Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta

In this ‘Greatest Hits’ episode of Getting to Aha!, host Darshan Mehta is joined by Shalini Joshi Yamdagni, Chronic Pain Relief Expert at EFT Thailand. Join them as they explore helping people with chronic pain find relief through alternative approaches, the power of emotions in influencing physical wellbeing, and the use of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to address the root causes of pain.

Shalini is an international expert in pain relief and bestselling author of the book, Instant Pain Relief. She actively helps people living with chronic pain who are frustrated with the medical system but are open and willing to alternative approaches.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

👉 Shalini grew up in a small town in the Himalayan foothills, attending boarding school far from her parents’ home in Bangkok. When she could attend an international school, she studied in Bangkok. Then, she studied psychology and social work at university in India. Her first jobs were in psychology and social work, and she was actively chasing more money, even if the roles were not fulfilling. At age 38, feeling very dissatisfied with her life, Shalini started to experience extreme rib pain and was diagnosed with costochondritis. Although she was told she would feel better within a week of taking painkillers, the pain didn’t stop, only getting worse when stronger medication was used. She bought all sorts of therapeutic devices to relieve the pain, but nothing was helping, and her medical team was stumped. Her friend convinced her to attend a self-awareness seminar, which proved to be life-changing for her. The host recommended she try Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), which instantly relieved her pain.

👉 In her practices, Shalini has seen instances where EFT is unsuccessful. She shares a story of a man who was brought in by his wife after suffering from breathing issues and pain for years. For every question Shalini asked, he had a way out, avoiding getting to the root cause of his issues. His wife got back in touch with Shalini, explaining that the issues started after he and his brother had a huge financial loss in their business, causing his name to be tarnished in the community. Since then, any time he stepped into the office, he would experience migraines and breathing problems. Shalini explains that his subconscious mind was protecting him from the trauma, causing pain when he went to the office. Shalini likens it to self-sabotage and explains that a mindset shift can alter patient outcomes with the simple question: What is the upside of staying in pain?

👉Today, people often complain about lower back pain, attributing it to sitting at a desk all day or carrying heavy bags. Shalini points out that most of us sit at desks all day, but not everyone has pain. Over her career in EFT, she has had many aha moments on the different aches and pains across the body. She has discovered that pain in your back is rooted in support issues. When you have lower back pain, you should ask yourself, “Where in my life do I feel like I lack support?” She explains how one particular client had lower back pain, and when she asked about the lack of support in his life, he explained he had always felt like it since his dad died when he was only ten years old. At age ten, he was made to be the “man of the house,” locking him into pain patterns for the rest of his life. Shalini and EFT were able to help him through the pain, unlocking the deeper root issues.

Listen Now!
bCast - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3B0lVy6
Youtube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
Darshan's Twitter - @ahainsights
iResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Shalini Yamdagni: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalinijoshiyamdagni
EFT Thailand: https://eftthailand.com
Instant Pain Relief: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TPYVJDT/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk 

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Heath Tredell, the Managing Director of Bablake House Limited. Join them as they discuss formative Aha! moments, retiring early, and prioritizing experiences over possessions.

Heath Tredell is the Managing Director of Bablake House Limited, a family-owned residential home that offers holistic wellbeing, exceptional care, and a homely environment. He also holds  an Economics and Marketing degree from Warwick Business School, and has a teaching qualification. Heath is currently attempting to sail around the world with his wife.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

👉 Heath realized the importance of balancing three facets of life: time, money, health. He realized that the choices people make with their money can greatly impact their life experiences. This realization inspired him to prioritize experiences over material possessions and set a goal to retire early and travel the world. Heath emphasizes that people have a lot less time than they think, so should plan accordingly.

👉 In his second year of university, Heath met two old ladies with a similar socio-economic background. He observed that one had chosen a path that had given her wonderful memories she could look back on, but the other hadn’t. He realized that he never wanted to be the old person in a care home who hasn't got any stories to tell and hasn't got any life experiences to look back on. Heath admits that, although this might lead to some regrets, it would also lead to joy.

👉 Despite having no prior sailing experience, Heath and his wife are aiming to spend the next decade sailing around the world to explore different cultures and beautiful locations. They have already sailed through France, Monaco, Italy, Sicily, Greece, Albania, and are currently in Montenegro. They plan to sail westwards and eventually circumnavigate the globe. Heath emphasizes that their goal is not just to see beaches but to experience diverse cultures and immerse themselves in different countries. They believe in making the most of life.

Listen Now!
bCast - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3B0lVy6
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:

Darshan Mehta on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
Darshan's Twitter - @ahainsights
IResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Sawasdeekat YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Sawasdeekat
Bablake House website: https://www.bablakehouse.co.uk

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this ‘Greatest Hits’ episode of Getting to Aha!, host Darshan Mehta is joined by Prateek Panda, VP of Marketing at Phyllo. join them as they explore the importance of customer insights, the importance of authenticity, and the future of the industry. Prateek also shares valuable insights and advice for businesses looking to leverage influencers for growth.

Prateek is a three-time entrepreneur and marketing leader, guiding startups in their growth journey, scaling from zero to over $25 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). His innovative strategies and methods have gained recognition in well-known publications such as TechInAsia, Forbes, and Entrepreneur Magazine.

Prateek has features on lists like "40 Under 40 Founders & Executives" by StartupBeat and "Indian Tech Leaders of 2023" by TheTechPanda. Beyond his entrepreneurial efforts, Prateek is also actively involved as a Startup Mentor and Advisor for various businesses. Moreover, he is the Co-Founder of Appknox and host of the IMpulse - The Influencer Marketing Podcast.

Key Takeaways

👉 Experience makes entrepreneurship progressively easier, even if challenges still persist. Prateek's journey from a 19-year-old founder to a well-versed business leader highlights the importance of resilience and adaptability, which helps you grow stronger mentally and handle tasks like fundraising, customer acquisition, and team building more skillfully. Moreover, Prateek learned why it's crucial to view investors as business partners while retaining control over his vision, as well as the necessity of listening to customers.

👉 Influencer marketing is emerging as a highly effective alternative to traditional advertising, especially given rising costs and decreasing ROI of digital ads. Once seen as a tool for brand visibility, influencer marketing is now evolving into a measurable, performance-driven channel, thanks to its authenticity and credibility of influencers.

👉 Brands must prioritize working with influencers who genuinely resonate with their audience, often shown by their willingness to share both positives and negatives about a product. Also, it's essential to look beyond follower counts, as these can be misleading due to fake followers. Demographic alignments and engagement rates are key metrics.

👉 Influencer campaign budgets significantly vary, with costs for a single TikTok post ranging from $300 to $30,000. So, don't over-invest in a single influencer, especially if your brand is new to this form of marketing; diversify your influencer portfolio and experiment with various post formats. Secondly, communicate your campaign goals clearly and authentically with influencers. For instance, if you promote an early-stage product, seek sign-ups from users genuinely interested in engaging with and improving the product, not just increasing sign-up numbers.

👉 The power of influence in decision-making is a fundamental aspect of human behavior, which allows both B2B and B2C to harness the full potential of influencer marketing. In the B2B content, this influence often occurs within closed group discussions and professional networks. Influencer marketing is about leveraging these natural, influential relationships. But the key moment is identifying the right influencers who resonate authentically with the target audience.

👉 When assessing the effectiveness of influencer marketing, you have to align ROI measurement with campaign goals. Luckily, modern tools enable precise tracking of consumer journeys from influencer interaction to purchase. Beyond that, evaluating an influencer's ethics and authenticity is critical. So, focus on building long-term relationships with influencers for more meaningful and effective campaigns rather than one-off posts.

Listen Now!
bCast - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3B0lVy6
Youtube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
Darshan's Twitter - @ahainsights
iResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Prateek Panda: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateekpanda/
Phyllo: https://www.getphyllo.com/


Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Dustin Elliott, the Senior Brand Manager at The Vitamin Shoppe. Join them as they explore misconceptions about performance enhancement, the impact of gut health on overall wellbeing, emerging trends in the supplements industry, and the future of nutrition and healthcare.

Dustin Elliott is the Senior Brand Manager at The Vitamin Shoppe, and has over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. At The Vitamin Shoppe, he is responsible for branding strategy, product development, business management, and customer and market analysis. He holds a Bachelor's in Exercise Physiology from the Florida International University.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

👉 Dustin discusses the misconceptions people have about nutrition and performance enhancement, including the association of performance enhancement with detriment to health and the negative perception of pharmaceuticals in this space. He explains that he wants to expand the definition of ‘performance enhancement’ to relate more to self-improvement, whether for elite athletes, or for everyday individuals striving to be the best at what they do. Due to negative press, the public often takes a negative view of performance enhancement, but Dustin says it can increase longevity and have long term health benefits if people practice restraint.

👉 Dustin’s experience with lymphoma changed his outlook on health and wellbeing. He began to understand the significance of gut health after chemotherapy led to acid reflux and other digestion issues. Dustin says that one of the big things that has changed for him is how the gut impacts not only performance—where you have a lot of researchers who are looking at the gut biomes of athletes—but how it impacts human health in general. This has led to Dustin placing a higher value on things like fiber intake to support the gut biome. Never forget about the gut-brain connection!

👉 Dustin notes the growing trend for functional foods and the potential for healthier alternatives to processed snacks to improve overall health and combat obesity, expressing concerns about the impact of artificial sweeteners and processed ingredients on gut health. He also explores the challenges of changing people's choices and preferences when it comes to food, acknowledging that processed foods are still prevalent. However, Dustin still expresses hope that functional food options will become more readily available and affordable, leading to healthier choices for everyday individuals.

Listen Now!
bCast - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3B0lVy6
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
Darshan's Twitter - @ahainsights
IResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Dustin Elliot on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/duelliott
The Vitamin Shoppe website: https://www.vitaminshoppe.com

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this ‘Greatest Hits’ episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta was joined by Xuan Xu, Managing Director of Xuan Xu Experiences. Together they explore why the accessibility of commodities and the rise of digitalization means consumers seek unique and memorable experiences, as well as the challenges faced by experiential designers. Xuan also discusses the growth of experience design, why understanding the emotions and desires of the target audience are key, and her professional journey.

Xuan Xu is an Experiential Designer who designs holistic experiences starting from a unique and meaningful story. She initially started her career as a business consultant in Germany but changed paths to the creative industry in 2014. She founded her own company in 2017 to obtain independent artistic freedom to produce innovative, memorable, and meaningful experiences. She has conducted various projects cutting across multiple industries, including recent projects in food and beverage, hospitality events, and entertainment.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

👉 Xuan’s first aha moment came when she took a consultancy trip to Bangkok. There, she met Ashley, who was opposite to anyone she had met before. He inspired her to take a step into the creative world, doing something based on her passion that truly came from her core. She realized that she wanted to create a world that would allow the people interacting with her to experience something they may not have previously had access to; she found the world of experiential design.

👉 To Xuan, differentiating between skills and components is essential. Skills are the things you learn and master, whereas components are what you have naturally or gain through life experiences. For experiential design, three components are necessary: passion, creativity, and vision. On the skill side, you need analysis, strategy, and execution. The latter are intentionally learned, but the former are not.

👉 Today, people seek for experiences beyond the product. To Xuan, this is because the product has become a commodity. They now expect good service and products by default, so they search for good experiences. It’s not just about a tangible product or whether it is delivered well; it’s about the emotional experience and journey from the first time they hear about your brand to post-purchase.

Subscribe Here!

bCast - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3B0lVy6
Google - https://bit.ly/47Y0Lkp
Youtube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:

Darshan’s Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
Darshan's Twitter - @ahainsights
iResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
ConnectQik Website - https://www.connectqik.com
Xuan’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/xuan-xu-6720b048
Xuan Xu Experiences Website - https://www.xuanxu.de 

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Matt Swieca, Executive Producer/Program Director at The Martin Agency. Join them as they discuss the importance of customer insights, storytelling, and adapting to the evolving landscape of digital marketing and advertising. Matt shares valuable insights into the industry and the strategies employed by the Martin Agency to drive success for their clients.

Matt Swieca is Executive Producer/Program Director at The Martin Agency, a creative advertising agency with capabilities in advertising, strategic planning, direct response, digital, data analytics, design, and branded content. They have a wide range of clients, including UPS (Global), Google, Axe, Terminix, Hanes, Buffalo Wild Wings, LegalShield, and SnapChat (Global), for which Matt oversees all digital, social, and performance accounts.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

👉 Matt highlights the shift in audience consumption from polished videos to quicker, more natural content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. He says that these platforms add a layer of authenticity that isn’t available elsewhere, and that it’s the quick, unpolished videos that end up going viral, rather than something that is more slick and well-produced. The important thing here is the storytelling: by focusing on storytelling over the delivery of that story, the content remains natural and the audience responds well to that.

👉 Matt explains that the Martin Agency focuses on partnering with clients and guiding them in utilizing social media effectively. He mentions the rise of influencer and content creator marketing and the shift in media spending from traditional digital ads to these new forms of advertising. He believes that social media offers precision targeting and engagement opportunities that traditional advertising cannot.

👉 Darshan and Matt discuss the success of the Martin Agency and what sets them apart. Matt attributes their success to how they tailor their campaigns, based on data and target specific demographics to create buzz through earned media. They also emphasize the importance of building a brand over time and partnering with clients to achieve their goals. Matt explains that while digital marketing can provide tangible ROI, building a brand takes time and requires a combination of creative storytelling and media strategies.

Listen Now!
bCast - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3B0lVy6
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
IResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Matt Swieca on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-swieca
Martin Agency website: https://www.martinagency.com/

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this ‘Greatest Hits’ episode of Getting to Aha!, host Darshan Mehta is joined by Steve Krull, CEO and co-founder of Be Found Online, a strategy-driven, people-focused digital marketing agency that connects brands and humans in innovative ways. Join them as they explore Steve’s journey to starting Be Found Online, why hiring should be based on cultural fit and emotional intelligence, and why Steve's people-focused business strives to build relationships with clients rather than just having a checklist digital marketing approach. This is a fascinating conversation about leadership, the current state of digital marketing, and strategies for workplace success, so don’t miss out!

Previously, Steve was the VP of Strategy and Sales at Huble Digital and excelled in what he calls “unleadership”. He believes in collaboration and leading by example; remaining vulnerable and open to new ideas, accepting feedback…and doing good things.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

👉Steve defines “unleadership” in business as more of a philosophy than a methodology. It all comes down to being a good person and trusting the people and your team around you, and once you do that, your leadership characteristics will shine through.

👉People learn from their experiences and their mistakes. As a leader of a team or an organization, you have to let people make mistakes and hit walls, otherwise they won’t learn what you want them to. Some leaders may see this as a frivolous exercise, but Steve believes it’s necessary. It affords them the opportunity to grow.

👉As a leader, you must decide what to focus on. Steve talks about how communication strategies are something that all leaders should think about. How are you having conversations? How are you presenting facts to people? The way you deliver a message to someone else is so important, and exactly the same can be said for an organization's brand and marketing.

👉Steve’s wife was diagnosed with cancer at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he describes her as an inspiration. Although there were some tough times, and it can be easy to bury your head in the sand and avoid everything, it's all about how you get back up and keep moving forward. At some point, you have to face everything rather than running away. The same idea applies to business - if you’re losing customers, face it, figure out the reasoning, and learn.

👉The customer experience should always equal the business’ performance. If you were to go to a restaurant and the food was good, but the service was bad, you might give it another shot just to see, and the same if the roles were swapped. However, if both are bad, then no amount of marketing or advertising will fix that. You have to make sure your customer experience is always the best it can be.

👉As a result of COVID-19, more money and effort have gone into digital marketing. Although it seems like this was the direction it was going in anyway, it was only accelerated by the pandemic; there have been massive changes in analytics and privacy. People expect more from businesses than they did before, resulting in them carrying a heavier weight of responsibility.

Listen now!
bCast - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3B0lVy6
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

Episode Resources
Steve Krull on  Linkedin
Steve Krull on Instagram
Steve Krull on Twitter
Be Found Online Website

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Alex Genov, the Head of Customer Research and Marketing Insights at Zappos. Join them as they discuss the importance of customer insights and empathy in creating remarkable products and services, and explore misconceptions about data reliance, channel optimization, and hospitality. Alex also touches on the role of emotions in customer experiences and the challenges and opportunities of delivering great customer service in the digital realm.

Alex is the Head of Customer Research and Marketing Insights at Zappos’ family of companies, where he has worked for over nine years. He describes his career goal as "helping teams create remarkable products and services that make people's lives easier and more enjoyable". Alex has over fifteen years of experience in marketing insights, and has also worked at ACTIVE Network, Intuit, and State Farm Insurance. He is the author of the book Forget the Customer, See the Person.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

👉 Alex discusses the three things that most people get wrong about creating remarkable products and services that make people's lives easier and more enjoyable. These include relying too much on data, focusing on optimizing channels rather than the customer's perspective, and neglecting the importance of hospitality.

👉 Alex says that technology should be balanced with a human touch, noting that Zappos is working on providing personalized recommendations and assistance in the online shopping experience. Reflecting on the changes in consumer behavior during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, Alex says that while there was an initial shift towards online shopping, he found that people still value in-person experiences and the human connection. Alex emphasizes the importance of understanding consumers' needs and motivations in order to provide a tailored and empathetic experience.

👉 Alex expands on the topic of AI and its potential in enhancing customer experiences. He discusses AI's linguistic capabilities and its use in language-related tasks such as writing and editing. Acknowledging the undeniable benefits of AI in certain fields, he also expresses curiosity about its potential in creating personalized digital experiences and making interactions with websites more conversational.

Listen Now!
bCast - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3B0lVy6
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
IResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Alex Genov on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexgenov
Zappos website: https://www.zappos.com

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form

In this Greatest Hits episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Haider Aabidi, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of D2C at Country Chicken Co. Together, we delve into why you should always surround yourself with people who are smarter than you; what it means to take a calculated risk in entrepreneurship; and why you need to respect your customers as people.

Country Chicken Co. is the first brand to exclusively sell high-quality organic Country Chicken, looking to provide people with a healthier alternative to regular chicken. Before becoming the Chief Marketing Officer and the Head of D2C, he originally served as the Director of Brand Marketing. Prior to joining, he was the National Manager of Student Awareness at IMS Learning Resources; the Founder & CEO of MBAP; and a Sales & Distribution Consultant at Deloitte.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

👉 When it comes to your own professional success in any industry (not just marketing or consumer insights), you need to be able to challenge yourself. You need to ensure you’re surrounded by people who are better than you and push you to think about things in ways you might not have done so before. If you put yourself in a room where you’re the only one who doesn’t know everything, then you’re actually in the perfect place to learn something new. Embrace it; don’t feel disheartened by it.

👉 Everyone in business should be taking calculated risks; it comes part and parcel. It’s all about how much you know about your own limitations and strengths. Haider tells us about his shift from tech into business; even though everyone told him he couldn’t do it because he didn’t know about it, he knew that if he did some research and put the work in, he could figure it out. He took a calculated risk; now, he understands the foundations of business and has the wisdom of communicating with consumers.

👉 Once you understand how customers work, you can begin to interact with them in a way that will benefit and grow your business. Haider talks about creating personalized interactions with them on a mass level, how we can do that, and why businesses find it such a difficult feat. The one thing he’s taken away from his own analysis is that you have to respect the customer and who they are as a person; respect the time they take to give your business attention.

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Darshan’s Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
iResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
ConnectQik Website - https://www.connectqik.com
Haider’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/haider-aabidi-101071175/
Country Chicken Co. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/countrychickenco/
Country Chicken Co. Website - http://www.countrychickenco.in/

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

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In this episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Ross Franklin, the founder of Pure Green and CEO of Pure Green Franchise. Join them as they discuss challenges in the fitness industry, the misconceptions surrounding nutrition, and Ross’ creation of Pure Green, a juice bar franchise focused on high-performance superfoods. Ross also discusses the importance of customer insights in business and some principles of entrepreneurial success.

Ross Franklin is the founder of Pure Green and is the CEO of Pure Green Franchise, one of the fastest-growing juice bar franchises in the United States. Pure Green is a juice bar franchise that has over 100 locations open or in development across 15 different states. The company's products include made-to-order superfood smoothies, acai bowls, and cold-pressed juice. Their franchise division is on pace to have over 100 stores open by the end of 2023. Ross is also a best-selling author, and a highly sought-after keynote speaker with over two decades of experience building prestige brands within the health and wellness industry.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

👉 Ross explores the topic of customer service and the lessons learned from working in the fitness industry. He emphasizes the importance of treating customers as guests and delivering a warm, friendly, and engaging experience. Ross highlights examples of good hospitality displayed by Pure Green franchise partners, such as going above and beyond to return a customer's lost keys or including handwritten cards with delivery orders.

👉 Darshan and Ross discuss the principles of entrepreneurial success highlighted in Ross's book, The Success Formula. They emphasize the importance of taking action and not getting caught up in analysis paralysis. Ross believes that what holds people back is the inability to take action. His advice is simple: “Just take the action and you can always recalibrate afterwards.” He also highlights the power of physiology and tonality in effective communication.

👉 Ross stresses the importance of hiring ‘doers’. It’s vital that organizations hire people with integrity that do what they say they’re going to do. Ross prefers employees that are high performers, and “get stuck into the daily grind”. Without this urgency, Ross says it’s likely that they wouldn’t be the right cultural fit at Pure Green.

Listen Now!
bCast - https://bit.ly/3ACsRBz
Apple - https://apple.co/3gsuA31
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3B0lVy6
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3KYAHtd
RSS -  https://bit.ly/3AFrUs6

And connect with the host and guests here:
Darshan Mehta on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
iResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Ross Franklin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossfranklin
Pure Green website: https://www.puregreen.com/
Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta is hand crafted by our friends over at: fame.so
Previous guests include: Luca Popovac, Senior Executive, Abhilasha Sinha of Open Secret, Laura Beavin-Yates, Stephen Griffiths of Level 2, Kristin Luck or ScaleHouse, Melina Palmer of The Brainy Business, Nicolas Zeisler of We’re Doing CX Wrong and How To Get It Right, Pricilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing, Brooke Sellas of B Squared Marketing and Joseph Michelli of The Michelli Experience.

Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes: 

• Changing the Direction of Customer Experience with Luka Popovac, a Senior Customer Experience Executive
• Innovation, Curiosity, and Being Human with Abhilasha Sinha, Chief Growth Officer at Open Secret
• [Greatest Hits ] Emotions & Consumer Behavior with Laura Beavin-Yates
  
  

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form