People Are Brands, Brands Are People With Thai Randolph, CEO of Hartbeat
On the latest episode of The Speed of Culture podcast, Thai Randolph, CEO of Hartbeat, joins Suzy founder and CEO Matt Britton to discuss how the multi-platform media company keeps the world laughing together, plus content creation, monetization strategies and workplace diversity initiatives.
Kevin Hart is more than just a comedy actor. His name is already an iconic brand within the media and entertainment industry, and his company, Hartbeat, is on a mission to keep the world laughing.
Randolph is an award-winning marketing, business development and operations leader. She has a proven track record of developing brands, audiences and revenue for big names in advertising, technology and entertainment such as WPP, Publicis, Sony and Facebook. In 2018, she was named to Cynopsis’ It List, as well as Variety and Entrepreneur’s Women of Impact lists in 2021.
Key Takeaways
19:41 – 22:54 – Embracing technology – Despite the advancements in modern technology, some companies still rely on traditional pen-and-paper methods for their operations. Weinberg is dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes become more agile and adapt to the changing market. Her primary focus is to assist these businesses in leveraging Square’s platform to automate their operations, diversify their revenue streams and stay ahead of the competition.
25:58 – 28:31 – Leveraging emotional storytelling – Square utilizes organic channels to showcase different communities through storytelling. One of their notable series is “Black Owned,” which spotlights black-owned businesses and their contributions to the community. Additionally, they have featured various cities such as Austin, highlighting its LGBTQ+ business owners, and Denver, showcasing Latinx business owners. When it comes to its paid campaigns and digital channels, Square prioritizes streaming, podcasts and social media channels like TikTok.
36:57 – 41:18 – The complete guidebook for small business owners – With the rise of entrepreneurship, Weinberg and Jackie Reses recognized the need to provide assistance to new small business owners. Drawing on their experience as a former Square executive and conversations with numerous successful entrepreneurs, they have distilled valuable insights and best practices into their new book, Self-Made Boss. The book aims to guide small business owners on how to build and grow their companies effectively.
