Want to help support The Futur? Fill out this super short survey: https://bit.ly/futur-survey Reena Merchant is a UX Manager at Google and one of the few people we know that holds an MBA in Design Strategy. In this episode, Reena and Chris discuss her journey from shy kid to tech executive, the weight of family expectations and why believing in yourself is the best cure for self-doubt. And rest assured, Reena will lay out what exactly UX is and how you can go about learning it.
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088 - From Shy Kid to Tech Executive  — with Reena Merchant

The Futur Podcast is a show that explores the interesting overlap between design, marketing, and business. Our host (and CEO of The Futur), Chris Do, hold candid conversations with inspirational people from the worlds of design, technology, marketing, business, philosophy and personal development. These conversations go deep. With the aim of understanding who these incredible people are, what drives them to do what they do, and what can we--the listener--learn from it all. Visit thefutur.com/podcast for show notes and additional information from each episode.

Arts

Literature

Performing Arts

Design

Food

Fashion & Beauty

Visual Arts

Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

Business

Investing

Careers

Management & Marketing

Business News

Shopping

Marketing

Self-Improvement

Beyond Connections
In this episode, host Chris Do delves into the secrets behind successful LinkedIn profiles and growth strategies with guest Sam Browne, an entrepreneur from Auckland, New Zealand, who achieved an impressive feat of growing his LinkedIn following by 50,000 in one year. Sam shares his journey from starting various businesses to finding a successful formula on LinkedIn involving consistent, engaging post writing and the crucial role of hooks in capturing audience attention. He emphasizes the importance of content quality, the strategic use of personal and educational content, and the power of case studies and specific, direct calls to action for lead generation. Sam also recounts his highest-performing post, revealing its massive engagement stats and highlighting key factors contributing to its success, like a compelling hook, concise value-packed content, and shareability among community members.
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288 - From Notes to Network: The LinkedIn Transformation - with Sam Browne

Mastering Marketing & Time
In this episode, host Chris Do sits down with  marketing expert and bestselling author Allan Dib shares his journey from immigrant to marketing and IT success, emphasizing the power of a positive mindset towards money and marketing. Allan discusses the essence of Lean Marketing, drawing from lean manufacturing to advocate for efficiency and waste reduction in marketing efforts. He highlights the importance of communication, goodwill, and understanding customer needs for creatives and introverts, advocating for sales techniques focused on listening and diagnosing rather than pushing for a sale. Through personal anecdotes and professional advice, Allan conveys the significance of differentiating oneself in the market, crafting irresistible offers, and the vital role marketing plays in business sustainability and growth. The episode not only explores Allan's transformative sales insights but also invites listeners to engage with him, reflecting on his experiences, strategies, and the impact of marketing on achieving business success.
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287 - Winning in Creative Business - With Allan Dib

In this episode, host Chris Do sits down with Robert  Katai, founder of the B2B Creator Newsletter, as he discusses a transformative strategy for brands aiming to achieve significant growth without solely relying on paid advertising or traditional marketing channels. He emphasizes the shift from conventional approaches to investing in in-house creators. In-house creators, who could be any employee passionate about the brand, are positioned as better alternatives to outside influencers for building authentic connections with audiences. Robert highlights the power of personal branding and genuine content creation as a means to foster trust and engagement with the brand. The discussion covers the increasing costs of customer acquisition, the saturation of AI in marketing channels, and the decreasing efficacy of brand-only social media accounts. Through examples like Apollo.io and SparkToro, Robert illustrates how companies can leverage their employees to authentically engage with their community, resulting in increased brand loyalty, lower marketing costs, and organic growth. The solution proposed encompasses nurturing in-house talent to generate content that resonates with the audience, establishing a human-to-human connection. Robert's insights are framed within his extensive experience in marketing, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to overcoming current marketing challenges.
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286 - Turning Employees into Your Most Valuable Creators - With Robert Katai

The Art of Lead Generation
In this episode, host Chris Do sits down with Daniel Priestley as he shares valuable lessons from his career on the significance of lead generation, supplemented by practical approaches and the use of success stories to illustrate point. Furthermore, he introduces an affordable, globally accessible tool aimed at creators and entrepreneurs, encouraging immediate action to incorporate effective strategies for lead generation into sales processes. He highlights the tool's benefits, including its unique pricing model that charges users only upon achieving success, thereby underscoring the importance of accessible entrepreneurial tools in expanding business reach. The episode culminates with endorsements of Daniel's expertise and additional resources for further engagement.
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285 - The Demand Generation Blueprint - With Daniel Priestley

Elevating Experiences
In this episode, host Chris Do sits down with Paul Hoke, an unconventional master of wedding entertainment, who reveals the art of creating deeply personalized and memorable wedding experiences. Going beyond the traditional DJ and entertainment role, Paul shares his unique approach to engaging with clients—through listening, silence, and understanding their backstories—to craft events that resonate on an emotional level. From integrating personal stories and family traditions into the fabric of the occasion, to challenging industry norms with creative problem-solving under constraints, Paul's methods demonstrate the profound impact of empathy and personalization in transforming events into lasting memories. Through a series of touching stories, including the innovative engagement techniques and the thoughtful integration of family history, this episode is a testament to the power of thinking outside the box and the importance of creating meaningful connections. Join us as we delve into the mind of a creative genius who challenges clients to reimagine what a wedding can be, ensuring that each celebration is as unique and extraordinary as the individuals it honors.
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284 - Designing Moments: A New Approach to Event Entertainment - With Paul Hoke

The Futur with Chris Do

088 - From Shy Kid to Tech Executive — with Reena Merchant

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