Marketing in the Madness

• The Truth About Standing Out in the AI Era: Building a Brand People Actually Trust

  At our Marketing in the Madness Live anti-conference, George Sullivan, Founder of The Sole Supplier, takes the stage to deliver a powerful and energetic talk about human connection in the era of AI.  With social media reach declining, AI content flooding every feed, and trust becoming harder to earn, George cuts through the noise with a message every marketer needs to hear: 👉 People buy from people. 👉 Human feeling beats AI quantity. 👉 Your face, your story, your passion = your competitive advantage. George shares: - How The Sole Supplier grew from his bedroom to 4.5M monthly users - Why being the face of the brand changed everything - What AI “slop” means for marketers (and how to rise above it) - The truth about authenticity, trust, and the future of content - How brands like Nike, Apple, and LinkedIn master emotional connection Why you need to think deeply again - not outsource everything to ChatGPT The three pillars that make brands memorable: Educate, Entertain, Inspire This talk is packed with insights, honesty, humour, and actionable takeaways for anyone working in marketing, brand, or content right now. If you're a marketer, founder, content creator, or brand builder then this episode will hit home. Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to Marketing in the Madness LIVE 01:20 – George Sullivan takes the stage 02:10 – The power of building a brand through people 03:25 – George’s origin story 04:35 – “People buy from people” 06:05 – Reclaiming your thinking in the age of AI 07:55 – Trust vs. AI-generated content 10:14 – AI’s impact on brand trust 12:00 – Nike and human connection 13:45 – Rising above AI “slop” 15:05 – Loving the brand you work for This is only the beginning. Over the next few weeks, we’re releasing more incredible talks from Marketing in the Madness Live - including sessions with some of the world’s biggest brands and thought-leaders like Richard Shotton, author of Hacking the Human Mind. George Sullivan https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-sullivan-tss/ The Sole Supplier https://thesolesupplier.co.uk/ Katie Street  https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/ https://www.instagram.com/streetmate/ Marketing in the Madness  https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-in-the-madness-podcast/ https://www.instagram.com/marketinginthemadness/ Street Agency https://www.linkedin.com/company/streetagency/ https://www.instagram.com/street.agency/

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• How to Win the 60% of Deals You’re Losing Without Knowing It

  Most B2B marketers are missing their biggest growth opportunity and it’s hiding in plain sight. At our Marketing in the Madness Live anti-conference, Jennifer Shaw-Sweet, EMEA Lead at LinkedIn’s B2B Institute, breaks down the “Hidden Buyer Gap” - why 40–60% of deals never close, how to reach the decision-makers you’ve been ignoring, and why brand fame still wins in a world obsessed with clicks. From the psychology of The Bachelor to the “Circles of Doom” that show how marketing and sales fall out of sync, this talk is a masterclass in how to think differently, act smarter, and make marketing the true engine of growth in your business Follow us for upcoming talks from the world’s biggest brands and boldest thinkers. Jennifer Shaw-Sweet https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-shaw-sweet-7134a56/ Katie Street https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/ Marketing in the Madness https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-in-the-madness-podcast/ https://www.instagram.com/marketinginthemadness/ Street Agency https://www.linkedin.com/company/streetagency/ https://www.instagram.com/street.agency/

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• The Rise Of Agentic Commerce: How AI is Changing The Tech Landscape Forever with Mach Alliance

  The next evolution of commerce has arrived and it’s powered by AI. In this episode of Marketing in the Madness, Jason Cottrell, Founder & CEO of Orium and incoming President of the MACH Alliance, joins live from the MACH X Conference in London to explore how agentic commerce and composable technology are transforming the way brands build, sell, and connect. From in-chat shopping on ChatGPT to the launch of new agentic protocols backed by OpenAI, Google, and Stripe, Jason breaks down how these technologies are reshaping the foundations of modern business. What you’ll learn: How AI-driven platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini & Perplexity are changing customer journeys. Why the new ACP standard could redefine how we buy online. The growing impact of agentic ecosystems and interoperable AI agents. How composability enables faster innovation across global brands. And much more! Marketing in the Madness is the straight-talking podcast for marketing and digital leaders who want more - more growth, more clarity, and more impact. Hosted by Katie Street, it brings together bold brands, sharp thinkers, and next-gen voices from across the industry — from Estée Lauder to Vodafone, Contentful, Jägermeister, and beyond. Each episode cuts through the noise with real stories, honest insights, and ideas you can actually use. If you’re serious about staying ahead of the shifts in AI, marketing, and tech - subscribe now!  

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• How AI is Transforming Retail Operations at River Island

  Retail is changing fast and River Island is already running ahead of the curve. In this episode of Marketing in the Madness, we dig into how the brand is building smarter systems, faster teams, and better customer experiences using AI. From automated code generation to an internal AI platform called Delta, River Island’s tech team is turning innovation into a daily habit. We talk about what’s next for the brand, how AI is transforming retail operations, and why now’s the moment to plug in and start experimenting. What you’ll learn: - How River Island is building AI into its day-to-day operations - Why “test and learn” cultures are reshaping the retail playbook - The power of modular tools like Delta - What’s next for customer experience across web and stores Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and hit that notification bell to stay ahead of the madness. Chapters 00:00 – AI is now driving 50% of online traffic 00:24 – The rise of test-and-learn cultures 01:18 – How AI models are reshaping search 02:28 – Inside River Island’s AI engine: Delta 05:26 – The power (and risk) of new AI tools 06:39 – AI’s future: scary or exciting? 06:52 – River Island’s next chapter in innovation 07:53 – Building smarter stores and better systems Simon Pakenham-Walsh https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-pakenham-walsh/ Katie Street https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/ https://www.instagram.com/streetmate/ Marketing in the Madness Street Agency https://street.agency/ https://www.instagram.com/street.agency/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/streetagency/

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• Reimagining Retail: River Island's Tech Driven Customer Experience

  In this mini episode of Marketing in the Madness, River Island’s CIO Simon Pakenham-Walsh reveals how one of the UK’s biggest fashion retailers is reinventing the customer experience through technology - both online and in-store. After a “summer of reset,” the brand is doubling down on innovation, data, and seamless shopping journeys. What you’ll hear: - From RFID-powered “dump bucket” self-checkouts to smart fitting rooms that recommend your next size — River Island is redefining frictionless retail. - How Simon’s team is uniting website, app, and store tech into one connected system where customers can browse, buy, and return anywhere. - Why River Island’s focus on data, agility, and micro-experiments is shaping the future of retail innovation and customer experience design. This isn’t just a tech upgrade, it’s a retail revolution built for the next generation of shoppers. Subscribe to this channel for more raw, real conversations with the people shaping the future of marketing, tech, and creativity. Simon Pakenham-Walsh https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-pakenham-walsh/ Katie Street https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/ https://www.instagram.com/streetmate/ Marketing in the Madness https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketing-in-the-madness-podcast Street Agency https://street.agency/ https://www.instagram.com/street.agency/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/streetagency/

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