From Theater to entrepreneurship with Stamatis Astra

My guest today is Stamatis Astra is the Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of Intelligent Relations. In this freewheeling conversation, he talks about:

• Introduction & Origin Story
• Stamatis shares his varied career journey, starting in theater before transitioning into technology and entrepreneurship.
• Reflects on early internet days, the rise of e-commerce, and parallels with today’s AI revolution.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset & Product Building
• The core skills of entrepreneurship remain the same, whether in film or software—raising funds, pitching ideas, and building belief.
• Confidence, resilience, and timing play crucial roles in success.
• Theater vs. Business—Script vs. Improv
• In acting, a defined script brings clarity, whereas business requires improvisation based on data and insights.
• Sales and investor pitches require a structured approach, but product development thrives on innovation and open-ended discussions.
• Remote Work & Leadership Challenges
• Discusses difficulties of leading distributed teams without face-to-face interaction.
• Emphasizes the need for engaged communication, structured meetings, and keeping discussions interactive.
• The Intersection of Media, AI & Entrepreneurship
• Shares insights from his role as a venture partner and a radio host—both involve asking deep, thought-provoking questions.
• Talks about Intelligent Relations, a PR SaaS company leveraging AI to democratize media access.
• AI's Role in Public Relations
• AI helps connect brands with journalists through automation and data-driven personalization.
• PR success hinges on storytelling—brands must embed themselves in the news cycle, not just promote their offerings.
• Career Opportunities in Public Relations
• Traditional PR relied on communication specialists; today, data engineers play a vital role.
• Engineers help structure outreach for journalists, influencers, and media platforms.
• Personal Philosophy & Staying Grounded
• The importance of family, health, and knowing the deeper motivation behind success.
• Business challenges come and go, but fundamental values remain the same.

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