The Ad Podcast

Erich Parker, a seasoned marketing leader who currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Integrated Media at Blue Chip Worldwide. Based in Chicago, he is a key driver of the agency’s media strategy, specializing in bridging the gap between brand storytelling and transactional shopper marketing. Professional Background Blue Chip Worldwide (2013–Present): Erich has spent over a decade rising through the ranks at Blue Chip. He b...

Daale Carter is a powerhouse creative executive and the first-ever Global Chief Client Experience Officer at BBDO Worldwide. Appointed in early 2026, her role signals a major evolution for the agency network, shifting the focus from traditional "account management" toward a holistic, experience-driven partnership model. Professional Background Agency Pedigree: Before stepping into her global role, Daale served as EVP and ...

Brook Jay is the Founder and CEO of All Terrain Collective, widely recognized as the first female-founded experiential marketing agency in the U.S.. With over 25 years of industry experience, she is a pioneer in shifting brands from "shouting" one-way advertisements to creating authentic, 360-degree consumer encounters. Professional Background Agency Leadership: She co-founded All Terrain in 1998, inspired by the "gu...

Aaron and Samantha Edwards are a sibling entrepreneurial duo based in New York City, best known as the founders of THE CHARLES GROUP, a premier, strategy-first creative agency. The Charles Group Founded in 2011, The Charles Group has grown into an award-winning agency with offices in New York, Chicago, and London. The agency is known for its focus on high-end luxury, lifestyle, and financial services brands, including Cartier, St. ...

Jim Boyle is a high-level communications and marketing strategist currently serving as the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO) at BBB National Programs. With a career spanning over 30 years, he is known for his expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments and pioneering digital marketing in the public sector. Professional Career & Leadership BBB National Programs: Since joining in 2020, Jim has been res...

Steve Schofield, universally known in the industry as "Scof," is a high-octane creative strategist, producer, and the Founder and CCO of Schofield’s Flowers. He is widely regarded as a "one-man headline machine" with a career that spans law enforcement, visual effects, and groundbreaking advertising. Professional Background The "Schofield’s Flowers" Legacy: In 2019, Steve revived his family’s business ...

Aditya Halan is a veteran technology leader and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in scaling startups and optimizing global supply chains. He is currently the CEO & CTO of Floship, a leading logistics technology firm based in Hong Kong that specializes in global fulfillment for e-commerce brands.

Since joining Floship in 2020, Halan has transitioned from Chief Technology Officer to the dual role of CEO and CTO.

Eric Stein

CEO of Commerce at Actual (formerly Microblink)Eric Stein is a Silicon Valley veteran and high-tech entrepreneur who specializes in scaling businesses that sit at the intersection of data, AI, and consumer behavior. He currently leads Actual, the purchase data platform that spun out of Microblink to provide real-time product intelligence for the world’s largest rewards and loyalty programs.

• The Rebrand to Actual: S...

Leslie Ann Hall is a digital pioneer and the CEO and Founder of Iced Media, a performance marketing agency that has become a powerhouse in the beauty and wellness industries.

• Industry Dominance: Since founding Iced Media in 1999, she has guided global giants like L’Oréal, Walmart, and Paula’s Choice through the complexities of social commerce. She is credited with helping multiple brands achieve billion-dollar exits.

• TikTok Shop ...

Keith Bendes is a prominent marketing strategist, thought leader, and executive currently serving as the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at Linqia, the leading influencer marketing agency for enterprise brands.

Professional LeadershipLinqia: Since joining the firm, Bendes has been instrumental in shifting influencer marketing from a "social-only" tactic to a scalable, data-driven business strategy. He advocates for using...

Eric Sheinkop is a Chicago-based entrepreneur, author, and tech innovator known for disrupting legacy industries through expert-driven content and music technology. He is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of The Desire Company.

Launched in 2018 (originally as DesireList), The Desire Company is a content-as-a-service platform that replaces traditional "influencer marketing" with "expert marketing."

• Missi...

Shalbrack is a seasoned marketing executive and the VP of Growth (Creative & Media), Americas at DEPT®, a global digital agency. With over 15 years of experience, she has specialized in the intersection of technology, entertainment, and social media. Professional Background Agency Leadership: At DEPT®, she serves as a Managing Director and Partner, overseeing growth strategies that integrate creative output with media performan...

Stefanie Beach is an award-winning digital marketing executive and the Founder and CEO of The Marketeer Group (formerly SMB Media Consulting). A veteran of the ad tech world with over 15 years of experience, she is widely recognized for her leadership in programmatic strategy and her advocacy for flexible, expert-led talent models.

Under Beach’s leadership, the firm rebranded from SMB Media Consulting to The Marketeer Group to r...

Nicolas Bailliache is a French-born entrepreneur and marketing tech executive who is widely recognized as an expert in LiveCommerce and shoppable video. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of eStreamly, a SaaS platform that enables brands and retailers to integrate shoppable video directly into their own websites and digital channels.

• eStreamly: Since founding the company in 2020, Bailliache has been at the forefront of the "v...

Paul Archer – Tech Entrepreneur & Adventurer

Paul Archer is best known for blending a career in high-stakes adventure with cutting-edge marketing technology.

• Professional Role: He is the Founder and CEO of Duel, a brand advocacy platform used by major global brands like Pandora, Dove, and Charlotte Tilbury. He is a leading voice on "Brand Advocacy," arguing that authentic community and word-of-mouth are more eff...

Ellis Verdi is a prominent American advertising and marketing executive best known as the Founder and President of DeVito/Verdi, an independent, award-winning agency based in New York City. Professional Career & DeVito/Verdi Early Career: Verdi spent the first half of his career on the "client side," holding positions at PepsiCo (managing Mountain Dew and diet brands), American Home Products Ltd., and the Grey Group, ...

Chris Heller is the CRO of PLACE and is a veteran real estate executive and strategist, widely recognized as one of the most influential leaders in the industry. He served as the President of OJO (formerly OJO Labs), where he shapes partner strategies and bridges the gap between technology and real-world real estate professionals. Professional Career & Leadership Keller Williams Realty, LLC Realty International (KWRI): Heller s...

Jason Haddad, a senior media executive and advertising professional. He is with Two by Four (often stylized as twoxfour), a highly awarded independent advertising and marketing agency with offices in Chicago and Chattanooga. Professional Background Two by Four (twoxfour): Jason serves in a leadership capacity on the agency's media team. The agency, founded in 1998, focuses on brand evolution and "nimble" communication...

Samuel Donner is a digital storyteller, entrepreneur, and podcast producer known for his high-production interviews and viral social media content. He has carved out a niche by blending deep-dive entrepreneurship stories with fast-paced comedy and lifestyle content.

Donner is the creator and host of Finding Founders, a podcast that uses immersive sound design and narrative storytelling to explore the origins of successful entrep...