The 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was July 26, so today's episode is a special one.

Most companies obsess over SEO, performance, and conversion rates—but overlook 25% of their audience entirely. Why do so many businesses miss the opportunity to serve users with disabilities, and what are they leaving on the table?

Today I’m joined by Michael Paciello, Chief Accessibility Officer at AudioEye. Michael is a pioneer in digital accessibility and a longtime advocate for creating inclusive online experiences. While many business professionals focus on growth and efficiency, Michael makes a compelling case that accessibility is not just about compliance—it's a powerful business opportunity. He’s here to help us understand how accessibility can improve everything from reach to reputation to revenue.

About Mike Paciello

Mike Paciello is the Chief Accessibility Officer at AudioEye, Inc., a digital accessibility company. Prior to joining AudioEye, Mike founded WebABLE/WebABLE.TV, which delivers news about the disability and accessibility technology market. Mike authored the first book on web accessibility and usability, “Web Accessibility for People with Disabilities” and, in 1997, Mr. Paciello received recognition from President Bill Clinton for his work in the creation of World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).

He has served as an advisor to the US Access Board and other federal agencies since 1992. Mike has served as an international leader, technologist, and authority in emerging technology, accessibility, usability, and electronic publishing. Mike is the former Founder of The Paciello Group (TPG), a world-renowned software accessibility consultancy acquired in 2017 by Vispero.

Mike Paciello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-paciello-88a7a0306/

Resources

Audioeye: https://www.audioeye.com https://www.audioeye.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands
Online Scrum Master Summit is happening June 17-19. This 3-day virtual event is open for registration. Visit www.osms25.com and get a 25% discount off Premium All-Access Passes with the code osms25agilebrand
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

How often do big, meaningful shifts inside a company actually start small? And more importantly, how do you avoid squashing them before they have a chance to grow?

Agility requires more than vision—it requires giving your team the power to act on that vision.

Today we’re going to talk about how a global company like Belkin empowered its employees to lead a sustainability transformation from within.

To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome Steve Malony, CEO of Belkin.

About Steven Malony

Steven Malony is the CEO of Belkin International, a role he has excelled in since 2021, following nearly 20 years with the company. Malony began his career at Belkin as a sales representative for Apple resellers in the U.S., where his commitment to understanding customer needs and delivering value helped him rise through the ranks. His deep focus on relationships with distributors, partners, and end users, combined with a relentless drive to innovate, has shaped Belkin’s global success and aligned with the company’s core values of customer-first service.

Before becoming CEO, Steven held various leadership roles in sales and management, where he was responsible for driving strategic direction, performance, and international operations. He demonstrated exceptional resilience and strategic foresight, particularly during challenging times such as the global pandemic. Under his leadership, Belkin successfully navigated the separation of Linksys, integrated the Phyn brand, and maintained strong financial performance. In addition to his role at Belkin, Malony provides strategic guidance to the FIT team, overseeing the production of Apple products like Beats Audio.

Since becoming CEO, Malony has overseen significant growth at Belkin, with revenue, gross profit, and operating profit all experiencing substantial increases. His ability to leverage the company’s design, manufacturing, and sales capabilities, especially through FIT, has positioned Belkin for continued success. A champion of corporate culture, he has fostered a sense of community within the organization, empowering teams and launching voluntary employee groups called VIBEs to further enhance Belkin’s workplace environment.

Steven Malony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-malony-67786b/

Resources

Belkin: https://www.belkin.com https://www.belkin.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150"

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Agility requires that brands have a fundamental understanding of why they’re doing things, and what customer expectations are, rather than chasing trends and implementing the latest tech. Without this, customer satisfaction will continue to slide, and brands won’t be any closer to knowing what to do to solve for that.

I am here in Edinburgh with my guest today, who has worked with some of the world's largest brands, written several books, and hosts a great podcast of his own. To talk about a few things today, I’d like to welcome Adrian Swinscoe, Host of the Punk CX Podcast.

About Adrian Swinscoe

Described as an experimental CX thought leader and visionary, Adrian Swinscoe is a best-selling author, Forbes contributor, speaker, investor, advisor and aspirant CX Punk.

He has been growing and helping develop customer-focused large and small businesses for over 25 years now.

His clients have included brands such as Adobe, Apple, Cancer Research UK, Costa Coffee, the UK
Gov’s Crown Commercial Service, ING, Intercontinental Hotel Group, KFC, KPMG, ING, Kramp, Lloyds, Harper Collins, Médecins Sans Frontières, Megger, Microsoft, Nespresso, NowTV, Olympus, Pearson,
Philips, Sky, Talk Talk, and Zoom as well as numerous tech vendors and many smaller and medium-sized businesses.
Adrian is a frequent writer, podcaster and speaker on all things related to customer service and experience.

He published a best-selling book in 2016 called How to Wow: 68 Effortless Ways to Make Every Customer Experience Amazing (Pearson), published a genre-busting book: Punk CX in 2019
and published an exciting follow-up: Punk XL at the end of 2021.

Adrian Swinscoe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianswinscoe/

Resources

Punk CX Podcast: https://www.adrianswinscoe.com/ https://www.adrianswinscoe.com/

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150"

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

If you think commerce media is just a buzzword or a trend, think again.

It’s reshaping the ad landscape—fueled by AI, first-party data, and sector-specific solutions that leave the legacy one-size-fits-all approach in the dust. What’s coming next? Grocery? Autos? Quick commerce? If your brand isn’t already exploring commerce media, it’s probably falling behind.

Today I’m joined by Eric Brackmann, Head of Commerce Media at Koddi—the technology partner behind four of the eight commerce media networks currently valued at over a billion dollars. Eric has helped Koddi scale its commerce media platform beyond travel into grocery, quick commerce, and even automotive, giving him a sharp perspective on where the industry is headed and what marketers need to do now to stay relevant.

About Eric Brackmann

Eric Brackmann, VP of Commerce Media at Koddi, has more than 15 years of experience shaping the media industry. Prior to joining the leadership team at Koddi, he held key roles at Criteo, HookLogic (acquired by Criteo) and Accenture.
As VP of Commerce Media at Koddi, Eric spearheaded the launch of Koddi Ads. He is responsible for overseeing the company's commerce media business, including strategy, operations and customer success. Eric serves as a respected consultant and thought leader among top business leaders.

Eric Brackmann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericbrackmann/

Resources

Koddi: https://www.koddi.com https://www.koddi.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150"

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Agility requires marketing leaders to evolve from campaign-based thinking to relationship-based strategy—especially when working with creators who influence not just clicks, but for a meaningful connection with customers.
Today we’re going to talk about the creator economy and how brands like PepsiCo, Unilever, and more are leaning into long-term creator partnerships to drive relevance, resonance, and ultimately, ROI.

To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome Brit Starr, CMO of CreatorIQ.

About Brit Starr

Brit Starr is the Chief Marketing Officer at CreatorIQ, the leading enterprise platform revolutionizing influencer marketing for thousands of brands and agencies, including Nestlé, Sephora, and Unilever. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and consulting, Brit has played pivotal roles at some of the most iconic consumer brands, including Lyft, Guitar Center, Shiner Beer, Verve Coffee Roasters, and Trulia.

Brit Starr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britmccorquodale/

Resources

CreatorIQ: https://www.creatoriq.com https://www.creatoriq.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150"

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

If the web is no longer one-size-fits-all and instead geared towards segments of one, how do brands avoid creating a thousand disconnected experiences, and manage each experience effectively?

Agility requires embracing both technology and customer behavior shifts at the same time—without losing your brand voice.

Today we’re going to talk about how AI and more connected digital experiences are shaping the future of the web.
To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome Eric Stine, CEO of Sitecore.

About Eric Stine

Eric Stine is the Chief Executive Officer of Sitecore, driving the company's vision and strategy to enable brands to create digital experiences so powerful they connect the world. Eric was previously Chief Operating Officer, where he led all customer-facing functions.

Before Sitecore, Eric was Chief Executive Officer of Elemica. Previously, he was Chief Commercial Officer of Skillsoft and Chief Revenue Officer of Qualtrics. Eric has also held executive roles at companies such as SAP, Ciber, and Blackboard.

Eric earned a law degree at Boston University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts at Northwestern University, where he and his husband are the founders of the Eric and Neil Stine-Markman Scholarships. They are the first permanent endowments at either institution directing funds toward LGBTQ+ students.

Eric Stine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-stine-ceo-sitecore/

Resources

Sitecore: https://www.sitecore.com https://www.sitecore.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150"

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Customer lifetime value is a critical KPI, but with customer acquisition costs rapidly rising, what can brands do to successfully build long-term value for the business?

Agility requires seeing past vanity metrics to the durable value hidden in customer relationships. When customer acquisition costs climb and privacy affects easy targeting, only nimble brands—those that align teams, data, and KPIs around lifetime value—stay ahead.

All of this (and a few more things) are discussed in the recently-released Klaviyo B2C Report. To discuss it, I’d like to welcome Jamie Domenici, CMO at Klaviyo.

About Jamie Domenici

Jamie is Chief Marketing Officer at Klaviyo, the only CRM built for consumer brands. She has served as the Chief Marketing Officer since August 2023. With more than 20 years of experience in SaaS Marketing, Jamie has become a pioneer in SMB Marketing and a champion for small businesses. Prior to Klaviyo, Jamie served as the CMO of GoTo, a provider of SaaS and cloud- based remote work tools for collaboration and IT management, and before that, she held various marketing leadership positions at Salesforce for over ten years. Jamie holds a B.A. in International Relations from California State University, Chico. Jamie lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two daughters.

Jamie Domenici on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdomenici/

Resources

Klaviyo: https://www.klaviyo.com https://www.klaviyo.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150"

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

With all the data at our fingertips, why do so many companies still struggle to deliver truly personalized experiences at scale?

Agility requires being able to cut through the noise of data and culture shifts to deliver experiences that truly resonate with each individual.
Today we’re going to talk about personalization maturity, the role of machine learning, deep learning, and generative AI in driving relevance, and how to future-proof your martech stack with open, flexible architectures that enable best-in-class personalization.

To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome Yaniv Navot, Former Dynamic Yield by Mastercard CMO and current SVP of Commercialization for Customer Acquisition & Engagement at Mastercard.

About Yaniv Navot

Former Dynamic Yield by Mastercard CMO and current SVP of Commercialization for Customer Acquisition & Engagement. He is marketing leader and personalization expert with nearly two decades of experience driving performance-driven marketing at scale. He shaped the personalization market and led the company’s rise as an industry leader. Joining as the first marketing hire, Yaniv built a world-class team and partnered with top B2C brands to deliver impactful, cutting-edge personalization strategies. Follow him on LinkedIn: @yanivnavot.

Yaniv Navot on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanivnavot/

Resources

Mastercard: https://www.mastercard.com https://www.mastercard.com

Get Yaniv's book, Marketing in the AI Era: Why Personalization Wins the Customer Experience: ⁠https://amzn.to/44CC8bW⁠

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands

Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150"

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show

Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com

The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Are we on the brink of advertising becoming too smart for its own good, or is Deep Learning finally getting us closer to what customers actually want?

Agility requires us to constantly evaluate how technology like AI reshapes the relationships between brands and consumers—sometimes for better, sometimes for far more complex. The advertising landscape is shifting under our feet, with new rules, new tech, and frankly, a lot of new guesswork.
Today we’re going to talk about how Deep Learning and AI are impacting advertising effectiveness, personalization, and the future of advertising—with or without cookies.

To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome Jaysen Gillespie, VP, Global Head of Analytics and Product Marketing at RTB House.

About Jaysen Gillespie

Jaysen is a Southern California analytics pro with 15+ years in tech leadership. Currently holding the position of VP, Global Head of Product Marketing and Analytics at RTB House, he turns data into insights that drive relevant decisions. He is an experienced speaker and content creator, simplifying complex ideas and making them easily consumable and applicable. For Jaysen, analytics isn’t just interesting—it’s essential.

Resources

RTB House: https://www.rtbhouse.com https://www.rtbhouse.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150"

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show
Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company