In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Sean Cunningham, President and CEO of the Video Advertising Bureau (VAB), for a candid conversation about the state of premium video, the battle for measurement transparency, and why the future of advertising depends on getting back to real humans.

From the inside story of how the VAB took on Nielsen during COVID to why 54% of internet traffic being non-human should terrify every marketer, Sean makes the case that the advertising industry has been far too tolerant of opacity, bad behavior, and metrics of illusion.

The conversation covers the full spectrum of today's video landscape: why not all impressions are created equal, how direct-to-consumer brands have proven premium video is a full-funnel performance driver, and why the "death of linear" is a myth.

Sean also gives a preview of what the VAB will be bringing to Possible in a few weeks.

In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Mack McKelvey sits down with serial entrepreneur Brian Kathman, CEO of OpsCanvas, to unpack one of the most underexplored frontiers in AI: decision memory. 

Brian has been building companies since 1999 — from the world's first transactional online bank to mobile messaging long before the iPhone existed — and now he's tackling the question keeping enterprise leaders up at night: when do we trust AI to make the call?

Brian introduces the concept of the "context graph" — the trillion-dollar missing layer that Foundation Capital calls the key to unlocking AI in production — and explains why 90% of enterprise AI initiatives are stuck in proof of concept. Spoiler: it's a trust problem, not a technology problem.

They also dig into the "trust knob,"  the idea that handing decisions to AI isn't a binary switch but a dial, and that the smartest companies are figuring out how to turn it up gradually, without losing the humans along the way.

In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Denise Graziano (Founder and CEO of Graziano Associates) breaks down why smart teams still make costly decisions. It's not a lack of data or intelligence. It's misalignment, not thinking two steps ahead, or treating communication like an afterthought instead of a strategic tool.

Denise has spent 30 years as a trusted advisor to CEOs, CFOs, and boards and she's watched the same pattern repeat itself: leadership teams who think they're aligned but aren't even defining the problem the same way. Meanwhile, speed driven by AI, investor pressure, and shrinking ROI runways pushes decisions forward before they're fully pressure-tested.

And the fallout rarely looks like a bad strategy. It's simply a gap nobody closed. 

At its core, this is a conversation about decision-making as a skill. Cheryl breaks down why small checks, consistent reps, and learning by doing matter more than waiting until you're "ready." She and Mack get into the math behind portfolio building, the reality that losses come before wins, and why the only thing that actually predicts success is how many decisions you make. If you've been sitting on the sidelines, consider this your push: first check calls game.

Pam Scott and Di Tompkins have been solving hard problems together for decades, and their first move is almost always to question whether someone is solving the right problem. As co-founders of The Curious Company, they bring outside perspective to mission-driven leaders who've hit a wall: a different color to paint with, a reframed question, and the kind of honest conversation most organizations aren't having internally.

On this episode of The Cred Podcast, Mack sits down with two genuinely curious women who listen for a living, challenge with warmth, and have built a 26-year partnership by celebrating what makes them different. It's a conversation about creativity, decision-making, and what happens when you finally stop trying to answer the wrong question.

As Lana puts it, leadership is often 80% psychology and 20% strategy because a team's mindset and energy shape outcomes just as much as the plan itself.

Tune in to learn how Bill operates in the gray areas, making high-risk decisions with incomplete data, and why "technical correctness" doesn't shield you from reputational fallout. If compliance is the baseline, trust is the real metric.

He also shares why the legal function is less like a gatekeeper and more like an institutional liver (not glamorous, but essential to keeping the whole body running).

Steven reflects on the early mobile days, helping Apple launch iAd, and his time at Foursquare, where survival meant rethinking the business entirely. Those experiences now shape how he invests at Oceans: why it's all about the people, how he evaluates founders,  and why consensus can be dangerous in venture investing.

More than anything, Steven makes clear that early-stage decision-making is about backing people and committing to the call.

Tess breaks down how customer signals shape better decisions, why pattern recognition beats perfect data, and how learning when to say no is critical to scaling without distraction. Listen in on a  sharp conversation on leadership, focus, and navigating the gray.

And he makes decisions on instinct.

In this episode, the founder and CEO of Skift breaks down how he actually makes decisions as a global operator, committing to a choice, avoiding second-guessing, and never falling in love with a single option. He explains how visualization helps him pressure-test hires, products, and acquisitions, why early yellow flags almost always turn red, and the defining mistake early in his career when he sold his first company.

Rafat looks for two signals when decisions are being made. First, is there a clear owner who will carry it forward once the conversation ends, or is it drifting in a sea of shared responsibility? When no one is clearly on the hook, progress slows and things slip. Second, he pays attention to how people handle details as a gauge for decision readiness. The people who think through implications and follow through are usually the ones prepared to make the call, not just weigh in.

Tune in for a candid conversation about instinct, ownership, and what it really means to decide.

In this episode of The Cred Podcast, Mack McKelvey sits down with Lisa Pellette, a global CMO and transformation leader whose career spans Levi's, Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Casper, and Fossil Group, to talk about how data, context, and gut converge to inform decisions.

Drawing on her background in psychology and decades of experience leading iconic brands and major transformations, Lisa unpacks the importance of defining a clear North Star, relying on contextual decision-making, and building your own team of decision-makers. Plus, learn how culture shapes whether mistakes are metabolized into momentum or friction.

This week, Mack McKelvey sits down with Sarah Pousho, Co-Founder and CEO of Space Bridge Partners, to explore the unconventional decisions that shaped her career and how she now helps fund some of the most ambitious space missions in the world.

Sarah traces her path from aspiring astronaut to consumer products executive, and ultimately back to the space sector, where she leads a new model for funding exploration, science, and education missions.

The conversation dives into:

• Making high-stakes decisions when the buck truly stops with you

• Blending gut instinct with expert input and data

• How decades of deal-making prepared Sarah for the complexities of space missions

• The personal decisions that quietly set the course for an entire career

This episode is a candid look at confidence earned over time, the power of non-linear paths, and the "Sliding Doors" decisions you make in your life.

00:00 Journey to Space Bridge Partners

07:54 Decision-Making in High-Stakes Environments

19:19 Navigating Outcomes and Learning from Mistakes

27:04 Future Plans for Space Bridge Partners

In this episode, she talks with Mack about why she's always chased the "bright, shiny" emerging ideas, how her Head, Heart, Wallet framework keeps her grounded when the stakes rise, and what she's learned from the decisions that didn't go as planned. She also shares how decision-making shifts when you move from a startup to a matrixed giant, and why the environment you're in should shape how you choose.

It's a practical, candid look at how leaders refine their judgment and why curiosity, not certainty, is often the smarter compass.

00:00 Marci Weisler's Career Journey

08:24 Decision-Making Frameworks

15:45 Navigating Decision Outcomes

25:58 Hiring Challenges and Lessons Learned

34:03 Rapid Fire Insights

A business psychologist and author of Living Real, Camille challenges the old markers of success and pushes leaders to understand themselves well enough to make decisions from the inside out. She talks about being "totally put together and a hot mess," not as a contradiction but as an honest snapshot of what it feels like to lead on shifting ground.

In this conversation with Mack, Camille shares the tools she uses with leaders every day: adjusting altitude to get the right perspective, using integrated decision-making so the head, heart, and body all inform the choice, and applying her Donut Model to recognize when you're in comfort, growth, or approaching burnout. Across it all, she comes back to the idea that anchors her approach: be clear on the outcome, flexible on the approach. In a world flooded with data but starved for real clarity, Camille argues that the most valuable leadership skill is the ability to pause, shift perspective, and listen inward.

In this conversation, the CEO of Azira joins Mack to talk about how she makes tough decisions: when to lean on data, when to listen to her instincts, and how to translate that gut feeling into something her team can understand and act on.

With the precision of an engineer and the perspective of a seasoned leader, Gladys shares how she brings logic and empathy to the table and why transparency builds stronger teams than perfection ever could. Gladys reminds us that leadership isn't about having all the answers, it's about creating space for others to speak up, learn, and grow with you.

The final layer? Intuition. Danielle explains how reading the intangibles (integrity, character, fit) sits on top of the data to tip pivotal choices. We also get inside the differences between enterprise caution and startup speed, how to coach teams to decide for themselves, and what to do when your values and the org diverge.

She and Mack dive into how those same skills translate into stronger leadership: knowing when to move fast or slow, balancing data with intuition, and helping her team make confident, customer-centric choices. It's a conversation about curiosity, clarity, and what it really takes to make thoughtful decisions in a fast-moving business.

After two decades in cybersecurity, Greg built Snowfire to solve one of leadership's biggest pain points: turning overwhelming business data into clear, actionable intelligence. He shares how the platform personalizes insights, accelerates due diligence, and (most importantly) gives leaders their time back.

They also explore what it means to make adaptive decisions in real time, how AI can transform boardroom dynamics, and why waiting on clean data is no longer an option.

Along the way, Snowfire may be doing something even bigger: unintentionally breaking down silos across teams by aligning everyone around the same intelligence. The result? A clearer path to accountability, faster action, and smarter outcomes.

Jon breaks down his mental model for making decisions—from obvious 80/20 calls to murky 51/49s—and shares how speed, clarity, and accountability help his team move faster and smarter. He also discusses the importance of hiring people with a strong sense of ownership—those willing to make decisions, stand by them, and lean in to learn from their mistakes.

We talk about:

💡 Why decision paralysis is the enemy of progress

🎯 Why prioritization is as critical as the decisions themselves

💥 What it means to bet on yourself—and stake your reputation on it

🛠️ Why "we can do better" isn't just Jon's mantra, it's his leadership operating system

Jon also shares why he doesn't read business books and the power of building a board that challenges you to think bigger. This episode is a must-listen for anyone building, leading, or learning how to make decisions that matter.

At Mirror Digital, Sheila has built a tech-enabled media company that helps brands connect with diverse, trend-setting audiences. Her approach to decision-making is clear: "Decisions aren't always easy, but you have to move when something is pressing. And if you make a bad decision, you pivot. Understanding the cost of not making the decision allows me to move forward with making decisions and trying new things."

For Sheila, decision-making is a practice, not a process. Her "test and learn" mentality fosters a culture of experimentation, growth, and continuous learning. By standardizing smaller decisions, she frees up mental space for bigger challenges, creating a democratic culture at Mirror Digital that stays in tune with the cultural zeitgeist.

In a world that never stops changing, Sheila is always looking ahead, staying curious, and challenging herself and her team to never settle.

Every decision a leader makes sends ripples through a business, a team, and even a career. In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Jason Kaplan, CEO of SixMap, to explore the complexities of decision-making in leadership. From navigating tough calls—like leaving a company—to understanding when to go slow and when to move fast, Jason shares insights from his journey as a founder and executive.

In leadership, there are no easy answers—if it were easy, someone else would have already made the call.

🎧 Tune in to learn:

🔹 Why data informs, but context drives decisions 🔹 The importance of teaching decision frameworks to avoid bottlenecks 🔹 The lessons behind a $250,000 mistake 🔹 Why moving fast doesn't mean skipping the learning process

Insightful, inspiring, and packed with academic insight and real-world wisdom.

With a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from M.I.T. and research experience as a Helen Hay Whitney Fellow at Stanford, where he developed advanced computational microscopy methods to study learning and memory, Aaron brings a unique perspective to the table.

He covers:

• Balancing the rigor of academia with the fast-paced nature of tech

• The science behind gut instincts

• Key traits of top decision-makers

• AI's role in making faster, smarter choices

• How free will (if it exists) factors into it all

Terry shares his nuanced approach to decision-making: moving quickly on small matters, while deliberately hitting the "pause button" on larger decisions.  "I usually have a gut instinct right away," he explains, "but I have a pause button now. I don't allow myself to make a big decision quickly. I sit on it, I sleep on it, think about it. Sometimes I'll bounce it off a few people I trust."

Known for his objective credibility, Terry also opens up about the bold decisions he's made in the past and how they've paid off. "I would rather ruffle some feathers and be right in the long run because people notice."

Plus, tune in at the end for Terry's industry predictions for the year ahead!

Andrea dives into the challenges modern leaders face, from the impact of stress on decision-making to the importance of delegating decisions and balancing gut intuition with diverse perspectives. She also discusses the "Midlife Chrysalis" and the power of building a culture of kindness and inclusivity as a leader.

Plus, tune in to discover how Andrea's first job at a farmer's market shaped the foundation of her marketing philosophy.

Renowned for his ability to anticipate and capitalize on market shifts, Mickey has founded influential publications like Luxury Daily, Mobile Marketer, and American Marketer, and successfully navigated four business exits—making decision-making his specialty.

Mickey shares his approach to swift decision-making (24-48 hours max), why you can't live with regret, and the few times a coin comes into play. "You make the decisions for the times you live in. You cannot second-guess yourself. Yes, you'll make bad decisions. I made a couple of bad decisions in my life and you know what? They brought me to where I am today."

You'll also hear his unique take on the value of a college education, not as a qualification, but as a critical life experience that teaches social navigation, adaptability, and interpersonal skills—something that even the likes of Zuckerberg and Gates could have benefited from, in his view.

Tune in for a fascinating conversation on the mindset that drives success, how to trust your instincts, and why timing is everything.

She also discusses themes from her upcoming book, What Matters Next: A Leader's Guide to Making Human-Friendly Tech Decisions in a World That's Moving Too Fast, offering tools to help leaders manage the pressure of rapid change while fostering responsible innovation that benefits both people and business.

As a pioneer of Strategic Optimism, Kate empowers leaders to leverage technology—not just as a tool for efficiency but as a way to enrich human experience. In this conversation, we dive into the role of AI in executive decision-making, the importance of foresight, and the ethical considerations that must guide businesses through rapid technological change.

Tune in to hear how you can rethink the way you're thinking, innovate responsibly, and understand the longitudinal impacts of your decisions.

When it comes to decision-making, Gary stresses that everything should be wrapped in the company's goals, cautioning that leaders often overlook the importance of communicating and truly contextualizing those goals for their teams. "Not only do we have to set goals and get people beating the drum to the mantra, but these people in their individual work style have to contextualize the mantra for their own passions."

In this candid conversation, Gary also opens up about the challenges and rewards of managing people: "The hardest thing about businesses is the people. The best thing about businesses is the people." He offers advice for aspiring leaders, encouraging them to embrace failure as a crucial part of the journey: "Take pleasure and triumph in your failures. Don't fear them. The majority of my career has been a series of failures leading to an accomplishment. And I tell people I fail forward."

Tune in to discover how Gary leverages passion, curiosity, and creativity in every decision he makes.

In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey chats about decision-making with Paul Hanges, CEO of JibJab, where the mission is to spread joy.

Paul believes in empowering his team to make decisions by acting as the "bumper" in the bowling lane—guiding them while providing the context necessary for them to see the bigger picture. He explains, "I'm going to guide you to knock down the pins and make sure you're not veering off course, but I'm not here to do the work for you."

Rejecting hustle culture, Paul embraces hyper-prioritization, keeping his schedule as open as possible to support his team and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

When it comes to navigating outcomes, Paul draws on his experience playing poker, saying you need to divorce yourself from the idea that the outcomes determine whether a decision was right.  Instead, it's all about embracing data (to a degree), core values, context, and risk tolerance.

From managing an emotional piggyback to leading the fondly dubbed "cockroach of the internet," Paul shares his professorial take on leadership and decision-making, both big and small.

At Mighty Networks, Gina and her team harness the OODA Loop Framework—observe, orient, decide, act—to make decisions, continually cycling back to observation. This iterative process strips away emotional biases from decision-making and is most effective when executed with speed.

For Gina, effective leadership ultimately hinges on managing your own psychology to make better decisions. As she puts it, "If I work so hard that I'm not in a position to make good decisions, I'm gonna' fail." Rejecting the hustle culture that is so prevalent in the Silicon Valley, Gina emphasizes the importance of effective delegation, which allows her to prioritize essential elements that fuel sound decision-making: nutrition, exercise, and adequate rest. "I think it's very difficult to make good decisions on four hours of sleep."

Gina is passionate about cultivating a culture where it's safe to fail, encouraging teams to experiment and take strategic bets. She believes that the interplay of these bets often leads to the best discoveries.

In the end, Gina's approach reminds us that successful decision-making thrives on self-care, a solid framework, and creating a culture where innovation can flourish.

With a successful exit under her belt, Jo shares the lessons she's learned while leading teams through change, launching companies, and embracing authenticity along the way.

Her decision-making mantra? "Sit or stand, but don't wobble. Because if you wobble and you're indecisive as a leader then that wobble vibrates throughout the whole company."

Jo's secret weapon as a leader is listening to her intuition.  "I have this crazy intuition I call the whispers, and many women—and men for that matter—don't pay attention to it, or don't pay enough attention to it, or can't even hear it, right? So, I describe myself as the Queen's Gambit without the drugs and the alcohol. I just know what the next move is on the chessboard."

Throughout the conversation, Jo reveals how embracing her authentic self has shaped her leadership style, why it's crucial to put on your own mask first, and how she helps others prioritize their non-negotiables.

Should a college degree be a job requirement? Jo doesn't think so: "I can teach skills. I need people to be curious and consistent and brave."

This episode is packed with wit, wisdom, and practical advice for leaders at every stage. Tune in to discover why Jo likes to strike while the iron is cold, fail fast, and fill the cracks with culture.

Yelitsa opens up about the complexities of decision-making as a leader, emphasizing the importance of asking the right questions. She lives by the mantra, "You can't say no before you say yes," and leans on her creative background to view challenges from different perspectives.

At the root of her leadership philosophy is a principle she learned during a 3D spatial dynamics class at RISD, where she was working with items like wood, wire, and metals.

"We were told to measure twice, cut once. You cannot put those two pieces of wood back together. So whenever I'm approaching a situation where a decision will be detrimental, especially because I've had to deal with the consequences of making the wrong decision,  I don't mess around. I'm measuring seven times, 12 times if I have to."

Yelitsa also shares how a customer-centric approach has fueled her growth and the strategies behind scaling a brand from the ground up.

Marcy shares insights on quick decision-making, the importance of mentors, and rebounding from mistakes. Tune in to hear her unique take on balancing speed with thoughtful leadership, why she doesn't believe in work-life balance, and the toughest career decision she ever made. Plus, get a glimpse into her love for the Grateful Dead and an unusual hobby you won't see coming.

Ronnie shares insights on the intersection of creativity and technology, the importance of reflecting on failure, and how AI is reshaping the future of creative work.

Tune in to hear how Ronnie's passion for creativity, combined with strategic thinking, has empowered him to make impactful decisions, scale businesses, and navigate the challenges of the modern workforce.

Join us as we dive into the genesis of Aescape, the challenges and rewards of innovating in the wellness industry, and the decision-making frameworks that have guided Eric throughout his entrepreneurial career. From the early days at MediaLets to the groundbreaking innovations of Aescape, Eric's insights on passion, perseverance, and the importance of intuition and research are not to be missed.

Tune in to discover how global travel and cultural experiences have shaped Eric's journey and how Aescape is poised to transform the world of wellness. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of wellness, this episode is packed with inspiration and valuable lessons.

Don't miss this exciting conversation with one of the leading minds in tech innovation!

As a seasoned executive with a diverse background spanning various industries, Julie discusses how she approaches decision-making in both professional and personal realms. She sheds light on the critical role of mentorship, coaching, and trust in fostering a culture of growth and success within teams.

From her early career experiences to leading impactful teams of a wide range of sizes, Julie shares practical strategies and valuable lessons learned along the way. This episode is a must-listen for executives looking to enhance their leadership skills, drive positive team dynamics, and make impactful decisions in today's dynamic business environment.

Louis shares his experiences navigating pivotal decisions, from identifying strategic initiatives to making critical hiring choices and evaluating build vs. buy options. Drawing on real-life examples, they discuss the importance of aligning decisions with organizational values and stakeholder interests, as well as the challenges of managing diverse opinions within a large company.

Through candid anecdotes and practical advice, Mack and Louis uncover the nuances of decision-making, highlighting the role of leadership, collaboration, and adaptability in driving successful outcomes. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned executive, this episode offers valuable insights into the art and science of making impactful decisions in today's dynamic business landscape.

From her early days as a brand manager to her forays into entrepreneurship and leadership positions in advertising and technology, Laurel's diverse experiences have equipped her with a unique perspective on decision-making. With a strong emphasis on collaboration, trust, and aligning values, Laurel unveils the principles that have guided her through pivotal moments in her career.

Diving into the intricacies of contemporary leadership, Laurel sheds light on the evolving role of the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) in today's dynamic business landscape. She underscores the symbiotic relationship between marketing and revenue generation, emphasizing the critical importance of data-driven insights and cross-functional collaboration.

Yet, the discussion extends beyond business decisions; Laurel shares personal anecdotes and reflections, underscoring the significance of mindfulness, teamwork, and empathy in the decision-making process. As she aptly puts it, "Nobody has ever done anything great alone.

Drawing from his wealth of experience, Vernon Irvin shares invaluable insights into the thought processes that drive effective decision-making. From navigating high-stakes scenarios to fostering a culture of accountability, Vernon provides practical strategies suitable for leaders at all levels.

Throughout the conversation, Vernon and Mack explore the importance of clarity, collaboration, and courage in decision-making. They discuss how leaders can harness data-driven insights, intuition, and foresight to make informed choices that propel organizational success.  Tune in to gain wisdom from Vernon Irvin and Mack as they unravel the complexities of decision-making, offering actionable advice for leaders eager to enhance their skills and face uncertainty with confidence.

Whether you're an entrepreneur or executive, join us for a concise yet captivating exploration of the art and science behind impactful choices. Tune in for a deep dive into the mindset of a tech industry leader.

Discover the synergy between academia and industry, as Dr. Gutnik discusses her pivotal role at Billups, navigating global strategies, and the significance of AI and sustainability in out of home advertising. Gain insights into her leadership philosophy, the impact of diverse opinions at the table, and how she turns challenging outcomes into opportunities.

Tune in for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of media, the power of experiential campaigns, and the role of AI in shaping the future of out-of-home advertising. 

During this episode, Adrion joined host Mack McKelvey to share his journey to starting the "Gen X Amplified" podcast and his consultancy, Mid-Career Mastery. He shared his three pillars to transformation—mindset, meaning, and milestones—and how he applies this decision-making framework to his own life and how individuals and organizations can do the same.

Whether you're not sure what's next or wondering if you made the right career or life choice, this episode can help you get out of a rut and into a groove to reach your fullest potential. 

During the conversation, Ricciardi dove into why leaders should focus on the value each decision carries to ensure they are allocating the right amount of time, energy, and collaboration to properly assess its outcome. Ricciardi has shifted her decision-making approach over the years, especially as a business owner, and often seeks advice from her fellow leaders on how they'd approach a specific challenge. Ricciardi has found that these diverse approaches and mindsets yield more positive outcomes, as opposed to deploying a homogeneous approach to decision-making. 

Ricciardi and McKelvey also explored how different mentors have helped shape their own approach to decision-making and leadership. Tune into this insightful conversation to learn about decision-making's value-cost equation from Ricciardi, an entrepreneurial agency leader. 

Shereen also shared her approach to decision-making, which in large part depends on the type of decision at hand. For micro decisions, aka daily decisions, she uses a decision tree model in which she takes stock of the options, their associated risks, assesses the odds that a certain outcome will come to fruition, and whether she can do anything to change those odds. For personal or life decisions, however, it comes down to knowing her values. She advises leaders to understand their values so they can make decisions faster and with more confidence.

From there, Keith worked at Microsoft and later found himself consulting in tech. During that time, he took a step back to consider his next career move and found that what most energized and fulfilled him was working in smaller companies where he could make a direct impact. This decision-making approach to evaluating his purpose and motivation has helped Keith evolve as a leader and person overall.

During the episode, Keith shared how finding passions outside of work has transformed who he is as a leader, from his volunteer firefighting work to investing in a local craft beer business. He shared how he mentors his team to embrace failure and always be curious in addition to how his upbringing fuels his dedication to helping underrepresented talent in tech.

Check out this episode to become inspired in your own career and life pursuits!

That decision paid off and paved the way for Catherine's successful entrepreneurial career, with Catherine currently serving as the Founder and CEO of Sparkfly, a retail technology company that partners with restaurant leaders like Denny's, Bojangles, Chipotle, and more. In this episode of The Cred Podcast, host Mack McKelvey sits down with Catherine who shares early career lessons that helped shape her leadership style and how she runs her business.

As we explore the pivotal decisions Gary has made throughout his career, he breaks down his hybrid approach to decision making, citing a blend of intuition, data analysis, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. He also shares insights into managing outcomes when things don't go as planned and how risk assessment plays a crucial role in the ever-evolving technology landscape.

As the episode concludes, Gary gives listeners a glimpse of what's next for KERV, hinting at exciting developments in the world of advertising and interactive content.

On this episode of The Credentialed, originally recorded May 9, 2018, Kate Kaye chats with Williams about why he believes technology can improve day-to-day interactions between patients and caregivers, about the importance of developing technologies for underrepresented groups and about how his Detroit family roots sparked his entrepreneurial spirit.

The rules around maternity leave and the FLMA could use some updating, suggests Carol Davidsen of Comscore, our guest on The Credentialed podcast in this BonusCast episode. "It's amazing to me how so many work environments today have things like bringing your dog to work – which is great – but...I think we really need to reevaluate what does having a kid look like in the first year, because...frankly, it's not that disruptive."

Carol Davidsen made a name for herself in the world of political data tech through her work with the Obama 2012 campaign, back when media coverage of data use in the election was decidedly more positive than it is these days in the wake of the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal. While at Obama for America, she developed technologies for building voter profiles and gained notoriety for the platform she created for optimizing TV media buying and ad targeting. Today, she is SVP of TV and cross-platform products at Comscore where she helps create technologies that help advertisers aim their messages out to people across TV, the web and their mobile phones.

This interview with Carol Davidsen was recorded on April 10, 2018, about an hour before Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg began his testimony before a joint session of the Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committees regarding the Cambridge Analytica scandal. In this episode of The Credentialed, Carol chats about her own work for the Obama 2012 campaign -- including what she calls "scraping" Facebook data, about the evolving zeitgeist surrounding data use by political campaigns, about her background and influences, and about why tech disruption isn't always a good thing.

Kimberly Mach is somewhat elusive when asked about what she and her fellow researchers are working on at Microsoft Research Next, a division of the company that Business Insider recently referred to as its "A-team of troubleshooting scientists."

But having a hush-hush job isn't exactly new to Mach, either – she joined Microsoft in early 2017, following several years in the defense industry working on technologies for things like ballistic missile defense and autonomous vehicles.

Mach received an "Innovator Award" from Women Who Code last year for making "profound contributions to the future of the tech industry, but she's more than just a math and computer science nerd. She received a scholarship for clarinet in her early college days and is a devoted fan of her hometown teams – The Mariners and The Seahawks.

On this episode of the Credentialed Mach shares tales of working alongside robots at Microsoft, of her first time participating in a hackathon and how her small town Washington roots helped guide her to where she is today.

"I want to get out the word that your location data is being used more for just telling you what the weather is in your city or where you jog, so pay attention to who you're choosing to share that with and make the choices accordingly," said McMullen on this episode of The Credentialed.

"Openness is a counterweight to the secrecy that powerful people use to subjugate us…. We have to pool our resources together, get the right team and go after it." Veda Hlubinka-Cook does not mince words. An early pioneer of digital information infrastructure and trans technologist, Hlubinka-Cook co-founded Metaweb, a firm that developed an open, shared database of knowledge called Freebase which was eventually acquired by Google in 2005. Today, she is back at it – building Factful, a collaborative platform for investigative journalism aimed at exposing corruption.

We've been hearing more and more about facial recognition and biometric identification technology lately, and this week's guest on The Credentialed is on the cutting edge of this emerging realm. Brian Brackeen is CEO and founder of Kairos, a six-year-old facial recognition and "human analytics" firm based in Miami which serves clients such as Disney and Walmart.

An outspoken proponent of algorithmic data diversity, facial recognition privacy standards and Miami as an under-appreciated hub of tech innovation, Brackeen stands out.

He talked on the show about how an algorithm is like a human mind, limited to what it's been exposed to:

"If you teach the young algorithm that this is the world, and you don't show it anything else -- you don't show it any other races, any other ages, any other genders -- that's all it will be able to see. It will actually be literally blind to the rest of the world," he said during his chat on The Credentialed, where he and host Kate Kaye discussed the movement supporting the inclusion of data representing under-represented minority groups often forgotten when training AI systems and algorithms.

Brackeen also shared his personal story, which he likened to the Iron Man Marvel comics tale in which scientist and inventor Howard Stark inspires his son to take up engineering. It's no coincidence that Brackeen's own father worked on some of the first artificial intelligence systems during his career at the Philadelphia Electric Company.

You've probably seen Just's vegan mayo on grocery store shelves, or maybe you've had their plant-based cookie dough concoction as a late night snack. Perhaps you've seen the open letters the company's CEO Josh Tetrick has splashed across full page ads in the New York Times -- like the one he addressed to presidential candidates in 2015 challenging them to help solve our outdated food system. Following a name change from Hampton Creek, the company remains dedicated to its original mission: to produce healthy, sustainable, affordable and delicious food.

This is no quick fix – locating plant components and experimenting until they are proven to be viable ingredients involves a year's long process – and our guest on the latest episode of The Credentialed, director of food chemistry at Hampton Creek, Jasmin Hume, is guiding that path towards what could be on our plates tomorrow.

On this episode of The Credentialed, we'll learn about the science behind turning plant proteins into food people want to eat, about how even healthy food can be processed, and why people still can get a little weirded out by too much science on their plate.  We'll even indulge in a chat about a personal love of Hume's -- Swedish baked goods.

We laughed! We cried! We learned about blockchain!

Yes, indeed, we've come a long way in just ten episodes here at The Credentialed, the show that amplifies the diverse voices of tech and innovation. That's right, we've got ten episodes under our belts, and that's a good a reason as any to take a step back and remind our listeners – and ourselves – just what it is we're doing here. We're calling this re-cap episode of our first ten shows our Tenth Episode-i-versary. (Humor us, won't you?)

Since The Credentialed launched in October, we've featured data wonks, IoT and blockchain innovators, chatbot and mobile technology founders, ecommerce experts and digital media entrepreneurs. We've featured women, African-American, Asian, Haitian-American, LatinX and LGBTQ guests. People not just from New York City and San Francisco, but from Reno, Miami, Kansas City, Pasadena and Washington, DC. People whose business lives collide with personal passions like basketball, improv comedy -- and did we mention Star Wars?

On the show, you'll hear the most fascinating, fun, touching and inspiring moments from the first ten episodes of The Credentialed. Give a listen!

This is the last generation in the U.S. who will have what Pam Dixon, this week's guest on The Credentialed, calls "privacy by obscurity." Founder and executive director of World Privacy Forum, Dixon believes there is a short window of time left during which any of us living here in the United States, not to mention most places on earth, will have the ability to go "off the grid" - obscure our travels, interactions, personal connections, transactions and interests from corporations and governments. Pam joined The Credentialed in-person in the studio for a fascinating discussion about an array of issues that will have an increasingly significant impact on our lives – from biometric identification to precision medicine to the dire need to upgrade our flawed social security system.

When we think tech, we often think of gadgets, software, computers, pixels and bots. But on this episode of The Credentialed, we're getting down to basics. We're talking about clean, safe water and a simple innovation that's designed to make it more plentiful, accessible and affordable across the globe. Theresa Dankovich, Ph.D. is cofounder and Chief Technology Officer of Folia Water, an unlikely 500 Startups alumn that manufactures low-cost paper water filters intended for use by low-income people who today spend too much of their money on bottled water or soda. Dankovich chats about how the company aims to get its technology into the hands of the people, what sets Folia Water apart from other tech startups -- and why even in Silicon Valley, not every startup is only about generating ROI for investors.

Blockchain. Bitcoin. Cryptocurrency. You've heard about these things, but, well, if you're like a lot of people, you aren't totally clear on what they are. On this episode of The Credentialed, we have a full-fledged blockchain expert explainer on the show, Portia Burton. Burton explains how blockchain works in everyday language, talks about blockchain mining in Venezuela and China, and suggests that blockchain nerds really could use a psychologist. Burton also shares her secrets for being successful at whatever she puts her mind to. Hint: failure is allowed.

When Clara de Soto's first app company, Killswitch, was shut down by Facebook after going viral in 110 countries, it was a "really big blow," but she didn't take it sitting down. She and her colleagues got to work. "We had to put on our hustle pants…and we networked our butts off until we got in touch actually directly with Sheryl Sandberg," she said while chatting for this week's episode of The Credentialed podcast.

De Soto's latest enterprise Reply.ai is still an early startup, though you wouldn't know it to look at its client list, which includes firms like Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Samsung and Hilton, all of which have employed its chatbot technology to communicate better with consumers.

This episode of The Credentialed features Jonathan Stephen, manager of ecommerce for Norwegian Cruise Line. We chat with him about his indirect route to the mobile world, how he straddles technology and marketing, and why sometimes hanging out in airports is the best way to get close to travelers.

Lauren Moores is on the ground floor of a technical solution to a very real need: enabling loans for people in emerging markets. But rather than developing software or tech platforms, Lauren works with information and analytics as data director at startup Tala. The global financial technology firm helps people in Kenya, the Philippines and Tanzania obtain microloans by producing credit ratings for them based mainly on information generated by their mobile phones. Lauren explains how it works, why data-for-good is important, and how good 'ol baseball got her into numbers and statistics.

Gladys Kong, CEO of mobile tech and data firm Ubermedia has an impressive tech pedigree, with multiple patents and many years working alongside Bill Gross at his Idealab incubator. We discuss what it was like to take on the CEO role and work more closely than ever with employees after starting out in the very different position of chief technology officer. Kong also shares why playing high school basketball, running track at Caltech, rooting for the Lakers – and cheering on her hoops-playing-kids – inspire her approach to running a business.