WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.166 --> 00:00:01.376 - Akbar welcome. 2 00:00:01.376 --> 00:00:04.254 How do you envision the future of marketing? 3 00:00:04.254 --> 00:00:07.674 - The future of marketing is so bright right now. 4 00:00:07.674 --> 00:00:10.802 These emerging technologies that are coming our way 5 00:00:10.802 --> 00:00:13.471 that we're using, AI now, 6 00:00:13.471 --> 00:00:16.056 metaverse, Web3, these virtual gaming worlds 7 00:00:16.056 --> 00:00:17.642 that have been around for decades. 8 00:00:17.642 --> 00:00:19.352 Brands are really now using them, 9 00:00:19.352 --> 00:00:22.022 leveraging the technology, leveraging the communities. 10 00:00:22.022 --> 00:00:23.773 We have hundreds of millions of gamers 11 00:00:23.773 --> 00:00:26.526 and so the future is really bright for all these brands 12 00:00:26.526 --> 00:00:28.862 because they're realizing that in these gamers 13 00:00:28.862 --> 00:00:30.405 in these communities that are engaging 14 00:00:30.405 --> 00:00:33.158 with these technologies, our brand fans didn't know about. 15 00:00:33.158 --> 00:00:35.285 So for us, we're really excited. 16 00:00:35.285 --> 00:00:36.119 - Tell me about how 17 00:00:36.119 --> 00:00:38.621 these new technologies are changing the relationship 18 00:00:38.621 --> 00:00:40.040 between brands and consumers. 19 00:00:40.040 --> 00:00:41.374 - Yeah, it's a great question 20 00:00:41.374 --> 00:00:44.294 because consumers are now actually having ownership 21 00:00:44.294 --> 00:00:46.337 and say in what brands are doing. 22 00:00:46.337 --> 00:00:48.298 Brands are really speaking directly to consumers 23 00:00:48.298 --> 00:00:52.594 almost segmenting their audiences' bi-cultural moment. 24 00:00:52.594 --> 00:00:55.221 So we're seeing brands really get behind moments 25 00:00:55.221 --> 00:00:58.391 like Diwali or Pride or the Hip Hop 50 anniversary 26 00:00:58.391 --> 00:01:00.393 and leaning into these communities 27 00:01:00.393 --> 00:01:04.272 that really resonate with that core message or core value 28 00:01:04.272 --> 00:01:07.233 and creating experiences specific to them. 29 00:01:07.233 --> 00:01:09.527 So the experiences are open to everyone, they're inclusive 30 00:01:09.527 --> 00:01:11.196 but you're now engaging millions of people 31 00:01:11.196 --> 00:01:12.614 and making them feel seen and heard. 32 00:01:12.614 --> 00:01:15.325 So these emerging technologies are allowing brands 33 00:01:15.325 --> 00:01:16.701 to engage with consumers in a way 34 00:01:16.701 --> 00:01:18.078 like they never have before. 35 00:01:18.078 --> 00:01:19.746 And yes, we've had social media, 36 00:01:19.746 --> 00:01:22.415 but it's never been that direct of a connection. 37 00:01:22.415 --> 00:01:24.793 - I know you are super excited about the future of marketing 38 00:01:24.793 --> 00:01:28.338 but can you pick out any areas that excites you the most? 39 00:01:28.338 --> 00:01:30.715 - I am really excited about where AI is going 40 00:01:30.715 --> 00:01:32.759 just because it's going to speed things up. 41 00:01:32.759 --> 00:01:34.928 So I know there's a lot of people who are scared about, 42 00:01:34.928 --> 00:01:37.722 are we going to lose our jobs in the creative field? 43 00:01:37.722 --> 00:01:39.015 Is it going to take over the world 44 00:01:39.015 --> 00:01:40.391 in this scary dystopian future? 45 00:01:40.391 --> 00:01:43.061 I think the tools that it has to actually. 46 00:01:43.061 --> 00:01:45.772 We were hearing from Alo Yoga here at the BCG space, 47 00:01:45.772 --> 00:01:48.191 they can now for their fashion shoots quickly change 48 00:01:48.191 --> 00:01:50.985 between looks utilizing just one model and one shot 49 00:01:50.985 --> 00:01:54.155 and then just use AI to replace the clothing and the colors. 50 00:01:54.155 --> 00:01:54.989 I mean that's brilliant. 51 00:01:54.989 --> 00:01:57.242 Think about the dollars that can be saved to spend 52 00:01:57.242 --> 00:01:59.744 on other campaigns and influencers and how quickly 53 00:01:59.744 --> 00:02:02.497 as consumers we can get our products and shop. 54 00:02:02.497 --> 00:02:04.666 So it's really, AI is something to watch. 55 00:02:04.666 --> 00:02:06.751 - And I know you're passionate about diversity. 56 00:02:06.751 --> 00:02:08.377 How do you see the intersection there? 57 00:02:08.377 --> 00:02:11.089 Diversity, technology, marketing. 58 00:02:11.089 --> 00:02:14.050 - So this technology is actually allowing brands 59 00:02:14.050 --> 00:02:16.511 to lean into diverse audiences much more. 60 00:02:16.511 --> 00:02:18.429 They're realizing that they don't have 61 00:02:18.429 --> 00:02:20.056 to speak to just one community. 62 00:02:20.056 --> 00:02:22.183 They can really go into different platforms that resonate 63 00:02:22.183 --> 00:02:23.893 with different communities and different audiences 64 00:02:23.893 --> 00:02:25.103 and have different messages, 65 00:02:25.103 --> 00:02:26.729 all leading up to one cohesive message. 66 00:02:26.729 --> 00:02:28.898 But, have different messages that resonate 67 00:02:28.898 --> 00:02:29.816 with different audiences 68 00:02:29.816 --> 00:02:33.361 and there's no longer a one size fits all. 69 00:02:33.361 --> 00:02:36.072 So that's what's really great about the diversity aspect. 70 00:02:36.072 --> 00:02:37.323 - Akbar, thank you so much. 71 00:02:37.323 --> 00:02:38.116 - Thank you.