Episode 101: The Emotionally Available Brand with Joanna O’Connell

Episode 101: The Emotionally Available Brand with Joanna O’Connell

LIVE FROM POSSIBLE 2026! Stefanie Beach sits down with Joanna O’Connell, Chief Intelligence Officer at Omnicom Media Group, for a fascinating conversation about the future of brand influence. From emotional availability and AI-powered purchasing decisions to influencer trust, ad fatigue, and the evolving role of storytelling, Joanna shares groundbreaking research and actionable insights on how brands can build deeper connections, earn consumer trust, and stay relevant in an increasingly complex media landscape. About Joanna O’Connell: Joanna O’Connell is Chief Intelligence Officer for Omnicom Media, North America where she heads Omnicom Media Intelligence. OMI helps its colleagues and clients anticipate and smartly react to the most important trends in media and advertising through research-based guidance and actionable insights. A data-driven advertising expert, O’Connell has served as a pioneer throughout her 20+ year career. About Omnicom Group, North America: Heading the marketplace intelligence function for OMG, NA, marketplace intelligence delivers the actionable insights, predictive analyses and prescriptive recommendations that enable OMG teams and clients to anticipate, manage and  leverage , emerging trends, rapid shifts and seismic disruptions  in the media landscape to drive business growth. Discover more at omnicommedia.com [http://omnicommedia.com]

Episode 100: AI Edge Podcast

Staying on the leading edge of Artificial Intelligence... The landscape of digital marketing is shifting, and industry leaders are sounding the alarm on the hidden biases within AI. In this episode, our very own Stefanie Beach and Nadia Koski join Shiv Gupta and Myles Younger on the podcast to discuss the critical importance of inclusivity as AI becomes the primary layer for media buying and consumer interaction, exploring why brands that fail to address biased data risk losing both revenue and the trust of future generations. About The AI Edge Podcast: AI Edge Podcast is a specialized platform designed specifically for marketing and advertising professionals to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. In each episode, the show bridges the gap between complex AI advancements and their practical, real-world impact on the industry. By exploring critical topics, from the emergence of agentic shopping assistants and AI-driven data strategies at major media upfronts to the ethical challenges of biased training data, the podcast empowers its audience with the knowledge needed to maintain a competitive advantage in a tech-driven market. Watch more at https://uofdigitallive.podbean.com/ [https://uofdigitallive.podbean.com/]

Episode 99: The Agentic Edge with Scott Ensign

LIVE FROM POSSIBLE 2026! The future of media buying is here, and Butler/Till is already running it. In this episode, host Stefanie Beach sits down with Scott Ensign, Chief Strategy Officer at Butler/Till, to unpack how agentic media is transforming the way campaigns are built, bought, and optimized, from pharma to franchise networks, and why the agencies embracing it now will be the ones setting the pace for everyone else. About Scott Ensign: Scott Ensign is Chief Strategy Officer at Butler/Till and a leading voice in how marketing operates in a continuously disrupted world. His work centers on omnichannel marketing, a framework for driving performance when data is fragmented, limited, or just messy. He focuses on rethinking how media decisions are made, using AI as a continuous decision layer rather than a one-time optimization tool. Scott’s approach helps Butler/Till's clients adapt faster, compete more effectively, and build marketing systems that improve over time, especially in highly regulated and privacy-driven markets. About Butler/Till: Butler/Till is a data-driven media buying and marketing agency that helps healthcare, regulated, and multi-location brands turn media investment into measurable growth. The agency plans and activates campaigns across digital and traditional channels with a focus on outcomes like patient acquisition, qualified leads, and local market performance. They are known for reaching complex and underserved audiences, including rare disease patients and healthcare professionals, through privacy-first, HIPAA-conscious strategies. Combining programmatic media, advanced audience design, and AI-driven optimization, Butler/Till delivers efficient, compliant growth in environments where traditional targeting falls short.  Discover more at butlertill.com [http://butlertill.com]

Episode 98: The Humans are Back with Amy Thorne

What happens when AI stops being a threat to creativity and starts becoming its greatest accelerator? In this episode, host Stefanie Beach sits down with Amy Thorne, Chief Future Officer at Dentsu Creative, to unpack how the smartest brands are using AI to move faster, think deeper, and create bolder work, without losing the human spark that makes it all matter. About Amy Thorne: Amy has spent over 20 years driving results for major organizations by applying analytic performance metrics to creative. She has a strategic approach to bringing distinct creative experiences to life through human truths and data-driven insights. Amy has strong hands-on Financial Services, Retail, Health and TM&E experience, but her work spans across verticals and includes the Automotive, Nonprofit and Insurance industries. Regardless of category, Amy excels at driving business innovation, transformation and inspiration to deliver both for clients and her team. She has a proven track record of building successful businesses, developing high-performing teams, and converting new opportunities with a focus on delivering measurable results. About Dentsu Creative: Dentsu Creative is a global creative agency network designed to unlock exponential growth for clients. We use Transformative Creativity as a differentiating, driving force to bring our capabilities together to positively impact people, business and society. Established in 2022, Dentsu Creative is integrated with dentsu’s Media and CXM businesses in over 145 countries and regions, to offer Integrated Growth Solutions. Discover more at dentsucreative.com [http://dentsucreative.com]

Episode 97: Second Grade Dream to CEO with Brittany Lo

Brittany Lo, Founder and CEO of Beautini and Beia Beauty, joins host Stefanie Beach to share her journey from a second-grade dream to building two successful beauty brands. She opens up about turning down L'Oréal to bet on herself, using the pandemic to launch Beia; a clean, functional body care line solving the "unsexy" confidence concerns real women face. And the pivots, customer conversations, and hard lessons that shaped the brand into what it is today. About Brittany Lo: Brittany Lo is a beauty entrepreneur and Founder & CEO of Beautini and Beia. With a background in marketing at brands like L'Oreal USA, Redken, and Sony Music Entertainment, and a B.S. from Babson College, Brittany has built a beauty empire that has been featured in People Magazine, The New York Times, and BRIDES, while collaborating with brands including Sephora, Amore Pacific, and American Express. About Beia: Beia is lifestyle skincare to keep you clean and confident throughout the day. We offer gentle, multipurpose solutions to insecurities such as KP, ingrown hairs, and body blemishes, that women often feel they just have to live with. Our fragrance-free formulas deliver real results without irritation, while seamlessly fitting into an on-the-go lifestyle and improving your daily routine. Discover more at beiabeauty.com [http://beiabeauty.com]