ITK Radio | Aaron Kwittken

On this episode of ITK Radio, a conversation with Aaron Kwittken.

Aaron is currently the Founder + CEO @ PRophet.

PRophet (prprophet.ai) is the first-ever generative and predictive AI SaaS platform designed by and for the PR community. The platform uses AI to help modern PR professionals become more performative, productive, and predictive by generating, analyzing, and testing content that predicts earned media interest and sentiment.

Aaron is also CEO of the Comms Tech Unit for the Stagwell Marketing Cloud, a suite of AI SaaS solutions for PR, social media, and content creators.

Aaron founded KWT Global in late 2005 (f/k/a Kwittken), a highly acclaimed global PR and brand strategy consultancy where he currently serves as Chairman Emeritus. Stagwell Global acquired KWT Global in 2010.

A highly acclaimed industry leader, serial entrepreneur, and seasoned corporate affairs and integrated communications strategist for more than 30 years, Aaron began his career in Washington, DC, in public affairs and crisis management and held numerous senior agency leadership roles before starting his own firm in late 2005.

He’s counseled hundreds of organizations, from F100 listed companies to private and high-growth brands alike, spanning multiple sectors.

A proud George Washington University alum, Aaron serves on GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs advisory committee. He is the immediate past president of the Public Relations Society of New York, past president of the Americas for the International Communications Consultancy Organization, a former Board member of the PR Council, a former adjunct professor at New York University, and a former Forbes columnist.

He currently writes a monthly column for The Drum and is the creator and host of the popular Brand on Purpose podcast that features companies and leaders that do well by doing good.

You can find Aaron on LinkedIn here.

 
 

Insights + Ideas:

+ The power of a challenger mindset

+ Creating an AI that is both predictive and generative

+ Using the TV character Taylor from Billons as inspiration for building a new service for PR pros

+ Ending "spray and pray" media pitches

+ Thinking of PR pros as "communications engineers" who have the skills to be predictive, performative, and productive

+ "It is easier to be an entrepreneur if you have domain expertise"

+ How to use thought leadership as a promotional tool for a founder and a company, plus for an inbound tool to get feedback from the marketplace

+ "Be a Swiss army knife"

+ "It is important to have well-rounded and dynamic inputs as we do outputs"

+ "AI is not going to replace us, it is going to make us better"

+ How to approach AI from a C-suite perspective - what should a senior executive consider?

+ How will universities and college degree programs add AI to the study of communications and public relations?

+ The rise of "comms tech"

+ Fresh Air from WHYY, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programs. NPR

+ Real Time with Bill Maher: Maher welcomes a panel of three guests from diverse parts of the political spectrum for a lively discussion of current events. Also usually included as part of the show are a comedic monologue and an interview with a newsmaker or political figure. HBO

ITK Radio | Andrew Mack

On this episode of ITK Radio, a conversation with Andrew Mack.

Andrew is currently the Founder + CEO @ Agromovil.

Andrew is a seasoned, innovative international development and international business professional with nearly 30 years of experience working with Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.

Andrew is an internationally-recognized facilitator with deep expertise in partnership development, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and a special focus on information technology and health.

Andrew is a business owner with clients from donor agencies like the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Bank to Fortune 500 companies, foundations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), specializing in finding creative and sustainable commercial solutions.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from Amherst College and an MA in international relations from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

You can find Andrew on LinkedIn here.

 
 

Insights + Ideas:

Agromovil was born out of a simple realization – tremendous trapped value exists in the current inefficient agriculture ecosystem. The company's simple goal is to unlock that value, profitably getting more and fresher food to market worldwide.

Learn more about Agromovil here.

+ Today, 90+% of the world’s farms are off the data map. Farmers need visibility - the chance to raise their hand and be seen.

+ "Pattern matching is effectively the buy-sell match is the thing that needs to happen to scale."

+ "You can power thru with expertise in a lot of things, but part of what makes the next phase of one's career really interesting is when you're outside of your comfort zone, and you're looking at something you don't particularly know with a child's eyes."

+ The need to make your service/business model ruthlessly simple and make it urgent.

+ "What can we take out?"

+ "Food is today what energy was 10 years ago."

+ Insights on US Vice President Kamala Harris's three-nation Africa visit.

Ructions | Gwynnocent

On this episode of Ructions with Ross + Ashley, Marc Ross + Gerald Ashley discuss the CPTPP, South Africa, France, and Donald Trump and what they are reading and watching.

Timestamps:

2:25 | CPTPP and why it matters for the UK

13:08 | South Africa, a country to watch

22:35 | Pension protests in France + Gerald supporting Emmanuel Macron

28:34 | Quick takes on Donald Trump's indictment

32:20 | What they are reading + watching

39:04 | Ciao ai nostri amici di Rai Italia

Reading + Watching:

The World - A family history by Simon Sebag Montefiore Penguin Random House

French Connection II IMDb

The Two Jakes IMDb

War: How Conflict Shaped Us by Margaret MacMillan Penguin Random House

Seeing Like a State by James C. Scott Yale University Press

Make or Break Apple TV