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Alexis Rivas, co-founder and CEO of Cover, talks rebuilding LA after the recent wildfires. Explore how Cover's innovative use of technology is transforming home construction, and how this approach could impact the recovery efforts - making it faster, efficient, and affordable. Tune in to learn how Alexis sees the future of residential building and zoning - and how Cover is playing a pivotal role in the city's recovery.

The Taking Inventory podcast was originally about the digital economy and advertising, but after our co-host's house burned down—thanks to LA’s chaos—we’ve shifted our focus to fixing what could be the best city in the world. In our first episode about rebuilding LA, we have Jennifer Fitzgerald, the co-founder and former CEO of Policy Genius. Jennifer is working full-time on recovery and rebuilding efforts after losing her home and most of her neighborhood in the 2025 Palisades Fire in LA.

Join Conor McKenna, Partner at LUMA Partners, as he dives into the dynamic world of M&A markets in adtech and martech. He reveals how the upcoming presidential election and economic factors are shaping M&A activities. Conor discusses the resurgence of strategic transactions post-pandemic and highlights the implications of Google’s antitrust trial on the industry. With insights on navigating the complexities introduced by major tech players and shifting regulations, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone in the sector.

David Shim, founder and CEO of Read AI, has a rich background including leading Foursquare and founding Placed, which Snap acquired for $175M. In this discussion, he shares his journey, highlighting his 'aha' moment in location measurement. Shim explains how AI can transform meetings with summaries and enhance workplace efficiency. He also tackles the challenges of optimizing video conferencing during the pandemic and the significance of emotional engagement in communication. Get ready to explore the future of AI in work!

If you like Taking Inventory, do us a favor and give us a 5-star rating or review. It’s the best way to help support the podcast.  ——— Jeffrey Mayer is the Managing Director, US, and Head of Product at DanAds, which is an industry leading provider of self-serve technology. They power fully automated, and white-labeled self-serve infrastructure that enables global media owners like Roku, Spotify, Paramount, Zillow, WSJ, and more to support advertisers interested in buying ad inventory through owned tools. During our conversation Jeffrey discusses the importance of self-service tools and their growth over the years, how publishers are using AI automation to drastically reduce costs, and the impact of ad platform fragmentation. ——— Connect with James and Daniel! LinkedIn: James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/  Daniel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/  Twitter:  James: https://twitter.com/jamesborow  Daniel: https://twitter.com/ddruger Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!

Gokul Rajaram, an experienced tech investor, discusses common mistakes made by startups, the changing role of board members, and shares insights on leadership qualities. He delves into the evolution of online advertising, founder-driven vs. culture-driven innovation, and the impact of AI on the future workforce.

Andrew Covato, former measurement lead at Netflix, Meta, Snap, and Google, discusses ad measurement trends. Topics include challenges in ad measurement, alternative measurement methods like post-purchase surveys, and strategies to improve ad measurement for both enterprise and smaller advertisers.

Brendan McCarthy, CMO of Criteo, brings nearly 20 years of marketing experience to the table. He dives into how companies can maintain customer trust during transformational periods. Brendan highlights the importance of transparent communication and adapting marketing strategies to fit diverse consumer demographics. He shares insights on building cross-functional teams and navigating the evolving landscape of retail and ad tech, all while emphasizing the need for brands to diversify their ad spend in a dual-sided marketplace.

If you like Taking Inventory, do us a favor and give us a 5-star rating or review. It’s the best way to help support the podcast.  ——— Adam Greenberg is a former attorney from Skadden Arps who left big law to join Warby Parker as their second legal hire, later joined health platform Ro as their General Counsel, and most recently joining Tiger-backed Blank Street as General Counsel. He’s helped startups scale legal teams from a team of 1, working primarily with outside counsel, to full legal teams supporting all aspects of the business. During our conversation Adam shares his experience growing the legal functions at three high-growth startups and the legal framework that supported all aspects of the business. He shares stories from his time lobbying and working with politicians, his view on how legal can be set up to support teams across a company, how to turn legal into an offensive asset for company growth, and much more. ——— Connect with James and Daniel! LinkedIn: James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/  Daniel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/  Twitter:  James: https://twitter.com/jamesborow  Daniel: https://twitter.com/ddruger Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!

If you like Taking Inventory, do us a favor and give us a 5-star rating or review. It’s the best way to help support the podcast.  ——— In this episode of Taking Inventory we welcome Gabriel Ornelas, a renowned strategist and producer in the hospitality, food and beverage, entertainment, and lifestyle industries. Gabriel works with brands to develop and produce impactful branded experiences through content, media, and strategic partnerships. His portfolio includes collaborations with industry giants like Faena Group, Sbe, Mercedes Benz, Perfect Day Foods, Citi, Perrier-Jouet Champagne, Moet Hennessy, and Valrhona. As the host, creator, and producer of "On The Pass," a Top 100 podcast in Food, Gabriel brings listeners engaging conversations with leading figures in the food and beverage, hospitality, and travel industries. In this episode, discover how Gabriel’s global experiences and innovative approach have driven growth for major brands, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how he built "On The Pass" from the ground up. Tune in for an inspiring discussion that promises to deliver valuable insights and motivation for anyone interested in the intersections of food, travel, hospitality, and culture. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the industry's most dynamic figures. ——— Connect with James and Daniel! LinkedIn: James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/  Daniel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/  Twitter:  James: https://twitter.com/jamesborow  Daniel: https://twitter.com/ddruger Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!