Live From CreatorIQ Connect LA: Expert Takes on What’s Next in the Creator Economy
Earned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy
Release Date: 11/12/2025
Earned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy
In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ VP of Brand Marketing Ashley Waxman sits down with Monica Khan—multihyphenate creator economy advisor, operator, and founder—to explore how brands must evolve from campaign thinking to creator-led infrastructure. Monica shares her unique perspective from working across platforms like YouTube and Meta, advising top creators through her firm Creator Revolution, and consulting with companies via McKinsey. At the center of the conversation is a fundamental shift: creators are no longer just a marketing channel—they are R&D, storytelling engines, and...
info_outlineEarned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy
In this replay episode of Earned, Conor sits down with Christina McCarthy, Vice President of Global Media at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. To start, we dive into Christina's impressive career journey from fashion and beauty giants like Victoria's Secret and MAC. We delve into Four Seasons' strategic shift from traditional marketing to crafting rich, brand-building experiences that resonate with audiences. Christina highlights the pivotal role of high return guests (HRGs) and the tailored strategies that ensure their loyalty. She also explores the impact of social media influencers and...
info_outlineEarned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy
In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ CMO Brit Starr sits down with Dana Paolucci, Head of Influence and PR at Dove North America, to unpack how one of beauty’s most iconic brands is evolving creator marketing—without losing sight of its mission. Dana reflects on the “everything and nothing changes” reality of the space, from creators becoming full-fledged brands and franchises to the enduring importance of trust, community, and authenticity. Brit and Dana explore how Dove has scaled from a traditional, tightly controlled campaign model to an always-on creator engine—while staying...
info_outlineEarned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy
In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ CMO Brit Starr sits down with Frank Dudley—marketing leader, Northwestern professor, and author of an upcoming Wiley book on Creator Marketing and Commerce Media—to unpack why the industry’s shift from influencer marketing to creator marketing is more than semantics. Frank argues that creators aren’t a channel; they’re the connective tissue across the customer choice journey, orchestrating demand from awareness through conversion in a dynamic, signal-driven system. Brit and Frank explore how this reframing helps brands move beyond siloed campaigns...
info_outlineEarned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy
In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ CMO Brit Starr sits down with Gracie Schram, Head of Strategic Initiatives for Creators at Epidemic Sound, live from Dubai during the 1 Billion Followers Summit. Gracie brings a rare, dual perspective to the conversation, shaped by nearly 15 years in the music industry as a recording artist and her current role helping creators and brands harness the power of sound at scale. Together, Brit and Gracie explore how the creator economy has matured into the economy—and why sound is one of the most underutilized tools in modern storytelling. Gracie breaks down...
info_outlineEarned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy
In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ CMO Brit Starr sits down with Sam Clanon, Director of Product, Create at LinkedIn, live from Dubai during the Billion Follower Summit, to explore how today’s platforms can better serve creators, professionals, and businesses alike. Sam reflects on his career shaping content ecosystems at TikTok and Snapchat before stepping into LinkedIn’s uniquely complex mandate: designing tools that help people translate content into real economic opportunity—not just attention. At the heart of the conversation is LinkedIn’s philosophy of “Create,” not...
info_outlineEarned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy
In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ CMO Brit Starr sits down with Jenna Habayeb, President of Posh Peanut and four-time CMO (formerly of IPSY and Ruggable), to unpack how community, speed, and product obsession power sustainable brand growth. Jenna shares Posh Peanut’s origin story—founded by Fiona on Etsy—and how the brand differentiated itself in kids apparel through buttery-soft viscose bamboo fabric, bold maximalist designs, and a founder-led commitment to listening closely to customers. At the center of the conversation is retention. Jenna explains how Posh Peanut’s exceptional...
info_outlineEarned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy
As 2025 comes to a close, Alex Rawitz—CreatorIQ’s Director of Research & Insights—hosts the final How to Build Brands and Influence People: Live of the year with a special crossover guest: Brit Starr, CreatorIQ’s Chief Marketing Officer and host of the Earned podcast. Together, they unpack the biggest creator marketing shifts of 2025 and lay out what brands should prepare for in 2026. Brit names 2025 the year the creator economy became inevitable—an inflection point where creators moved from “nice to have” to a true business imperative. They dig into the data behind that...
info_outlineEarned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy
In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ CMO Brit Starr sits down with Leah Walker, Director of Social Media at Adobe, to unpack how one of the world’s leading creative companies is scaling its creator strategy. Leah reflects on her decade at Adobe and shares how the brand moved from scattered influencer activations to establishing its first dedicated influencer marketing team—marking a major shift in how Adobe views creators as core to its marketing engine. Leah offers an inside look at programs like CAMP, Adobe’s Creator-Led Content Amplification Program, which repurposes creator content...
info_outlineEarned: Unlocking the Power of the Creator Economy
In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ CMO Brit Starr sits down with Nina Zadeh, co-founder of Sidewalker Daily, to explore the evolving landscape of the creator economy and the transition of creators into savvy entrepreneurs. Nina shares her extensive experience in brand management and offers invaluable insights into how creators can strategically position themselves as essential partners to brands. The discussion highlights the significance of long-term partnerships, the role of data transparency, and the need for fair compensation, as creators increasingly take control of their business...
info_outlineThis week on Earned, we dive into the dynamic evolution of the creator marketing landscape. Recorded onsite at our CreatorIQ Connect LA event, this episode brings you insights from industry leaders like Kate Brady from PepsiCo, Brian Manning from Wayfair, Leah Walker from Adobe, Dana Paolucci from Dove, and Amy Johnson from Wasserman as they discuss the shift from traditional advertising to more genuine, storytelling-driven strategies. Explore how brands are embracing community-driven growth and the transformative power of qualitative metrics over traditional engagement measures. We highlight the emerging trends reshaping the industry, such as the rise of macro and nano influencers, and the growing integration of creators in product development. Additionally, the episode examines the pivotal role of AI in amplifying creator value and the critical importance of precise ROI measurement. As we navigate the challenges of the digital age, we underscore the enduring power of storytelling and personalized content, envisioning a renaissance of authenticity in this ever-evolving landscape. Tune in for a compelling discussion on the future of creator marketing and its limitless potential to forge genuine audience connections.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
How leading brands measure the business impact of creator marketing.
-
How community and storytelling help brands reach new audiences and create more memorable campaigns.
-
What’s ahead for creator marketing as AI, new metrics, and creator partnerships change how marketers work.
Connect with the Guests:
-
Leah Walker’s LinkedIn - @leahjwalker
-
Amy Johnson’s LinkedIn - @amy-johnson-39935b49
-
Brian Manning’s LinkedIn - @brianleomanning
-
Dana Paolucci’s LinkedIn - @danapaolucci
-
Kate Brady’s LinkedIn - @katebrady1007
Connect with Brit Starr & CreatorIQ:
-
Brit’s LinkedIn - @britmccorquodale
-
CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq
Follow us on social:
-
CreatorIQ YouTube - @CreatorIQOfficial
-
CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq
-
CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq
-
CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ