10 Mar March 10, 2026 – AI Marketing Vanitha Swaminathan and Four Pillars Gin Matt Jones
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/tque8xb36iunr5xi/sfsr_2026_03_10.mp3
Transcript
Dr. Vanitha Swaminathan – Associate Dean at University of Pittsburgh School of Business and Author of
I think it’s a huge pivot. If you remember the time when we had to pivot
from traditional marketing to digital, this is a pivot that’s just as significant
Dr. Vanitha Swaminathan
Vanitha Swaminathan, Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives and Thomas Marshall Professor of Marketing at the University of Pittsburgh School of Business, has released a groundbreaking new book titled Hyper-Digital Marketing: Six Pillars of Strategic Brand Marketing in an AI-Powered World. Rapid advances in technology and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) have ushered in a new era of hyper-digitalization. This shift is reshaping how organizations operate, transforming traditional marketing roles and creating new ones that require deeper integration across marketing, technology, and other business functions. In Hyper-Digital Marketing, Swaminathan offers a practical framework for strategic brand thinking built around six key pillars designed for an AI-powered world. The book equips marketers, business leaders, and technologists with tools to navigate digital disruption, strengthen their brands, and drive sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
Matt Jones – Creative Strategist, Keynote Speaker, Brand Coach, Author, Start-Up Mentor and Co-Founder, Four Pillars Gin
There is no such thing as a good brand name. Google, Facebook,
Apple are not good brand names. Tesla is not a good brand name.
Matt Jones
Matt Jones is a creative strategist, keynote speaker, brand coach, author, and startup mentor best known as the co founder of the globally celebrated craft distillery Four Pillars Gin. Originally from Wales and now based in Australia, Jones has built a career at the intersection of branding, storytelling, business strategy, and customer experience. With a background spanning economics, politics, and creative strategy, he first gained recognition as Chief Political Adviser to the UK Conservative Party before transitioning into the world of brand experience and marketing. He later served as Chief Creative and Strategy Officer at Jack Morton Worldwide, where he worked with global brands including IBM, Microsoft, Qantas, Sony, Samsung, and Volkswagen to help them navigate the emerging era of experience driven brand building. In 2013, Jones co founded Four Pillars Gin alongside Stuart Gregor and Cameron Mackenzie, helping transform the Australian distillery into one of the most celebrated craft gin brands in the world, earning the title of World’s Best Gin Producer three times. As the brand strategist behind the business, he played a central role in shaping its storytelling, customer experience, and cultural identity while connecting brand purpose with practical business growth. Today, Jones works globally as a sought after keynote speaker and advisor, helping entrepreneurs, corporations, and leadership teams understand how powerful storytelling, creativity, and purposeful brand design can drive long term growth. Through his coaching and strategic work with companies and startups, he focuses on helping organizations clarify their purpose, craft compelling narratives, and create memorable experiences that build lasting customer relationships. He is also the author of Lessons From Gin, a business book that shares insights from building a world class craft brand and applies those lessons to modern leadership, marketing, and entrepreneurship.