Why This AI President Says Networking Changed His Career🤴

Most executives wouldn't openly admit that a career transition stripped away their professional superpowers. Barry Lowenthal, President of Inuvo, takes the opposite approach: he candidly shares how losing his previous title meant rediscovering a skill most people master in kindergarten - introducing yourself to strangers. His willingness to discuss the vulnerability of standing in random networking events without the armor of a business card that commands attention reveals someone who understands that real influence comes from connection, not credentials.

Barry's conversation covers territory that makes a lot of industry leaders uncomfortable: how technological advancement forces uncomfortable business model conversations, why traditional compensation structures may not survive the next decade, and what happens when the professional identity you've built suddenly disappears. His perspective on giving people chances to change your life, combined with practical insights about navigating industry transformation, offers a roadmap for professionals facing their own inflection points. The pharmacy text message he mentions? Just a reminder that even people reshaping industries still need to manage everyday logistics.

Barry Lowenthal: His Mission to Help Clients See Around Digital Corners 📱

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AI Ad Tech Leader: Transitioned from CEO of Media Kitchen (MDC/Stagwell) to President of Inuvo, an AI company building models to solve signal loss from cookie deprecation, privacy regulation, and walled gardens 🤖
Agency Compensation Reality Check: Explains how AI is disrupting agency FTE models - "agencies can do everything smarter and cheaper for less people," creating smaller teams, smaller fees, and tension between clients and agencies 💰
Value vs. Time Advocate: Argues agencies struggle getting paid for the value they create rather than hours spent, especially when billion-dollar ideas take minimal time to generate 💡
Networking Skills Convert: Learned the importance of introducing yourself to strangers after leaving Media Kitchen with no title, budget, or influence, wishing he'd developed this skill earlier in his career 🤝
Pharmacy Text Reality: Last text was coordinating cholesterol medicine delivery with his pharmacy - the everyday reality behind the executive persona💊