What does it truly mean to get "ripped off less" in business? Is it purely about price, or is it about transparency, ROI, and genuine value?

On the 'After Dinner Chats' podcast, several leaders shared their unique approach to this very question, revealing a broad spectrum of what creating value really looks like.

For Paddy Gilmore, it's about maximising marketing effectiveness. He champions the use of humour, citing a survey that found humorous campaigns can generate over 100% more ROI. His mission is to help brands use humour intelligently to get more "bang for their buck".

For Tim Burrowes of Mumbrella and Unmade, it’s about systemic transparency. He works to expose where money "leaks out" in the advertising supply chain, encouraging marketers to ask hard questions about their media spend and challenge conflicts of interest to ensure a fairer industry for everyone.

For Sheetal Thakar, founder of Formagility, the focus is on providing a high-value alternative to overpriced services. She helps large organisations achieve alignment by "charging a lot less than those big consultancies" while aiming to deliver even more value.

Their chosen heroes perfectly mirror these philosophies:

·      Sheetal’s hero is the founder of TheFork app, which helps people access high-quality restaurant experiences for a fraction of the price.

·      Tim’s hero is Martin Lewis (MoneySavingExpert), a "credible force for stopping ordinary people from getting ripped off" by championing them against powerful systems.

·      Paddy’s hero is a memorable egg seller from his childhood who used a simple, authentic, and creative approach—a chicken-shaped tea cosy on his head—to build a reputation for quality and friendliness, providing a powerful lesson in effective marketing.

Whether through better ROI, fairer pricing, or greater transparency, the common thread is a deep commitment to delivering authentic value and ensuring clients and consumers aren't left short-changed.

#AfterDinnerChats #Value #ROI #Transparency #RippedOffLess #Marketing #Consulting #Media #BusinessStrategy #Leadership

Get ready for a rollercoaster ride through the sharpest minds and funniest misadventures in the world of media and marketing. Episode Three of After Dinner Chats brings you a triple-threat of insight and hilarity with Dilip Shukla, Claire Gleeson-Landry, and Philippa White.

First up, Dilip Shukla of Reset Digital will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about connecting with consumers. He’s all about ditching those dusty old metrics and diving deep into the why – the emotions that truly drive decisions. Dilip helps businesses stop flushing cash down the drain by ensuring their message lands when people are genuinely open, changing the way you look at things so the things you look at change. And you won't believe his "funniest moment" involving a very public, very bold claim about being the messiah of digital media, complete with plans for a posthumous webcam broadcast, eek!

Then, hold onto your hats for Claire Gleeson-Landry, the powerhouse from Goodloop! She’s on a mission to prove that doing good is good for business. Claire champions getting "ripped off less" by turning ad spend into a force for positive change, ensuring brands earn genuine engagement and eyeballs by connecting with what consumers really care about – a far cry from just chasing cheap clicks. Her funniest moment? Imagine a severe allergic reaction at a major awards show, a Kim Kardashian-esque makeover by a well-meaning stranger and still getting up on stage to accept the award. Only in adland, eh?

And rounding out our incredible trio is Philippa White of TIE Leadership. Philippa argues that the best way to avoid getting "ripped off" in the grand scheme of things is to invest in our "Return on Humanity." She champions developing those crucial human competencies – empathy, vulnerability, cultural intelligence – to build stronger leaders and more resilient businesses. Forget ruthless tactics; Philippa shows how genuine human connection is the ultimate power play. Her heart-stopping moment involves a luxury car, a locked-in toddler, 30-degree heat, and a very high-stakes game of "unlock the door, sweetie!"

Join us for an episode filled with considered advice on navigating the ad tech world effectively, complemented by some rather unforgettable personal anecdotes. This is a discussion that offers both strategic insights and engaging stories.

Ever wondered what it's like to be a fly on the wall at one of those incredible dinner parties where fascinating minds connect? Well, "After Dinner Chats" (an offshoot of TNDP The Next Dinner Party) was born precisely for that reason! I wanted to share the fabulous and interesting people who've graced my dinner table with a wider audience. You might not be able to join me any time soon for a TNDP dinner in person, but you absolutely should still get to "meet" these amazing individuals through these special 15-minute livestream chats! And remember, you've gotta be at the dinner table first to snag an invite to record one of these!

Following our engaging Episode One guests (the amazing Julia Linehan, Jon Walsh, and Deborah Gbadamosi!), this episode features another trio of industry stars: the visionary Chris Pile, the incredible Austin Scott, and the insightful James Breeze. They didn't just drop knowledge bombs; they spilled the beans on who THEY think should pull up a chair for a future dinner and podcast pow-wow!

And let me tell you, the personal stories from these three? Pure gold! You'll be rushing to that subscribe button!

🥁 DRUMROLL PLEASE! 🥁

🚀 First, we have the phenomenal Chris Pile! Get this: Chris has been involved in a project to build a LITERAL DIGITAL COUNTRY, complete with blockchain passports! 🤯 How's that for nation-building 2.0? Chris's pick for the next dinner guest? The super-connector Cyrus Cruz from Tenity!

🌟 Next up, the one and only Austin Scott! Hold onto your hats, because this ad tech aficionado once performed the CRAB DANCE for MC HAMMER! 🦀 Yes, the MC Hammer! And who does Austin nominate for a future feast and feature? The brilliant Michelle Lira from Dentsu!

✨ And completing our all-star panel, the man himself, James Breeze! Want a peek into the future? Breezy has trained his PERSONAL AI with his own manifesto, so it thinks just like him! 🧠 Now that's what I call next-level! And James's recommendation? Proving great minds think alike, his intended guest was none other than Chris Pile – who, as you now know, was already part of this very stellar guest lineup! Talk about being in sync! 😉

Want to hear the full, fascinating stories behind these tidbits? Eager to know why these top names were recommended and get the lowdown on how to get 'Ripped Off Less' in media, marketing, and ad tech? You know you do! 🔥

🎧 Don't walk, RUN to listen to "After Dinner Chats"! Catch Episode Two with Chris Pile, Austin Scott, and James Breeze – and make sure you're caught up on Episode One! Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts – you won't want to miss a single byte!

A massive shout-out to our fantastic sponsor, JobsInAdtech.com! Looking for your next big role in digital media or ad tech, or hiring top talent? This is THE place! Use promo code JWPOD for a 10% discount on any package. 🚀

Welcome to the After Dinner Chats series, where we connect with fascinating people, always a little bit senior, always a bit shinier than most, to see what’s coming around the corner in the vibrant, and sometimes bewildering, worlds of media, marketing, and ad tech.

These episodes will be triple-headers, diving deep into how we can all get 'Ripped Off Less' with insights from three industry powerhouses.

And a big thank you to our sponsor for this episode, jobsinadtech.com, the only jobs board dedicated to digital media and the ad tech industry – if you're hiring, use promo code JWPOD for a 10% discount. It’s where ad tech finds its next role.

First up, I chatted with Deborah Gbadamosi, a Global Client Lead at Mindshare. Deborah shed light on "TruthSets," a US initiative grading data quality to reduce media waste – a concept we'd love to see go global. She also championed using AI for genuine efficiency, making those non-working media dollars finally sweat, and shared her passion for DE&I, urging businesses to continue supporting underrepresented groups – not as charity, but as smart strategy.

Then, I caught up with Jon Walsh, the man behind the ubiquitous ad tech WhatsApp communities and founder of our sponsor, jobsinadtech.com. Jon’s North Star is efficiency, whether it's creating a focused, quality-driven job site to counteract LinkedIn's "spray and pray" approach, or fostering the 50+ ad tech chat groups that have become the industry's digital water cooler. He shared the origin story of these vital communities and his belief in the power of narrative, drawing parallels with the boxing world.

Finally, I was thrilled to speak with Julia Linehan, founder and CEO of The Digital Voice PR agency. Julia passionately discussed the ad industry's talent challenge, advocating for better investment in people to make it an appealing career path once more. As a founding advisor of the UK Stop Ad Fraud Coalition, she detailed their "Know Your Customer" initiative, a crucial step in cleaning up the ecosystem. Julia also champions an outputs-driven, transparent approach in her own agency, ensuring clients truly see value.

From data integrity and AI efficiency with Deborah, to community building and laser-focused recruitment with Jon, and tackling ad fraud and championing industry talent with Julia, this episode is packed with actionable insights. We explore the importance of authentic narratives, the drive for smarter spending, and the unwavering belief in the power of people and community to navigate our ever-evolving industry. Tune in for a dose of wisdom, wit, and a clearer view of what’s next.