OhHello!

It's episode 94 -- Welcome Vanessa Otero, founder & CEO of Ad Fontes Media, the force behind the viral Media Bias Chart! Vanessa is a passion fueled change-agent who has been walking the walk, since day 1, as her company's vision is more important than ever. In fact, just yesterday, at the Association of National Advertisers Media Summit, Lou Paskalis + The Trade Desk's Jeff Green talked about the integration and importance of advertisers NOT avoiding hashtag#news content b/c of great integrations like what Ad Fontes has been building.

(This pod was initially scheduled for later in the month, but I've also gotten to know Vanessa over the past couple years and wanna help get her some more ⛽⛽⛽⛽ for her 🔥 because this is an important mission)

She left a successful law career to fix the broken way we consume news. Today, her company rates media for reliability and bias... and her POV on truth, leadership, and mentorship is 🔥

💥 Highlights:
🧠 “We’re all biased... but systems don’t have to be”
🔍 She created a hiring process that builds in ideological diversity
📈 Her mentorship rule: Only take advice from people who have exactly what you want
💡 And the big one: Don’t quit. Be the one who stays in the game

In a biased and misleading news landscape, it's beyond essential to know where your information and sources are coming from hashtag#bias hashtag#politics hashtag#media

And with honest, unfiltered, and raw 1:1 mentorship sessions that businesses are providing for their teams via OhHello.ai 👋, it's more important than ever to have access to real, empathetic, leaders like Vanessa.

OhHello - it's episode 93 w/ OhHello mentor and advertising agency, creative expert, entrepreneur. and marketing exec Jason Damata

Jason Damata is the founder and CEO of Fabric Media, an award-winning communications and strategic consulting group launched in 2007 to serve innovative companies at the intersection of media, technology and advertising.

Fabric develops and executes go-to-market programs that accelerate growth, build brand equity and deliver positive impact for companies that are evolving how content is experienced, delivered and monetized, including TV makers and networks, streamers, leading ad tech/martech platforms and measurement companies.

Damata is also the co-owner and publisher of TVREV, an analyst group and media company with 40,000 subscribers known for its industry trend reports, and The Measure, a forum for data-based reporting and bespoke insight services.

He has helped architect go-to-market strategies and establis marketing operations for numerous companies from start-up to merger and acquisition (for 10 partners) or major funding events (for 18). Among them: Damata led Fabric through a decade of service for iSpot.tv, a pioneer in TV measurement; seven years for Madhive, the streaming ad tech company reshaping local TV; and seven years for smart TV maker VIZIO through its transformation to a software-led company — including leading marketing for the IPO; the launches of VIZIO Ads and Inscape (VIZIO’s data division); and the expansion of its SmartCast OS.

He also served as Acting CMO for Trendrr, the first company to quantify real-time social trends, until it was acquired by Twitter; served as the CMO of bebo.com when it was the world’s third-largest social network; has put in 7-plus years in service of CreatorIQ, the world’s largest social media data platform; Tubular Labs, the world’s largest social video measurement platform and explore.org, where he helped build the planet’s largest live internet TV network (for animals!).

Damata is an active investor in and advisor to technology start-ups that aim to bring better accountability, transparency and innovation to the media industry.

In 2014, Damata moved from Denver to Los Angeles to start Fabric’s studios division, which houses a cross-disciplinary consortium for artists and creators to collaborate on projects and events while developing IP in emerging media fields.

Damata got his start in media at C-SPAN in 2002, helping to produce distance education programming and later traveling the country in collaboration with cable companies.

OhHello!

It's Episode 92 and this one features a wise old soul who carries himself with grace and curiosity. Good things come to those that wait...and for that, thanks for being so patient, Nikhil Lai!

Nikhil is a Senior Analyst at Forrester, so our conversation took us from the importance of creative and data-driven #advertising strategies, all the way back to the historical roots of #mentorship.

Why tune in?

⏳ Timeless Mentorship: Nikhil highlighted how centuries-old apprenticeship structures still fuel success—whether it’s for 17th-century artisans or today’s ad tech innovators.

🐵  Embracing Curiosity: His relentless curiosity has shaped an impressive career journey, from growing up in Connecticut to studying at the The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and now advising top brands at Forrester while living w/ his wife in LA and appreciating words of wisdom from his sister, parents, mentors- Dave Morgan, Jeff Immelt and more

🔬 Creative Ad Tech & Data Deprecation: If you’re a marketer or brand builder, Nikhil’s take on the future of creative optimization—particularly in a world where data signals are dwindling—is a can’t-miss.

Ready to access a community of empathetic mentors that want to help you and your business grow? Sign-up at OhHello.ai! Each week, we'll continue to highlight how our OhHello.ai 👋 mentors can elevate your business and teams' outputs. Let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments; we'd love to hear from you!

#marketing #advertising #career

OhHello!

What happens when you blend genuine curiosity, fearless failure, and real mentorship? You get a leader like Mike Zeman dropping in for episode 91 of the OhHello.ai ☕️ pod.

This next mentor's journey spans ad agencies to tech giants (Publicis Groupe, Netflix, Google, Square). Mike shares powerful insights on career growth, mentorship, and the art of turning failures into fuel for innovation. Plus, we learn about his covid 🐰🐰.

Key Takeaways:

♟️ Mentors that made an impact on Mike:

Shoutout to  Rishad Tobaccowala, who taught Mike to play the long game and steer clear of short-term politics. Christian Kugel showed him how to have fun while pushing for excellence

😌 Confidence and Optimism Breed Results

Mentorship should spark your team’s confidence. Confident people take bigger bets, and that’s where real growth happens

🌊 Embrace Failure

If your failures aren’t getting bigger over time, you’re likely not innovating enough (inspired by Jeff Bezos). Encourage your team to try, fail, learn, and repeat.

👂Active Listening

Instead of planning your response, really lean in and ask “why?” multiple times to uncover valuable insights.

This was a great convo; thank you, Mike. The best employers are the ones that invest in their people. Ready. Set. Grow.

We're bringing on new mentors and businesses in March - sign-up now at OhHello.ai

#Mentorship #CMO #Marketing #Leadership #Tech #CareerGrowth

🚀 The OhHello Pod is back! And we’re kicking things off with an episode you don’t want to miss…

🎙️ Our guest? Zack Holland, founder of Select Few & Avery. Zack built his first software at 15 and learned (the hard way) that mentorship is the ultimate cheat code for success.

We talked about:
✅ The power of mentorship—and why it’s the shortcut to avoiding costly mistakes
✅ His top mentors, including Sam Parr (The Hustle, Hampton) & Tom Logan (Coley)
✅ The biggest marketing mistakes founders make (and how to avoid them)
✅ Mental health, stoicism, and why taking care of yourself is a competitive advantage

💡 “One great mentor can change everything.”

💬 Who’s been a game-changing mentor in your career? Drop their name in the comments👇

🎧 Listen now & let us know your favorite takeaway!

#OhHello #Mentorship #Marketing #Founders #AI #Startups #Growth

OhHello! We took a lil OhHello.ai ☕️ podcast breather, but we're back w/ some Thanksgiving gratitude!

What happens when you combine decades of marketing expertise, the evolution of AI, and a unique perspective on mentorship? You get an unforgettable conversation with Bryan Simkins, a global leader in creative media solutions and all things hashtag#advertising at Publicis Groupe / Publicis / Publicis Production

In this episode, Bryan shares:
✅ Insights into the shift from digitized media to the digitization of creative and production
✅ His refreshing take on mentorship, breaking it down into “advisors” and “angels” who guide, protect, and inspire
✅ How leaders can ensure aptitude meets opportunity to drive growth and equity in today’s dynamic business world

This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating innovation, leadership, and personal growth in a rapidly changing industry.

💡 Discover Bryan’s wisdom on embracing change, empowering teams, and leveraging creativity for impact
📢 Shout-outs to Bryan's Advisors + Angels: (Bryan's brother) Steve, Merrill Squires, Todd H., Steve Pacheco, Karen Jacobs, Lisa Donohue, Andrew Swinand, Steve Katelman, Matt Spiegel, Sean Finnegan (in memoriam), Laura Desmond


hashtag#Mentorship hashtag#Innovation hashtag#Leadership hashtag#Creative

OhHello!

It's episode 88, and we're back from a lil break!  Our next "Hello" (aka an OhHello mentor) has 20+ years of amazing tech experience leading teams, product, and marketing org at TikTok Google Cisco and Intel Corporation -- talk about Silicon Valley experience!

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Amy Chou- who is absolutely stoked to be a mentor on the OhHello.io platform! Amy shared her journey and insights into #careerdevelopment, #mentorship, and the importance of a supportive #network.

We discussed the significance of having a supportive community, particularly for women and immigrants in the tech industry. Amy highlighted her personal mantra, “Dream, Plan, Do, Live,” which guides her approach to career and personal growth along w/ thanking the mentors that helped her along the way: JeanAnn Nichols + Shawn Mielke

Watch to see how we talk about how "Challenges Are Opportunities for Growth"

and "The Importance of a Supportive Community...a la the OhHello.io 🌞☕️ tribe!

Go book time w/ Amy Chou on OhHello.io!

OhHello!

It's episode 87 of the OhHello.io 🌞☕️ pod, and our next "Hello" (aka a featured Mentor on the platform) is stoked to be a part of the growing tribe!

Dan Shuftan is many things, but father and husband comes first. Dan is a big fan of #payingitfoward , is the creator of the #ShuftanJobReport , and he has very much leaned into throwing the elevator back down to help others.

A motivator, a sales lead, and a pro committed to #mentorship, #networking and helping others.

His grandparents, both Holocaust survivors, met each other when his grandmother took care of his grandfather who was shot in the back of the head. The story and is deeply touching and underscores the resilience passed down from generation to generation.

Dan also talks about the impact his father, late father-in-law, and 3 friends/mentors have made on his career (Michael Porter, Jeffrey Mard, and Brian Goldstein).

💡 Dan's words of wisdom: "Work hard and be humble."💡

Go book time w/ Dan Shuftan on OhHello.io - 50% of Dan's proceeds will be going to the American Cancer Society!

https://ohhello.io/mentors/DanShuftan

“Oh, Hello! This concept  is really cool. The business model connected to my emotions; we’re obviously brothers from another mother….or cousins…or neighbors. Either way, I need to be a part of this mission.”

Yes'sir, Keni Thacker! We agree and welcome to Episode 86 of the OhHello pod!

Big thanks to fellow “Hello” (Rachel Petzold) for introducing me to Keni Thacker, founder and Chief Creative Officer of 100 Roses From Concrete!

Our discussion topics-

💬 The Power of Mentorship: Keni emphasizes the importance of mentorship in breaking barriers and creating opportunities, especially for people of color in #advertising, #marketing, and #media. His nonprofit, 100 Roses from Concrete, is a testament to this mission.

☕ Authentic Connections: Genuine mentor-mentee relationships are crucial. Keni’s journey from having a mentor in high school to finding his “big sister” and mentor Felicia Geiger (she/her/hers) highlights the importance of these bonds.

🌍 Building Inclusive Communities: Keni’s work is all about inclusivity. Initially focused on men of color, 100 Roses from Concrete expanded to include women, creating a more diverse and supportive community.

Keni’s mantra, “I’m a leader and a loner because followers never leave their mark,” resonates deeply. Let’s all strive to leave our mark by supporting and uplifting each other through platforms and communities like OhHello.io 🌞☕️.io + 100 Roses From Concrete!

We're stoked to have you, Keni, and welcome the 100 Roses From Concrete community into our growing OhHello.io 🌞☕️ tribe!

Keni and his crew will have the opportunity to donate their proceeds to...you guessed it...100 Roses From Concrete (a 501c3 org that'll be live on OhHello.io this week)

Go book time w/ Keni Thacker and catch the interview here or wherever you prefer to listen to our pod!

https://ohhello.io/mentors/KeniThac

“Don’t worry so much!!”

OhHello! It's episode 85 and this above piece of advice applies to all of us c/o Marni Gordon, ACC!

In this episode, our “Hello” (a crowned OhHello.io 🌞☕️ mentor), Marni Gordon, shares invaluable insights on mentoring, career transitions, and the power of paying it forward. Introduced by our mutual friend (and OhHello.io mentor), Julie Fleischer, our conversation unfolded organically, touching on topics close to Marni's heart.

Marni's passion for mentoring and coaching shines through as she emphasizes the value of both giving back and receiving guidance.

Throughout her career, Marni has been influenced by remarkable mentors like Harold Goetz (hello, old friend!), Michael Styles, and Bill Duggan who have shaped her professional trajectory and instilled in her the importance of mentorship.

As an industry leader with over 15 years at the Association of National Advertisers / ANA Educational Foundation, Marni's expertise extends beyond hashtag#marketing to coaching, hashtag#mentorship and hashtag#payingitforward.

Marni's Midlife Marketers newsletter, https://lnkd.in/gtTZcnS8 born from personal experience, is a testament to her commitment to helping others navigate career transitions and thrive.

We're stoked to have you in our tribe, Marni!
Go book time w/ Marni: https://lnkd.in/g74UUvX7
Come join our tribe and sign-up to be a mentor/expert on OhHello.io!