beauty as a force for good, Ulta's massive loyalty program with 42M members, challenges of being a multi-brand retailer, and the importance of finding happiness. The episode explores authenticity in leadership, energy management, and the power of positivity.

In Episode 122 of Earned, Conor sits down with Taylor Frankel, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Nudestix. To start, we dive into the founding story of Nudestix. Back in 2014, at the young age of 17, Taylor launched the brand in collaboration with her mother (Jenny Frankel) and sister (Ally Frankel) back in 2014. With a desire to create a product for those wanting “just enough” to feel more put together, the mother-daughter trio was armed with Jenny’s experience at beauty brand CoverFX. With Nudestix’s EMV surging 99% over the last four months, we learn about the data-driven strategy behind the brand’s growth—and Nudestix has utilized CreatorIQ to achieve this momentum. Next, we explore how Nudestix views relationship-building with creators, and how being community-driven has gotten the brand to where it is today. Taylor speaks to her personal goals as a founder, and how even as a public face of the company, she still finds balance when it comes to sharing her content. By enforcing boundaries, Taylor has built and maintained her own following, sharing some of the day-to-day tasks she performs as a founder and what it takes to build a business. We then learn about how Nudestix formed partnerships with high-profile celebrities such as Hillary Duff and Sophia Ritchie Grange, and how these partners truly immersed themselves in the success of the business. Between the virality of Sophia’s wedding and the collaboration that Hillary inspired, Taylor praises both partners for their investment in the brand from the start. Taylor then lets us in on Nudestix’s entry strategy for the skincare and bodycare categories, which includes making sure that each line has its individualized moment. To close the show, Taylor and Conor chat about their email inbox numbers, and the goal to have it at zero each day—which reminds me…. In this episode, you’ll learn:  1. How embracing viral moments can catalyze long-term brand growth and deeper community engagement. 2. How Nudestix leverages their social media community to drive product innovation and maintain a dialogue with consumers, reinforcing trust and loyalty. 3. The balance of personal branding and privacy with Taylor's candid discussion on the intersection of the founders' identity with the brand narrative in the digital age.   Resources: NUDESTIX - https://www.nudestix.com/   Connect with the Guest: Taylor’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-frankel-0ab0b5102/?originalSubdomain=ca   Connect with Conor Begley & CreatorIQ: Conor’s LinkedIn - @conormbegley CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq   Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @TribeDynamics CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ   Timestamps: [5:31] Challenges Taylor faced in the initial stages of NUDESTIX [15:02] The viral wedding look and revenue growth [20:00] What led NUDESTIX into skincare [25:03] How Taylor balances her personal and professional lives [30:01] Strategies NUDESTIX employs to build and maintain trust within their community  

In Ep. 121 of Earned, Conor sits down with Chris Ruder, CEO of Spikeball—the world’s largest supplier of roundnet equipment. To start, we dive into the background of Spikeball, which originally launched in 1989, before learning how Chris revived the name in 2004. With his original job being a sales position at Microsoft, Chris shares that he had no idea what steps to take, but that inspiration struck after seeing the game on a family vacation. Next, we explore the journey of building up to the re-launch, and how Chris was able to use his resources to create the product we know as Spikeball. Chris speaks to how he balanced running the Spikeball brand while simultaneously working his corporate job, and claims that the energizing work he did on Spikeball was what kept him going. We discuss what Chris loved about having the autonomy to build a consumer-forward brand, and how it led to feeling fulfilled in his career. By following the community of Spikeball players and monitoring what they’re asking for, Chris empowered a group of avid-roundnet players into a loyal fanbase itching to participate in tournaments. We then learn how Spikeball has maintained its focus on its competitive community while also maintaining the balance of making “at-home players” feel valued. Between the way Spikeball motivates its customer service to treat players as friends, the ‘Spikeballer of the week newsletter,’ and its social media strategy, Spikeball is always chasing the idea of being fully human. To close the show, Chris shares his own level of skill at the game, and how much he admires those who dedicate themselves to the craft.    In this episode, you will learn:  The importance of balancing engagement between niche communities and broader markets.  The power of humanizing your brand by blending humor and relatability to foster strong customer connections. The value of community investment and how Chris's distribution of free Spikeball sets led to both grassroots growth and brand loyalty. Resources: Spikeball - https://spikeball.com/   Connect with the Guest: Chris’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisruder/   Connect with Conor Begley & CreatorIQ: Conor’s LinkedIn - @conormbegley CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq   Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @TribeDynamics CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ   Timestamps: [4:01] How Chris initially approached marketing and distribution for Spikeball [14:46] How Chris balanced the needs of competitive players with those who play Spikeball casually [25:01] How Spikeball infiltrated niche groups, like Christian youth organizations [35:31] The importance of brand protection and becoming a proprietary eponym