Unmissables with Ariba Jahan

Hosted by Ariba Jahan

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Mar 2026

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Unmissables is a podcast about technology, behavior, and trust. Host Ariba Jahan talks with builders, strategists, and leaders about the things they're sitting with — what they're building, the tensions they're working through, and the questions they keep coming back to. Some episodes go deep on a single product or decision. Some zoom out to the systems underneath. How products earn loyalty, how data practices shape what gets prioritized, how AI is changing what companies build and how people respond to it. Each episode is built around one thing worth not missing. You'll leave with a framework, a question, or a pattern you won't stop noticing. The companion newsletter goes deeper with analysis, curated reads, and original writing on the same territory. Subscribe at www.unmissables.xyz www.unmissables.xyz

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15 recent

March 5, 2026Episode 649 min

The Biggest Competitor to Your Product Might Be Paper | Daniel Burka, Mahima Chandak & Elyce Cole, Hard Problems

What if the hardest part of building technology isn’t the interface, it’s earning a place in systems that already work? Daniel Burka left Google Ventures to spend eight years building health tech in rural clinics across India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Sri Lanka. Mahima Chandak builds AI-powered screening tools for frontline healthcare workers. Elyce Cole is the organizational psychologist focused on the power structures and team dynamics that determine whether technology actually reaches the people it's meant to serve. Together they co-founded Hard Problems, a not-for-profit with a goal to help more technologists to work on the world's hardest problems, like climate change and public health. Their platform Simple is used a million times a month to manage hypertension across some of the most constrained clinical environments on the planet. In this conversation: why paper was their real competition, what it takes to get a clinical visit down to 13 seconds of data entry, why they deliberately hid individual productivity from managers, and what co-design looks like when your government partner is going through a coup. Follow along 00:54 — Introduction 02:05 — What Hard Problems is and why they named it that 07:12 — Paper as competition 10:51 — The psychology of change 12:44 — 13 seconds: designing a clinical visit 17:49 — What they let go of 20:34 — Data, surveillance, and system design 25:02 — Co-design with nurses 29:21 — Co-design with governments 32:22 — From shipping to sustaining 35:52 — The beachhead analogy 37:37 — How to enter the space 39:27 — AI at the edge: oral cancer screening 44:09 — The unmissable For complete list of takeaways, recap & resources, visit https://unmissables.substack.com/p/ep-15-hard-problems Enjoying Unmissables? A ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Spotify and a review on Apple helps more people find the show. 🫶🏽 Get full access to Unmissables at www.unmissables.xyz/subscribe

January 28, 2026Episode 553 min

The Behaviors You Reward Are Your Real Culture | Kit Krugman, Foursquare

What happens when you stop talking about culture and start designing it like a system? In this episode, I talk with Kit Krugman, SVP of People & Culture at Foursquare, about what it actually takes to build organizations that move fast without burning people out. Kit spent years advising companies like LinkedIn, Microsoft, and CHANEL on organizational design at co:collective. Now she’s doing the work from the inside—redesigning how Foursquare operates at the level of behaviors, feedback loops, and everyday decisions. We dig into how she audited Foursquare’s performance system and found a “collection of parts” instead of an ecosystem. How her team moved from annual reviews to real-time, peer-based impact tracking. What it looked like to return to office three days a week and what the data actually showed (an 83% jump in cross-functional collaboration). And the provocative experiments they’re running: stripping out meetings, flattening structures, and letting people feel what’s missing before adding it back. Kit doesn’t treat culture as a brand exercise. She treats it as a behavioral system, one you either design intentionally or inherit by default. What we explore in this episode * Why the behaviors your system rewards are your real culture * How Foursquare shifted from effort tracking to impact tracking * What Kit learned from auditing who was succeeding and who wasn’t * The tension between trusting people and holding them accountable (especially with RTO) * Her “Maslow’s hierarchy” of people practices and what self-reinforcing culture actually looks like * A reframe on burnout: it’s not about hours, it’s about disconnection * Why storytelling is context, and how micro-narratives shape whether people feel valued * The career move everyone called a dead end that changed everything Follow along 02:04 – What Foursquare does today 06:03 – From advisor to operator 09:58 – What's breaking inside companies right now 14:35 – The 83% collaboration jump 15:49 – Defining culture: behaviors rewarded and repeated 17:47 – Culture debt 21:55 – Redesigning performance at Foursquare 29:11 – Maslow's hierarchy of people practices 31:01 – You can't coach speed 40:11 – The provocative experiments 46:07 – Rapid fire + the dead-end job that changed everything 49:48 – Sturdy leadership If this resonated, subscribe, and share with someone who should be in the future you’re building. Takeaways, Signals to Watch & Resources here: unmissableswithariba.com Where to find Kit Krugman ( LinkedIn ) Where to find Ariba Jahan ( Linkedin , Instagram ) Newsletter: unmissableswithariba.com Enjoying Unmissables? A quick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Spotify + a review on Apple helps more people find the show. Thank you! 🫶🏽 Get full access to Unmissables at www.unmissables.xyz/subscribe

September 17, 2025Episode 41 hr 2 min

Beyond Dystopia: Designing Futures You Can Live In | Keely Adler & Caitlin Keeley, RADAR

Most futures work stops at trend decks that never leave the room. RADAR is doing something different. As a digital cooperative, they turn collective imagination into practice—research cycles, rituals, grants, and cultural artifacts people can actually use. I’m joined by Keely Adler (Head of Practice) and Caitlin Keeley (Head of Imagination) to talk about futures you can live in—not just look at. We get into “mundane futures,” why optimism needs rigor, how love and psychological safety show up as design tools, and crossing the “yearning gap” from longing to action. What we explore Why “shiny, robotic” futures leave people out—and how to fix it Prototyping futures in public (not behind closed decks) “Mundane futures” as a design test for what’s livable Love and psychological safety as real infrastructure Rituals, artifacts, and cooperative ownership Crossing the yearning gap with small, repeated actions Follow along 00:00 — Introduction to RADAR and its evolution 02:19 — Understanding futures & cultural futurism 04:25 — The concept of mundane futures 06:49 — Community & collective ownership at RADAR 09:22 — Digital cooperatives and shared ownership 11:58 — Where RADAR meets client/industry work 18:52 — The creative ecosystem (participants, partners, artifacts) 24:32 — Multiplayer imagination & experimentation in practice 31:08 — Embodied futures & love as infrastructure 34:38 — Yearning for change & the 2025 mission 44:33 — The power of imagination in shaping the future 47:20 — Understanding yearning burnout & its impact 50:18 — The role of small actions in creating change 53:30 — The future of collaboration & AI 54:58 — Lessons from multiplayer mode in creative processes 57:13 — Fostering psychological safety for innovation 01:02:14 — The importance of community & gathering for change If this resonated, subscribe, and share with someone who should be in the future you’re building. Takeaways, Signals to Watch & Resources here: https://unmissables.substack.com/p/designing-futures-multiplayer-mode Where to find Keely Adler & Caitlin Keeley * Keely Adler — Head of Practice ( LinkedIn ) * Caitlin Keeley — Head of Imagination ( LinkedIn | Site ) * RADAR — Website | Linktree Where to find me * LinkedIn: /aribajahan * Instagram: @ariba.jahan * Newsletter: unmissableswithariba.com Enjoying Unmissables? A quick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Spotify + a review on Apple helps more people find the show. Thank you! Get full access to Unmissables at www.unmissables.xyz/subscribe

August 13, 2025Episode 347 min

Making the Invisible Interactive: Immersive Storytelling with Aditi Rajagopal

What does it take to design stories people can step into and feel? Aditi Rajagopal is the Head of Experience Design, Immersive at Atlantic Studios, where she creates interactive educational and entertainment experiences for platforms like Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest. Her recent project, Cosmos in Focus —a virtual planetarium featured at SXSW, turns James Webb Space Telescope data into an emotional, interactive experience that makes the universe feel close and personal. Her career spans animation, creative strategy, and immersive storytelling roles at Meta across India, Singapore, and the UK. She’s worked with brands like Spotify, Samsung, and Uber, and has been recognized at Cannes, SXSW, and D&AD. In this episode, we talk about designing for presence instead of novelty, choreographing focus in 3D space, and building immersive experiences that balance wonder with access. We explore how behavior, empathy, and inclusivity shape immersive media and what it takes to lower the barriers for more diverse creators to enter the space. If you care about the future of storytelling, education, or interactive design, this conversation will expand your creative lens. What we explore in this episode: Defining immersive media beyond hype How Cosmos in Focus turns data into emotion The “choreography of focus” as a design skill Why headset access limits storytelling equity Designing for behavior, empathy, and unexpected users Entry points for creators using no-code and low-cost tools Breaking outdated “rules” in VR and XR design Shownotes and transcript: https://unmissables.substack.com/p/making-the-invisible-interactive Where to find Aditi Rajagopal LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aditirajagopal Where to find Ariba Jahan LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aribajahan Instagram : @ariba.jahan Newsletter: unmissableswithariba.com Follow along: 00:00 – Welcome + Meet Aditi Rajagopal 02:49 – Magic and Potential of Spatial Storytelling 05:13 – Defining Immersive Experiences 07:35 – Designing for Presence 10:17 – Creating Emotional Connections 12:52 – Inside Cosmos in Focus 15:42 – The Choreography of Focus 18:15 – Lessons from Collaboration 20:36 – The Future of Immersive Storytelling 25:43 – The Future of Spatial Computing 27:34 – Challenges in Spatial Design 33:03 – Diversity in Storytelling 34:13 – Barriers for Creators 35:15 – Getting Started in Immersive Storytelling 38:20 – Responsibility in Storytelling 41:17 – Behavioral Shifts in Immersive Experiences 43:17 – Breaking the Rules of Immersive Storytelling 45:37 – Encouragement for Aspiring Storytellers 47:23 – Outro Enjoying Unmissables? Your review helps others discover the show. Please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify and a review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you! I want to hear from you! Drop in the comments or reach out to me to share what types of topics and questions you want explored on future episodes. Get full access to Unmissables at www.unmissables.xyz/subscribe

June 17, 2025Episode 243 min

Designing Health Tech When Trust Is the Product | Ambreen Molitor

What does it take to build digital health products that center care, clarity, and trust? In this episode, I talk with Ambreen Molitor, a product leader working at the intersection of reproductive health, equity, and digital access. At Planned Parenthood, where she served as National Director of Product Innovation, Ambreen helped launch and redesign award-winning tools like Roo , an AI-powered chatbot for teens, and Spot On , a bilingual birth control and cycle tracker that prioritized user trust before it became a tech talking point. Her work helped Planned Parenthood win Webbys, Effies, and the VIVE Techquity for Health Champion Award, while quietly reshaping how digital care shows up in people’s lives. She strives to support users navigating trauma, surveillance, and stigma with empathy and precision. Now as a Principal PM at Zocdoc, she continues to build with a sharp eye on who health tech serves, and how. We unpack how her team at Planned Parenthood shifted from building in-house to partnering with pre-seed startups, and what that evolution revealed about urgency, alignment, and power. Ambreen also walks us through a revealing experiment: testing LLMs against their own content to evaluate not just accuracy, but tone and trust. The results opened up deeper questions about emotional safety, care at scale, and what readiness actually means when AI enters the room. _____ What we explore in this episode * What people still get wrong about nonprofit innovation * Why trust shapes product architecture in digital health * How Planned Parenthood designed for tone, clarity, and care * The real gap between LLM output and emotionally safe content * What vetting a startup partner looks like when values are at stake * Why tone isn’t a polish layer, it’s an equity decision * Building through legal gray zones, shifting policy, and urgent timelines * Why impact is a long game, but direction starts now _____ Shownotes, takeaways & resources: https://unmissables.substack.com/p/bbfd4292-fc3f-48db-908e-ecd9a8225d89 _____ Follow Along 00:00 – Introduction to show + Guest Introduction 01:56 – Meet Ambreen Molitor 03:45 – How Planned Parenthood scaled innovation under constraint 06:00 – Roo and Spot On: Designing for clarity, care, and context 09:00 – Partnering with startups (and protecting values) 12:00 – Testing LLMs against real-world content 15:00 – Why tone is an equity issue in health tech 18:00 – Tech’s role in care: assistant, not provider 20:30 – Policy, urgency, and real-time scenario planning 23:30 – Closing reflections + unmissable signals _____ Mentioned on this episode * Spot On – Planned Parenthood’s bilingual, inclusive birth control & period tracker * Roo – The AI-powered sex education chatbot launched in 2019 * Autonomy – Startup helping patients get matched to federal/state/local abortion funding * VIVE Techquity for Health Champion Award – Award recognizing equity-first innovation in healthcare * StereoSet – A benchmark for measuring bias in language models * Frost & Sullivan’s Femtech Market Forecast – Femtech projected to hit $103B by 2030 Update: Since recording the episode, 19 states have some form of abortion bans, 12 have total bans. _____ Where to find Ambreen Molitor * LinkedIn : /ambreenmolitor Where to find Ariba Jahan * Linkedin: /aribajahan/ * Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ariba.jahan * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61NDFgqsM02-wtE1PrZOsw Enjoying Unmissables? Leave a 5-star review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It helps us reach the right listeners. Thanks for tuning in! Would love to hear from you, tell us what this episode made you think about? Is there a health tech app you love using, why? Get full access to Unmissables at www.unmissables.xyz/subscribe

June 3, 2025Episode 152 min

How Futures Thinking Sharpens Strategy | Tameka Vasquez

Most companies are stuck toggling between reacting to the moment and chasing the next big thing. Tameka Vasquez helps them pause, zoom out, and build strategy that doesn’t just respond, but reimagines. In this episode, we unpack what futures thinking actually looks like in practice: how to build clarity inside complexity, what makes vision operational (not just aspirational), and why tiny shifts—not big bets—are what shape tomorrow. Tameka Vasquez is a futurist, strategist, educator, and the Founder of The Future Quo , an advisory group helping executive teams design new visions with foresight, creativity, and purpose. Her background spans brand strategy, systems design, and academia—including roles as Head of Marketing at Google’s Sidewalk Labs and teaching at Columbia University. _______ What we explore in this episode: - Why strategic foresight isn’t about prediction and what it’s actually for - How trend-chasing leads to mimicry, not momentum - The cost of working without vision, and how it shows up day-to-day - Why futures thinking belongs in the room, not in the research deck - How to design for possibility when urgency is loud - What LEGO got right—and what your team can learn from it - The power of narrative as an operating system - Why “nonlinear” careers are often the most aligned _______ Shownotes and transcript: https://unmissables.substack.com/p/how-futures-thinking-sharpens-strategy _______ Mentioned on the episode: The Future Quo: https://www.thefuturequo.com PwC 2024 Global CEO Survey: https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/ceo-survey/2024/download/27th-ceo-survey.pdf Strategic Foresight 101: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/01/strategic-foresight-help-companies-survive-thrive/ LEGO Scenario Planning: https://www.seriousinsights.net/legos-scenario-planning-asia/ _______ Where to find Tameka Vasquez LinkedIn : /tamekavasquez The Future Quo: https://www.thefuturequo.com Where to find Ariba Jahan Linkedin: /aribajahan/ Substack Newsletter: unmissableswithariba.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ariba.jahan _______ Follow along: 00:00 – Welcome + Meet Tameka Vasquez 02:20 – How Tameka Found Her Way to Futures Work 04:30 – What 'Futures Thinking' Means 11:20 – Democratizing the Practice of Foresight 16:00 – Tameka’s Approach: From Trends to Narrative 23:45 – Vision Gaps in a Reactive World 24:00 – The LEGO case study: foresight in action 31:00 – AI, Urgency, and the Risk of Reactive Thinking 40:45 – Making Futures Thinking Practical 46:15 – Multiplicity, Reinvention, and Nonlinear Careers 49:30 – Unmissable Signals + Closing Reflections _______ Your review helps more listeners find us: If you enjoyed listening to this episode, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and a 5-star rating on Spotify. Thank you so much! Get full access to Unmissables at www.unmissables.xyz/subscribe

January 4, 2024Episode 948 min

The Evolving Landscape of Digital Innovation: Insights on livestream economy, immersive digital ecosystems, gaming, and AI from Jessica Berger | S01E09

Have you ever thought about having a digital twin? In this episode of Up Next in Tech, I sit down with Jessica Berger, SVP of Innovation at Publicis Media. Admirably known for her insight and understanding of cutting-edge technology, Jessica shares her expertise on trends like web3, AI, extended reality, and gaming. In this conversation, we focused on 4 emerging trends that Jessica's team highlighted in their recent trends report called, Future Forward. The report included topics like instant content to commerce, immersive digital ecosystems, AI's impact on identity and social life, and the revolutionary implications of gaming's evolution on brands. The episode also sheds light on Jessica's personal definition of innovation and how she nurtures her curiosity, opening up interesting questions around the adoption of virtual try-on technologies and the possibility of using a digital twin. So if any of these trends interest you, be sure to check out the episode and let me know what you think about virtual try on technologies or any of the trends we mentioned! Also, check out the glossary that breaks down a lot of the new words that come up on this episode. It’s a new thing we’re trying, so let us know if you like it. Follow along: 01:39 Jessica’s definition of Innovation 04:00 Nurturing Curiosity and Innovator's Mindset 13:58 Personal Use of Generative AI 19:27 Identifying Trends and Directions 24:49 Ethical Considerations in the Digital Age 32:59 The Potential of Virtual Try-Ons 35:01 The Role of Blockchain in Authenticity and Equity 42:34 Nurturing Mental Health and Curiosity Speaker Bio: Jessica Berger leads innovation and strategy at Publicis Media by harnessing the power of emerging technologies and insights. With an industry reputation for her unwavering enthusiasm and profound understanding of cutting-edge tech, such as web3, AI, and AR/VR, Berger has become a sought-after speaker, judge, and host at industry events. Her expertise lies in deciphering the future of media and brand experiences, enabling her clients to capitalize on the potential of breakthrough innovations. Moreover, her dedication to mentorship and advocacy for diverse voices in organizations like the Adweek Executive Mentorship program and Girls In Tech exemplifies her commitment to empowering the next generation of marketers and thinkers. Prior to joining Publicis, Berger worked at agency powerhouses Weber Shandwick and Publicis’ MSL where she strategized and implemented campaigns and digital innovation efforts for clients in the luxury goods, CPG and tech sectors. Her over a decade-long experience is informed by working for agencies and companies across Germany, Japan, and North America – giving her a unique global edge valued by many clients and industry peers. For the full show notes with transcript, glossary of terms and resources, visit https://www.aribajahan.com/upnextintech/jessica-berger 🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW If you enjoyed listening to this episode, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and a 5-star rating on Spotify! 💻SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER Get exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and valuable resources delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here: https://upnextwithariba.substack.com/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH JESSICA BERGER LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaberger1/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH ARIBA JAHAN Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aribajahan Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribajahan/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61NDFgqsM02-wtE1PrZOsw Twitter: http://twitter.com/aribajahan Post a screenshot and what you loved and tag me on instagram , linkedin , or twitter . Get full access to Unmissables at www.unmissables.xyz/subscribe

December 6, 2023Episode 841 min

Spatial Computing and Building for Gen Alpha with Chief Futurist, Cathy Hackl | S01E08

In this episode, I sit down with Cathy Hackl to discuss her journey and inspiration from being a journalist to becoming a futurist and the godmother of the metaverse. We explored what brands should keep in mind when building for Generation Alpha - a group of tech natives who are rewiring the future. Cathy also explained the concept of spatial computing and its applications in various industries and how it may evolve over the next few years. We acknowledged the challenges, the need for ethical considerations in how this tech evolves and the potential of spatial computing in creating more immersive and engaging experiences through more integrations of physical and digital worlds and geopolitics in the metaverse. Throughout our chat, Cathy and I shared personal stories as women and moms in the industry, valuable insights that pave the way for a deeper understanding of the tech landscape, and much more. What questions come up for you? Let us know so we can have a future episode breaking concepts down and answering your questions. Follow along: 2:10 - Cathy's Journey from Journalism to Tech 3:45 - Importance of Strategic Decision Making and Mindset 4:40 - Challenging Gender Norms and Embracing Success 9:52 - Understanding Generation Alpha and How to Engage with Them 18:19 - Exploring Spatial Computing and its Potential Applications 26:12 - Challenges and Ethical Considerations of Spatial Computing 32:41 - Why You Need to Stay Informed and Adapt to Technological Changes 35:36 - Cathy's Reflections and Personal Experiences in the Tech Industry Bio: Cathy Hackl is a leading business executive, tech futurist, and media personality. She’s a leading authority in emerging tech and leads Journey’s Virtual Studio helping companies and governments with gaming, AR, AI, spatial computing and virtual world strategies and strategic foresight. Brands like Nike, Walmart, Louis Vuittion, and Clinique have trusted her to guide them into new virtual spaces. She was recently named one of Ad Age’s Leading Women of 2023 and on the Vogue Business 100 Innovators list. She’s a member of the prestigious Ad Council Board of Directors and the host of an award winning Adweek podcast. She’s popularly known in tech circles as the Godmother of the Metaverse and has been a fixture in the world of immersive technology for almost a decade with many media appearances in CNBC’s Squawk Box, 60 Minutes+, CNN, Good Morning America, GQ, Time, The Economist, Bloomberg, and more. For the full show notes with transcript and resources, visit https://www.aribajahan.com/upnextintech/ cathy-hackl 🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW If you enjoyed listening to this episode, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and a 5-star rating on Spotify! 💾 DIVE INTO WEB3 What is Web3? Is it still relevant? If you’ve been wanting to dive in to learn more about Web3, check out this free guide I put together for you: https://www.aribajahan.com/get-web3-guide 💻SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER Get exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and valuable resources delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here: https://upnextwithariba.substack.com/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH CATHY HACKL Instagram: www.instagram.com/cathyhackl Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/CathyHackl TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@cathyhackl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathyhackl/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH ARIBA JAHAN Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aribajahan Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribajahan/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61NDFgqsM02-wtE1PrZOsw Post a screenshot and what you loved and tag me on instagram , linkedin , or twitter . Get full access to Unmissables at www.unmissables.xyz/subscribe

November 22, 2023Episode 455 min

What does it take to work in the creative innovation industry? An insider's perspective with Chris Denson | S01E07

In this episode, I had the chance to speak with my good friend, Chris Denson, who is a marketer, innovation coach, multimedia host, and bestselling author of the book- “10 Essential Rules for Breaking Essential Rules”. Conversations around innovation in the creative, advertising or media side often focuses only on the outputs, so we focused this episode on everything else. We lifted the hood on the mindsets it takes, the internal conversations and day-to-day challenges and so much more. Chris shares insightful stories about how his childhood experiences shaped his curiosity and influenced his current work, and highlighted the importance of maintaining relentless optimism even when things don’t work. We discuss a variety of topics related to innovation, the realities and challenges of bringing ideas to life, the significant role emotional intelligence plays in the field of innovation and so much more like: 04:26 - Chris’s Origin Story: His shift from comedy to innovation 13:08 - The role of curiosity and openness in innovation 25:49 – The skill of connecting and collecting dots in innovation 30:39 - Emerging Tech Trends in innovation 33:19 - The key to balancing optimism and reality 35:37 - Dealing with daily struggles and taking mental health breaks 39:43 - Understanding self-identity and the power of self-talk 44:46 - The role of innovation in personal growth 50:11 - Things to look forward to in the world of tech and innovation Bio: Chris Denson is marketer, innovation coach, multimedia host, and bestselling author. He has spent his career building better companies, launching new ideas, and giving rise to cultural tastemakers through awe-inspired experiences, content, and advisory. Echoing an award-winning career across entertainment, marketing, media and technology industries, Chris has valuable insights, practices, and resources to thrive in an always-evolving cultural and technological landscape. He has done this alongside The United Nations, Fast Company, Omnicom Media Group, MullenLowe, The Emmys, Cannes Lions, The Nyah Project, HubSpot, The Obama Administration, and authored the 2018 #1 bestselling book, "10 Essential Rules for Breaking Essential Rules". For the full show notes with transcript and resources, visit https://www.aribajahan.com/upnextintech/chris-denson 💾 DIVE INTO WEB3 What is Web3? Is it still relevant? If you’ve been wanting to dive in to learn more about Web3, check out this free guide I put together for you: https://www.aribajahan.com/get-web3-guide 🔗 CONNECT WITH CHRIS DENSON Twitter: www.twitter.com/densonology LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdenson/ Website: www.chrisdenson.co 🔗 CONNECT WITH ARIBA JAHAN Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aribajahan Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribajahan/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61NDFgqsM02-wtE1PrZOsw Twitter: http://twitter.com/aribajahan 💻SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER Get exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and valuable resources delivered straight to your inbox. Unmissableswithariba.com 🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW If you enjoyed listening to this episode, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and a 5-star rating on Spotify! Post a screenshot and what you loved and tag me on instagram , linkedin , or twitter . Get full access to Unmissables at www.unmissables.xyz/subscribe

November 8, 20231 hr 8 min

Expanding Digital Identity Through Community Driven Virtual Fashion with Nirmala Shome of the Fabricant | S01 E06

The runway is going virtual, empowering new creators and breaking industry boundaries through community-driven digital fashion. In this episode, I chat with Nirmala Shome, the Head of Marketing and Growth at a digital fashion house, The Fabricant, to break down what that means, how they’re trying to build a new fashion industry where everybody participates and profits while leveraging blockchain and augmented reality, how creativity is transcending beyond physical apparel, and the role of fashion in gaming. With over 15 years of experience across digital agencies, e-commerce platforms, and immersive startups, Nirmala has honed her expertise as a digital producer, community builder, and storytelling marketer for emerging technologies, having worked in advertising and digital production in both Melbourne and New York. Learn why major luxury brands are now investing in digital-only clothing and products tailored for virtual worlds and metaverse environments. Gain strategic insights on co-creation, authenticity, and digital ownership from a leader guiding a fashion startup through rapid technological shifts. We dive into: 2:00 Nirmala's Career Journey and Transition into Digital Fashion 05:00 Exploring the Potential of Digital Technology in Fashion 09:00: The Shift from Traditional Marketing to Digital Marketing 12:08 The Journey from Australia to New York and Europe and their different work environments 16:08: The Impact of Digital Technology on Fashion Industry 20:04: The Role of Community in Web 3.0 23:06: The Influence of Different Work Cultures on Career 27:02: The Evolution and Future of Digital Fashion 30:40: The Challenges and Opportunities in Digital Fashion 33:50: The Role of Gaming in the Future of Digital Fashion 38:00: The Impact of Digital Fashion on Consumer Behavior 41:50: The Intersection of Fashion, Culture, and Community 44:08: The Role of Blockchain in Digital Fashion 48:00: The Ethical Considerations in Digital Fashion 50:08: The Transition from Community to Marketing and Growth 54:50: The Future of Metaverse and Digital Fashion Bio: Nirmala Shome joined The Fabricant in 2020 and has worked across product and production. She is now heading up the Marketing and Growth pillar to focus on The Fabricant's mission to grow and nurture the new digital-only fashion ecosystem. She started off in advertising and digital production, working across Melbourne and New York, and is now based in Amsterdam. For the full show notes with transcript and resources, visit https://www.aribajahan.com/upnextintech/nirmala-shome 💾 DIVE INTO WEB3 If you’ve been wanting to dive in to learn more about Web3, check out this free guide I put together for you: https://www.aribajahan.com/get-web3-guide 🔗 CONNECT WITH NIRMALA SHOME Twitter: https://twitter.com/nirmala_shome LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nirmalashome/ Newsletter: https://ok.substack.com/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH ARIBA JAHAN Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aribajahan Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribajahan/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61NDFgqsM02-wtE1PrZOsw Twitter: http://twitter.com/aribajahan 💻SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER Get exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and valuable resources delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here: unmissableswithariba.com 🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW If you enjoyed listening to this episode, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and a 5-star rating on Spotify! Get full access to Unmissables at www.unmissables.xyz/subscribe