Smart but Dumb

This episode tackles two of my favorite topics: pop culture & NBC's "The Office". To help me break down why the American remake of the British cringe-worthy comedy TV show is so good and is key to American pop culture as we know it, is my friend, Pierre. He tackles the different aspects of the show that are not easy to replicate and are just so goddamn comforting! See how a show about a paper branch in Scranton, Pennsylvania, is in fact not just about an office and was able to tap into America's societal problems through a (very!) comedic lens, and how season after season (long after its end in 2013), was the most watched show on Netflix in 2019 and why people are still nostalgically rushing towards it! In Pierre's words, just watch the show in order to "not be lame". 

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Today, I chat with Krishna, Brand Marketing Manager at Uber, with previous stints at Cadillac and American Express (and fellow NYU grad), to discuss the present and futures of the auto and ride share industries, specifically through a branding and marketing lens. He tells me the products and services offered in those industries will need to be marketed to us as consumers to ensure their success and what kind of brands are well equipped to adapt to the climate moving forward. 

Krishna's resources: 

NYU Stern Professor Scott Gallaway's Podcast PIVOT

P.S. Read Scott Galloway's predictions on higher education in the US in NYMAG

Krishna's song: Sugar & Brownies by DHARIA 

Follow Krishna on IG @kdaswani

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Meet Yahya Wahbeh, Head of UX at Unibuddy and previously at Microsoft and Tesla, to name a few! Yahya tells me all about UX, I.e. the experience of a person using a product - and why UX matters (and makes sure that I'll never be caught saying the acronym without knowing what it really means, again). We dive into the structure of his industry, its pillars and some important do's and don'ts - so anyone with a website or an app (or plans of building one) : take note!  

'Yahya's tips/resources:  

Jacob's Law, Hick's Law

AngeList (job listings) 

Upwork (for freelance gigs)  

Check out Yahya on Instagram @thelastturtle  

Yahya's songs:  Blind Pilot (indie band) , Hip hop jazz playlists on YouTube for when he's working,  & Romare (artist) for a more upbeat vibe!  

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“Agriculture has always been, in any age, at the forefront of technological development" - Mohamad

I know nothing about Ag-Tech so I decided to go to my childhood friend, Mohamad, for an explanation as to what this intersection of agriculture and technology actually is and the effect it has on our lives and planet (did you know that 10 dairy cows consume the same energy as 1 household?!) Mohamad is the Co-Founder & CEO of Rakr, an Ag-Tech company focusing on the farming aspect of the industry, where their NeatMeter technology helps farmers grow better farms by identifying various opportunities to reduce increasingly spiking farming operational costs. Learn about the (largely unknown) problems that farmers are facing and why it's in our best interest to help these key economic actors. 

Check out RAKR on their website: www.rakr.ca

Mohamad’s song: Caution by the Killers

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Listen to Giorgia, a.k.a Gio, President of Massimo Bonini New York, share her tips for how fashion brands can be built then survive during and after this crisis. Gio tells me how new brands can compete with established heritage institutions by using their agility to their advantage as well as why she’s optimistic about the future- on condition that the fashion industry takes this opportunity to rethink what wasn’t working in its business model. Tune in to hear Gio's insights on the past, present and the uncertain future of the fashion industry! 

Find Giorgia on Instagram @giorgiabonini!

Giorgia's song: Juice by Lizzo (as she said, always a vibe!)

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Sit down with your headphones in, with me and Malini, Senior Director on the Influencer & Social Media marketing team within a global leading media/entertainment company, as she tells me about influencers and influencing. She explains what an influencer actually is, the inner workings of the business of influence (she's got a 10 year+ career in the biz!) We dive into how carefully designed campaigns can work for all kinds of brands-when done right, of course! She tells me why "influencers drive culture, and culture drives commerce" and whether the influencer bubble is indeed bursting, especially during a time where consumers look for entertainment and connection in what could be a long-term socially-distanced world. 

Find Malini & Hit her up with any q's on Instagram: (and follow her rollercoaster from going from have a private to public profile): @malzipop 

Malini's (legendary, hit-the-spot) playlist: A little bit of this. A little bit of that. 

Malini's songs: Freedom by Kygo & Zak Abel, Caution by the Killers,  For Aisha by MEMBA, EVAN GIIA & Cherry by Harry Styles (Album)  

The song I thought Malini was talking about: Faith (with Dolly Parton) feat. Mr. Probz by Galantis

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Tune in to the first episode of Smart But Dumb where I discuss the underrated benefits of exercise with modern athlete, Aussie legend, and co-founder of the badass gals running club @thedemonclub, Madeline, otherwise known as Madbod! Listen to how an attitude change got her into long-distance running and how she now helps other girls around her to do the same for their wellbeing! 🤘🏻 

Madeline's song: Born to Try, Delta Goodrem  

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