We’re living through a fascinating cultural contradiction. At the same time that AI is pushing us toward a more digital world, people seem to be rediscovering analog experiences. Vinyl records, collectibles, walk clubs, run clubs, live gatherings — interests that combine community and connection, or center on something tangible. This “barbell culture” is where hyper-digital and hyper-analog experiences meet in the middle. For me, understanding this tension is key to unlocking where consumer behavior is headed. The brands, businesses, and leaders best positioned for the future will be those that understand how to operate at both ends of the barbell.

Expecting gourmet results from vending machine effort is a recipe for disappointment. It’s easy to look for quick answers, but great thinking isn’t built that way. I have found that my most valuable exchanges with AI happen when I converse with it the same way I would with a colleague. Instead of telling it what to do, I try to have real conversations, test its logic, and challenge its outputs. By asking better questions, I’m able to stress-test my own thinking and surface potential blind spots. When you partner with AI to refine your thinking, bigger and better ideas emerge.

The power of sports has always been about more than what happens on the field. It’s the raw emotion, community, and shared identity that bring people together. Players move on and legends retire, but American football fans stay rooted for life showing that the team is where that connection lives. That’s why we’ve partnered with 13 pro football teams across the country to elevate the fan experience. Through the partnership, fans will have access to game-day experiences and programs that bring their fandom to life. Where do you think the center-of-gravity for fandom lies in football — team, player, or league?

Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rico residency. Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. FIFA World Cup 2026™. On the surface, they're cultural phenomena. But they're so much more. When people gather around a shared passion, spending follows. Restaurants, transportation, merchandise, and local businesses all benefit. The result is what we call a pop-up economy: a temporary surge of economic activity sparked by culture. Now my question for you: how can brands or companies better understand the pop-up economy and integrate themselves in ways that add value to the fan experience?

Logos don’t create lasting fandom. Sponsorships used to be about visibility and hoping your brand would receive a “halo” effect. Today’s fans require more. Whether it’s the FIFA World Cup™, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and Oracle Red Bull Racing, or the Olympic and Paralympic Games, @Visa approaches every partnership with the same question: How can we deliver real value to fans in ways that otherwise wouldn’t exist?

The economics of fandom are changing fast. I joined @WSJ at “The Next Sports Economy” event to discuss how athletes are evolving into powerful media companies. I’ve started thinking of athlete-creators as the new distribution channel. They give brands a way to access culture from the inside, becoming part of the conversation rather than simply surrounding it. The question for brands now is: how do we rethink our partnerships to reflect the full scope of what athletes are today? Watch the full video here: wsj.com/video/sponsored/the-…

I went to Harvard Law School expecting to become a lawyer. Instead, I ended up at Motown, then Def Jam, and eventually in tech and marketing. Some might say those initial three years took me off the direct path. But looking back, I can see how that chapter prepared me for each next phase of my career. I left the law, but the skills I developed in the law became my superpower when applied to other disciplines—how to think analytically to solve problems, how to shift from analysis to creativity. I believe that this idea of “transferable skills” is increasingly important in a world where AI will make specialized knowledge less special.  And the transferable skills for the next epoch will be curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. Develop deep expertise but also build these horizontal skills that will allow you to work with AI to produce something totally new. What skills do you think will help make people successful across industries in a world enabled by AI?

In the world of sponsorships, proximity by itself does not drive value. The idea that a company, by merely associating itself with a property or event, will build a meaningful relationship with fans is misplaced. Logo placements don’t generate cultural currency. Modern fandom has evolved into a complex, interactive ecosystem where fans watch, share, comment, and exchange value across digital and physical spaces. But many brands still approach these passionate communities with a traditional sponsorship mindset. They focus on visibility, put their logo on a stadium, and stand adjacent to the culture, hoping for a passive “halo effect.” The most successful brands go deeper and actively contribute to the culture surrounding the event, league, or platform. When a brand invests consistently in a fan community, it earns trust. And trust leads to participation, advocacy, and long-term business growth. How can brands become more active collaborators who elevate the fan experience, rather than traditional sponsors who pay for adjacency? Let’s discuss in the comments.

Culture, results, community, creativity, trust. Focusing on these elements can help brands earn relevance, build loyalty, and create long-term business value. I’d love to know what would make your list. Drop your top 5 below 👇🏾

Everyone is focused on what AI can do. I'm more interested in what becomes possible when human imagination and AI work together. The greatest breakthroughs come from people willing to think bigger, bolder, and imagine something entirely new. AI can be an incredible collaborator. It can help us create, learn, and build faster. But imagination, curiosity, and the ability to make unexpected leaps remain uniquely human. That’s the opportunity in front of us. If we approach AI with intention, we may be entering one of the most creative periods of human history.

We’re throwing out the old playbook on sports marketing — pun intended. For decades, the model was simple: attract viewers to a live broadcast, run ads, and cross your fingers that a percentage of the audience converts. Now, fans move from social media highlights to podcast recaps from their favorite creators, live streams, fantasy leagues, and more. Fan attention lives everywhere, and where the attention goes, commerce follows. To think bigger than the broadcast, brands must create value across the entire fan ecosystem. What does the evolution of sports fandom mean for the businesses investing in it? How are you adapting your strategies to meet today’s fans where they are?

What's one analog habit you've recently come back to (or never given up)? Tech continues to change how we live, work, and create – but many of our old rituals endure. I surprised myself in this quick game of Analog vs. Digital. But it was a good reminder that, even as we adopt new tools quickly, we hold onto experiences that help us feel creative, connected and in control.

As the FIFA World Cup 2026™ reaches the finals, the goalies are stealing the show. Goalkeepers may not always command the headlines, but in this year’s tournament, we’re watching goalies like Vozinha, Ørjan Nyland, Eloy Room, and Benjamin Asare shine on the world’s biggest stage. It’s gotten me thinking: the “game” isn’t won by strikers alone. Goalies do game-saving work, and the same is true in business. So here’s to the “workplace goalies” — those key players building stability under pressure. Question: Which football position best reflects your role?

Marketing continues to evolve. And, with that evolutionary change, we have to navigate the increasing complexity that comes with it. Yes, great storytelling still matters. But, “how” we tell stories — new forms of narrative, language, etc. — and who tells the story and how we deliver must also evolve. For me, that’s the big shift. I believe that the best among us will marry art and science, data and story, to lead the way.

Life is like a puzzle 🧩 We rush to see the big picture, but the real work is laying one piece at a time. That’s why I like to say, think BIG, but work small. Progress lies in the micro-efforts: honing your skills, practicing your craft, and putting in the work day after day, even when the vision isn’t coming together as quickly as you’d hoped. That’s the power of small steps. You may not see the whole picture right away, but piece by piece, it comes together.

As AI blurs truth and lies, people are searching for what they can trust. Tech can scale stories, but trust isn’t built through scale. It’s built through connection, familiarity, and shared experiences. Real stories are built on struggle, growth, human emotions and choices — that’s what earns trust. So, use AI to sharpen your story. But just make sure it's your story.