If you had $10 million to start a new disruptor business tomorrow, what would you do?
That’s just one of the questions we posed to our expert panel in the next episode of the Future Now series, where we examine more closely what the next stages of development look like for those digitally-focused challenger brands, as the rest of the world catches up with them.
WATCH EPISODE 3 NOW
The episode features a fireside chat with global Facebook exec Chris Sarandos, who talks AdNews publisher Assia Benmedjdoub through some of the changes he’s witnessed in the disruptor market since more traditional brands were forced to become more digital in March.
An expert panel featuring IAB Australia CEO Gai Le Roy, Quad Lock founder Rob Ward and Facebook ANZ’s Industry Head of Digital Disruptors Henry Kelly then discuss:
- What’s changed for challengers thanks to 2020’s historic events;
- How disruptors now need to carve out new avenues to keep an edge over the competition in a more digitally equal age;
- Why you need to lean more into brand purpose if you don’t have a genuine point of product differentiation;
- What will change in the way disruptors, and established brands, go to market;
- What leaders in disruptor brands need to do to sustain business gains made during lockdowns.
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More about the panel
Rob Ward is… co-founder of Melbourne-based business Annex Products, best known for their brand Quad Lock - a case-based smartphone mounting system that's used by millions world wide.
Gai Le Roy is… CEO of IAB Australia which is the peak advocacy, research and standards body representing digital media and advertising. Gai has worked in the media industry for nearly 30 years and the digital ad industry since 1998. Prior to running the IAB Gai held senior strategy and research roles at Fairfax Media, Nielsen, ninemsn and Gateway Research. Gai is a global leader in cross media measurement, effectiveness and strategy as well as building and managing teams that help close the divide between digital and traditional marketing.
Chris Sarandos is… Marketing Lead - Disruptors and Venture Capital at Facebook (based in the US), a group of VC firms and high-growth digitally-native DTC companies that are changing their respective industries. Chris joined Facebook from Google, where he advised companies ranging from Fortune 100 retailers to DTC startups on digital growth strategies. He has worked in the digital marketing space for the last 10 years and serves as a marketing advisor to several small businesses and startups.
Henry Kelly… leads the Digital Disruptors Vertical at Facebook Australia and New Zealand, which focuses on DTC e-commerce companies. Henry has worked at Facebook in Australia since 2018, and previously worked at Google for close to 13 years, spending time in the UK, Japan and Australia working in different roles starting as an analyst through to leading the regional partnerships of large multinationals. Henry has a passion for digital-first businesses, and is increasingly focused on taking Australian and New Zealand brands to the world with Facebook.
More about the Future Now series
Upcoming episodes in the fortnightly series will dive into a range of categories, honing in on the retail revolution, how art and science stack up in consumer goods brand building, and the big questions in the worlds of technology, finance and travel.
Watch Episode 1: What Just Happened? Here
Watch Episode 2: Heart or Head? Here
So if you’re in the business of marketing, media or advertising, this is the series you can’t afford to miss over the coming months. Stay up to date with the latest here.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
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